Police fired rubber bullets at striking workers at a clay and cement factory in Westonaria on Monday, according to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Police could not immediately confirm the incident, but NUM regional secretary Mluleki Senene said that about 300 workers were alternating protests with sitting under trees at West End Clay and Cement in Zuurbekom when police opened fire on them.
Speaking from the Westonaria police station, Senene said nine men, including himself, and a woman were taken to police cells. They believed they would be charged with public violence.
”We are really embarrassed in a democracy that we can just be shot [at] like that by Westonaria police,” Senene said.
He said strikers had a similar experience on August 8, the first day they started striking outside the company. Those injured then included a woman who was eight months pregnant.
NUM national spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said union lawyers were on their way to the police station.
He said the union had submitted notice of the strike, which began on August 7, following a dispute with the management over wages.
Workers want a minimum wage of R500 per week for grade four, and R600 per week for grade five. Grade-four workers are currently earning R345 per week, while grade-five workers earn R390 per week, the NUM said.
According to its website, the company produces 70-million bricks a year. A company spokesperson was not immediately available to comment. — Sapa