SSN+and+COSATU,+Dropping+of+charges+against+5+COSATU+leaders



=****COSATU leaders cleared of public violence****=

The Congress of South African Trade is pleased to announce the dropping of all charges of public violence against its five leaders who were arrested on 12 April 2006 at a demonstration at the Swaziland/South Africa border, in support of the campaign for human rights and trade union freedom in Swaziland. The five are:


 * Joe Nkosi, 1st Deputy President of COSATU
 * Cedric Gina, 2nd Deputy President of NUMSA
 * Mzwandile Makwayba, 2nd Deputy President of NEHAWU
 * Trabir Badal, National Treasurer of NEHAWU
 * Zet Luzipo, KZN Provincial Secretary of COSATU

They were arrested when they approached the SAPS to try to help resolve problems which had arisen at the border demonstration. Yet they were then arrested, taken to the police station and charged with public violence. The matter was set down on 21-22 August 2006 in the Pongola Regional Court.

At the court this morning, 22 August, after the State closed their case, COSATU’s lawyers, Advocate Gys Rautenbach, with Attorney Lerato Monnakgotla, applied for a ruling under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. This was granted immediately and the accused were discharged unconditionally. COSATU congratulates the accused and thanks their lawyers. Justice has been done.

COSATU hopes for a similar outcome in the trial of 21 of its members who were arrested and charged under the Contravention of the Regulations of Gatherings Act at another border post at Malelani on the same date, during which the police opened fire on demonstrators, injuring eight of them. The same legal team will be representing the 21 in the Nelspruit Court on Thursday, 24 August 2006.

COSATU has demanded a top-level investigation into the conduct of the police at the border posts, to establish exactly what happened and who was responsible for the violence and the arrests. We said at the time that many in the SAPS appear not to be trained to deal with protests of this kind, which require an ability to negotiate and reach agreement, rather than to engage in an immediate, aggressive confrontation.

The federation also reiterates its call for a broader discussion between government, the SAPS and the labour movement to review the policies and guidelines under which the police operate during political and industrial demonstrations, in order to make sure that such incidents are never repeated. Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson), Congress of South African Trade Unions** // See also the SSN release on the next page.// Swaziland Solidarity Network, 22 August 2006**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets, Braamfontein, 2017**
 * P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, SOUTH AFRICA**
 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**
 * SSN PRESS: on dropping of charges against the five COSATU leaders.**

The Swaziland Solidarity Network welcomes the dropping of all charges of public violence against five COSATU leaders who were arrested on 12 April 2006 at a demonstration at the Swaziland/South African Border, in solidarity with the people of Swaziland.

The five comrades are:
 * Joe Nkosi**, 1st Deputy President of COSATU
 * Cedric Gina**, 2nd Deputy President of NUMSA
 * Mzwandile Makwayba**, 2nd Deputy President of NEHAWU
 * Trabir Badal**, National Treasurer of NEHAWU
 * Zet Luzipo**, KZN Provincial Secretary of COSATU

SSN congratulates the accused and thanks their lawyers and further thanks COSATU for its practical solidarity. Justice has been done.

As the SSN we want to say our and the people of Swaziland demands remain the same as follows:


 * The unbanning of political parties
 * Swaziland be removed from the SADC committee dealing with governance, democracy and human rights in the region, immediately.
 * Free political activity and guaranteeing of the rights to associate, organize, and assemble without the royal hit squads brutally dispersing people
 * A democratic constitutional process involving all stakeholders in an environment without all the political hostilities
 * Unconditional return of all exiles and the release of all political prisoners
 * Isolation of Mswati and imposition of smart sanctions against his regime until they comply with all democratic obligations

Issued by the SSN. For more information contact**
 * Lucky Lukhele**
 * Tell: 011 339 3621**
 * Cell: 072 502 4141**

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