BLOEMFONTEIN – A strike over salary increases by disgruntled employees at the Free State Gambling, Liquor and Tourism Authority (FSGLTA) continues. Striking workers who are members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) continued picketing outside the premises of this entity of the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA).
The more than 120 workers across the Free State have vowed to continue with the strike. It began on Monday 24 November. They embarked on a strike after reaching a deadlock with the board of directors and management team over salary increase. The strike is centred on outstanding salary increases from the past two financial years and the current year of 2025-’26. The strike is fraught with serious accusations and allegations of fraud, maladministration, and wasteful expenditure by the FSGLTA’s board of directors.
According to Khauhelo Mnqibisa, Nehawu’s secretary in the Free State, employees last received an increase in 2023-’24.
“Workers are still owed payment for increases of 5% and 2.5% for the 2024-’25 financial year and the 2025-’26 financial year. In essence, this means for two consecutive years, workers did not receive an increase. Our members are trapped in poverty. Bearing in mind the ever-increasing cost of living, they are struggling to provide for their families. The zero percent increase has additionally severely impacted their contributions to medical aid and pension funds.
The strike is our last resort for a better increase for members to improve their living standards after the board bluntly refused to increase workers’ salaries.”
Mnqibisa says workers have utterly objected to the proposed offer of 2.1% and 4.8% by the FSGLTA board and management for the 2025-’26 fiscal year. He explained that the 4.8% is conditional for workers earning below R600 000, and 2.1% for workers earning R600 000 or more per annum.
“With this offer, the board of directors and management put the cart before the horse, as it was made without consultation to resolve the impasse on wage dispute. In the process, the board of directors and management do not want to pay outstanding increases from the past two years, which members are against,” says Mnqibisa.
