The Democratic Alliance wants the army to be called in to ensure that a protest march by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Johannesburg is peaceful.
”The DA in Gauteng would like to call on the provincial government to deploy resting army units to the Jo’burg CBD to ensure that the Cosatu strike does not get out of hand,” the DA’s Brian Goodall said on Thursday.
He said he had seen how recent marches by security guards had not been kept in check due to the lack of police officers.
”Jo’burg DA councillors inform me that some army units are simply wasting time at their bases and would probably welcome something to do,” said Goodall. ”I know it is short notice, but some units are pretty close by and could be called in to back up the police in their duties.”
He said the ongoing security strike, which has often turned violent, and now the Cosatu strike, made Johannesburg citizens feel vulnerable.
Thursday’s strike is part of Cosatu’s jobs and poverty campaign.
On Wednesday Cosatu assured that its protests across the country would be conducted in an orderly manner. — Sapa