About 150 Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) workers marched towards Durban City Hall naked, part of the 4,000 laid off in July, this year.
They have been working in different areas under the Municipality of Thekwini.
Their leader, Ms. Slindile Sokhela, said that since they are marching naked, this is a sign that they are mentally disturbed.
She said that the marchers have been evicted with the stands because they are no longer working, and they don’t have money for rent.
Narrating their case, he said that when they were suspended from work, they were not informed in advance that the work would end.
“We woke up in the morning and came to work, and we were told that the work was finished. They don’t give us a chance to organize our own things. We were told that the council has run out of money, there is no more money to pay us,” she explained.
She said that in the meantime, they saw other people being hired in their positions.
“800 people were hired, then we realized that it is not true that there is no money, but the problem is us. Some even tried to kill themselves because of this situation,” she said.
She revealed that they had a meeting with the Mayor of Durban, Mr. Cyril Xaba, in July, and he promised them that they would only be out of work for one month, and then they would be reinstated.
She said when they saw time passing, they tried to return to him but he ignored them.
She said after that, they went to the provincial Premier, Mr. Thami Ntuli, and found out that Xaba was also running away from her.
She cried out of grief which he said was unbearable as they were facing unemployment.
“The municipality has killed us in the way it has done. We are living like immigrants in our country. We want the council to do justice, to be reinstated because it is clear that the council has money,” she said.
She expressed her displeasure that the employed are now earning double the amount they were earning.
“These employees were paid R12 000 while we were paid only R3 500,” she explained.
She complained that they have been working for the Durban council for 10 years.
