MEYERTON. – Four workers were injured after they were allegedly shot at by security personnel at close range during a protest at Meyerton Steel Mills on Wednesday 22 May.
This follows after a labour dispute between the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and South African Steel Mills spiralled into violence.
Members of Numsa embarked on indefinite strike action, following the dismissal of more than a 100 workers at the steel mills for participating in what Numsa maintans was a protected strike.
Meanwhile, the police say have arrested three suspects for attempted murder following the shooting incident during the protest.
The four injured workers were taken to hospital for treatment. According to Colonel Noxolo Kweza, police spokesperson, police found the entrance to SA Steel Mills closed on arrival at the scene with the access road barricaded by stones and burning tyres.
“The wounded protestors were taken to hospital by ambulances for medical attention,” Kweza said.
According to Kweza the arrested suspects were scheduled to appeat in the Vereeniging Regional Court on Friday, 24 May.
Numsa regional secretary, Kabelo Ramokhathali, claimed that the workers were shot at by private security company personnel as the participated in the strike on Wednesday morning.
“Four of our members were shot at with rubber bullets at close range. Two sustained very serious injuries because one was shot in the head and another in the chest,” he told IOL last week.
Amelia Berman of Stein Scop Attorneys, on behalf of South African Steel Mills, maintained that the strike was unprotected and said that it had resulted in violence and damage perpetrated by Numsa’s members.
According to Berman this resulted in the dismissal of 124 workers found guilty of misconduct in a disciplinary process. SASM instructed its legal team to pursue an application for an urgent interdict to stop the violence.
