By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng High Court has struck off the roll the Democratic Alliance (DA) application to block a R10-billion salary agreement between City of Johannesburg and the municipal workers under South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), citing lack of urgency.
The ruling allows the City of Johannesburg to proceed with the controversial, and potentially unfunded deal.
Last week, the Johannesburg City Council passed the adjustment budget, which the DA said highlighted the “catastrophic risk” to the City’s financial viability of the agreement with Samwu.
The party described the agreement as a “heist”, claiming that it bypassed proper Council processes and was made without proper authority.
Sithembiso Zungu, MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, accused the DA of hypocrisy, saying: “The DA is being opportunistic in this regard. This is because this matter went to the council and dates back to 2016, when the agreement was signed off then. It passed the council vote, so we are surprised now to see the DA coming back and saying they are not in support of this agreement.”
In his ruling Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, Judge Marcus Senyatsi, struck the application off the roll for the lack of urgency and ordered DA to cover the costs incurred by respondents one through six, including expenses for two counsel on Scale C.
“Having been aware of the Politically Facilitated Agreement (PFA) and its implementation for many years, the DA was present in council when the PFA was initially concluded in 2016.”
PFA is a negotiated wage agreement aimed at addressing long-standing salary disparities and salary grading issues for employees, often involving significant financial adjustments.
Fullview understands under Herman Mashaba’s leadership as Mayor, the DA took steps to implement the first phase of the PFA. Even during Dr. Mpho Phalatse’s term as Mayor from October 2021 to January 2023, the city continued to enforce the PFA.
SAMWU described the ruling as a significant victory for workers who have endured years of inequality. The union said the gains were not easily achieved but secured through sustained organisation, resilience and determination.