28 April 2006
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has strongly condemned todayâs (Friday)
attack on the Labour Departmentâs Durban offices.
The incident occurred this morning when a group of alleged striking South
African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) security guards stormed the
Durban Labour Centre in the Central Business District (CBD), attacked the staff
and vandalised all seven floors of the building.
The attackers, who had entered the building in small groups posing as
clients, have caused extensive damage to computers, furniture, doors and other
equipment. Staff members had to flee as the attackers occupied the building
until later when police removed them, using rubber bullets.
By late afternoon, the attackers were still chanting in the premisesâ
parking lot.
While the extent of the damage had not yet been fully established, it had
become clear that service delivery at the centre has been severely affected and
has come to a halt.
Condemning the attack, Minister Mdladlana said âOne has to be careful of
attacking the very offices that assist millions of South Africans. The police
must act quite harshly to send a clear message to those attacking government
buildingsâ.
âThe actions of these people are a serious indictment on a union that was
founded on democratic principles. It is so sad that though lives have been lost
and damage caused to property already, people are still not prepared to heed
our call to resume talks. We once again call on Satawu and employers to let go
of their narrow interests and return to negotiations for the sake of the
industry,â the Minister said.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 0828082168
Issued by: Department of Labour
28 April 2006
