Traffic in different parts of Randfontein was affected as scores of people affiliated to the Rand West Unity Detachment (RUD) community force took to the streets and embarked on a peaceful strike.
This was on Friday, October 14 and the strike started off on Main Reef Road and headed towards different businesses in the Central Business District (CBD).
The strike was an effort to put pressure on businesses operating in the region to absorb locals in their operations in the form of job opportunities.
Speaking to the Herald during the strike, RUD Chairperson Moses Nhlanhla said their efforts are aimed at achieving economic freedom in their lifetime.
“The organisation formulated to look into socioeconomic aspects affecting the different communities within the Rand West. Our program started when we confronted the illegal mining system and we began to raise issues on the plight of the communities. We are sitting in one of the poorest regions in Gauteng, so we ought to ask questions about the socioeconomic conditions we find ourselves in,” said Nhlanhla.
Part of their demands are for local businesses to have sourced at least 90 percent of their workforce from the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) for local businesses to absorb Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) as well, in granting them business opportunities.
They also tabled demands which call on local businesses to have a cash injection in the region’s youth desk to ensure that the youth is equipped with necessary resources to better their future.
These are but some of the demands tabled at the strike and the companies targeted were given seven days to respond to the demands made.
