During a visit to the offices yesterday, it was clear that normal operations had once again come to a halt. Staff and residents were unable to access the building, while members of the South African Police Service remained on site to maintain order. This is an unacceptable pattern.
For several months, Johannesburg residents have repeatedly been denied access to essential municipal services, including billing enquiries, account-related matters and other critical water services, because of recurring protests linked to contractors’ failure to pay workers.
While workers have every right to demand payment for work that they have performed, the burden of these contractual failures should not be carried by residents who rely on the City for basic services.
These ongoing disruptions raise serious questions about the City’s contract management, oversight mechanisms and supply chain governance. A municipality cannot continue awarding and managing contracts without ensuring that service providers comply with their contractual obligations, including paying employees on time.
ActionSA calls on the City of Johannesburg to urgently investigate the matter and hold the responsible contractors accountable to ensure that the affected workers receive the wages due to them.
Most importantly, the City must implement measures that prevent residents from becoming collateral damage during disputes on contract management. Service delivery cannot be held hostage because of failures that fall squarely within the City’s responsibility to oversee its contractors.
Johannesburg residents deserve a municipality that manages public contracts responsibly, protects workers’ rights and ensures uninterrupted access to essential municipal services.
ActionSA Athol Trollip (National Chairperson) Eastern Cape Heavyweight: A former Federal Chairperson of the DA and the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay (2016–2018). The Switch: Joined ActionSA in early 2022, bringing significant administrative experience and a strong support base in the Eastern Cape, specifically Gqeberha. The Role: He oversees the party’s national structures and is the key strategist for rural and metropolitan expansion.
Emerald Goddess
The cab driver feels compelled to flesh the story out, as its just the husband he\’s talking to.
\”yeah I remember that last shore leave in Johannesburg, me and the lads gagging for some action, end up in a dive bar and met this girl, we got a room and she was the the worst fuck I\’ve ever had!\”
The wife says \”what did he say?\”.
Husband \”the cab driver he says he might know you!\”
The Dude
Fun South African Fact: For an unforgettable bucket-list activity, search for the famous Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) on safari in one of South Africa’s national parks or private game reserves. A South African safari is an experience like no other!