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The Congress of South African Trade Unions strongly condemns the shooting of a CWU member outside COSATU House in Braamfontein at around 11h00 on Friday 4 September 2009.

The incident occurred as a march by members of the Communication Workers Union employed by the SA Post Office was marching peacefully on the pavement past the COSATU Head Office, on their way to the High Court which was hearing an application for an interim interdict to stop the Post Office strike.

As they turned the corner of Leyds and Biccard Streets, one of the two occupants of an SAPS BMW car which had been escorting the march, both in plain clothes, opened fire with six rubber bullets. Two of the bullets struck one of the marchers, Zodwa Maduna, injuring her in the arm and she was taken to hospital by ambulance. The police car then left the scene and did not accompany the rest of the march.

There was not the slightest justification or provocation for this attack. It was a drive-by shooting against workers on a peaceful and orderly march, and there was more shooting when the marchers assembled, again peacefully, at the CWU Provincial Office for a report-back from their officials.

COSATU is seeking the names of the police officers concerned and will be demanding firm action against those responsible for such reckless and potentially fatal conduct.

The federation has repeatedly expressed its anger at the number of times recently when police have opened fire with rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas against workers' protest marches. We shall continue to press, with even greater urgency, for a meeting with the relevant government ministers to discuss how to find ways to avoid such incidents and protect our constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully within the law.

COSATU sends Zodwa Maduna our sympathy and best wishes for a full recovery.