By Anita Dangazele
- Robbers are targeting former Goodyear workers at home, beating them and forcing them to send money via cellphone transfers.
- Police have arrested one man and say no new attacks have been reported since a task team began investigating.
Former Goodyear workers in Kariega are being attacked in their homes by criminals who want their severance payouts.
The tyre company shut its Kariega factory in August, ending 78 years of production and leaving 907 people without jobs. Each worker was paid a severance package, their August salary and bonuses.
Since then, police say several workers have been robbed in their homes in KwaNobuhle and other parts of Nelson Mandela Bay. In many cases, the robbers beat the workers and forced them to transfer money from their bank accounts. Some were made to send money through “ewallet” cellphone payments.
At least one former worker was shot and had to be taken to hospital.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said they have gathered all the case dockets and formed a task team to deal with the crimes. She said no new incidents have been reported since the task team started working.
One suspect, a 23-year-old man, was arrested on Tuesday, but it’s not clear if he has appeared in court.
Police have asked workers to send any tips or information to 082 457 2507.
District Commissioner Major General Vuyisile Ncata said the police are taking the situation seriously and urged residents not to share their banking details with anyone.
A former Goodyear employee said he believes the robbers are people who know the workers and their financial situations. He said many workers spoke about their payouts in public and that made them easy targets. Now he is scared and thinking of leaving the area.
Some people on social media have blamed newspapers for reporting on the payouts, saying it put workers in danger.
Speaking at the opening of the ANC regional elective conference at Nelson Mandela University on Friday, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said six former Goodyear employees had been killed in the city since the closure of the plant in August.
“It’s one of those things that we’re very much concerned about, it can’t be that workers who have worked for years trying to build their lives when they lose jobs in the manner which they are losing jobs, there will be people who think all that they’ve worked for doesn’t belong to them,” he said.
He confirmed that a special investigating task team is working on the cases.
Pictured above: Goodyear factory in Kariega.
Image source: Facebook
