DA official Tiaan Kotze who was injured during a clash with Cosatu says the scars are his “struggle credentials”
|||He’s in pain and shock as he lies on his back in an ambulance – but he still has the courage to raise both hands to give the V for Victory sign.
On Wednesday, after spending the night in hospital, he told The Star: “I now have my very own struggle credentials.”
This is how 23-year old DA official Tiaan Kotze refers to the deep cut across his face.
It’s a scar he will carry for life.
A peaceful march by the DA from Beyers Naudé Square to Cosatu’s offices in Braamfontein turned violent on Tuesday.
The DA wanted to hand over a memorandum to the trade union regarding the Youth Wage Subsidy issue, but Cosatu members, who strongly oppose the idea grouped together in opposition.
Conflict broke out when Cosatu members started throwing rocks at the blue-t-shirt brigade, sparking retaliation.
Kotze, who is community operations manager for the DA, said he travelled from Potchefstroom to attend the march.
“We were two blocks away from Cosatu House where a hail of rocks and stones came down. I held my hand out and managed to stop one hitting a woman next to me, but next minute one struck me in my face, just above my right eye,” he said, speaking from his hospital bed on Tuesday.
After falling to the ground, he was helped back onto his feet but fell down again a few metres away.
“There was blood all over, even on my clothes. I have a big gash over my right eye and I could not see through it because of the injury and the blood pouring out of it. It happened so fast.
“I am angry because we were there in peace.
“I kept holding my hands up flashing peace signs at them, but they kept going.
They kept on at us, provoking, trying to get a reaction,” he said.
Kotze says he doesn’t know how many stitches he has because he is bandaged up.
He was discharged from hospital late on Wednesday morning and will be staying with his parents who live in Joburg for observation because he had a slight concussion.
A CT scan done on Tuesday revealed that he suffered no major injuries.
“The doctors tell me I will be scarred for life.
“These will be my struggle credentials to prove that we have no democratic right to protest,” he said.
The Star
anna.cox@inl.co.za