Protestors damage Eastleigh business
“When I refused to exit the business premises the police left and that is when the protestors started throwing stones at my business windows. Three staff members and I took safety in a locked office of the business.”
An Eastleigh business on Plantation Road, Edenvale was vandalised when National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members took to the streets of Eastleigh in protest on July 7.
Several windows of the company were broken in an attempt by the protestors to force the manager to exit the business. The manager of the Eastleigh business, who did not want to be named out of fear of the strikers, did not understand why his business was targeted.
“The protestors arrived on Plantation Road at 10am. When they arrived I closed my business out of fear that the protest could turn violent. The protestors demanded I exit the business as the manager of the company. I refused to do so and I called the police,” said the business manager.
“One police vehicle arrived and one of the two officers instructed me to exit the business premises so the protestors could speak to me. I refused because I felt as though the officers had no control of the situation. The strikers could have over-powered the police easily,” he said.
“When I refused to exit the business premises the police left and that is when the protestors started throwing stones at my business windows. Three staff members and I took safety in a locked office of the business,” he said.
According to the business manager, when the police returned, the protesters were already leaving the scene.
“When I asked why the police left in the first place they told me I did not follow their instructions by calling me out so they could not help me,” he said.
The manager of the business says feels let-down by the police.
“I have lost confidence in our police force. How was I supposed to risk my life by attempting to negotiate with the protestors? It is unbelievable that they would expect me to do so,” he said.
This incident follows the arrest of 26 Numsa members on Friday, July 4, for intimidation, public violence and malicious damage to property in Elandsfontein.
Many workers in the metal sector went on an indefinite strike on July 1, demanding a 15 percent wage increase, the banning of labour brokers, the rejection of the youth wage subsidy and the review of short-time practice by companies.
Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, the acting station commander of the Edenvale SAPS said, “It is my understand that the police officers were on the scene the entire time. We, as the police, have placed measures in placein an attempt to ensure there is no protest that turn violent. We dispatched a police vehicle to every Numsa protest and police vehicles were visible at every strike. The business manager who had his business vandalised must open a case of intimidation and malicious damage to property so that we can take legal action against the protesters,” he said.
“We ask the business owners to stay calm if there are protesters in their area. Police officers are constantly monitoring the strikes,” said Lt Col Roberts.
It has been confirmed that the office of National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega wants to meet with Numsa to discuss how to hold the union accountable for violence during the wage strike in the metal and engineering industry.
According to Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, a discussion will take place regarding the issue of financial liability for the losses incurred by companies that were attacked.
“Somebody must pay for the damage that has been caused. It is a financial liability and I think that if we hit the union leaders in the pocket, where it hurts, they will put measures in place to ensure their members do not act in this manner,” said Lt Gen Makgale. @BedfordJourno
