The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province has learned with distress that the Bafokeng Magistrate Court took a decision to withdraw all charges against the CEO of Impala Platinum mines Mark Munroe, yesterday.

Mark Munroe was charged in May for contravening regulations controlling movement of people during the national disaster management period

This case was supposed to sit in October this year, but the court took a decision to withdraw all charges yesterday.

This is another reminder that the ruling elites no longer have legitimacy and they are destroying our democracy and replacing it with a Mafia State. If we had a functioning judicial and legislative system, Munroe, along with other intransigent employers who put workers lives at risk would-be put-on trial and not be released.

It is obvious that our court system was only designed to railroad the poor into jails and prisons and not to touch the elite.

The fight against COVID-19 has become a farce and COSATU will oppose the state if it attempts to charge any worker for violating the regulations. The state needs to be serious about enforcing all the laws without fear or favour or we risk becoming a lawless jungle.

Issued by COSATU

For more information contact COSATU NW Provincial Secretary North Kopano Konopi @ 082 3395836