Court stops police strike

Johannesburg - An interim interdict that prohibits all members of the SA Police Service (SAPS) from embarking on a strike was granted by the Labour Court early hours of Thursday morning, a national police spokesperson said.

The interdict further prohibits the police and Prisons Civil Rights Organisation (Popcru) from promoting, encouraging or supporting participation in a strike by all members of the SAPS, Brigadier Sally de Beer said.

She said employees of the SAPS render essential services to the community and as a result they were prohibited from striking in terms of Section 65(1)(d) of the Labour Act, 1995.

"Employees of the SAPS, both those employed under the South African Police Service Act and those employed under the Public Service Act, may not - in terms of the SAPS Act and in terms of this interim interdict - withhold their labour or participate in strike action."

"Any contravention of this prohibition will lead to disciplinary  action being taken, which may include summary dismissal from the
police service, de Beer said.

SAPS management approached the court after Popcru announced on Wednesday that about 145 000 police and traffic officers, together with prison warders, will be joining the ongoing national public service strike on Saturday.

The strike has seen hospital services, schools, courts and other public services disrupted for over a week as workers demand an 8.6% salary increase and a R1 000 monthly housing allowance.

The workers have rejected government's offer of seven percent and a R700 allowance.