McDougall said he noticed the strikers overturning bins outside his restaurant and strewing the contents over the pavement. He then approached them and threw a bucket of cold water at them.
McDougall said he noticed the strikers overturning bins outside his restaurant and strewing the contents over the pavement. He then approached them and threw a bucket of cold water at them.
An eyewitness who asked not to be named said: “About eight of them went for him, they hit him a few times, a crowd of about 50 bystanders gathered around in a matter of seconds, the traffic cops just watched, they seemed so blasé about it.”
McDougall said that the attack stopped after a Samwu organiser and Mad Hatters customers intervened. He was bruised but did not require medical treatment.
Mcdougall does not intend to report the matter to the police saying; “I don’t see the point, [the strikers]were escorted by the traffic department, but they did nothing to help me.”
This follows in the wake of an incident which took place on Monday where local businessman Devlin Bosman was attacked by the strikers.
He said he approached them outside his New Street business to ask why they were throwing glass bottles and other rubbish at parked cars, including his own.
“I shouted out: ‘You can’t do this!’” he said. He then described how he was approached by several of the men, one of whom struck him. “I didn’t provoke them, it was over in a matter of two or three minutes. I woke up next to the side of the road.”
Eyewitnesses reported that Bosman was struck over the head with a beer bottle and then assaulted with sticks and knobkierries.
The assault was committed in the presence of police officers and one arrest was made at the scene. As the police escorted Bosman to an ambulance, strikers surrounded the vehicle. “They were chanting ‘Kill the boer, kill the boer,’” said Bosman.
Two workers have made counter charges of assault against Bosman. Lieutenant Colonel Johan Botha of SAPS Grahamstown said that these charges state that Bosman initiated the altercation; striking a worker who then fell to the ground and was defended by others.
Botha emphasised that while the public might expect more decisive action in situations such as Bosman’s and Mcdougall’s the police are cautious not to aggravate the situation further.
Captain Gerrit Swarts said; “The workers have a right to demonstrate peacefully and the police have a responsibility to protect the strikers as well as the public.”
After meeting with local Samwu representatives they were told that, as of Tuesday, marshals appointed by the union would accompany strikers to maintain a boundary between the public and strikers.
“There is no indication that they [leadership]want to damage property or intend to endanger the public,” said Botha.
Botha said that the police had increased their presence in monitoring the strike but were restricted by available officers and vehicles.
Commenting on the alleged illegality of the strike, Botha said that the strike has been nationally authorised.
As to the littering, government authorised the strike on the understanding that workers would litter the streets to draw attention to their cause and were ready and willing to return to their jobs and clean the streets once the strike is concluded.
In regard to the carrying of weapons, Botha explained that the police could not arrest people for carrying innocuous objects which have the potential to inflict harm.
“It is not illegal to walk in the street with a stick,” he said. Botha predicted that the strike would lose momentum throughout the week as the number of protesters have dwindled but he advised the community not to get physically or verbally involved with the strikers.
On Thursday Samwu national spokesperson Tahir Sema said the union had made its position clear. “We condemn violence completely and are saddened by these isolated incidents, we will be investigating.”
According to a statement issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions national spokesperson Patrick Craven on Wednesday, the nationwide strike of 130 000 Samwu members was an attempt to force South African Local Government Association (Salga) to act on promises made to municipal workers in 2003.
Craven said workers’ wages currently were not standardised but graded by individual municipalities. “This leads to massive abuse and favouritism.”
He said municipal wages were still on a 2008 level while “municipal managers and councillors continue to pay themselves hugely inflated salaries, bonuses and grant themselves other perks.”
Sema said that municipal workers are currently paid 50% less than they should be. However, Samwu was happy with the progress being made in negotiations with Salga.
He said the union would present the proposed resolutions to its members this morning. If members agreed with the proposal the strike should be concluded by this afternoon.
However, Sema said, should a resolution not be reached, Samwu was willing to strike indefinitely. He added that he is not able to discuss the terms of the proposed settlement.
