A high court order interdicting striking security guards from any involvement in violence, including the assault of Metrorail and rail commuters, was granted to Metrorail and security employers on Wednesday.
According to the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), it was interdicted from committing, orchestrating, promoting, encouraging, participating in or condoning acts of violence and other criminal conduct, including the assault of employees of Metrorail and rail commuters and damage to property.
”While we do not accept that our members have been involved in these activities, we call on our members to comply with the high court order and not to engage in any of the conduct described above,” said union leaders.
Satawu members were also interdicted from forcing access to trains without paying the necessary fare.
This follows the deaths of two men who were thrown off moving trains on Tuesday.
About 20 people have been thrown from trains in Gauteng in the past few months — many of them working security guards believed to be targeted by their striking colleagues.
The two deaths this week brings the number of deaths during similar incidents in the past few months to eight. Six people were killed in April when they were thrown off trains in Benoni. Many have also sustained serious injuries.
Police were investigating several leads as well as allegations that these incidents were linked to the ongoing security guard strike.
Metrorail spokesperson Brenda Motau said Metrorail management would be meeting on Wednesday to discuss these issues and the possible closing of the Germiston-Kwesine line on the East Rand, along which most of the violence had occurred.
Negotiations were also being implemented with the transport department, who could not be reached for comment. — Sapa