FIRE AND ICE
very violent industrial action targeted at Intercape and their nonstriking employees, and passengers have, in the past, been subjected to acts of extreme violence and intimidation by striking workers.
The union members seemed determined to specifically target Intercape, although the company had no means to resolve their grievances or influence the outcome of the national wage negotiations, he added.
In 2015, an attempt was made on the life of Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira, shots were fired at coaches and a petrol bomb was thrown at a coach, resulting in the death of two passengers and others being seriously injured.
There were also several petrol bombings of coaches and the homes of drivers.
The same pattern of violence was repeated in 2017, when Intercape was again targeted.
Augustyn said the situation became so volatile at Park station on Tuesday, with strikers violently jerking passengers from their coaches and intimidating passengers, that they had to suspend operations.
The same thing was now happening at the Pretoria station and pleas to the police and metro police for protection and intervention fell on deaf ears.
He said Intercape stood to sufA
fer damages of about R3.5 million a day, and about 1 300 passengers would be stranded every day if they had to stop operations. –