Scores of City of Johannesburg workers affiliated with SAMWU gathered outside ANC headquarters on Monday, demanding answers over delays in implementing the R10.3 billion Politically Facilitated Agreement while union leaders met with senior ANC officials. Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL
While some residents in Gauteng are protesting over illegal immigration, scores of City of Joburg employees affiliated with SAMWU sang struggle songs outside the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters over alleged delays in implementing the R10.3 billion Politically Facilitated Agreement (PFA).
Workers from different entities within the City of Johannesburg gathered outside ANC headquarters while union officials met ANC leaders, including Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, to discuss their concerns.
The workers said they were simply demanding what belonged to them. The meeting centred around alleged delays in implementing the R10.3 billion PFA.
In March, the DA in the City of Johannesburg approached the Johannesburg High Court, arguing that the agreement was merely a political tactic aimed at settling scores.
However, the Johannesburg High Court ruled otherwise, paving the way for the municipality to implement its R10.3 billion PFA with municipal workers.
The court dismissed the DA’s application to interdict the agreement. During the proceedings, DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille argued that the agreement was a political tactic aimed at settling scores.
The PFA, which originated in 2016, was only recently included in the city’s adjustment budget.
The DA argued in court papers that the agreement was unlawful and that it could cripple service delivery across the city.
However, the court found that the application for an urgent interdict lacked the necessary urgency and struck it off the roll.
Zille’s court bid prompted a protest, with scores of SAMWU-affiliated employees demonstrating outside the court.
Meanwhile, the union staged songs outside ANC headquarters over delays in implementing the R10.3 billion PFA.
This came as residents in areas such as Soweto continue protesting against undocumented foreign nationals ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on June 30.
Protests led by March and March, together with more than 20 civil society organisations, are expected nationwide, with organisers calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30.
Speaking to IOL News, SAMWU (South African Municipal Workers’ Union) Johannesburg regional secretary Thobani Nkosi confirmed that the union had met with the ANC.
“It’s not a demonstration, it’s not a march, it’s nothing. We had a meeting, a general meeting to give feedback to our members. However, we had underlying issues that were presented to the ANC.
SAMWU-linked municipal workers outside ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, over delays in implementing the R10.3 billion Politically Facilitated Agreement. Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL
“(The ANC) gave us partial feedback. We are here to meet again on Wednesday to then finalise all of those other issues. As per the agreement here, they meet with other departments in government, because they remain a political party.
“However, it’s their employees that have been engaged. So with that said, we are here at the House to purely seek answers on what was presented to us.”
Nkosi said the meeting concerned the PFA.
“Yes, the meeting was about that. The City of Johannesburg has made an undertaking to pay that particular money through the agreement that is signed with the City of Johannesburg.
“And now, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana decided to send a letter to the city claiming that the agreement is illegal. So what informs that? Any contract that has been signed by two parties can only be declared by a court of law (as) illegal.”
He said the minister’s actions had placed all parties into disrepute.
“The city was unable to budget properly for us and it’s not in the budget of the city. Hence, we came here saying, Godongwana must retract that particular letter.”
He said about 35,000 employees were affected.
“And the (amount) we are talking about in total is R10.3 billion. But the city managed, through their budget adjustment for March 2026, they managed to pay 1.2 billion.
“What’s left now is 9.2 billion. And we had agreed that it would be paid in portions. The first portion would be (paid in) March 2026.
“The second portion would be paid now in July. The last one in 2027.”
Addressing the workers, Morero assured them that they would receive the money.
“You remember I previously said that you will get your PFA money? And I repeat again that you will get the money. We have agreed with your representatives from the union that if we don’t have R5 billion, how much do we have, because we can’t have a meeting and say we don’t have anything.”
Morero said there was no way the workers could leave empty-handed.
“We said if we can’t give you R5 billion for now, we can at least (give) something even if it’s R1 billion,” he said to booing workers.
The workers reacted angrily to his remarks.
“I am just saying that you must get something. Whether we like it or not PFA must be paid, however the process is how and when. That’s what we are currently busy with.”
Morero blamed slow revenue collection for the delays.
“What we want from you, especially those from the RSCC (Revenue Services and Customer Care) and revenue department, they are the ones who must assist us in getting this money. Because currently our collection rate is sitting at 84%, it’s very down. If the workers (in the) revenue department can help us reach 90% it will help us fasttrack the PFA,” he said.
SAMWU workers outside Luthuli House following a meeting with ANC leaders on delays in implementing the R10.3 billion Politically Facilitated Agreement Image: Simon Majadibodu /IOL
He again assured workers that the money would be paid.
Meanwhile, Nkosi said the union would wait for the city to fulfil its commitment.
“One, we don’t want to prophesy as to whether the city will pay or not. We still maintain that their commitment means a lot to us. So, we’ll just follow that. And as to what will happen thereafter, it will depend on what they give us and the feedback we give to members. Because we are guided by member systems.”
He said the union would meet Morero again on Wednesday to receive feedback from the ANC.
“That’s why I’m saying I do not want to assume what will happen. That’s our way to get feedback. And then we’ll take it from there. It might be positive, it might be negative. So therefore, let’s just wait (and see),” he added.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za