Roads near City Hall closed, municipal workers expected to meet

Workers employed by the municipality are expected to gather on Church Walk this morning for a meeting with the South African Municipal Workers' Union.  

The trade union, which represents some DSW workers and employees from the water department, is yet to reach a deal  with the City on salaries.   

Monty Naicker Road (Pine Street), Dorothy Nyembe Street (Gardiner Street) and Samora Michel Street (Aliwal Street) have been cordoned off.   

Metro Police spokesperson, Parboo Sewpersadh says officers are also on stand by. 

"The Durban Metro Police Service, together with other law enforcement agencies, are in position. A multi-operational response team has been deployed in and around the City Hall precinct."

Meanwhile, eThekwini has given striking workers an ultimatum.

"Please go back to work because in the event this continues - the city will have to [implement] the principle of no work, no pay," said spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela.

On Tuesday, parts of Durban and the city centre were brought to a standstill when water and solid waste employees demonstrated outside City Hall demanding salary adjustments.  

They staged protests along major routes, parking municipal vehicles across the road.  

DSW workers also dumped waste in the CBD, leaving behind an unbearable stench.  

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Mayisela says they've decided to halt negotiations with the unions. Provincial government's asked that a task team step in.

"We got a court interdict - which was heard at the labour court which states all workers most come to work. We are therefore appealing to all of them," he said.