On the eve of a wage strike by members of the Public Services Association (PSA), the Department of Home Affairs is yet to clarify how it intends to stop strikers from closing down South Africa’s borders on Monday.
This comes after PSA deputy general manager, Tahir Maepa, earlier this week threatened to bring the country to a halt if workers’ demands were not met.
Referring to the intended strike as a “Day of Anger”, Maepa was quoted in the daily press saying “no border post will be open and the courts won’t be able to do their work because public prosecutors won’t be at the office.”
Negotiations between government and the PSA around demands for a 12% wage hike broke down last September and since then subsequent negotiations have stalled on a number of occasions.
In the meantime the impending labour action has mushroomed and a strike seems inevitable.
Speaking to eNCA recently, public sector representative Mugwena Maluleke said 17 unions were poised to down tools.
“We’ve had enough of the delaying tactics of the employer.”
The decision to forge ahead with rolling mass action comes after Maepa in April gave the government 30 days to resolve matters.
Recently he said that the upward adjustment of VAT and this week’s highest spike in the petrol price in South Africa’s history would hit employees hard.
Should 11th hour negotiations fail to broker a deal, some 230 000 public sector workers could spill onto the streets if Monday’s “Day of Anger” goes ahead.
FTWonline made several attempts to reach Home Affairs for comment, but spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete didn’t respond.
There’s no expectation that any of South Africa’s ports will be affected by the strike.
FTWonline has, however, approached Transnet media liaison officer, Nompumelelo Kunene, for a statement.
Tshwete and Kunene have yet to reveal what government’s official position is on the matter.
