The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has accused the police of trying to murder one of its Gauteng officials by shooting him — possibly with rubber bullets — at close range in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Oupa Mbhele was wounded four times in his knees and lower legs and underwent surgery at the Garden City Clinic, where he was in a serious condition after the ”unprovoked” attack, said Satawu spokesperson Ronnie Mamba.
Satawu’s Gauteng secretary Xolani Nyamezele had opened a case of attempted murder against the police, he said.
However, Johannesburg police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini could not confirm this.
He did confirm that there was a clash between two groups at Beyers Naude Square on Tuesday afternoon.
Dlamini said violence erupted when one of the groups objected to the other calling ambulances to help striking workers assaulted while on their way to the square from the railway station.
Police intervened, firing rubber bullets, he said. No live ammunition was used.
”Nobody came forward [at the time] to say they were injured. Maybe cases were brought later,” said Dlamini.
According to Satawu, Mbhele was sent to the scene to look into reports that some Satawu members had been arrested for rowdiness during the demonstration.
At the time of the shooting he was asking police officers for the names of those arrested to verify whether they were indeed Satawu members, said Mamba.
”Another [police] officer came, holding a gun, and just told him to move,” he said.
Although Mbhele tried to explain what he was doing, the police officer opened fire on him four times, Mamba alleged.
At the police station later, Nyamezele discovered that the police officer involved has failed to make a report on the incident to his duty officer, he further charged.
Mamba said Satawu knew the name of the police officer and would be following the matter closely.
”Satawu condemns this high-handedness of the police,” he said. — Sapa