Post Office van set alight

Black fumes engulfed Johannesburg's office and entertainment district of Rosebank today as a Post Office van burst into flames

There are no details as yet on how the van caught fire.

City of Johannesburg's Emergency Management Services Robert Mulaudzi said: "We are aware that there is a protest taking place in the post office".

"We were called to Rosebank for a minibus that was in flames in front of the post office. In front of the Parkview post office, two minibuses and a carport were also burned," he told The Times.

The SA Post Office recently announced it was dismissing 473 casual workers, who had been on an illegal strike on the East Rand and in Tshwane.

In a statement issued on Friday, the SAPO said the strike action had been "characterised by intimidation and violence: the blocking of workplaces, assaults on employees and damage to property".

"In our view, the strike is unnecessary, as it is centred on the speed with which the conversion of casual workers into permanent positions is being implemented; a matter which is being addressed ... with their leadership," said Christopher Hlekane, GCEO.

Hlekane said the dismissals followed "negotiations, ultimatums and a Labour Court Interdict".

Yesterday, the SAPO advised customers in the affected areas they should expect delays in the delivery of mail and parcels until operations are back to full capacity, and also until it had managed to clear the backlog caused by the strike.