Two guards were injured and another was abducted in Johannesburg on Tuesday amid tension between striking and non-striking security guard unions.
This took place shortly after a non-striking union had warned that its members would fight back if they faced intimidation for ending their participation in the security guard strike that started last month.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said around 20 people, who were also security guards and were believed to have come from a meeting, were behind the attack.
”These are still allegations,” she stressed.
One of the two injured, who was on duty at a Johannesburg city centre bank, suffered a gunshot wound, and the abducted security guard made his way back to his post, she said.
The South African Private Security Workers’ Union (Sapswu) warned other unions not to intimidate its members for ending its strike.
Thousands of security guards went on strike countrywide in March, demanding an 11% pay increase, improved working conditions, the right to use the toilet without being charged with deserting a post on duty, and the right to lunch breaks.
The strike turned violent in parts of Gauteng with a number of guards arrested in clashes with police.
Without naming any other union, Sapswu general secretary Cavis Tshabiso said it viewed threats to stop Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana from promulgating the sectoral determination as a reflection of no respect for unions that had signed the agreement.
”We shall, jointly with other unions, approach the minister to speed up the process of legislating this agreement,” said Tshabiso.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) on Monday called for a pay agreement that ended a security guard strike by 14 other unions to be undone.
Jackson Simon, Satawu’s security sector coordinator, said the union, which represents 35 000 to 40 000 guards, would ask the minister not to gazette the agreement as a sectoral determination.
The other unions represent about 16 000 guards.
In a statement, Sapswu lashed out at ”those who want to build their profiles by dividing the already fragmented security sector”.
Tshabiso said: ”When correct decisions are taken, it must be accepted that they are still correct even if they are not necessarily approved by you.”
Tshabiso warned that intimidation of its members would be met with them defending themselves with all means possible. ”We are trained security workers and we have a duty to defend ourselves. We cannot allow bullying by anyone.” — Sapa