SAMWU Demands That Chris Hani District Municipality Be Moved Back To Level 5 Lockdown

SANDILE MOTHA

THE gloves are off between the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province.

At the centre of the schism is what the union calls negligence and uncaring attitude by the district municipality for its alleged failure to protect workers from contracting the novel corona virus.

Asamkele Ntaka, SAMWU regional secretary told Inside Metro that in less than a week two of their workers have tested positive for Covid-19.

“In one of the buildings in the municipality, an employee tested positive for Corona. The municipality made a promise that they would close the building and disinfect but they have not done so. Because of this negligence, two more workers in the same building have also tested positive,” said Ntaka.

He said despite the Chris Hani District carrying the heavy burden of coronavirus infections in the province, the municipality has