The Elsburg SAPS have been on high alert this week, while Numsa (National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa) members have been taking to the streets of Wadeville and parts of Elsburg.
Eight people were arrested on Wednesday, after the protest march turned violent and strikers broke the windows of a number of factories in Elsburg.
Acting station commander for the Elsburg police, Lieut Col Zonele Qangase, told the GCN that people started gathering at about 8am on Wednesday morning.
“The Numsa members then paraded through the streets of Wadeville and, in the process, started tipping over refuse bins.
“They also went and called at factory gates where they believed there were workers still at work,” said Qangase.
As the day progressed, the members moved on to Elsburg, and this is where they became violent and broke factory windows.
Eight people were identified as being the culprits and were arrested by the police.
They were expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court on Friday, to face charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
On Thursday, the strikers gathered again, in Wadeville, but Qangase said they proceeded in a peaceful manner.
Numsa members went on strike on July 1.
Some of their demands are:
- A 12 per cent wage increase, effective from July 1, 2014 to 2015, to be back-dated for whatever reasons of delay.
- A total ban on labour brokers.
- A housing allowance of not less than R1 000 per month, payable to each worker in the industry.
- No company in the industry should be allowed to implement the Employment Tax Incentive.
