The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has called off a strike set for Thursday at Silulumanzi, a water services company in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, after agreeing to a 6.5% pay increase.
“The increase will be applicable from the end of this month ... it is valid from January 1 to December 31 2025. The strike has officially been averted,” Numsa acting regional secretary Pholo Sebotsa said on Wednesday afternoon
The above-inflation increase is welcome news for Numsa members as it seeks to cushion its members from the rising cost of living.
“Numsa continues its long track record of securing above inflation increases for the benefit of workers and their families,” Sebotsa said.
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index accelerated slightly to 3% year on year in December 2024 from 2.9% in November, according to data published by Stats SA on Wednesday.
Earlier, Sebotsa had threatened strike action if did not accede to Numsa’s demand for a 7% wage increase. The demand was revised to 6.5% after Silulumanzi offered 6%. The union was granted a 48-hour strike notice issued by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration after talks deadlocked.
“The company and unions have successfully reached a settlement, which will allow us to avoid any disruption of services due to a potential strike,” Silulumanzi spokesperson Richmond Jele said in an update to customers after the pay agreement was signed.
“We appreciate your continued support and understanding during this process. Our priority remains to provide you with the high-quality service you expect and are committed to ensuring a smooth uninterrupted experience for our customers.”
Silulumanzi supplies about 120-million litres of water daily to 400,000 people across Mbombela. It also provides wastewater services across the region, including the townships of Karino, KaNyamazane, Tekwana, Msogwaba and Matsulu.
Silulumanzi’s service coverage also extends to other peri-urban areas such as Zwelisha, Mpakeni and Luphisi.
The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) signed a one-year wage deal in July last year for an increase of 7% for workers in the water sector represented in the Amanzi Bargaining Council.
The deal between Samwu, the biggest municipal union representing about 160,000 of SA’s almost 300,000 municipal workers, and SA’s water boards, is effective from July 1 2024 to June 30 2025.
The country’s water boards — Amatola Water, Bloem Water, Lepelle Northern Water, Magalies Water, Mhlathuze Water, Overberg Water, Rand Water and Umgeni Water — are responsible for more than 95% of bulk water supply.
Update: January 22 2025
This story has been updated to reflect that Numsa and Silulumanzi have signed a pay agreement.
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