JOHANNESBURG - The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has urged its members to steer clear of the upcoming planned protests on 30 June.
MISA, which represents workers in the motor retail trade, said the planned demonstration against undocumented migrants is not protected by the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and therefore does not qualify as a protected strike.
MISA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said while many of the issues motivating the protest are noted and widely felt across society, employees who decide to partake in the action risk exposing themselves to possible disciplinary action or even possible dismissal.
"As a union, we want to stress up front that a lot of the issues that we see coming out as issues that are related to this action, issues, for example, around high levels of criminality in the community, as well as joblessness. All of these are very valid issues which we as an organisation have spoken consistently."
However, Hlubi-Majola warned that participating in the protests will not be accepted as a reason for their absence.
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There have been widespread anti-immigration protests across the country and calls for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.
This as many have alleged that their presence continues to squeeze the local economy and limits opportunities for South Africans.
Anti-immigration groups like March and March opted to then plan a protest on 30 June against illegal immigrants.
Hlubi-Majola acknowledged the frustration with issues such as illegal immigration, crime and unemployment, which have fuelled reasons for the protests.
She said the state should be the one to shoulder these, which have now reached a tipping point.
"As a union, we have said it is not good enough that government often hosts investment conferences which turn out to be glorified talk shops but don't translate into real jobs. Unemployment is a crisis in South Africa.
"We have written statements calling on the South African government to take unemployment seriously to the point where they should treat it as a state of emergency so that they can allocate resources and come up with real solutions that are going to drive job creation."
Despite sympathising with many of the concerns behind the planned protest, Hlubi-Majola reiterated that members should not participate in the protest.
To date, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has cautioned against any disruptions to the sector ahead of the planned demonstration.
READ | Santaco warns against any disruption of transport services on 30 June
SANTACO said while it recognises the Constitutional right to protest, many South Africans will still need to travel to work, attend schools, access healthcare facilities, open businesses, and fulfil their daily responsibilities.
Their right and freedom of movement must be protected and always respected, Santaco added.
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Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, on the other hand, has maintained that police are ready to keep the country safe on the day and that there will be no room for criminal activity.