GOVERNMENT UNLEASHES TERROR AFTER IT IS CAUGHT NAPPING
NEHAWU condemns the war talk and threats by the ministers who have threatened to deal with our members who are on strike by unleashing the state security machinery against them. It is unfortunate that the Minister of Defence, Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu has never heard of a saying that, "You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership". It is regrettable to see the government that brought hope and promised so much to the poor people of South Africa imploding and eating itself from within.
The lies that have been fed to the public recently should worry all South Africans because the message that is coming out loud and clear is that government cannot be trusted. The reports and images of police officers shooting at mothers and dragging them in front of TV cameras for the whole world to see is a sign of a panicking and confused government that has been exposed and is now lashing out.
State prosecutors giving instructions that our members be denied bails is a sign of how state institutions are being abused by those in power to coerce and suppress the public. This also is a reminder to all of us that the limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress and if we are not careful we will return back to the bad old days of the army and police being unleashed on the civilian population.
Government has been caught napping and does not know how to deal with the fact that its own employees are unhappy with the shoddy handling of their wage negotiations and the hostile treatment they have received. The mobilization of the state security machinery exposes a government that has got no vision and confidence in its own ability to solve the most basic of employer-employee disputes.
NEHAWU strongly condemns the isolated and uncalled for incidences of violence and intimidation of the non striking employees and the members of the public. Ours is a legitimate strike and we do not condone actions of hooliganism against anyone.