Cosatu: DA caused protest violence

2012-06-22 13:11

The DA youth wage subsidy march (File, AFP) ((AFP))

Johannesburg - There is evidence that the DA caused the violence that broke out when it recently marched on Cosatu's Johannesburg office, a Gauteng union official said on Friday.

"We have concrete evidence that [Democratic Alliance leader Helen] Zille's... bakkie was full of bricks," Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial chairperson Dumisani Dakile told reporters in Johannesburg.

"Wait, and watch this space... we will reveal the evidence at the appropriate time. We are waiting for the DA to proceed with its criminal charge [against Cosatu]."

He said the "attack" was part of a right-wing uprising in the country, led by the DA.

"The PEC (provincial executive committee) felt the attack... was not an accident but a well-orchestrated strategy by the right-wing elements within the country as led by the DA to undermine workers, [the] working class and the poor."

Several people were injured when the union confronted the DA during a march on the Cosatu head office in Johannesburg on May 15.

Dakile said the PEC discussed next week's African National Congress policy conference and felt the party needed more "cohesion", especially with regards to its branches in Free State and the North West.

"This lack of discipline... indicates the need for organisational renewal [within the ANC]," he said.

"We also make a humble plea to the ANC Youth League... It cannot define itself outside the ANC. There is life beyond this."

- SAPA