Police asked to protect strike-hit businesses

Johannesburg - The South African Police Service (Saps) must protect companies targeted by striking National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) workers, the AHi said on Wednesday.

Over the past few days companies reported incidences of intimidation and vandalism by workers dressed in Numsa T-shirts to local business chambers on the East Rand.

"Such criminal acts by striking workers undermine the letter and spirit of our Constitution and related labour legislation. The AHi, therefore, calls on the leadership of Numsa to put measures in place to control its members and to give clear instructions to its local leadership to ensure that members refrain from such acts," said AHi CEO Christo van der Rheede.

"The AHi also request companies who are targeted to report such incidences to the police and to ensure that evidence related to such incidences are meticulously recorded. More importantly, though, such evidence of whatever type must be both relevant and admissible in court."

Van der Rheede said vandalising company property and intimidation or physical abuse of non-striking workers serve no purpose other than fuelling further violence, hardship and further polarisation between stakeholders.

"Such acts will not help Numsa in terms of achieving its demands. What is required is common decency, respect for the negotiation process and greater realism on the part of Numsa," he said.

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