Union: Arrest cop over farmworker's death

2012-11-17 22:05

Fruit bins burn at a packing store in Wolesley, during the farmworkers' protest. (Rodger Bosch, AFP)

Johannesburg - The Food and Allied Workers Union on Friday called for the arrest of a Western Cape police station commander following the death of a farmworker during the farmworkers strike this week.

"We call on the arrest of the Wolseley police station commander, who allegedly instructed the shooting with live ammunition in which Michael Daniels was killed," the union said in a statement. Daniels, 28, was shot and killed in a skirmish with police during a protest in Wolseley on Tuesday.

Five other people were injured in the incident.

The Wolseley station commander has since been replaced.

The temporarily removal of the station commander from her post may send a wrong message that police brutality was a norm, the union said.

Led by its president, Attwell Nazo the union on Saturday visited Wolseley, Ceres, Robertson, and Bonnievale and De Doorns in the Western Cape.

The areas have been marred by violence as table grape harvesters demanded to be paid R150 a day.
Most earned between R69 and R75 a day.

"Fawu is behind the workers' demands and will support them all the way. We will engage with employers and government to address their problems."

Police said they were keeping an eye on the situation.

- SAPA