MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – Local businesses and members of the public are the innocent victims in the struggle between SACCAWU and Shoprite Checkers.

Casual workers of the Shoprite group have been striking since Thursday, October 23, because of alleged exploitation of the workers. One placard shown by an employee on strike read: "I am a casual worker at Shoprite Checkers for more than twelve years" and another "I was earning R104 per week. The company reduced my salary to R88."

A shop steward of Shoprite in Songozwi Street, Mr Moses Mamburu, said on the second day of the strike that other employees support the casual workers in the strike. The SACCAWU members urged the community to stop buying at Shoprite Checkers and to support their cause.

Although employees exercised their constitutional right to strike, members of the public complained that they were intimidated and threatened that their houses would be burnt down and that they would be forced to eat Shoprite purchases that are not fit for human consumption. Concerning a rumour that Shoprite had applied for a court interdict to prevent those on strike from intimidating potential clients, magistrate Sakkie Scheepers said on Tuesday (28th) that he had no information on the issue.

The continuous singing, toyi-toying and presence of the demonstrators affect other businesses in the surroundings negatively. Businesses adjacent to Shoprite in the Kruger Street complex reported a really hard time, especially with the deafening noise.

"We are forced to listen to eight hours of singing and chanting each day. At one stage Shoprite played loud music to drown the noise of the singing, causing our ear drums nearly to burst," said Rina du Toit, a manager of a business located on one side of Shoprite. Besides the ear-splitting noise, they reported a definite drop in their sales.

A business owner located on the other side of Shoprite, Mark Archer, tried to photograph the people on strike. He was threatened by one of the shop stewards, who backed off when Mark called the police. The police, however, did not react. He also reported a slump in business.

"According to the law, the demonstrators have to be five metres from the door of their shop. Now they are standing right in front of mine," complained a nearby professional businessman, Christo Tait. He reported that customers were hesitant to push through the toyi-toying mob and that his business was affected. "Furthermore, our eardrums are surely damaged by now," he said.

When asked about the issue of the noise and the effect of the strike on other businesses, Mr Mamburu replied, "It's not our problem, it's the problem of the company. They must settle it." He also said that they expect the organizers of the boycott to come and address "this issue here at Shoprite". The local Shoprite management followed their strict policy of not engaging in talks with the media.