Imatu shop steward Thulani Nzimande said workers who had stayed on the job were being made to bear the financial consequences of a dispute in which they were not involved.
IMATU shop steward Thulani Nzimande confronted Msunduzi Municipality officials at the city’s council chambers yesterday morning over delayed salary payments to municipal employees amid the strike led by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU). PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Tempers flared at Msunduzi Municipality’s council chambers on Monday as workers demanded answers over delayed salaries, with some saying bounced debit orders had left them facing financial penalties.
Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla apologised to employees for the delay but insisted it was not because the municipality had run out of money.
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He blamed disruption caused by the ongoing strike, saying officials had been unable to complete the processes needed to release salaries on time.
“The delay in the payment of salaries is not because the municipality has no money,” Thebolla said.
Shop stewards from the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), representing employees who were not participating in the strike, confronted municipal officials shortly before a scheduled media briefing.
Imatu shop steward Thulani Nzimande said workers who had stayed on the job were being made to bear the financial consequences of a dispute in which they were not involved.
“Their debit orders bounced because their salaries were not paid. Why punish people who are not part of the strike?” Nzimande asked.
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He said affected workers faced additional costs from banks and other service providers.
“Those debit orders will accrue penalties, and we expect the municipality to deal with those penalties,” he said.
Nzimande said shop stewards had earlier gone to municipal manager Felani Mndebele’s office seeking an explanation but were unhappy with his response.
We went to the City manager’s office seeking to be addressed by him, but he said he had no time for us. How can he not have time for us, yet he has time to hold our salaries?
“He further told us to go seek answers from Samwu, and that was unprofessional for him to say that,” he said.
He said Imatu had a right to be recognised and represent its members.
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The confrontation continued inside the council chamber before Deputy Mayor Mxolisi Mkhize intervened and urged them to leave the chamber so he could address them outside.
Police maintained a presence outside while Church Street remained blocked by employees continuing their strike action over several issues.
Samwu chairperson in Msunduzi Brandon George said municipal employees had initially not received their salaries in the morning, although some payments began reflecting around midday.
Employees said the delay had caused anxiety for households with monthly financial commitments.
Nompumelelo Dladla said workers were worried and disturbed by the situation.
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Another employee, who asked not to be named, said the impact went beyond bounced debit orders.
Besides debit orders, we have families to care for; we have school-going children to worry about.
“We received no communication from the city management alerting us to the non-payment of our salaries,” the employee said.
Thebolla said the industrial action had prevented officials from accessing municipal premises and completing the administrative, financial, verification and authorisation processes required before salaries could be released.
He said municipal leadership had held five meetings since Tuesday the previous week in an effort to resolve the dispute.
Thebolla said agreement had been reached on all 10 issues under discussion with union representatives, with the parties expected to sign an agreement soon.
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DA caucus leader Ross Strachan disputed the municipality’s explanation, saying the salary delays reflected wider financial pressures facing Msunduzi.
“There simply isn’t enough money flowing through the municipality to meet all of its financial obligations,” Strachan said.
He warned that continued disruption could further undermine revenue collection, payments and service delivery.
The ACDP also called for an end to the strike, saying the municipality was already in dire financial straits and service delivery was at an all-time low.
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ACDP councillor Rienus Niemand urged all parties to prioritise the future of Msunduzi and its residents over short-term interests.
Source: https://witness.co.za/news/2026/08/25/tempers-flare-as-msunduzi-workers-protest-salary-delay/