The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has raised alarm over the ongoing salary crisis affecting municipal workers across South Africa.
The union condemns National Treasury for failing to provide adequate, sustainable funding for municipalities, particularly those serving economically marginalised communities.
On Tuesday, Samwu highlighted that municipal workers in places such as Umzinyathi (KwaZulu-Natal), Thembelihle (Northern Cape), Keis (Northern Cape), Mamusa (North West), Mafube (Free State), and Kopanong (Free State) would not be receiving their salaries,despite expectations for timely payment across the country.
Samwu’s general secretary, Dumisane Magagula, this situation is a direct result of National Treasury’s negligence.
“This crisis is a direct consequence of National Treasury’s failure to adequately fund municipalities, betraying municipal workers and the communities they serve.”
Samwu blames the current crisis on the dysfunctional equitable share system designed to support poorer municipalities.
This system is marked by delays, underfunding, and misallocation of resources, making it impossible for municipalities to meet their obligations to workers and communities.
The union also pointed to the imposition of austerity measures and unfunded mandates that require municipalities to deliver services without sufficient financial backing.
Particularly alarming is the situation in municipalities like Mamusa, where workers have not received salaries since January 2025, and Kopanong, where employees are paid only quarterly, violating their contracts.
Magagula stressed the moral failure of these conditions.
“These workers, including essential services staff like water technicians and waste management workers, are forced to work without pay while facing impossible choices between feeding their families and fulfilling basic needs.”
Samwu has called for the National Treasury to take immediate action, including releasing emergency funds to pay outstanding salaries, redesigning the equitable share system to prioritise rural municipalities, fully funding all mandated services, and implementing a debt relief program for municipalities.
Additionally, the union demands urgent intervention from the Departments of Employment and Labour and Cooperative Governance to ensure workers are not forced to work without remuneration.
“COGTA and National Treasury must act immediately to protect municipal workers and preserve service delivery,” Magagula stressed, adding that Samwu will not allow municipal workers to endure conditions akin to modern-day slavery.
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