Island strike harms city-tourism chief

Chief executive Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold said: “Robben Island is an important heritage site for South Africa and a key visitor attraction for Cape Town.

“Anything that affects access to Robben Island, such as non-operational boats or strikes, is unfortunate as it not only affects travellers who have already booked seats, often some months in advance, but also affects visitors’ overall perception of Cape Town as a destination.”

On Sunday Robben Island Museum chief executive Sibongiseni Mkhize said the island’s operations were running smoothly after museum workers affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) became violent and unruly on Saturday.

About 100 of the museum’s 220 staff have been on strike since Wednesday after wage negotiations between Nehawu and management deadlocked.

Regarding the incident at the weekend, Mkhize said: “A group of workers invaded the embarcation area at the Nelson Mandela Gateway and entered the ferry, where they prevented tourists from boarding.

“This disruption, which lasted for approximately an hour, eventually forced the Robben Island Museum to cancel all tours for the day.

“The management of Robben Island Museum would like to apologise to all our visitors who were affected by this incident. We will investigate and take speedy action (including legal action) against those who were involved.

“We would also like to assure our visitors and all concerned South Africans that we are taking the necessary steps to return the museum’s operations back to normality.”

The workers, who run the island’s ferries, work in its shops and sell tickets, want a monthly increase of R2 500. They also want a shutdown of operations from December 25 to January 2, and are demanding the implementation of all the provisions of a 2010/11 settlement signed by Nehawu and the museum.

Nehawu said the strike would continue until the workers’ demands were met.

The union’s branch secretary at the museum, Sinako Mrwetyana, said negotiations had not resumed since they downed tools last week.

“We are waiting for the management to call us back,” she said.

“Because this is our peak season, the museum has been losing millions of rands due to cancelled tours. Compare that to the R2 500 increase the workers are demanding. They’d rather lose more than meet the workers’ demands.”

(sibusiso.nkomo@inl.co.za)