COSATU NW statement on lion's killing 03-01-08

 

COSATU North West press statement on farmer worker killed by eight lions

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has condemned the killing of farm workers by lions, after it was reported that a farm worker in the North West at Swartregens was killed by eight lions on 1st January 2008.

COSATU wants to confirm the statement they released in 2007 that all cases of farm workers killed by lions must be re-opened for further investigation by the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

We are calling on the NDPP to defend the poor, the working class and the rest of the communities from being killed by lions in the North West Province and make sure that all owners, including in this most recent case, are re-arrested and prosecuted.

It is clear that the government of the North West is not prepared to deal with these critical issues. This is the fourth case in the North West where workers have been killed by lions and at the end no one has been arrested, on the basis that there is never enough evidence, as is usually the case for farm workers

Enough is enough. In 2008 COSATU is intensifying our campaign to protect farm workers with a full blown strike against government.

For more information feel free to call COSATU North West Provincial

Secretary, Solly N Phetoe, on 082 3044055