By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has been granted an interdict by the Labour Court against the planned strike on Thursday by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa).
This after NUMSA announced its intention to strike today, citing a list of grievances against the RAF and its CEO Collins Letsoalo.
In terms of the Labour Court order obtained by the RAF on Wednesday:
- Numsa was interdicted and restrained from inciting, encouraging, participating in or otherwise acting in furtherance of the strike action in relation to its demands and/or grievances; and
- The order declaring the strike unprotected and interdicting and restraining Numsa from inciting, participating in or acting in furtherance of the strike action is to operate with immediate effect pending the return date of the RAF’s application.
Numsa accuses Letsoalo of single-handedly destroying the Fund with no-one willing to hold him accountable for his behaviour.
The RAF says it will exercise its rights against anyone who participates in the unlawful strike.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola has called on workers to observe the interdict to avoid being victimised through disciplinary action and possible dismissal.
“We know most of our members are disappointed, however we urge them to comply with the order. The union was notified after 9pm on Wednesday that an interdict had been obtained.
“We must stress that the union was not properly served with papers and was denied the opportunity to state its case. We will do whatever is necessary to fight back against RAF for attempting to undermine the constitutional right to strike.
“The interdict will not stop us from continuing to expose the rot at RAF and the gross mismanagement of the CEO Collins Letsoalo.”
McIntosh Polela, head of corporate communications at the RAF, said on Tuesday the fund had seen the allegations from Numsa but disagrees with them.
“We also disagree with their intention to strike.
“An attack on the CEO is unfortunate and unwarranted,” he added. “The RAF is not a one-man show, it’s an organisation. It is therefore disingenuous to attack one person, Collins Letsoalo.”
Polela said the changes that are currently taking place at the RAF are part of the 2020-2025 strategy to turn around the fund.