Braamfischerville – About 60 Spar workers are now unemployed, over 100 dependent’s livelihoods have been cut out after Braamfischerville Spar was mysteriously set alight on 14 March at night.
Hundreds of residents who depend on their nearby convenient grocery shop are now walking extra miles to buy grocery and excess their banking facility as all five ATM machines at the shop were also vandalised and set ablaze.
According to Braamfischerville Spar shop steward John Matebe,”This unfortunate situation would have been avoided if both the employer and the workers had adhered to the employment agreement reached late last year.
“It has been long workers from Spar Braamfischerville complaining about poor working conditions and the management didn’t care to listen to their plight,” said Matebe.
He said among some of the workers’ principal grievances include none payment of their provident funds, poor working conditions and none availability of transportation after knocking late at night.
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Matebe said there have been two previous fire attempts at the shop building that were unsuccessful in the past.
“However, on that unfortunate night of March 14 before the fire incident occurs, the owner was allegedly seen removing the valuable items and grocery inside the shop.
“Later at night after the shop owner left, the shop building was mysteriously engulfed by fire.
“There have been several accusations, some allegedly claim that the community, drug edicts or the shop owner could be responsible for setting the building alight.
“Later on, the community came in large numbers to loot the already burning shop.
“We hope police investigation will give us a clear picture as to who set the shop building alight,” said Matebe.
According to Dobsonville acting police spokesperson Sergeant Khalipha Mvula, there were 21 Spar employees that were picketing outside the shop premises after the owner received court interdict prohibiting dismissed 21 workers to picket inside the shop premises.
He said while the workers were picketing, some members of the community illegally gained entry at the back of a bottle store building looting undisclosed amount of liquor.
“Police were called at the crime scene and arrested seven people involved in looting at the bottle store.
“On Thursday 14 March again dismissed workers picketed once again and overpowered the security personnel at Spaar shop.
“They burned down the shop, looted grocery and other valuables.
“A case of malicious damage to property was opened,” said Sergeant Mvula.
As if that was not enough, the community came for the third time on 17 May.
Sergeant Mvula said they (community) vandalised the ATM five machines inside the Spar shop premises.
He promised that police will continue with their investigations and arrest perpetrators of violence.
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