The KwaZulu-Natal regional chairman of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa appeared in court yesterday for allegedly assaulting a policeman .

Basil Cele was arrested in Pinetown on Wednesday after allegedly throwing an object at a police officer during a march by striking motor industry workers. He also faces charges of leading an illegal march and resisting arrest. He was released on R1000 bail.

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters.

Twenty-one protesters were arrested for intimidation and possession of illegal weapons.

Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said Chatsworth and Mayville petrol station owners called police after strikers allegedly threatened and assaulted on-duty petrol attendants on Wednesday.

About 700 Numsa members picketed outside the court to protest against Cele's arrest yesterday. Numsa regional secretary Mbuso Ngubane said the charges against Cele were "trumped-up to silence popular dissent and genuine struggles for a living wage by workers".

Workers at petrol stations, dealerships, vehicle workshops and engineering-related industries are demanding a 20% increase on take-home pay across the board, a minimum of R20 an hour for the lowest-paid workers in all sectors and a 20% night-shift allowance.