Afro Voice reports that, as the strike at Luxor Paints in Boksburg, Gauteng, enters its tenth week, workers said that the company had issued them with a court interdict claiming that the workers were embarking on an illegal industrial action.

Joshua Hlungwani, a worker, said the company had now accused the workers of violence.  However, Hlungwani said that the workers had suffered at the hands of the company and had lodged claims against Luxor.  “Now the company is coming with accusations that the workers are the violent ones,” Hlungwani said.

Hlungwani claimed that the private security service provider had shot workers.  “The shooting of Luxor paints workers is the example of the company’s ruthless attitude towards its workers since they embarked on a strike.”

He said that the private security company employees were still stationed at the company, but have not been violent recently.  “On March 5 was the last time they were violent towards workers,” he stated.

He said that another worker, Ngosingiphile Zwane, 33, was shot in the side of his head and his eye was removed as a result.  Hlungwani said Zwane was still receiving medical treatment and could not afford the cost of a prosthesis.

“The workers had to call ambulances to address their injuries.  The police also had to be called to the premises on both occasions to protect the workers from their employer, Luxor paints, and the security company,” Hlungwani said.

A Luxor Paints spokesperson declined to respond to questions.

This report appeared on page 5 of Afro Voice of 7 May 2018

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