As the Transnet strike entered its eighth day on Friday, workers came out in their numbers to protest on the streets around Durban port, and reports of truck go-slows in the city were shared on social media.
This comes after the strike turned violent when a Transnet employee was shot and wounded on her way to work in New Brighton, Gqeberha, on Thursday morning. Police are investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Transnet told The Herald that the employee had been provided with medical assistance and had been taken to the nearest hospital.
“Transnet discourages intimidation and violence towards employees not participating in the strike,” the parastatal said.
Transnet and thousands of its workers, who are represented by the United National Transport Union (Untu) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Untu), hit a deadlock recently after weeks of wage negotiations. Workers downed tools on October 6 after rejecting the employee’s initial 1% wage hike proposal, which it has since adjusted to pay rises of between 3% and 5%, depending on grades.
In Durban, social media reports by security firms and motorists included photographs of workers who took to the streets, initially using their private vehicles to block parts of Margaret Mgcadi Road leading to Durban port in the early hours of the morning.
Police attended the scene to disperse the vehicles.
Another report indicated: “There is a gathering already on Victoria Embankment opp John Ross House. Planned motorcade to Pier 2 via Bayhead. Transnet Strike. Please stay away from Bayhead if you can.”
Transnet workers were also seen protesting in Sydney Road in Umbilo.
“Bayhead road has now been closed due to the Transnet workers strike; transporters are asked to postpone any business to the port,” the Investipol team reported on social media.
Untu has so far rejected Transnet’s adjusted pay hike proposal, saying that it maintained its demand for a CPI-related pay increase.
Meanwhile, ALS Paramedics said in a statement that a man had been killed in a truck accident on Bluff Road near Old Mission Road just before 12pm on Friday.
“ALS Paramedics Medical Services arrived on the scene to find total carnage. It is believed that a truck lost control and collided with a pedestrian on the sidewalk before coming to rest against a wall. One person, a male believed to be in his thirties, sustained major injuries and there was nothing more paramedics could do for him. He was declared deceased on the scene,” ALS Paramedics said.
SAPS is investigating the accident.
