Workers flee Dr AB Xuma Municipality amid alleged taxi intimidation

Employees at Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality fled their offices on 06 May after individuals allegedly linked to a taxi association entered the premises and ordered them to leave, workers say.

According to staff who spoke anonymously due to fears of victimisation, the incident occurred at about 10:00.

“Individuals believed to be linked to the taxi industry entered the municipal premises and instructed employees to vacate the workplace immediately while allegedly threatening consequences should they fail to do so,” one worker said.

The workers said the incident caused panic and disruption, with employees leaving the offices under distressing circumstances.

SAMWU shop steward Lonwabo Delihlazo said the municipality had not issued any formal communication to staff or the union by 08 May.

“To date, the municipality has done nothing meaningful to address the situation. No proper communication has been issued to employees or labour representatives explaining what exactly transpired, whether the threat has been neutralised, who the individuals were, what safety measures have been implemented, or whether employees are safe to return to work,” Delihlazo said.

He said no counselling, debriefing or workplace support had been communicated to affected employees.

Delihlazo also raised concerns that some staff who stayed home due to fear and trauma were being threatened with salary deductions.

“My position is that employees cannot reasonably be expected to return to normal duties while there is uncertainty regarding the threats, the individuals involved, and whether such an incident could happen again,” he said.

SAMWU has escalated the matter to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council, citing failure to ensure a safe working environment, failure to communicate during a workplace crisis, and exclusion of the union from safety processes.

The union also referenced a previous incident in which a construction worker died at the municipal offices during ongoing building work, saying no proper engagement was provided to the union at the time.

Municipality did not respond to requests for comment. SANTACO also did not respond to questions sent last week.