DA accuses Multi-Party partner ActionSA of backstabbing tactics

The ongoing labour strike in the City of Tshwane has caused a divide between Multi-Party coalition partners Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA.

ACTIONSA AND SAMWU MEETING BREAKS TRUST WITH THE DA

ActionSA on Tuesday concluded a successful meeting with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) to help end the ongoing strike action in the City of Tshwane which negatively affects service delivery to all residents in the capital city.

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However, this decision rubbed the DA the wrong way after accusing ActionSA of stabbing Tshwane Executive Mayor Cilliers Brink in the back and pulling the rug from under the coalition’s feet.

ACTIONSA FILES MOTION AGAINST TSHWANE MAYOR

Cllr Kwena Moloto, DA Tshwane Spokesperson said without consulting the Multi-Party coalition, ActionSA submitted an urgent motion to the Speaker of Council that seeks to compel the Executive Mayor to negotiate with striking workers as well as for the Mayor to consider what it calls the legitimate demands put forward by labour unions.

“These demands include adding R600 million to the wage bill, paying striking workers who have disrupted services for residents, and reinstating workers who have engaged in assaults and intimidation against Tshwane employees.”Moloto

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The foundation of ActionSA’s motion lacks substance, Moloto responded.
“The City of Tshwane has made numerous efforts to engage with the unions involved in the ongoing strikes, and ActionSA, having 2 MMC positions, are aware of these engagements. Between July 27th and August 8th, the City of Tshwane held five meetings with union leadership and engaged with the CCMA on August 3rd. ActionSA seems to be playing opposition politics while in government, clearly attempting to score political points,” Moloto explained.

“Furthermore, as the unions have distanced themselves from the strikes in Tshwane, ActionSA’s motion essentially calls on the mayor to engage with the criminal elements who have held this city hostage through violence and destruction,” he added.

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WHERE THE DA STANDS IN THE CURRENT CRISIS

He further said over the past nine weeks, the multi-party coalition has been locked in a battle for the financial future of Tshwane. This struggle has witnessed the destruction of municipal infrastructure, assaults on municipal employees, and even the shooting of a municipal worker.
“Supporting this motion would essentially condone violence, destruction, and intimidation.”

The DA Tshwane chairperson believes ActionSA’s motion displays a lack of foresight.
“Granting wage increases in Tshwane would inevitably come at the expense of resources designated for essential services to residents. If this motion were to be accepted, creating the illusion of ending the strike in the name of resuming service delivery in Tshwane, it will lead to a long-term decline in the quality of services provided to Tshwane residents,” he said.

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