FEDUSA to Meet with Cash-in-Transit Companies

29 May 2018

 

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and the Motor Transport Workers’ Union (MTWU), the union federation’s affiliate that organises security officers for cash-in-transit trucks will meet with employers in the sector in Johannesburg tomorrow to discuss the ongoing crisis regarding rampant cash-in-transit heists.

The parties will meet in order to try and forge strategies for neutralizing cash-in-transit heists that have increasing with terrifying intensity and regularity across South Africa in recent weeks resulting in loss of lives and serious injuries to security officers and members of the public.

FEDUSA and the MTWU will push employers to supply crews with properly equipped cash vans, guns and ammunition that are powerful enough to counter the heavy weaponry carried by heists gangs that have been terrorising the sector almost on a daily basis. The unions will also want to see the design of current cash trucks upgraded to impregnable military body metal that incorporates internal vaults or safes of similar strength in order to withstand heavy weaponry fire and bombs.

Furthermore the parties will be discussing employees working conditions. Cash-in-transit crews currently work long hours without adequate rest doing psychological stressful and dangerous work and labour will want to see hours of work adjusted to be in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, with a minimum of four well trained and armed personnel per vehicle.

Finally, cash-in-transit heists are highly violent and dangerous experiences that leave the survivors of these attacks traumatized and at times in need of professional psychological counselling. FEDUSA and the MTWU expect employers to provide professional counselling, services and sick leave for the victims of heists, as well as their families who may suffer from secondary trauma. This is a fundamental human right, and should not be up for debate.

Ends

[287 words]

FEDUSA is the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa and represents a diverse membership from a variety of sectors in industry.  See www.fedusa.org.za for more information.

 

For interviews please contact:

Hlasinyane Motaung

MTWU Spokesman

082 522 5970

Solly Mothibedi

MTWU National Organizer

082 449 9414

Emily Fourie

082 822 2605

Zodwa Zama

082 330 0957

Issued by:

Frank Nxumalo

FEDUSA Media Officer

072 637 8096