The City of Tshwane said on Wednesday that it has issued 41 letters of intent to dismiss striking workers.
Employees connected with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have gone on strike, which the city has declared illegal.
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This week, municipal workers went on strike to protest a variety of issues, including the failure to pay compensation increases.
Employees are asking for 3.5% and 5.4% raises, which Brink says the city cannot afford.
Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba says the city will also file an urgent application with the Labour Court to enforce an interdict granted last Friday.
“The striking workers were interdicted and restrained from performing any acts of destruction of the City of Tshwane’s property and any private or public property, or from performing acts of intimidation to any of the city’s employees.
“The city manager has issued multiple ultimatums to the striking employees to return to work and to desist from intimidating their non-striking colleagues.
“The striking employees have disregarded the court order and therefore are guilty of contempt of court; hence the city has resolved to approach the Labour Court again today for the enforcement of the interim interdict, which will empower the police to arrest the striking employees and the Samwu leadership,” said Bokaba.
According to Bokaba, striking workers are holding residents hostage by preventing their colleagues from doing their duties.
“The majority of the employees report for duty but are being prevented, intimidated, and victimised by their striking colleagues from executing their duties.
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The city has implemented recovery plans to overcome the backlog caused by the illegal strike action.
Employee intimidation will cause a delay in responding to interruptions.
Since then, 15 employees have been arrested and charged with public incitement.
They are also being investigated internally.
