Cape Town – The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) has warned it will disrupt operations in Gauteng if its demands are not met during the first G20 Summit to be held in Africa.
The warning follows a protest in Tshwane, where the union took to the streets demanding wage increases for workers after councillors received a five-percent salary hike while municipal employees’ wages remained unchanged.
[In Pics] SAMWU members march to Tshwane House, demanding the reinstatement of unfairly dismissed workers and the implementation of outstanding 3.5% and 5.4% salary increases. pic.twitter.com/ei9Oa20F60
— SAMWU | SA Municipal Workers’ Union (@SAMWUnion) August 6, 2025
According to EWN, the union also wants the recent salary increases for councillors to be reversed ahead of the summit.
SAMWU regional chairperson Lehlohonolo Maphatsoe expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of appreciation for workers responsible for preparing the metros to host the summit.
“If they do not reverse the 5% salary increase that was resolved in the presence of the provincial chair, there will be no G20 in Gauteng,” Maphatsoe warned.
“We will mobilise more than 50,000 SAMWU members in Tshwane. We are working on a build-up programme to ensure that Gauteng becomes ungovernable. Gauteng will be ungovernable — there will be no G20 here—so that it is clear workers, especially in Tshwane, do not enjoy a healthy relationship with the employer,” he added.
The South African Municipal Workers Union has threatened to make Gauteng “ungovernable” if the 5% increase for Tshwane councillors is not reversed.
Lehlohonolo Maphatsoe, SAMWU Tshwane Chairperson, said wages for workers in the capital city have remained stagnant since 2021. TCG pic.twitter.com/g3AMbPqx0z
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 19, 2025
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Picture: X/@SAMWUnion
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
