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Day 1: No major morning disruptions to Gautrain services as Numsa's protected strike action begins

Day 1: No major morning disruptions to Gautrain services as Numsa's protected strike action begins
Bheki C. Simelane
By Bheki C. Simelane
8 Jul 2024
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Following negotiations stretching over two months, Gautrain workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday.

The move to strike by Gautrain employees and their union follows failed negotiations that began on 17 April. The two rounds of talks culminated in a deadlock on 11 June. 

On Monday morning, the workers staged a morning picket at the rail service’s Maintenance Workshop Depot in Midrand demanding a 13% salary increase, R2,000 housing allowance, and 60% medical aid contributions by the employer. 

“Numsa members at Gautrain are on strike. They are demanding 13% increase, 60% contribution to medical aid and guaranteed bonuses,” Numsa posted through its social media communications channels. https://x.com/Numsa_Media/status/1810187478365622631?t=gv387mhmcEHY-k04vR_NZg&s=08

The union has accused the Gautrain management of being greedy for rewarding themselves with bonuses, but giving none to ordinary workers. 

The following is a list of demands from Gautrain and Gautrain operating company Bombela Operating Company (BOC):


  • Thirteen percent wage increases across the board

  • Sixty percent medical contribution by BOC and the employer, and employees to contribute 40%

  • Housing allowance of R2,000 per worker per month

  • The BOC was initially a five-day operation and it changed to six days without compensating workers for the extra work. Workers have not been remunerated for these additional hours, and we are demanding that they be compensated for this. And, going forward, they must be paid the overtime rate for the sixth day.

  • The BOC does not treat workers equally. The bosses at BOC rewarded themselves and office workers with R22,000 each as a bonus. They have an incentive bonus that requires that the applicant must first qualify in order to be paid. This is unfair and we demand equal treatment for all workers.

  • The BOC has become hostile to the union, and this led to management unilaterally withdrawing the recognition agreement that we had with the company. We demand full-time shop stewards so that they can represent workers in disciplinary inquiries, grievances, etc.


Most of the Gautrain stations were operating on Monday morning, but Numsa warned Gautrain commuters of possible disruptions. By midday, there was still no negative impact on commuters and travel. 



The strike is protected, which means that while workers can protest, they need to do so at the depots and not at other undesignated areas. 

Private security was brought in early on and nearly clashed with striking workers when they tried to remove the debris outside the Gautrain depot. Law enforcement officers were also at the scene to monitor the protest and maintain calm. 

Read more in Daily Maverick: Buses, taxis, batteries & gas — Cape Town mayor, Gautrain CEO share plans to decarbonise transport

The contentious issues include the guaranteed bonuses, which the agency has disputed on the basis that the current economic climate and performance of the Gautrain are not conducive for such demands. 

The first day of the strike had been effective, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said on Monday morning. 

“ What we need to do is return to the table and negotiate. We would really like to go back to the process. We are willing to negotiate, and to negotiate on all the issues as a collective,” New Gautrain Management Agency CEO Tshepo Kgobe said. DM

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