Germiston’s motoring and engineering companies left confused after Numsa’s attack

Germiston businesses continue to feel the full effect of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) strikes.

Two Germiston City News journalists travelled to the scene of one of the latest acts of violence, this time aimed at the motoring and engineering companies in the area.

This startled the business owners as they are not a part of the metal industry, even more so as none of their employees belong to Numsa.

The first company the journalists visited was Mobile Brake Doctor, where they spoke to Clinton Fouché, who explained that a group of strikers descended on his company at about 10.30am on Wednesday, July 16.

“The group seemed to come out of nowhere and started throwing stones at the workshop,” he said.

The journalists then travelled the short distance to Leo Street, a street lined with engineering firms and motoring shops.

Upon their arrival they noticed a Germiston SAPS patrol van; the officers were found at Hercules Clutch and Brake, taking a statement from owner Reenen Coetzer.

While Coetzer showed the journalists live CCTV footage of the Numsa members attack, Eugene Hattingh, from Technical Engineering, which was also hit on during the attack, explained: “A group of about 1 000 Numsa members came around the corner from Don Street at around 10am and began breaking windows.

“The demonstrators even broke the windows of some cars parked in front of the businesses on the street.

“Many people have since taken their cars home for safety reasons, as well as to prevent further damage should the strikers return.”

When journalists left the scene, the officers from the Germiston SAPS were taking statements from other businesses in Leo Street.

The GCN has since contacted the Germiston police to try to determine what action, if any, will be taken against the demonstrators following the cases of damage and vandalism the companies opened today.

At the time of going to print the GCN was yet to receive comment.