About 600 employees of the Windhoek Municipality have given the council until Friday to act on their demands, or they will continue staging demonstrations every Monday.

The workers are demanding permanent employment contracts, a medical aid scheme, and psychosocial support.

According to the demonstrating cleaners' spokesperson, Tranus Kavaara, many of his colleagues are approaching retirement age and would go home with no benefits.

Kavaara says the working environment is not conducive for many employees, and this causes their mental and physical health to be more at risk than any other workers.

Kavaara noted that the employees have dedicated their lives to cleaning the city with pride and appealed to the city's management to employ them permanently and improve their salaries.

"There is a dire need for long-term, or rather permanent, employment for ward employees with improved salaries, benefits, and responsibilities. The majority of the ward employees have had to serve the city of Windhoek for decades. We dedicate our lives to cleaning the city with pride. We need the city management to recognize this and reward it accordingly. We do not wish to be lifetime contract employees."

Archie Nikanor, the acting strategic executive for Human Capital and Corporate Services, received the petition.

The workers, after handing over the petition,m thanked the police for the peaceful demonstration and went to resume their duties.