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Comrades of the YCL Forum , Without any "sources", but with only the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) principle in mind, I have been convinced since at least June 2007, if not before, that there is a special squad of shooters in the police force, who are not regular police, but who go to labour disputes for the sole purpose of shooting at workers, in an irrational manner, with impunity. This incident at COSATU House, described in detail, is a good example. Another one was the shooting of the soldiers' demonstration. I also want to say, for the record, that there is nothing so peaceful as a disciplined public march of workers. There is no place that one can feel safer, except for provocations like the one recorded here in COSATU's media release (see below). Zodwa Maduna, our thoughts are with you. VC. Shooting at COSATU House condemned The
Congress of South African Trade Unions strongly condemns the shooting
of a CWU
member outside COSATU House in Braamfontein at around 11h00 on Friday 4
September 2009. The
incident occurred as a march by members of the Communication Workers
Union
employed by the SA Post Office was marching peacefully on the pavement
past the
COSATU Head Office, on their way to the High Court which was hearing an
application for an interim interdict to stop the Post Office strike. As
they turned the corner of Leyds and Biccard Streets, one of the two
occupants
of an SAPS BMW car which had been escorting the march, both in plain
clothes,
opened fire with six rubber bullets. Two of the bullets struck one of
the
marchers, Zodwa Maduna, injuring her in the arm and she was taken to
hospital
by ambulance. The police car then left the scene and did not accompany
the rest
of the march. There
was not the slightest justification or provocation for this attack. It
was a
drive-by shooting against workers on a peaceful and orderly march, and
there
was more shooting when the marchers assembled, again peacefully, at the
CWU
Provincial Office for a report-back from their officials. COSATU
is seeking the names of the police officers concerned and will be
demanding
firm action against those responsible for such reckless and potentially
fatal
conduct. The
federation has repeatedly expressed its anger at the number of times
recently
when police have opened fire with rubber bullets, stun grenades and
tear gas
against workers’ protest marches. We shall continue to press, with even
greater urgency, for a meeting with the relevant government ministers
to
discuss how to find ways to avoid such incidents and protect our
constitutional
right to demonstrate peacefully within the law. COSATU
sends Zodwa Maduna our sympathy and best wishes for a full recovery. Patrick Craven (National
Spokesperson) Congress of South African Trade
Unions 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets Braamfontein, 2017 P.O. Box 1019 Johannesburg, 2000 SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24 Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086
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