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Water supply threat to polls

WORKER ANGER: Angry workers threaten there will be no water during elections. 20/04/2009. Pic. Riot Hlatshwayo. © Sowetan.
WORKER ANGER: Angry workers threaten there will be no water during elections. 20/04/2009. Pic. Riot Hlatshwayo. © Sowetan.

Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

Striking workers at the Thulamahashe department of water affairs and forestry have threatened to switch off water supplies to voting stations tomorrow to disrupt the elections.

If the threat is carried out it could leave nearly a million people in the Bushbuckridge area without water during the elections.

The workers, who are on strike over a wage dispute, brandished placards yesterday that read: "How can we work without money?" However, the workers refused to speak to Sowetan, saying they feared losing their jobs.

But Sowetan has learnt that the workers were transferred from the Bushbuckridge municipality and were not paid, among other things their leave gratuities.

December Manana, Nehawu's provincial secretary, said the union would meet with the municipality soon to resolve the dispute.

Department officials were not available for comment.

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