Festival 'largely unaffected' by strike

THE National Arts Festival is in full swing in Grahamstown despite municipal workers downing tools last week over alleged municipal financial mismanagement.

Municipal workers were picketing yesterday but by 1pm the group had dispersed.

Festival chief executive Tony Lankester said the past few days had run smoothly.

"Festival activities haven't been affected by the protest action and strike, and our visitors have been largely unaffected," he said.

South African Workers' Union (Samwu) Makana chairman Zola Kolisi said yesterday they would continue with the strike until their grievances were answered by the municipality.

He said they did not care if the strike disrupted the festival. "The festival is not for us, it is for the rich people. We, the poor people, are not getting anything out of this, why should we care about it?" he asked.

The municipal workers' grievances include alleged financial mismanagement by officials to the tune of R100-million, salaries not being paid on time, leading to some workers' medical aid and provident funds lapsing, failure to pay a R10000 once-off 14th cheque and a lack of intervention by Bhisho politicians to resolve long-standing alleged financial irregularities.

Makana municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramakola said the municipal manager, mayor and council were engaging the union.

DA MP Andrew Whitfield said the striking municipal workers were threatening the city's potential in growth and development.

"It is putting the fast decaying infrastructure at more risk," he said. - Poliswa Plaatjie