'You're being watched'

Fresh from rejecting an offer of a 10% wage increase from employers, National Union of Metalworkers of SA protesters went from business to business to check if workers were complying with the strike.

As many as 220 000 workers in the metals and engineering sector have been on strike since July 1.

Numsa and employers are to resume talks today.

Escorted by the police, workers - with the permission of employers - yesterday entered premises to inspect businesses in Edenvale, east of Johannesburg.

Protesters attacked one building because the owner would not come out when they demanded he meet them outside. They broke windows and a gate.

The business owner, who identified himself only as Michael, said he was not obliged to let anyone in as it was his property.

He said protesters damaged the windows and gate after he let them in.

"The police did nothing. We do not even have any Numsa workers here. I'm not against the strike. I encourage it, but I'm against these guys preventing us from working, and vandalising our properties."

In an unrelated incident 26 people were arrested in Ekurhuleni for public violence and causing malicious damage to property.

Numsa picket leader Frans Motsela said the protesters would continue to visit companies to check on workers.

"These strikes are violent because of the no-work, no-pay principle," he said.

Another businessman who had let Numsa members in but did not want to be identified said he hoped Numsa and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA, negotiating on businesses' behalf, would reach an agreement on wage increases so that he could resume operations..

On Friday, Seifsa increased its offer to 10%, up from the 8% previously offered. Numsa is demanding increases of between 12% and 15%, a housing allowance of R1000 and a ban on labour broking.

Last week, Numsa members were ordered to desist from violence and intimidation against non-striking workers at Transnet's Ngqura Container Terminal near Port Elizabeth, where they had allegedly petrol-bombed and vandalised homes.