Cops shoot at security guards

2006-06-15 13:35

Johannesburg - A security guard was wounded in the back when police fired rubber bullets at a group of Satawu marchers on Thursday.

Njabulo Zondi, 29, a security guard from Springs was shot near Market street in Johannesburg as the strikers were beginning their march from the city centre to Sandton.

"I'm still shocked, the wound is painful."

Njabulo said he was following other guards who had gathered at Beyers Naude Square when police opened fire.

It wasn't clear why the police shot at the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) members.

The march, which was delayed due to late Metrorail trains, threatens to bring business operations in Sandton to a standstill.

When addressing Satawu members who'd gathered at the Beyers Naude square in Johannesburg earlier on Thursday, union spokesperson Jackson Simon said Metrorail was deliberately delaying trains to sabotage the march because some members relied on trains to get to the meeting place.

Plan to bring business to a standstill

"A large number of Satawu members are still stuck in train stations in Pretoria, Germiston, Soweto and other areas. But we will wait until they get here, even if it means having to sleep in Sandton," he said.

The strikers will walk from Rissik Street to Parktown and on Oxford Road through Rosebank to Sandton City.

From there they will walk to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where, Simon said, the striking guards planned to bring business to a standstill.

"They cannot be counting shares and enjoying their lunch while the workers are hungry."

- SAPA