At least four metro vehicles were set alight at the Prince’s Park depot in the Pretoria CBD on Wednesday, leaving two Tshwane employees injured.

Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso says firefighters were dispatched to Kgosi Mampuru and Pretorius streets, where a light motor vehicle and a bakkie had been set alight, allegedly by striking municipal workers.

Emergency personnel had to wait for law enforcement agencies to safeguard their teams before they could extinguish the fire, he adds.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed the torching of metro vehicles.

A city water truck that had drawn water from the depot for delivery to Region 4 informal settlements was set alight.

“The driver was physically assaulted, but managed to escape. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain serious injuries,” says Bokaba.

One of the other torched vehicles belongs to Tshwane’s asset protection monitoring unit, he adds.

“Two metro members were injured and taken to hospital. The members are responsible for the protection of the city’s assets, such as the depots and substations. At the time of the ambush, they were monitoring the depots.”

Unlawful strike action

Tshwane bus services (TBS) and A Re Yeng bus operations have experienced turbulence since the unlawful strike action started eight weeks ago.

On Wednesday, limited TBS buses were dispatched to Tuine, The Orchards, Waterkloof, Moreletapark, Wonderboom and Monumentpark. However, because of intimidation and violence, the TBS fleet was later grounded.

A Re Yeng said on social media that, due to the prevailing strike in Tshwane, bus operations have been suspended. The 160 TBS fleet has been recalled numerous times this week. It also did not operate for over a month, owing to the strike action.

Road and Transport MMC Katlego Mathebe addressed media from a metro bus stop via video on Tuesday. He said buses were recalled as there were no commuters at the bus stops, and workers had been intimidated on Monday.

Social media users disputed this fact, claiming they waited for buses in vain.

Bokaba says 12 drivers pitched up for duty on Tuesday morning.

Only two buses went out for the 04:30 shift, but there were no commuters to pick up and the buses returned to the depot, he says.

Bokaba says four drivers called in ‘sick’, while seven employees were served with dismissal letters for ‘supporting the strike action’, which the Labour Court declared unlawful and unprotected.

“The seven employees – dubbed strike instigators – are accused of preventing the buses from being prepared for operations.”

Bokaba says five were South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) shop stewards.

“They allegedly intimidated their non-striking colleagues at the C De Wet depot in the Pretoria CBD.

“The seven instigators have been given 24 hours to make representations as to why they shouldn’t be permanently dismissed.

“Tshwane Roads and Transport will reissue the instruction to TBS employees to service the afternoon operations, failing which disciplinary action will be instituted, which will include the issuing of letters of intention to dismiss,” he adds.

Union will fight for workers

Samwu general secretary Dumisani Magagula says the union will fight for the dismissed employees.

“Tshwane has also illegally and procedurally dismissed dozens of workers, while many workers have had their salaries withheld, as there are claims that they have not been working. As a union, we have been and will continue challenging these dismissals and the illegal withholding of workers’ salaries.”