The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) has written to KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Francois Rodgers, to request that he launches an urgent investigation into the payment of salaries to municipal employees who are currently on an illegal strike (view letter here).
The DA is in possession of confirmation that workers that have embarked on an unprotected and illegal strike since October 2024 have in fact been paid their full salaries.
This flies in the face of assurances given to the executive and full council by the Municipal Manager, Khetha Zulu, that the municipality would institute the “no work no pay” rule against striking workers.
The DA is further calling for an independent negotiation team to be appointed by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi as the ANC continues to put party first before the residents of Ray Nkonyeni.
It has been made abundantly clear that priorities of the Mayor, Councillor Zodwa Mzindle is campaigning and politicking instead of saving the municipality from collapse. RNM Mayor was not present during the deliberations of the strike as she had to attend an event hosted by the KZN Department of Transport to handover a district road to the contractor. Her actions underpin the ANC’s lack of commitment to bring this crisis to an end.
The Democratic Alliance continues to explore all avenues to expedite the end of this strike and bring an end the RNM residents suffering. We remain committed to holding the municipal leadership accountable and will not rest until service delivery is restored.