SAHRC condemns shooting of guards

The SA Human Rights Commission has condemned police shooting at unarmed SBV protesters in Boksburg yesterday. It says it is disturbed by amateur footage which shows officers opening fire on guards.

Yesterday police asked protesters to disperse, they refused. Then police opened fire. Today, the protestors returned determined and undeterred by yesterday's police action. A guard is recovering from an emergency operation at a Boksburg hospital.

One of the SBV guards, Sipho Thomo, says: "We were not trying to fight the police ... we were just sitting down then they started shooting at us."

The police's spokesperson, Eugene Opperman, would not comment on camera. He conceded the law was contravened and steps will be taken against the police.