Security officers enter Chris Hani offices demanding their salaries

Security guards and cleaners employed at the Christ Hani district municipality have threatened to take to the streets in protest over unpaid salaries dating back to December.

This is after the security guard were ignored for more than two hours waiting for a meeting that was confirmed by the municipality’s manager Gcobani Mashiyi.

The meeting comes after a meeting on 24 February 2026, where the municipality asked the securities to come on March 3, that meeting was later postponed by Mashiyi to Tuesday (10/03).

On arrival, they were not attended to and had to force their way inside the municipal building singing.

After they were attended, they were told that they have to go to the company that hired them.

The workers, who claim they have not received their wages since the start of the year, say previous attempts to engage with the municipality have been met with silence.

Police were called to monitor the situation.

A meeting between the workers and municipality representatives on Tuesday failed to yield any concrete solutions, with the workers accusing the municipality of ignoring their plight.

Corporate services director Thoki Jaxa told the workers that they have nothing to do with the security guards.

“We have nothing to promise, go to Siyazu,” she said.

Concerned community member Xola Njokweni said the municipality has avoided meeting with them since December when they submitted their petition.

“These people have families to feed and we know that you are used to ignoring our petitions,” he said.

He said all they came was to hear the response from the municipality on the petition.

“The municipality wants to make us as if we are fighting but people want money.

“Some of the workers left their jobs because they have not been paid since December. Even though they have not been getting their full salaries since July last year,” he said.

Security guard Amanda Jonas said they have not been getting their salaries for months and the municipality is the one responsible for the nonpayment.

“They have not been paying the company’s and now we must suffer,” he said.

Another security guard Amanda Memani said she has been struggling to pay her child’s school fees.

“I have nothing to eat and I haven’t paid for my child’s blazer. Siyazu’s contact with the municipality ended and they are now on a month to month contract,” she said.

Corporate services head Thumeka Bikwana said after looking at the petition they thought it was addressed at the wrong place as the securities are contracted with Siyazu.

However, Njokweni said the securities are from all companies working in Christ Hani as all have not been paid.

Bikwana said the municipality is bankrupt and does not have money.

“We had an agreement with security companies to pay them R1million per month and we don’t know why they are not paying their workers,” she said.

According to workers, their companies are blaming the security for the non payment of their salaries.

The meeting ended with both parties in disagreement and the municipality promised to organised another meeting.