Oudtshoorn, 09 April 2024 – South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) representatives disrupted a Council Meeting on 22 September 2023, at the Oudtshoorn Municipality, seeking to present a memorandum to the municipal council. In response to this disruption of a council meeting five out of six municipal employees who are representatives of the SAMWU union were dismissed on 26 March 2024.
Municipal Manager, Walter Hendricks, confirmed that a thorough investigation and disciplinary process were undertaken following the intrusion of the six SAMWU representatives into the council chamber on September 22, where they refused to vacate the premises despite requests from council members. The six employees were placed on special leave pending the investigation.
Five of the six employees were found guilty of charges related to unlawful entry into a council meeting and holding council members hostage. Consequently, these five employees were dismissed on 26 March 2024.
On September 22, 2023, SAMWU members disrupted a Council Meeting at the municipality, seeking to present a memorandum. Law enforcement was called due to the disruption and physical altercations, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Executive Mayor, Alderman Chris Macpherson, emphasized the chamber’s sanctity for orderly discussion and condemned unauthorized entry. He later invited these union representatives to his office to submit the memorandum through proper channels.