[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Dispute on deaths in Samwu/RedAnt clash

[Patrick Bond]

South African Municipal Workers’ Union Press Statement

Monday 19^th May 2008

3pm

SAMWU is shocked and horrified to report that the Red Ants have killed 
one of our members in Lesedi Local Municipality, Gauteng.

The SAMWU Organiser is currently with the late member’s body and the police.

The member’s name is being withheld by the union until we can inform his 
next of kin.

The member has a severe head injury and is bleeding profusely from the 
head.

SAMWU is right now appointing attorneys to get to the bottom of this and 
to take the strongest possible legal action against the owners of the 
Red Ants and the state forces who deployed them to Lesedi.

Another two members as well as a tiny child, aged two years old, were 
rushed to hospital a few hours ago in critical condition after being 
shot by the Red Ants. The child has just died.

The Lesedi Local Municipality has been in talks with SAMWU to end the 11 
week strike. They had no business bringing in Red Ants into the township 
areas, under the pretence that these heavily armed, thuggish and 
dangerous Red Ants were there to clean up. The reputation of the violent 
Red Ants is well known and SAMWU will be holding the municipality 
responsible.

…/ends

For comment from the scene call SAMWU Organiser Tintswalo Maluleke on 
073 5502804 or SAMWU Provincial Secretary Moses Moerane on 076 1769056
>