Reports of intimidation, threats and abduction during motor industry strike

Allegations of intimidation, violence, threats of arson and abduction came to light last week as the motor industry strike, initiated by the National Union of Metalworkers, heated up.

Owners of local filling stations said the situation was tense for both staff and their customers who were now fearful to fill up, after some of them were chased away by protestors wielding knobkieries and pangas.

While filling stations in or near the suburbs didn’t seem to suffer any incidents of intimidation, managers were watchful just in case.

At filling stations in the CBD, however, many petrol attendants chose not to go to work, one petrol attendant was physically attacked for going to work, and protestors threatened to burn down another filling station for remaining open during the strike.

At Keyway Motors, on the Madadeni road, it is alleged that two men were abducted and taken to Durban to participate in the protests.

One of the men wasn’t even a petrol attendant. He was forced into a Quantum minibus while making his way to the shop at the filling station.

Nomsa Ntombela, an employee at the Keyway Motors filling station, said she was on her way to work on Thursday morning when she observed her colleague being dragged toward a Quantum minibus against his will.

“ I was so afraid, I took a taxi and went straight back to town where I reported the incident to the police,” said Mrs Ntombela.

Owner of the BP SSS filling station, Sachin Mewa, said that while the strike did not affect his business, he took special precautions to protect staff and patrons.

“Most of our staff were at work. One day’s salary means a lot to people,” he explained. “I don’t think the union’s demands are too unreasonable, at the end of the day everybody needs to take home a liveable salary.”

The owner of a Caltex filling station, who asked not to be named, said that while most of his staff members were participating in the strike, management was taking the initiative to be on the forecourt to assist customers.

He admitted that he thought the demands being made by the unions were ridiculous and explained that the profit margins on fuel were very low as they were regulated by Government.

Lennie Badenhorst, the manager of Park Motors, said she felt lucky that her business was not located in the CBD after hearing about the incidents of intimidation that other filling stations had endured.

“We’ve got really loyal workers who are proud to come to work, and we are lucky in that regard,” said Mrs Badenhorst. “I feel for the petrol attendants, but I agree that the union’s demands are ridiculous. Luckily, I work with good people who want to do their jobs.”