The security guard strike is likely to carry on for ”a helluva long time” if employers are not willing to talk, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) said on Wednesday.
”We urge all employer associations in the strongest terms to commence negotiating with immediate effect by responding with counter-proposals,” said Satawu general secretary Randall Howard.
”This is the only way through which the dispute can be settled and ultimately the strike ended.”
Thirty-seven trade unionists were arrested during Tuesday’s Satawu rampage through the Cape Town city centre.
They appeared in the local magistrate’s court on Wednesday and included the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, and Satawu’s regional secretary, Evan Abrahamse.
In a brief appearance they were granted bail ranging from R500 to R2000.
Thirty-six of them, including Ehrenreich, face charges of public violence, while Abrahamse is being charged under the Regulation of Gatherings Act.
Speaking on the nature of the strike, Howard said negative elements ”who are opposed to Satawu and therefore hell-bent on discrediting our strike”, had infiltrated the strike. He said the police were called in to help Satawu in rooting out those who were using the strike as an opportunity for their own personal gain.
”We sincerely apologise to the public and all persons negatively affected as a result of these acts that have taken place during our march,” he said.
The chairperson of Satawu in the Western Cape, Jerome Fortune, also apologised for the rampage.
He also said Satawu members would probably lay charges of assault against police.
”We as Satawu would like to apologise to the community of the Western Cape for all the violence that took place yesterday [Tuesday]. As Satawu, we don’t condone any of this violence that took place and we will be dealing with it on a one-on-one basis with the people who were involved,” he said.
He said he was ”sure” that charges would be laid against the police ”because some of the guys were assaulted”.
”They did not throw stones or anything — they were shot from behind.”
‘Security guards’ go on rampage in KZN
About 50 people believed to be striking security guards went on the rampage in KwaMashu in Durban on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
They first burnt an Enforce security vehicle and then stormed into a Shoprite Checkers and took 11 tills [with cash in them] and appliances,” said Captain Gugu Sabela.
She said the Shoprite Checkers was inside a mini-mall. No reports of injuries were received.
”No one has been arrested and the suspects are still at large.”
Meanwhile, striking security guards were arrested on Wednesday morning in central Durban.
Sabela said details on the arrests were not immediately available.
A case of theft and public violence was being investigated. — Sapa