pretoria traffic

Photo: Twitter / Traffic SA

Pretoria traffic: Samwu strike blocks roads leading to CBD [video]

Motorists are advised to avoid travelling to the CBD in Pretoria today.

pretoria traffic

Photo: Twitter / Traffic SA

Pretoria traffic leading into the capital city’s central bowl district has been hugely affected by the ongoing South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) wage strike.

Why are Samwu workers protesting?

This is the second day of Samwu’s protest action in Pretoria. On Friday, scores of municipal workers from the City of Tshwane marched to Tshwane House with a list of demands related to their wage disgruntlement.

According to an IOL News report, the protesters have accused the City of failing to commit to its promise of instituting salary increases across the board.

Samwu has submitted a demand for an 18% salary increase. The union’s Mpho Tladinyane warned that if their demands were not met by Monday, 29 July, they would ensure that “Tshwane House is not operational”.

“Listen, we know that the City does have the money because people in the Human Resource Department and the Finance Department told us that the money is there. Why the City doesn’t want to pay these workers as is fair we don’t know,” Tladinyane exclaimed.

PIC Inquiry postponed due to strike action

It appears that Samwu’s warning shots have rung true on Monday, as many roads leading into Pretoria CBD have been blocked off by buses and scores of protesters.

Pretoria traffic was grounded to a halt near the CBD. So much so that the commission of inquiry into allegations of impropriety regarding Public Investment Corporation (PIC inquiry) has been forced to postpone proceedings until Tuesday, due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the #TshwaneShutdown

Pretoria traffic latest: Roads affected by protest and alternative routes

It seems that, at this point, there is no short cut or alternative routes to access Pretoria’s CBD. According to @TrafficSA, areas like Atterbury Road, Mabopane Highway, Eskia Mphahlele Drive and Kgosi Mampuru Street, have been affected by heavy traffic issues all morning.

At this time, motorists have been advised to avoid the CBD area, and park at least 2KM away from the congestion.

Watch: Footage of congested Pretoria traffic due to strike