SOUTH AFRICA: Police shoot protesters

On March 1, South African police opened fire on a group of unarmed striking road freight workers in Johannesburg. The workers were toyi-toying on the pavement, a block from a mass rally of the strikers, who are demanding a 9% wage increase, when a traffic cop ordered police present to open fire. Nine workers were taken to hospital, where police closed down the ward and refused to let information on their condition out. The police later issued a statement saying four workers had been shot in the leg, and alleging the workers were trying to storm a truck depot. Another 29 strikers were arrested at the action.

From Green Left Weekly, March 9, 2005.

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From GLW issue 618