Joburg signs Samwu's R10 billion pay deal fix. What it means for your bins
The City of Johannesburg and Samwu signed an addendum to the R10 billion PFA wage deal on 3 November 2026, after protests that left bins uncollected. Here's what was agreed and the payment schedule.
The City of Johannesburg and the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) have signed an addendum to the R10 billion wage deal at the centre of last month's protests, which left bins unemptied across the city (The Citizen).
Mayor Dada Morero, Samwu regional secretary Thobani Nkosi and Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo signed it on Tuesday afternoon, 3 November, a day before the local government elections (The Citizen).
What did the city and Samwu agree?
The addendum adds to the Politically Facilitated Agreement (PFA), first agreed in November 2025, which promised Samwu members a combined R10 billion in back pay over three years. It deals with the deadlock over salary scales and current pay levels (The Citizen).
The city said the main aim is to speed up outstanding parity commitments and the payments needed to move affected workers to the correct entry level on the salary scale for a Grade 10 municipality (The Citizen). The full terms weren't made public, and the total amount is set to rise above the original deal.
How was the money supposed to be paid?
Under the original 2025 deal, the payments were scheduled like this:
| Payment | Amount | Due by |
|---|---|---|
| First | R1.2 billion to R2 billion | March 2026 |
| Second | R5 billion to R6 billion | July 2026 |
| Third | R4.1 billion | July 2027 |
Source: The Citizen
Samwu protested repeatedly over delays to the 2026 payments (The Citizen). Nkosi said the addendum includes steps to make sure the deal is fully funded, with the money to be provided for in the city's budget adjustment (The Citizen).
Does this mean my bins will be collected?
The deal should lower the risk of more protest action, but no one has given a date for clearing any remaining waste backlog. Mamabolo said the agreement would bring stability to municipal labour relations and help improve service delivery (The Citizen).
In late October, Pikitup said a Samwu protest left it with minimal capacity on the road, with the northern, western and southern parts of the city worst hit (Sowetan). We covered that backlog and what residents could do here.
If your bin still hasn't been collected, report it to Pikitup or the City of Johannesburg's official channels with your address and normal collection day.
FAQ
What is the Samwu PFA in Johannesburg?
The Politically Facilitated Agreement is a wage and benefits deal between the City of Johannesburg and Samwu, first agreed in November 2025, promising members R10 billion in back pay over three years.
When was the Samwu addendum signed?
On Tuesday, 3 November 2026, by Mayor Dada Morero, Samwu's Thobani Nkosi and Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
Will the deal end Pikitup collection delays?
It should reduce the risk of further protests, but no date has been given for clearing any remaining backlog.