CAPE TOWN, SAMWU is disgusted and appalled that the police opened fire at close range with plastic coated steel bullets at our members in Cape Town one hour ago.
The march through the City ended at 1:30pm, after Helen Zille refused to receive demands of the workers¹ memorandum. Then, the marchers were walking back to Kaisersgracht, District Six to take their transport home, and three casspirs and eight vans full of police followed them. The SAMWU members had reached a field near Kaisersgracht, were slightly out of the public eye when the police suddenly threw a stun grenade at the marchers for no reason.
Immediately after this, police opened fire at close range with plastic coated steel bullets.
12 SAMWU members sustained injuries and have been rushed for medical attention.
The Chief Marshall and a senior SAMWU leader, Leon Johannes approached a senior police officer, Captain de Graaf asking him to stop the shooting. The police then threw Johannes and two other workers standing with him to the ground and arrested them. These are unlawful arrests and SAMWU will challenge them.
Johannes now can be reached in prison on this number: 083 730 3114
SAMWU would like to issue a very stern warning to the Minister of Safety and Security and Helen Zille:
We will not accept police brutality at our marches. The police are well aware that firing plastic coated steel bullets at close range can be fatal. SAMWU intends to make a legal case for damages for this unprovoked attack. We are currently collecting evidence, affidavits and consulting legal counsel about this.
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