NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile has apologised for the conduct of his traffic officers after they took to the streets in strike action and blocked the M4 freeway in Port Elizabeth yesterday morning.

NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile has apologised for the conduct of his traffic officers after they took to the streets in strike action and blocked the M4 freeway in Port Elizabeth yesterday morning.

The traffic officers, who are members of the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu), took to the streets during a dispute about how their salary grading levels were being handled.

Wayile said his office had not reached consensus with Samwu in recent meetings, but no prior notification was given of the intended strike action. As a result, the activities of workers, businesses and school children, as well as visitors to Port Elizabeth, were disrupted.

Samwu's Eastern Cape general secretary was not immediately available for comment. - Sapa