The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Free State strongly condemns the racial incident at the Bothaville Spar wherein a white security manager severely assaulted a black co-worker who he accused of being drunk. Instead of condemning the attack, dismissing the security manager and reporting a case of assault to the police, Spar management instituted a disciplinary process against the victim and dismissed him from work. As things stand, the security manager is at work carrying on as if nothing happened.
The silence from the management of Spar is deeply worrying and raises several questions. Why did they not discipline the security manager? Why are they not disturbed by the racial overtones of this incident?
COSATU Affiliate, South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) has reported ill-treatment by management towards employees who have joined the trade union. What Spar appears to have forgotten is that joining a trade union is not an employer’s choice but an employee’s constitutional right.
As COSATU We believe that every individual deserves to work in an environment where they are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness — regardless of race, ethnicity, or cultural background. Racial discrimination of any form is unacceptable, unethical, and unlawful.
COSATU Free State and its Affiliate, SACTWU, have organised a protest march to Spar in Bothaville to demand the immediate reinstatement of our member and consequence management against the security manager. We will be marching to protect and restore the dignity of a black person. Details of the march are as follows:
Date: Sunday 10 May 2026
Time: 9am
Assembly point: Kgotsong Township Circle (at the entrance next to Community Hall)
We call on all members of COSATU, Alliance partners, community-based structures and the community of Bothaville to join the march in support of the dismissed worker. We reiterate our firm stance against all forms of racial discrimination in the workplace, as it is a direct violation of workers’ rights and human dignity. Through this march, COSATU wants to emphasize that:
- Workplace equality is non-negotiable — every worker, regardless of race, gender, or background, must have equal access to opportunities, fair treatment, and safe working conditions.
- The legacy of apartheid still lingers — many workplaces remain shaped by historic inequalities, and proactive measures are needed to dismantle these systemic barriers.
- Support for the Employment Equity Act — COSATU views the Act as a vital instrument to correct past injustices, promote diversity, and ensure that workplaces reflect the demographics of South Africa.
- Call to action — we are unapologetically calling on employers to implement robust anti-discrimination policies, provide diversity training, and create transparent systems for reporting and addressing unfair treatment.
COSATU reaffirms that racial discrimination is not only morally unacceptable but also illegal, and we will continue to mobilise workers to defend equality and justice in every workplace.
Issued on behalf of COSATU Free State
Tiisetso Mahlatsi, Provincial Secretary
077 607 3012