A three-hour hostage drama at the Sarah Baartman District Municipality offices in Port Elizabeth almost ended in blows on Monday night when police tried to stop the workers from re-entering the building.

The disgruntled workers‚ who were demanding that their grievances be addressed‚ had kept municipal manager Ted Pillay behind the locked gates since shortly after 7pm‚ refusing to let him leave the offices near Govan Mbeki Avenue.

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The workers‚ all of them members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu)‚ had vowed to hold Pillay until he committed to dealing with several outstanding issues.

After hours of intense negotiations‚ police finally persuaded them to unlock the gates and let Pillay and a few other municipal workers who were still inside go.

Police then formed a human barricade to prevent the protesting workers from going back into the premises.

Asked whether he had feared for his life while being held hostage‚ a smiling Pillay said later: “These are my employees‚ they are my responsibility and I am not afraid of them hurting me.

“But I cannot rest until I know that each and every one of the workers here this evening is safe.”

The workers accused Pillay of failing to address a number of issues‚ some of them dating back three years.

Their list of 22 grievances‚ submitted to the office of the municipal manager and seen by The Herald‚ includes policies being approved without being reviewed by the labour forums.

Other issues revolved around adequate parking space for employees‚ pro rata bonuses‚ cellphone allowances‚ laptops for personal assistants‚ improved working conditions‚ advertising of the vacant director corporate services and finance position and lack of reimbursement for employees placed in acting positions.

– TMG Digital/The Herald