Fight between EFF members and other councillors. Image: Screenshot
Punches thrown in Tshwane Council meeting
EFF members disrupt Tshwane Council meeting and demand over 100 fired municipal workers get their jobs back
Fight between EFF members and other councillors. Image: Screenshot
A Tshwane City Council meeting turned into chaos earlier on Thursday, after councillors from the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) disrupted the meeting, demanding the reinstatement of around 130 municipal workers.
The workers, linked to the South African Municipal Workers Union, were fired by the City after embarking on an unprotected strike for over a month. The Union and workers demand the City to pay increases as ordered by the Bargaining Council.
CHAOS IN TSHWANE
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Footage shared by Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink shows, EFF members in their tradition red overalls in a brawl with other councillors in the chambers.
The EFF’s leaders in Tshwane, Obakeng Ramabodu says the party will ensure that the affected municipal workers will get their jobs back.
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EFF’S PROMISE TO MUNICIPAL WORKERS
“We are here to promise the workers of the City that there is no City that is going to continue until 130 plus workers are reinstated by this guy (mayor Cilliers Brink),”
Brink however has continued to reiterate the City’s dire financial standing and that it is in no position to pay salary increases.
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The prolonged strike has caused a disruption in the City’s ability to deliver on basic services such as refuse collection.
BRINK STANDS HIS GROUND
In an address to the media, they mayor says the EFF’s actions are criminal.
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“You have threatened councillors. You have assaulted councillors. This is in terms of the new code of conduct, a criminal offence. The leader of the EFF caucus Ramabodu was at the frontline”, says Brink.
Brink added that they refuse to be intimidated and forcefully leave the council chambers.
“Absolutely no protection was provided here, but we stood our ground. We refuse to leave this place. They can come with violence. We were democratically elected. We won’t be driven out of this council chamber.”
