ANA reports that a strike looms at the cash-strapped Road Accident Fund (RAF), where workers have lodged several complaints including malfunctioning air conditioning units, poor sanitation and assets such as computers being attached to pay creditors.  

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) on Tuesday said it had secured “a strike certificate” against the RAF.   “We lodged a grievance with the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) because workers at the Johannesburg RAF offices were exposed to harmful working condition,” said Phakamile Hlubi, spokesperson for Numsa.  Hlubi said a fire in September in Johannesburg’s CBD resulted in extended power cuts, which meant the air conditioning units were not working at the RAF building.  “Eight workers fainted from the heat, caused by working in a windowless environment.  The building has poor sanitation exposing workers to potentially dangerous illnesses and infections,” complained Hlubi.  Numsa is demanding the suspension of the RAF employee relations manager and general manager “for the manner in which they handled this issue”.

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