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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) condemns in the strongest terms the brutal and vicious attack unleashed on our members and the community of Boipatong, by the SAPS and ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) in Vandirbijlpark. Our members have been on strike since the 12th of March.

On Wednesday the community joined in our picket. They have their own demands because they have been denied electricity for more than three weeks by the Emfuleni municipality. During the protest, the police responded by shooting at them with rubber bullets. One of our members was injured and had to be rushed to hospital.

Today the police were even more brutal. They intensified their attacks on the community and dozens of people were rounded up arrested and charged. They are continuing their siege against the community.
 
The people of Boipatong are being attacked for protesting against a three-week power cut by the Emfuleni Municipality. At the same time our members are fighting against an oppressive working environment, where contract workers are abused and exploited on a daily basis. Contract workers earn less than permanent staff, and they receive fewer benefits.
 
The working class is being punished for resisting oppression from a brutal, greedy capitalist state. The Capitalist ANC government will always protect production at all costs. Workers will be killed for simply stopping the capitalist bosses from making money. That is what is happening at ArcelorMittal. Everyday this government uses the police to attack the working class for protesting against their conditions. Just like mineworkers in Marikana were massacred for going on strike and demanding a living wage.
 
ArcelorMittal, like all greedy capitalists, will abuse and exploit workers in order to maximize profit. Profit is more important than human lives.

This is why workers are suffering under the burden of an unsafe working environment. Our members complain about how the company forces them to put their lives in danger, and then threatens them with disciplinary action for refusing dangerous work. This happens mostly to contract workers who are afraid to refuse, because they will be dismissed.
 
The SAPS attack only when AMSA is unable to do business. They don’t care about protecting the community against thugs, or crimes or gangs. They respond with violent force only when the capitalist ‘baas’ and his economic interests are threatened.

NUMSA has dispatched its legal team to assist those who have been arrested. The General Secretary will also be meeting management on Friday under the auspices of the CCMA in an attempt to resolve the strike.

We thank the community for demonstrating solidarity with us in our battle for equality in the workplace and we support their demands. We thank our members for being faithful to the struggle. They are sacrificing everything so that all workers can benefit, and we salute them!

Issued by NUMSA