City of Tshwane Municipal Call Centre Operates at Limited Capacity Due to SAMWU March

Pretoria – The City of Tshwane has announced that its municipal call centre is operating at limited capacity today due to a march by members of the South African Municipal Workers Union. As a result, several key service lines are temporarily unavailable, including those handling inquiries related to A Re Yeng, by-law emails, credit control, meter readings, roads and stormwater issues, and waste management. However, the city confirmed that essential services such as electricity, water and sanitation, and online customer care will remain operational throughout the march.

March Disrupts Non-Essential Services as Workers Demand Fair Pay

The disruption comes as hundreds of SAMWU members march to Tshwane House, the city’s administrative headquarters, to voice their grievances over long-standing issues. The union, representing municipal workers across South Africa, has organised the protest to push for the reinstatement of dismissed employees and the payment of outstanding salary increases that date back several years. These demands stem from disputes over a 3.5% wage hike owed since 2021 and a 5.4% increase from 2023, which the city has delayed due to financial constraints.

SAMWU leaders have highlighted how these unpaid adjustments have hit workers hard, especially amid rising living costs. “Municipal workers keep the city running through tough times, often at great personal cost,” a union spokesperson noted in recent statements. Other concerns include the incorrect grading of the 2013 metro police intake, which has left officers on lower pay scales than deserved, and the lack of proper uniforms for pregnant female staff. These issues have built up over time, leading to repeated calls for action.

The march began early this morning, with participants gathering at the Old Putco Depot before moving along key streets like Struben Street, Sophie De Bruyn, and Madiba Street towards Tshwane House. Traffic police have advised drivers to steer clear of these routes to avoid delays, as the protest could cause road closures and slow movement in the city centre. While the event is expected to remain peaceful, past SAMWU actions in Tshwane have sometimes turned tense, with incidents of scuffles and objects thrown during similar wage protests in 2023.

Essential Services Unaffected to Maintain Public Safety

Despite the limitations at the call centre, the city has assured residents that critical operations will continue without interruption. Electricity faults, water leaks, and sanitation problems can still be reported through the usual channels, including the online customer portal at www.tshwane.gov.za. This move aims to prevent any major breakdowns in service delivery, which has been a sore point in previous labour disputes.

In 2023, a SAMWU strike led to piles of uncollected rubbish on streets and extended power outages in some areas, highlighting how worker actions can ripple out to affect everyday life. The city has learned from those events, implementing contingency plans to keep vital lines open. “We understand the frustration, but public safety comes first,” city officials have stated in updates.

Residents needing help with non-urgent matters, like meter readings or waste collection schedules, are asked to wait until normal operations resume. The city expects the call centre to return to full strength once the march ends, likely by late afternoon.

Ongoing Wage Disputes and Financial Challenges in Tshwane

This march is the latest chapter in a drawn-out battle between SAMWU and the City of Tshwane over pay and working conditions. The union has accused the municipality of dragging its feet on agreements reached at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). In April 2025, during the State of the City Address, Mayor Nasiphi Moya acknowledged the need to address these backlogs, promising steps to stabilise finances and pay what is owed.

However, the city cites cash flow problems as the main barrier. Tshwane has been working on debt relief programmes and aggressive revenue collection drives, like the #TshwaneYaTima campaign, to boost funds. With R2.86 billion in reserves reported earlier this year, SAMWU argues there is no excuse for further delays.

Legal battles have also played a role. A recent court ruling remitted the city’s exemption application for the 2021 increase back to the SALGBC for review, with a hearing set for later this month. SAMWU has appealed another decision on the 5.4% hike, showing no quick end in sight. These disputes echo wider challenges in South African municipalities, where workers often face late payments while providing essential services like water, electricity, and waste removal.

Impact on Residents and Calls for Resolution

For Tshwane’s over two million residents, today’s limited call centre access adds to ongoing frustrations with service delivery. Areas like Pretoria West and Centurion have reported issues with roads and stormwater, which are now harder to log. Waste management delays could lead to overflowing bins if the march extends, though the city has teams on standby.

Community groups have mixed views. Some support the workers’ right to protest, recognising their role in keeping the city clean and powered. Others worry about repeated disruptions, calling for talks to prevent future strikes. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), SAMWU’s affiliate, has backed the march, urging the city to negotiate in good faith.

As the protest unfolds, city leaders have invited union reps to discuss the memorandum of demands. Mayor Moya’s administration has shifted towards more worker-friendly policies, including staff awards and infrastructure investments, but resolving the wage backlog remains key to lasting peace.

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