Civil servants returned to the National Treasury office in Pretoria for the second time to protest against a 3% wage increase imposed without union consensus.
Members of the Marching National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the SA Police Union, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and Cosatu say the government is still in debt from 2020.
‘Inadequate’
Lerato Mhlongo from the education department said there was nothing they could do.
“They expect us to be happy with three percent but food is going up, transport is going up,” he said.
Mhlongo said the increase was less than half of the increased interest rate.
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“As soon as we get a salary, we have to pay debts like bonds and cars. After that, we still have enough money to go to work,” he said.
“Most of us have started small side businesses where we make and sell things at work or after work to earn enough money to go to work,” he said.
‘Ignored’ workers
Nehawu vice-president Nyameka Macanda said workers’ issues were being ignored.
“The workers have been denied a decent wage increase since the agreement signed in 2018. Since then the employer has ignored our requests,” he said.
Political lecturer at North West University Dr Benjamin Rapanyane said it was insulting and disrespectful to forcefully impose a three per cent salary increase without union approval.
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“The wage offer must be rejected at all costs, considering the rising cost of living in South Africa. There is no doubt that the proposed increase is not enough to deal with the country’s current economic situation,” he said.