With protests breaking all over South Africa the past few months, this is no new matter for local businesses of eMalahleni.
Unfortunately an illegal protest went out of control due to community members demanding too much and got violent at Burgh Plant Hire on Wednesday, June 20.
The protesters gathering after the incident of assault on the partner
“Strikes are allowed but it starts to get illegal if violence is brought into such a situation and these guys thinks they are totally above the law,” said the spokesperson of the company.
The situation on Wednesday is not the first encounter with the community at this company. What the company thought would be a ‘sit around the table and address the problems’, quickly turned into a violent war.
The BEE partner was left with serious head injuries shortly after he invited a few community members into the boardroom. He approached the men to address the matter.
They were all seated in the boardroom when the partner told the protesters what the terms and conditions of their demands are.
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“They probably did not like what he had to say and started attacking him, pushing him into a corner of the room and started assaulting him with an object. Their main intention was to kill. It was at this moment when I entered the room and started getting the violent protesters out and trying to get him to the next room for safety, not knowing what is busy happening outside,” said the company’s head of security.
While he and the victim were fighting for safety inside the building, the remaining protesters went outside, attacking the security guard to get hold of the gate remote.
This led protesters to open the gate for approximately 150 to 200 more, storming into the yard.
“They attacked me by hitting me on the head a few times,” the gate security guard added.
With no control over the flock of protesters and the head of security still fighting the suspects inside, another employee quickly called out for help on the South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) zello channel who dispatched the police to the scene.
Damage to the gate motor after protesters gained access to the premises
“As one of our responders arrived on scene, the protesters was gone. Luckily we got the vehicle and registration plates of the suspects,” SACCW Witbank Operations Co-ordinator Maureen Scheepers stated.
With all the relevant information given to Vosman Police Station, no arrests have been made.
“We provided the police with video footage, names, surnames, numbers, vehicles used and still nothing has been done,” head of security added.
It was only on Tuesday, June 26, when the police provided them with a case number after he went to the station to get feedback on the matter.
One of the partners were seriously injured by violent protesters at Burgh Plant Hire on Wednesday, June 20
WITBANK NEWS was provided with compiled documents of previous crimes committed on the premises by community members, which were reported to the police and cases that were opened. Until to date no feedback or response were given to the company.
Vosman police spokesperson, Cst Khomotso Maluleke did not give any comment before going to print.
“This incident took place because nothing has ever been done to prevent it in the past,” the spokesperson concluded.
