The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) will oppose any attempt by the City of Cape Town to sue it for damages caused in a march that turned violent in May, the union said on Wednesday.
However, it had yet to received any summons or letter of demand, said Satawu spokesperson Ronnie Mamba.
” … Our position is and has always been that when they do sue, we will oppose it.”
Satawu was reacting to a report on Tuesday that 248 people had reported personal injuries and damage totalling R1,15-million as a result of the May 16 rampage.
City of Cape Town spokesperson Pieter Cronje said it had collated details of vehicle damage, injury, and loss of personal belongings, street vendors’ stock losses, damage to property — including broken church windows — and street signs.
This and closed-circuit television camera footage of the violence and damage in the central city had been handed to attorneys and the police, he said.
The Gatherings Act gives claimants three years to bring action. Until now, no one has tested this legislation. — Sapa