Johannesburg - Fifty-three striking National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) members were arrested in Gauteng on Tuesday on possible charges of public violence, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega's office said.
"Police in Gauteng arrested 13 Numsa protesters in Brakpan and 40 people in Germiston on possible charges of public violence," said spokesperson Solomon Makgale.
This added to the 28 protesters arrested previously in Gauteng and 17 protesters arrested in the Western Cape since the start of Numsa's strike, which moved into its seventh day on Tuesday.
Criminal behaviour
"These recent arrests brings the total number of people arrested in the country since the start of the strike to 98," Makgale said.
"In KwaZulu-Natal, seven cases have been registered in the Pinetown area. The police obtained and examined CCTV footage, identified possible suspects and are presently tracing them."
Other provinces were also experiencing strike action but there had been no reports of violence or other related criminal behaviour.
Phiyega said she was seriously concerned about the sporadic violence, intimidation and other alleged criminal acts that had been taking place since the strike began.
While she did not object to anyone exercising their right to protest, the law clearly stated that this must be done procedurally, unarmed and in a peaceful manner.
Makgale said in this regard she had requested a meeting with the leadership of Numsa to discuss her concerns.
Damage to property
Earlier, Numsa spokesperson Castro Ngobese urged striking members to act in a disciplined manner while on strike.
"As we're engaged in an indefinite national strike, we call on Numsa members participating in the national strike to exercise maximum discipline and not to involve themselves in violent acts of any kind," Ngobese said in a statement.
Employer organisation Seifsa (Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA) said it had received reports of intimidation and damage to property from its members.
The union also demanded that the use of labour brokers should cease.