Three delivery trucks were torched in Isando on Monday in what appears to be yet another violent strike in the on-going packaging wage war.
The three truck drivers sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, spokesperson for Kempton Park SAPS, more than 40 people attacked the trucks on Monteer Road and set them alight.
William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, said six fire engines tended to the scene at 12.40pm.
“Apparently, [the strikers] used petrol bombs to set the trucks alight before fleeing the scene,” he said.
The trucks were making a delivery to lubricant company Fuchs on Diesel Street, just a street away from where the attack took place.
Footage from the scene showed flames blazing meters into the air.
When Express arrived on scene at around 2pm, all three fires were extinguished. The truck cabins were barely recognisable and blue plastic bottles were scattered along the cordoned-off road.
“Direct offensive fire fighting was initiated but unfortunately little could be saved,” Ntladi said. “Extensive damage was caused.”
David Drew, head of commercial sub-Saharan Africa at plastics manufacturer ALPLA, believes the attack may be part of an on-going wage war in the packaging industry.
“Fortunately these weren’t our trucks,” he said, as five similar incidents have happened across Kempton Park in recent weeks.
“But they certainly appear to be related to the plastics strike as both trucks were branded with plastic manufacturers’ logos and contained plastic packaging.”
According to Mtshali, previous strike action will be considered in the police investigation. “Police will establish whether the incident is linked to the more than three reported cases where trucks and companies were damaged.”
Clr Simon Lapping expressed his disappointment following the incident. “While everyone has the right to strike, this right does not extend to injuring people or destroying property.”
Drew added that the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is in wage negotiations with the Plastic Converters Association, who is responsible for negotiations across the packaging industry.
NUMSA did not respond to Express’ request for comment in time for print.
