The removal of a man's shirt and trousers by Cosatu members during a rally in Rustenburg was regrettable, the union federation said.

The rally, held at the Olympia stadium on Saturday, was interrupted by members of the Marikana Support Campaign (MSC), Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven said in a statement.

"One member of the group, Mr Rehad Desai, had his shirt and trousers removed by some of our members. We deeply regret this incident, but it must be pointed out that he was not harmed," Craven said.

He claimed the MSC pretended to be supporting Cosatu, but began burning Cosatu and National Union of Mineworkers' branded T-shirts.

Billy Zulu, a national organiser of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU), was assaulted, allegedly for wearing a red T-shirt.

Craven expressed Cosatu's "profound thanks" to photographers who rescued Zulu.

Cosatu criticised the police for using rubber bullets to disperse striking Anglo American Platinum workers at the rally.

"This is further evidence, already seen at Marikana on 16 August, of the SAPS' abysmal lack of training in crowd control and forward planning," he said.

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Thu May 23 10:28:58 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 30, 2012

maneater

"but it must be pointed out that he was not harmed"
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i guess then there is no harm in unrdressing a grown man in public? i suspect that cosatu are confessing to this because it was done infront of the photographers and there were photos taken to prove this otherwise the ussuall " our memebers were not involved" statement would have been repeated.
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Oct 30, 2012

SEBIKIBIKI

maneater
"but it must be pointed out that he was not harmed"
=========================================================

i guess then there is no harm in unrdressing a grown man in public? i suspect that cosatu are confessing to this because it was done infront of the photographers and there were photos taken to prove this otherwise the ussuall " our memebers were not involved" statement would have been repeated.
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Spot on. What a foolish statement. I guess his own interpretation of harm is when a person is dead or injured.The drama continues.
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Oct 30, 2012

malemaforpresident

COSATU should stop selling the mine workers this has been going on for far too long since the dawn of democracy it should be pointed out that the so called tripartite alliance is an evil creature in the mining industry and to workers at large they claim to represent the workers but kissing the Lonmin management behind close doors that is nonsense the mine workers should have the right to choose their own independent labour federation this has been a ticking bomb and now it has exploded now Vavi and his croonies are running like a headless chickens they must now know South Africans are not fooolish
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Oct 30, 2012

cornelius

These idiots have no idea of democracy, freedom of choice, human rights. It does no thelp if their leaders are too weak to speak up and reprimand them unconditionally, and educate them about these things. They claim all sorts of rights for themselves but deny people who don't agree with them the same rights. Sickening.
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Oct 30, 2012

malemaforpresident

Riah Phiyega should also be smilling on this incident uglly dud.e
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Oct 30, 2012

Tasto_

Eventhough Zapiro unzipped Jacob Zuma in the cartoon & Brent Murray drew the king naked!!

I would like to poit it out Zuma was not harmed !!
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Oct 30, 2012

MommaC

"Cosatu criticised the police for using rubber bullets to disperse striking Anglo American Platinum workers at the rally"

Will they make up their blerrie minds already! Vavi was praising the cops for stepping in and preventing a fight
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Oct 30, 2012

Tasto_

@MommaC -aagh man that Vavi is the master of doublespeak !!

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Oct 30, 2012

marilynmonroe

yahi man wena sowetan where is my comment?

ga ka roga ope yet u blocking me....o sele
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Oct 30, 2012

rahima

@Tasto-

Nice one! - 'I would like to poit it out Zuma was not harmed !!'
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