No solidarity with Police strikers!

Police unrest made news in the first quarter of 1995.

Many of the protests were organized by the South African Police Union (SAPU), which was established in 1993. SAPU demanded a 40% pay rise across the board, and a R350 allowance for all police members (and not just shift workers and detectives).

To back up its demands SAPU organized police go slows and work to rule. By early April, for instance, at least 5 stations in Soweto were barely functional.

SAPU also marched on government buildings At Tuynhuys Thabo Mbeki promised SAPU delegates that he would discuss police grievances with the Ministers of Police (Sydney Mufamadi) and Finance (Chris Liebenberg).

So far the SAPU members have had a relatively sympathetic reception from government officials. They were not shot down like police strikers organized by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU).

In February a police striker was killed by the internal stability Unit at Orlando West. In March the army shot another striker in Umtata .

It is illegal for police to strike.

We must admit that we do not care what conditions the police work under. The police have always acted as the hired lackeys of the bosses against the workers .

While we realize that many police work under poor condition we cannot stand with the police unless they stand with us. So long as the police agree to attack strikers, youth and squatters, they are part of the problem.

WE WON’T STAND WITH THE POLICE WHILE THE POLICE STAND AGAINST US!