FIRE DAMAGE: The charred interior of the home of a Boardwalk employee who has refused to join the strike Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI
A BOARDWALK Hotel and Casino worker’s house was petrol-bombed in Port Elizabeth amid claims that she had refused to take part in the ongoing wage strike.
About 200 Boardwalk employees stopped work two weeks ago, demanding an 8% pay increase.
Sun International, which owns the Boardwalk, is offering a 7% increase.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said containers with inflammable liquid had been thrown inside the house.
“The police are investigating a case of arson,” Beetge said.
The woman could not be reached for comment but a relative said she had been sleeping in a flat on the property when it was torched at 2.25am on Monday.
The relative and police requested that the name of the woman, 42, not be published for fear of further victimisation.
“They threw two petrol bombs [into] the main bedroom, but luckily she was not there.
“That could have killed her, but thank God she is safe,” the relative said.
The bedroom window was shattered and the bedroom badly burnt.
The fire also damaged the livingroom and burst a few lights.
The relative said the woman had been offered free accommodation while the Boardwalk fixed the house.
It was believed she had been targeted for refusing to join the strike.
Sun International spokesman Michael Farr said: “We are assisting our employee with her immediate needs and do not want to comment further out of respect for her privacy.”
-Yoliswa Sobuwa
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