Cash-in-transit workers are planning to march to the Gauteng Legislature on Tuesday.

Hlasinyane Motaung‚ speaking on behalf of the Motor Transport Workers’ Union‚ said security officers were calling on government to take action to help them combat a spate of cash heists.

“They must improve‚ standardise and regulate the vehicles … Our people are being killed in these robberies‚” Motaung said.

Unions in the sector are also demanding that cash-in-transit workers be given more powerful weapons to defend themselves and match the attackers.

Motaung said though the march was initially planned for Monday‚ it has now been postponed to Tuesday.

articipants will meet in Jorissen Street opposite Wits University and will proceed to the Gauteng Legislature in the CBD from 9am. The march is also supported by the Federation of Unions of South Africa.

Meanwhile‚ although the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has been granted a certificate of non-resolution to strike at Transnet this coming Friday‚ they are still in talks about it.

“We will first engage our members to get a mandate. We would prefer a meeting with the Transport Minister and board first before resorting to this course of action. In a strike the ‘no work‚ no pay’ principle applies. Our members don’t get paid during a strike and therefore we must exhaust all options before going on strike‚” said Phakamile Hlubi-Majola‚ Numsa spokesperson.

A man who stopped to pick up hitchhikers on the R541 near Badplaas died in a freak accident at the weekend‚ said the Mpumalanga community safety department.

“[The driver of] a white Nissan bakkie NP 200 was parked alongside the road waiting for a person who was hiking to get inside the vehicle. [He] then… decided to get out of the vehicle to relieve himself… When he [was] going back to his vehicle‚ a vehicle came from behind‚ hit him against his vehicle and he lost both his legs‚” said Zandile Mandlazi of the department.

The man died at the scene. The two passengers in his vehicle were seriously injured. They had been sitting at the back of the open bakkie. Mandlazi said the deceased driver’s name was not yet known.

“The other driver was also rushed to hospital‚” Mandlazi said.

Cape Town – South Africa’s umbrella sports body SASCOC has issued a statement mourning the loss of leading wrestler Kleinjan Combrinck who died in a car accident on the early hours of Sunday morning.

Combrinck, 23, who was part of Team South Africa at the recent Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, passed away after a car accident between Springs and Nigel on the East Rand.

Fellow Commonwealth Games wrestler, Michael Gaitskill, was also in the car at the time of the accident, is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at a Springs hospital.

Based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, Combrinck was a regular visitor to the East Rand for training purposes and both him and Gaitskill were preparing for the U23 World Championships later this year.

Although he failed to medal at the Commonwealth Games, Combrinck won the 2018 African title in the 57kg division.

Said SASCOC President Gideon Sam: ‘The loss of Kleinjan and the serious injury to Michael rocks the very heart of the SA sporting family.

‘Both these two fine men were excellent wrestlers and also brilliant ambassadors for South African sport on the international front.

‘As SASCOC we extend our deepest condolences to Kleinjan’s family on their tragic loss and to Michael’s family, we join the rest of South Africa in wishing him a speedy recovery to full health once more.’

Adding his condolences was national wrestling coach, Nico Coetzee, who was part of Team SA at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

’Kleinjan’s passing is a big loss to the wrestling community and he will be sorely missed by all. Condolences to his father, mother and sister. We also pray for a full recovery by Michael.’