Cosatu condemns horrific attack on worker 31-08-07

 

COSATU condemns horrific attack on worker

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is horrified at the assault allegedly made on July Mathumbu, from Songeni, Mpumalanga, by his employer, Andrew Dzambukeri.

The employer had reportedly accused him of "spreading a dangerous rumour about him", for which he sjambokked him and then tied his hands, legs and neck with rope to the horns of a cow. The cow then ran away, kicking and dragging him helplessly along behind it. It kicked him in the mouth, genitals, body and head and he lost most of his teeth. He was only saved from further harm when community members untied him.

He was admitted to hospital and we send him our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

The Police are reported to have confirmed the incident, but said no charges had been laid against the employer because they "have not received a complaint". COSATU demands that the police take this matter far more seriously, investigate it fully, and prosecute the alleged offender. If the court finds him guilty, it must impose a severe sentence.

This incident is typical of the kind of brutal assaults which are reported daily at union offices in rural areas, and far too often the police and courts turn a blind eye, or hand down a slap on the wrist to the offender.

This must stop; no-one is above the law and workers in rural areas have the constitutional right to be protected from such barbaric attacks from their employer. Any offenders found guilty must be given exemplary punishments as a warning to other employers that they cannot and will not get away with such cruel assaults.