Over the last week many members of the public have felt the effects of the Numsa strike.<\/p>\n
Germiston is no different, and the GCN has received countless calls, BBMs and reports of the strike and its effects.<\/p>
One of these reports came from Auto and Truck Tyres (Pty) Ltd, in Wadeville, where strikers caused damage to a number of the company’s vehicles.<\/p>\n
Jenny Pillay, the company’s human resources manager, informed the newspaper that six vehicles had been damaged between September 9 and 13.<\/p>
The vehicles were believed to have been stoned by Numsa members, while the drivers were in the vehicles, thus endangering their lives.<\/p>\n
In other strike-related incidents, employees of Auto and Truck Tyres were turned away from petrol stations by angry protesters, with some even having their lives threatened.<\/p>\n
Other employees have been called at the company’s offices and told an example would be made of them if they did not join the strike.<\/p>\n
Pillay believes “that all of these incidents are a violation of the Picketing Agreement set out between the Retail Motor Industry and Numsa and are in no way an example of a peaceful demonstration.”<\/p>\n
Const Daphney Phooko, communications officer for the Elsburg SAPS, commented that, during the SAPS patrols, the demonstrations in the Elsburg area, and in Wadeville, were peaceful.<\/p>\n
Only one man has been arrested since the demonstrations started.<\/p>\n
He was arrested on September 10, on charges of assault, and appeared in the Germiston Magistrates Court on Thursday, where the case was postponed for further investigation.<\/p>\n
The Germiston SAPS have been monitoring the movements and actions of the Numsa strikers and Capt George Raphulu, communications officer for the Germiston SAPS, described them as “peaceful and humble”.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Raphulu told the GCN that the protesters were marching from petrol station to petrol station throughout Germiston, demanding that employees join the demonstration.<\/p>\n