Prisons throughout South Africa could be unguarded at the weekend as the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) prepares to defy a court interdict preventing its members from striking.
The interim interdict, obtained in the Pretoria High Court on Monday evening, prevents union members from engaging in any form of action that negatively impacted on service delivery.
Popcru has raised concerns about the department cutting staff numbers over weekends by about 30%, saying this made warders’ workload unbearable and put their safety at risk.
Last weekend, warders at seven prisons embarked on strike action in protest. The department said it had fired more than 150 staff since last Saturday for compromising prison security and flouting labour laws.
Popcru spokesperson Patrick Ntsobi said on Thursday evening that a last ditch effort to resolve the dispute failed when discussions between the union and the departments of public service and administration and correctional services broke down.
”We must confess the discussions collapsed and no agreements were reached.”
He said the union would go to the Pretoria High Court on Friday to show reason why the court order should not be made final.
Ntsobi said members of Popcru were not willing to work overtime this weekend.
”No Popcru warders will be at prisons this weekend. This will bring the prison system to a standstill.”
Ntsobi said the department had placed member’s lives in danger by cutting staff numbers at weekends.
”It goes against the Occupational Health and Safety Act.” – Sapa