The man is at the forefront of negotiations to have municipal workers salaries increased.
The home of a Steve Tshwete municipal worker in Middleburg’s Mhluzi township was petrol- bombed Tuesday this week.
Kgosi Makwati has taken lead in the negotiations between the municipality and workers to have salaries increased.
He informed the 013NEWS reporter that his furniture was extensively damaged and that he had sustained minor injuries from the bombing.
“I have nowhere to sleep,” Makwati added.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning 15 February 2022, a number of petrol bombs were thrown at Makwati’s house in Mhluzi township’s Extension 3 by unknown people.
His furniture was burnt beyond repair.
Makwati is employed as a technician at Steve Tshwete’s municipal department of information communication technology.
He had been at the centre of negotiations between the municipality and the workers for their salaries to be paid at level 6.
A few weeks ago his NP200 bakkie was petrol-bombed when municipal workers downed tools on 22 January 2022, trying to force the municipality to “stick” to a settlement agreement that labour union SAMWU, provincial co-operative governance department and the Steve Tshwete local municipality signed on 16 November 2021.
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He said that his next-door neighbour’s car was also damaged as the men continued throwing the bombs into the house
“Three petrol bombs were thrown into my house and a number of petrol bombs were thrown into my neighbour’s car which was parked outside,” he said when speaking to the 013NEWS reporter.
Makwati said they suspect that the men who burnt down his house are hired by those who are hell-bent on derailing the implementation of the settlement agreement that they signed last year November, which in parts addressed workers’ demands.
“We will stay focused on the main objective and resist any attempts to sidetrack us. We welcome any or every attempt to intervene so that the situation at the municipality can be normalised,” he said.
(edited by LS)
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