Strike: 57 guards killed

2006-06-19 13:05

Johannesburg - Fifty-seven security guards have died since a strike in the industry began in March, the chairperson of a provident fund for the guards confirmed on Monday.

Kevin Derrick, acting chairman of the Private Security Industry Provident Fund, confirmed a report in Beeld newspaper, saying this was based on a study of newspaper reports since the strike began on March 23.

Derrick told Sapa that in anticipation of claims to the fund, which provides death benefits to the families of guards, Derrick set about monitoring media reports on the strike.

He took cuttings from the Star, the Sun, the Citizen, the Mercury and the Daily News, the Pretoria News, Beeld, the Sunday Tribune, the Cape Times and the Argus.

He verified and cross-referenced the information contained in the articles, noting injuries, damages and deaths and also telephoned security companies to confirm information.

92% are not on strike

Derrick said that by law employers must contribute to the fund, which has 195 000 members out of 236 000 guards registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. Some smaller companies have exemptions but the dependants of a deceased guard are still entitled to make a claim, even if his employer did not contribute to the fund.

Derrick said he would continue to verify the information and would do further checks with the fund to come to a final figure.

The information would also be shared with the SA Police Service.

He added that the security industry was also considering whether to establish another separate fund to help the guards' next of kin.

"It's basically part of our social responsibility. They have been murdered because they wanted to come to work. They were murdered in support of customers they care about and provided a service to."

He said that about 92% of the guards were not on strike.

The guards who have died have been thrown from trains, shot, or been subjected to severe physical attacks.

The Democratic Alliance said it has submitted a private member's bill to parliament, aimed at holding trade unions civilly liable for damage or loss suffered as a direct result of union members' strike-related activities.

Representatives of striking security guards and their employers were expected to return to the negotiating table on Monday in the latest attempt at resolving the prolonged pay dispute.

"Everybody is hopeful that it is coming to an end. (It) is not as hostile as it was in the beginning," said SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) spokesperson Ronnie Mamba.

Satawu and the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA set an 11% increase as their goal this year against the 8.3% average guards from other unions agreed on, and have been on strike since March 23.

- SAPA