Saftu protesters arrested
SA FEDERATION of Trade Unions (Saftu) provincial secretary and Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Demawusa) provincial chairperson were arrested yesterday when police prevented protesters from marching to Parliament.
André Adams and Nadine Simons were part of a group that gathered at Hanover Street and marched to Parliament. Scuffles ensued and police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Police spokesperson André Traut said: “Two people were arrested for an offence in terms of the Disaster Management Act. Once charged, they are expected to make a court appearance in Cape Town.”
The unions are demanding that the unemployment crisis be addressed. They are also demanding that the government introduce a free, compulsory, decolonised and high-quality public education system, an overhaul of the economy and an end to corruption and crime.
Saftu said it had taken all the steps to comply with regulations. “We asked workers to stay at home; only a few activists were to form part of the demonstrations in Cape Town, just like it was throughout the country. All our members had masks, sanitisers and observed social distancing.
Still, the police ordered them to disperse,” it said.
Saftu provincial chairperson Nkanyiso Siyana lambasted what he said was a defence of the capitalist state.
“Had it been rich people going to Parliament, had it been white people… they would have been allowed to march to Parliament, but because the working class, poor and the marginalised people are the ones marching to Parliament to raise their grievances they are being prevented,” he said.