Nehawu demands R40k cash payout, 6.5% salary increase for Icasa employees

Nehawu members protest at Helen Joseph Hospital on 8 March 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle Workers at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) have downed tools after wage negotiations collapsed, with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) demanding a R40 000 cash payout for employees, a 6.5% salary increase and the immediate implementation of outstanding performance bonuses for the 2023-24 cycle. The strike, which started on Thursday, follows Icasa’s decision to provide employees a 4.5% salary increase from June 2026, an offer the union has rejected as inadequate.

Nehawu has accused the national media regulator of not caring about employees. The strike action stems from a collapse of wage negotiations between the two parties, as Icasa would not give in to the union’s demands. It is understood that the union is demanding a two-part pay rise for employees, an increase to their monthly salaries, and a single, flat cash payout of R40 000 given equally to every qualifying employee regardless of their rank or salary level.

“The union declared a dispute at the CCMA in May 2026 after the employer refused to concede to the demands of the union for a 6.5% salary increase plus a R40 000 across-the-board cash component,” said Nehawu on Thursday afternoon after the first day of the strike action. A conciliation process was convened; however, it yielded no results, and a strike certificate was issued, with Icasa receiving notification on 28 July 2026. Despite a collapse in negotiations, Icasa implemented the 4.5% from June, a move the union says shows the regulator “undermines and attacks collective bargaining processes”.

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The union also accuses Icasa of refusing to “implement agreements in place at the workplace, such as reneging on workers’ performance bonuses for the 2023-24 cycle last November”. Nehawu said the strike would continue indefinitely until its demands are met. “These are reasonable demands given that Icasa offers no additional benefits to staff, and that employees have endured below-inflation increases for three consecutive financial years despite generating billions of rands annually for state coffers.” Icasa has confirmed that it implemented the 4.5% increase despite no agreement being reached with employees, citing that the increase is in line with the organisation’s remuneration policy.

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