Lerato Mbhiza
In an incident linked to the protracted Tshwane municipal strike, four people were arrested after they allegedly pelted three metro buses with stones forcing the service to be halted temporarily on Monday.
City of Tshwane Spokesperson Selby Bokaba said one of the suspects was found in possession of a bag full of stones.
The suspects are facing charges of malicious damage to property and intimidation.
“The arrests were a result of a multidisciplinary operation undertaken jointly by the SAPS Dog Unit and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), aimed at curbing criminality that has characterised the unlawful and unprotected strike by some city employees,” he said.
Bokaba said, however, the bus services will not be withdrawn because of intimidation from striking workers.
“The city will instead beef up security to protect the bus drivers, valued commuters, and the bus fleet.
“The SAPS and TMPD have vowed to clamp down harshly on anyone who intimidates the non-striking employees and those who partake in acts of violence. The law enforcement agencies are on alert around all the routes operated by TBS and at the depots,” said Bokaba.
The Tshwane municipality has requested assistance from national intelligence to deal with the strike, which has hampered service delivery in the city since the end of July.
Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have downed their tools over the City’s refusal to implement a 5.4% salary increase.
The City has consistently said it doesn’t have the money to implement the salary increases that were agreed upon at the bargaining council.
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