The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] condemns the shooting with live ammunition of municipal workers in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga which has led to a worker losing life and others fighting for their lives in hospital. 

This dastardly act by the private security company hired by the Municipality occurs a day after the country had just commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the Marikana Massacre and this must be condemned in the strongest possible manner.

As NEHAWU, we find it totally unacceptable that workers are subjected to such horrific acts when our constitution provides and guarantees workers’ rights and freedom to exercise these rights. The brutality meted-out against these workers indeed confirms to us that workers in the country are under siege with concerted efforts of undermining of workers’ rights.

The only sin of these workers was to embark on a strike action for their demands to be addressed instead the municipality unleashed private security on workers leading to this horrendous shooting that has claimed the life of a worker. The municipality management must be held accountable for this tragedy and all those responsible should be criminally prosecuted.    

Lastly, we send solidarity to municipal workers in Steve Tshwete Municipality, our sister union SAMWU, to those injured we wish them a speedy recovery and offer our condolences to the family of the worker that has passed away.

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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat

Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za