Pension 'sparked hostage drama'

2007-04-19 21:06

Cape Town - A gripe about pension legislation favouring women appears to have led to Thursday's hostage drama at the Human Rights Commission's (HRC) Cape Town office.

HRC chief executive Tseliso Thipanyane said the hostage-taker earlier had lodged a complaint with the commission about the legislation.

"He had previously asked the commission to intervene as he thought the legislation was a violation of the right to equality on the basis of age."

The 61-year-old man was arrested by police after holding up the commission's Western Cape chairperson Ashraf Mohammed at gunpoint.

The hostage-taker was said to have been protesting against the fact that women qualified for state pensions from the age of 60 while men had to be 65.

Thipanyane said the commission believed his grievance was valid, although it strongly condemned the man's conduct.

Bearded man had firearm

"As the HRC we also have made submissions on the Older Persons Bill requesting parliament to address the problem," he said.

Police were seen escorting the man into a van before driving away from the offices shortly before 13:00.

Police said the bearded man had earlier gone into the Absa bank building with a firearm.

Tyalana Strydom, who works at a nearby business, said: "Some guy went up and took a few people hostage upstairs in the Absa building."

Before the arrest, police cordoned off a section of Adderley Street around the bank building while negotiations with the hostage-taker were underway.

HRC official Judith Cohen, who was present when the hostage drama unfolded, said the hostage-taker had been at the Cape Town office two weeks ago.

"We referred him to the gender equality commission, but told him he could come back if his compliant was not resolved," she said.

- SAPA