Johannesburg - Millions of households and businesses in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State could be without water in the near future as Rand Water employees prepare to down tools this week.
The workers, who belong mainly to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), will go on strike from tomorrow over pay increases.
They are demanding wage increases of up to 10 percent, while the employer has offered them 7.4 percent across the board.
Samwu said in a statement that, when taps run dry, the public should ask Rand Water why it has failed to offer workers substantial increases.
The company provides water to municipalities, mines and large industries.
“Given the behaviour of the employer, we felt we would not continue with wage negotiations that are inherently characterised by dishonesty, arrogance and lack of commitment. Our next appointment with Rand Water will be on the streets to settle these negotiations,” the union’s Chumani Gqeke said in a statement.
However, the company has assured consumers that a back-up plan is in place if the strike affects its ability to keep water flowing.
Rand Water is also relying on a service-level agreement signed with unions excluding essential employees from taking part in industrial action.
These include pump station workers but exclude water purification and maintenance staff.
Samwu has warned that if the strike is prolonged, the quality of water could be compromised as there wouldn’t be any workers to purify it.
Rand Water spokesman Justice Mohale disputed this, saying plans were in place for such an eventuality.
“In case an action is embarked on, there won’t be an interruption to water supply. Over and above that, even if people can decide to breach the contract on service-level agreements and embark on the action, there are people lined up who know the job,” Mohale explained.
The strike notice comes just days after some parts of Joburg were left without water last week due to a burst pipe.
Last September, large parts of Gauteng experienced water-supply disruptions, invoking anger from citizens.
Samwu has cautioned that the same fate could befall the four provinces which are serviced by Rand Water unless there’s urgent intervention.
“We call on the chairperson and the entire board to intervene unless they are ready to take the blame for the consequences that will follow the… industrial action,” the union said in its statement.
Other demands included a 12 percent incentive bonus and R2 150 housing allowance.
THE STAR