Two striking municipal workers were wounded when security guards fired shots in Kempton Park on Monday, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
Inspector Veli Nhlapo said the two were wounded when the Red Ants (a private security firm) opened fire on the striking workers.
”One was shot in the stomach and the other one in the hand. A case of attempted murder has been opened,” he said.
He said the situation on Pretoria and Central roads had returned to normal after they were earlier barricaded.
”Workers will not be scared away from their strike … and will continue to ensure that their rights are protected,” said South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) spokesperson Koena Ramotlou.
Ramotlou said other workers were hurt in Alberton when they were shot at. However, metro police spokesperson in Alberton Inspector Jimmy Maboko said: ”I am from Alberton and I have not seen any commotion or heard of any shooting.”
Ramotlou said workers would continue picketing at their respective workplaces in Kempton Park, Brakpan, Edenvale, Nigel and Tembisa.
And on Thursday, they would march to the office of Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa to hand over a memorandum of grievances.
”We are going to complain about Duma Nkosi [Ekurhuleni mayor] to the premier.”
The union also wants the premier to engage with the Independent Complaints Directorate to fast-track cases in which metro police chief Robert McBride allegedly shot at workers in 2006.
About 8 000 members of Samwu in Ekurhuleni downed tools last week, demanding that the municipality integrate the Tembisa Waste Project employees and make them permanent staff from July onwards.
Workers want to be paid on the same grade as councillors (grade 16) and they have demanded an end to the alleged preferential treatment of McBride. — Sapa