The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has issued a stern warning: there will be no G20 in Gauteng if salary disputes persist. The union, representing thousands of municipal employees, is demanding the City of Tshwane honour wage agreements dating back to 2021. With the Summit scheduled for Johannesburg this November, tensions are rising.
Samwu: Growing Frustration Over Broken Wage Agreements
Samwu accuses the City of Tshwane of attempting to exempt itself from a collective bargaining agreement. This agreement includes a 3.5% salary increase for 2021 and a 5.4% increase for 2023. The union insists that this breach is unacceptable and undermines trust in the municipal wage system.
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“We are still of the view that while our issues are not resolved, we are not going to have the G20,”
— Donald Monakisi, Samwu Regional Secretary .
Samwu’s stance has found support among COSATU affiliates. They argue that city workers continue to wait for wage increases while councillors recently received a 5% salary hike.
“No G20 in Gauteng if Salary Disputes Persist” – A Mobilisation Strategy
The warning is not just rhetoric. Samwu is actively mobilising workers across Gauteng and neighbouring provinces. Union leaders have already used events like the International Day of Decent Work to rally support.
“Actually, even yesterday that was part of our mobilisation… it worked to mobilise towards our ultimate goal,”
— Donald Monakisi
The regional leadership plans to present a consolidated strategy to Samwu’s national body, followed by mass mobilisation across Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West.
Political Stakes: Can Gauteng Afford Disruption During G20?
As the host of the 2025 G20 Summit, South Africa faces significant reputational risk. The summit is expected to attract world leaders, international media, and economic stakeholders. Disruption by municipal workers could result in logistical chaos and global embarrassment.
Lehlogonolo Maphatsoe, Samwu’s regional chairperson, did not hold back:
“They have declared war and invited us into a boxing ring… we’ll meet them toe-to-toe.”
Gauteng residents could also face interrupted waste collection, service delivery failures, and protest-related traffic disruptions — all during a time when the world is watching.
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What Samwu Wants from the City of Tshwane
Samwu’s demands are clear:
- Reverse the 5% pay increase for councillors.
- Implement salary increases from 2021 and 2023.
- Reinstate 43 workers dismissed during previous strikes.
These issues have been presented to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), but union leaders say they are still waiting for a response.
“Until these issues are resolved, we cannot proceed with the G20,”
— Donald Monakisi
For background on Samwu’s broader salary demands, see the official SAMWU statement from March 2025.
A History of Wage Exemptions and Worker Discontent
This isn’t the first time Tshwane has been accused of failing to honour agreements. In 2023, similar disputes led to violent protests and dismissals. The city argued that budget constraints made full implementation impossible.
However, unions argue that councillors receiving increases while frontline workers wait undermines fairness.
“How can we perform optimally when our own issues are being ignored?”
— Donald Monakisi
Can Government Prevent a Crisis?
So far, there has been no official response from the National Treasury, COGTA, or the Presidency. With less than two months until the G20 Summit, time is running out.
Experts suggest that national intervention may be required to prevent service delivery breakdowns and diplomatic fallout. The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) may also have to mediate a solution.
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A Critical Test for Labour and Leadership
The Samwu wage dispute is not just a labour issue; it’s a national governance challenge. As Gauteng prepares to host global leaders, the ability to resolve this impasse will reflect South Africa’s commitment to fairness, stability, and social justice.
If unresolved, the union’s mobilisation may indeed ensure that “there will be no G20 in Gauteng”.
