DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg - A DA march for a youth wage subsidy was forced to retreat from violence by Cosatu members in central Johannesburg on Tuesday.

At least two people were injured when rocks were thrown, and police fired teargas.

Paramedics could not make their way through the crowd so the injured were taken out on the DA's truck. Cosatu supporters chased the truck down two blocks before police managed to contain the situation.

The streets were strewn with rocks and litter and riot police fired a water cannon at the rowdy Cosatu crowd.

Earlier, the police formed a human chain by linking hands in front of Cosatu supporters to stop them from getting to DA marchers. It was a battle of the blues versus the reds as the number of Cosatu supporters increased.

DA protesters taking part in the march earlier took off their blue shirts in fear of being targeted by Congress of SA Trade Unions supporters.

On the same side

Marching down Jorissen Street in Braamfontein, they were met head-on by a group of red T-shirts. Cosatu supporters intimidated the DA crowd and stopped them from proceeding to Cosatu House.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko told the crowd they were on the same side, fighting for economic freedom.

"I felt sad that South Africans, who fought for tolerance and freedom, couldn't exercise those rights today," she said.

Earlier there was a loud bang, believed to be the police firing teargas at Cosatu supporters.

In a statement, the DA's Kate Lorimer said not enough police and metro police officers had been at the march.

Unprepared

"The legal DA march has been met by an illegal gathering of violent Numsa and Cosatu members who are throwing bricks and stones at peaceful DA marchers," Lorimer said.

"It seems though as if the cops were unprepared and it was only after the stone throwing that the SAPS finally sent in a police vehicle to block the Cosatu attack."

Several hundred DA supporters started their march at Beyers Naude Square in the city centre to protest against the union federation's opposition to the youth wage subsidy.

DA leader Helen Zille, youth leader Makashule Gana, Mazibuko and national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane led the protest. The planned route was along President, Rissik, Jeppe, Sauer, Burger, Jorissen, Melle, and Simmonds streets.

Earlier, police said the protesters could not end their march outside Cosatu House in Braamfontein. Instead it was agreed they would finish at least 50m away, on the lawns of the Joburg Theatre.

The DA believes the youth wage subsidy will create at least 423 000 jobs for young, unemployed South Africans.

And no statement from the ANC about the issue yet. Imagine if it was the DA doing this......flippin bunch of communist monkey's

Ou Ryperd a few years back I decided to stay in this country and try make it work for all us... I'm doubting my decision when i read this kind of sh!T....

The Unions (Communists) are the biggest obstacle to economic growth in South Africa...(td)

Dont see how,people being unemployed helps Cosatu?

if i am ever in the position to leave the country with my family....i will do so before you can blink

I thought that we were on the same page here.As Hibs mentioned, Cosatu should actually be 'happy' with this, but no, it's a good idea coming from a white supremacy/colonial movement, and a communist's first action? Stop/disrupt it if necessary, with violence and while you at burn cars, burglar shops and empty dirt bins. They most probably hired a few hundred jobless people, gave them T shirts and R200, plus the opportunity to cause nonsense ........dealing with Ju Ju mentality

gregbucks Wrote:

---

> Ou Ryperd a few years back I decided to stay in
> this country and try make it work for all us...
> I'm doubting my decision when i read this kind of
> sh!T....
>
> The Unions (Communists) are the biggest obstacle
> to economic growth in South Africa...(td)

100% true

The anc never wanted democracy in SA . They will not share the wealth with the poor !

Hibs - Coastu is a labour organsation not a political party. The reasons why Cosatu objects to this action is that they see the youth wage subsidy as a threat to "decent work, decent wage" in other words they see this project as cheap labour. I would not expect the ANC to respond as this has nothing to do with the ANC as a political party. The only link is the alliance. You would also note that our Finance Minster has mooted the youth wage subsidy and there seems to be a bit of common purpose between the DA and ANC is this regard.

It is quite ironic, the DA and Coastu nearly joined forces to march on the toll gantry issue in Gauteng. The only thing that stopped this was that Cosatu arranged a combined march which included the abolition of labour brokers. DA disagreed in this area and it was a non event in terms of a combined march.

OR they were marching on Cosatu House and it hardly seems a "good idea" in their view it has nothing to do with a good idea from "a white supremist colonialist movement". I know you said this tounge and cheek but is it not ironic that it was led by a white woman, a black woman and a black man. As long as we contnue to describe people as monkey's, we will have a problem living, maybe even, surviving in SA. No offence but the cycle has to break somewhere.

This was a great test for our democracy. Allowing a minor party to march unchallenged.

The violence was probably inevitable marching on Cosatu house was probably ill advised.

Decent work ! Whats that ? Maybe a full, hard days work for a desent wage .

Have to agree with you GG.The organsation was formed to stop abusive laobour practices but their concept of decent work and decent wage tends towards many hands doing no work. In fact even this comment of mine is incorrect, they seem to gear towards getting more for their members. My argument is, do you want one well paid member of the household or 4 members of the household earnng a fair wage. The latter seems a better option in my mind more productve people in the household will have the effect of reducng crime as a start. Cosatu will disagree!