Calls for government protection as strike turns violent

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has called on the government to protect workers and businesses from the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) strike.

“Sacci condemns the criminal actions committed by strikers against fellow workers and employers that include property damage, physical assault and animal cruelty. These acts are barbaric and are a clear indication that Numsa is either unwilling or unable to control its members,” said the chamber’s CEO, Neren Rau.

He added that the reported statement by Numsa that the SAPS should not intervene was already “dangerously close to propagating sedition and public disorder”. Their actions call into question Numsa’s commitment to negotiating in good faith, said Rau.

“Sacci calls on the South African Police Service to enforce the law and to prosecute those guilty of these crimes. The high economic costs and severe infringement on the rights of South African citizens indicate that government must intervene to avert anarchy,” he said.

According to Rau, Sacci believes that introducing compulsory secret strike balloting will have a moderating influence on the otherwise highly volatile industrial relations. “The current strike behaviour further motivates Sacci’s call to review the industrial relations framework, stronger enforcement of discipline during strikes and government intervention in strikes that cause excessive economic costs and instability,” commented Rau.

Bloomberg News reported on Monday that General Motors, Nissan and BMW had halted production at their South African plants as the strike by more than 220 000 metalworkers disrupted car-component makers and turned violent.
Police arrested 26 people on Sunday after several incidents of attacks, intimidation and vandalism at factories around Johannesburg.