About 3 000 truck drivers gathered at the Johannesburg offices of the trucking industry’s bargaining council on Wednesday in a protest for better pay.
Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha addressed the crowd before they marched, under the banner of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), to Beyers Naude Square.
The truckers are demanding an 8,5% increase across the board and a 9% raise for those on the current minimum wage.
They are also demanding that the night-shift allowance be in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
Employers have offered a pay rise of 6,5% pay rise across the board and a 7% hike in minimum wages.
Police warned hawkers and shop owners to close shop as the strikers — many armed with knobkieries — hit road signs and billboards in their path.
Whenever a truck passed by, protesters shouted at the driver.
Earlier, about 500 strikers had converged at Beyers Naude Square before proceeding to the council’s office.
There they joined another 2 500 protesters already waiting in De Korte Street.
At one point, a protester threw a stone at a truck parked on the side of the road.
‘Rubbish’ offer
Madisha told protesters that the Road Freight Employers Association’s offer is ”rubbish”.
He said a general worker in the freight industry earns R437 a week, while a truck driver earns R672 a week.
”That is criminal. We cannot allow that to happen. We are prepared to fight this.
”The criminal act by these employers to make a lot of money through our sweat and blood must be revised,” he said.
Madisha called on other workers in the freight sector to support the truck drivers.
”There must be solidarity. An injury to one is an injury to all.”
As Madisha was talking about the workers’ plight — pay and long hours — one protester shouted: ”We die like flies.”
The group was expected to disperse from the square at 2pm.
The South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) urged the unions involved to ensure strikers respect the rights of individuals and businesses to go about their work.
Wayne Bateman, head of Sacob’s transport and logistics department, said in a statement: ”Sacob also urges all parties involved to resolve the issues … before considerable damage is caused to third parties.”
On Tuesday, 30 000 truckers embarked on a national strike in all major cities, which turned violent in Johannesburg when protesters clashed with police.
Nine people were injured and taken to hospital, and 29 truck drivers were arrested.
Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said they will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday or Thursday to be charged with public violence and other offences. — Sapa