Rubberpigg
Expert Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2005
- Messages
- 2,377
- Reaction score
- 229
Mob attacks Florida Post Office
South Africa
Thursday 20 November 2014 - 12:56pm
by Erin Bates
FLORIDA, West Rand - An angry mob of at least 30 men wielding hammers and bricks stormed Florida Post Office around midday on Wednesday, November 19.
The attack occured just hours after President of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Clyde Mervin told eNCA.com's Dan Monyane that an end to the postal strike was in sight.
He said workers' representatives and Post Office officials were set to meet on Thursday afternoon. "What we are waiting for is a response from the Post Office," said Mervin.
Over the last four months, postal workers have been on strike in an effort to win an eight percent wage increase and permanent contracts for part-time staff.
Florida Post Office was closed up by the time this writer arrived there on Wednesday, November 19.
There was evidence of the mob attack in the form of cracked windows, cracks in an office door and a brick lying at the entrance.
Security guard Mbhazima Vincent Ngobeni was patrolling outside the office when the mob approached the building. He said he saw a group of men approaching carrying hammers and bricks.
"They were shouting, 'Where are the people who are working there? We're gonna kill them?"
Six Post Office tellers were on duty at the time of the attack, which occured around midday. According to Ngobeni, they were serving one customer and three rioters pretending to be customers.
The guard, who asked not to be named as he did not have his employer's permission to speak, estimated there were 30 to 40 people in the mob.
"They were going for the workers," he said. "They were getting inside the tills. They opened the cash machines, they took money."
Several sources said the mob stole over R2,000 but a spokesperson for Florida police station only confirmed an undisclosed amount had been stolen.
"The protesters damaged five computer screens, a Lotto machine, a machine for printing licenses and mascot scales," said Lydia Dikolomela.
She disputed reports that one suspect had been arrested. "No arrests have been made. Not at all."
Dikolomela said a Post Office teller opened a case. "The charges are business burglary and malicious damage to property."
Called for comment on Thursday, Clyde Mervin insisted the CMU was a non-violent union. "We condemn any violence in the South African Post Office."
Recently, the Post Office board underwent a complete change of leadership.
"I've had several interactions with the board - the board has offered to resign," said Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele on November 7.
Former Rand Water Chief Dr Simo Lushaba is standing in as an interim chair.
Days after the board members resigned the parliamentary committee on communications called for an end to the stayaway.
In early October, CWU's Mervin said his union wanted the strike to end. At the time workers were motivating for a 15 percent wage increase.
The strike has negatively impacted several sectors of business and education. Magazine distribution by post has ground to a halt and students studying by correspondence cannot submit their assignments by post.
South African charities are concerned that they could lose out on festive season donations because of the strike.
- eNCA
http://www.enca.com/south-africa/mob-attacks-florida-post-office
South Africa
Thursday 20 November 2014 - 12:56pm
by Erin Bates
FLORIDA, West Rand - An angry mob of at least 30 men wielding hammers and bricks stormed Florida Post Office around midday on Wednesday, November 19.
The attack occured just hours after President of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Clyde Mervin told eNCA.com's Dan Monyane that an end to the postal strike was in sight.
He said workers' representatives and Post Office officials were set to meet on Thursday afternoon. "What we are waiting for is a response from the Post Office," said Mervin.
Over the last four months, postal workers have been on strike in an effort to win an eight percent wage increase and permanent contracts for part-time staff.
Florida Post Office was closed up by the time this writer arrived there on Wednesday, November 19.
There was evidence of the mob attack in the form of cracked windows, cracks in an office door and a brick lying at the entrance.
Security guard Mbhazima Vincent Ngobeni was patrolling outside the office when the mob approached the building. He said he saw a group of men approaching carrying hammers and bricks.
"They were shouting, 'Where are the people who are working there? We're gonna kill them?"
Six Post Office tellers were on duty at the time of the attack, which occured around midday. According to Ngobeni, they were serving one customer and three rioters pretending to be customers.
The guard, who asked not to be named as he did not have his employer's permission to speak, estimated there were 30 to 40 people in the mob.
"They were going for the workers," he said. "They were getting inside the tills. They opened the cash machines, they took money."
Several sources said the mob stole over R2,000 but a spokesperson for Florida police station only confirmed an undisclosed amount had been stolen.
"The protesters damaged five computer screens, a Lotto machine, a machine for printing licenses and mascot scales," said Lydia Dikolomela.
She disputed reports that one suspect had been arrested. "No arrests have been made. Not at all."
Dikolomela said a Post Office teller opened a case. "The charges are business burglary and malicious damage to property."
Called for comment on Thursday, Clyde Mervin insisted the CMU was a non-violent union. "We condemn any violence in the South African Post Office."
Recently, the Post Office board underwent a complete change of leadership.
"I've had several interactions with the board - the board has offered to resign," said Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele on November 7.
Former Rand Water Chief Dr Simo Lushaba is standing in as an interim chair.
Days after the board members resigned the parliamentary committee on communications called for an end to the stayaway.
In early October, CWU's Mervin said his union wanted the strike to end. At the time workers were motivating for a 15 percent wage increase.
The strike has negatively impacted several sectors of business and education. Magazine distribution by post has ground to a halt and students studying by correspondence cannot submit their assignments by post.
South African charities are concerned that they could lose out on festive season donations because of the strike.
- eNCA
http://www.enca.com/south-africa/mob-attacks-florida-post-office
