The Police and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in South Africa is threatening disruptions to public services due to dissatisfaction with the approved 4.7% wage hike for non-senior management service (SMS) workers in government starting 01 April 2024. Representing about 120 000 workers in policing, traffic and correctional services, Popcru deems the increase insufficient to offset the rising cost of living and demands an above-inflation raise. Despite being part of a two-year public sector wage agreement, Popcru refused to sign, arguing that the raise falls below inflation and fails to address workers’ grievances after years of stagnant wages. Dissatisfaction stems from broken promises, including the government’s failure to implement agreed-upon wage increases in 2020 and 2021. Popcru threatens mobilization and marches to demand better wages, emphasizing the government’s dismissal of workers’ concerns amid looming elections.
