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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa says it’s saddened by the death of its shop steward at Algoa Bus Company in Gqeberha, who the union said was “assassinated”.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says Thembinkosi Mdoda was murdered in the early hours of Tuesday morning by an unknown assailant.
She said he was on his to work.
“What is most disturbing is that they did not take anything,” Hlubi-Majola said in a statement.
“Numsa condemns the cowardly thugs who assassinated cde Mdoda. We demand that the SAPS must act and arrest the people who murdered him.”
General secretary Irvin Jim said the union extended its condolences to Mdoda’s family, and also to his friends and comrades in the Eastern Cape region.
“NUMSA has lost a highly respected, and courageous leader of the union. His passing is a major loss to shop stewards and workers because he was very experienced and he led many struggles on the shopfloor, in defence of workers,” Jim said.
“We shall miss his determination and his drive to ensure that workers’ interests are defended at all times.”
Jim said the Eastern Cape region of the union has been meeting with his family and is co-ordinating the funeral arrangements.
A memorial service will be held at Kwazakhele High School in Gqeberha at 5pm on Monday.
Mdoda will be laid to rest at his home village in Thamarha in Qonce in King Williamstown on Sunday the 28th of April.
He was also the regional chairperson of the bus passenger sector in the Eastern Cape, as well as the national bargaining representative in the Bus Passenger Sector Bargaining Council.
