Lauren Isaacs and Sapa
SEVEN trucks were torched in the city yesterday, said Fire and Rescue spokesman Theo Layne. There were no injuries.
“The incidents were in Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Philippi. We have picked up a trend. Trucks are usually set alight around six in the morning and six in the evening when companies do deliveries.
“Twenty-three trucks have been set alight since the truckers’ strike started two weeks ago,” Layne said.
About 20 000 truckers countrywide entered the third week of a wage strike yesterday in demand of a 12 percent increase, a housing allowance and health insurance.
Employers are offering 8.5 percent.
Negotiations resume today in Joburg.
SA Transport Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) spokesman Vincent Masoga said: “We’re prepared to even take 10 percent but the [bosses] are not budging at all.”
Road Freight Employers’ Association spokesperson Magretia Brown-Engelbrecht said today’s meeting would be chaired by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and attended also by the Department of Labour.
Meanwhile, Transnet’s port and rail workers will embark on a one-day secondary strike led by Satawu next week in support of the truck drivers.
Transnet general manager Mboniso Sigonyela said the company had received notice of the strike next Monday.
lauren.isaacs@inl.co.za
