On 29 March police, with batons and dogs, attacked a crowd of about 600 people at Elandsfontein, Germiston, injuring some 14 persons. The attack came at the end of a meeting of workers from the Heinemann Electric factory, who had gathered early in the day to protest against the dismissal of 20 of their colleagues following a strike the previous week. The rest of the workforce had been sent home and told to re-apply for their jobs.
At first the meeting was orderly, the crowd being addressed by representatives of the Metal and Allied Workers Union. (It was the company's refusal to recognise the MAWU that had led to the strike). The trade unionists assented to a police command that people disperse by 10.30 am. As they began to move off, singing "Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika" and raising clenched fists, a policeman was heard to say in Afrikaans "These kaffirs are cheeky - let's get them".
"As people were walking away from the factory the police attacked with truncheons and dogs" said Mr. John Nsibanate, a packer with 14 years service at Heinemann Electric. "Lots of people were bitten, pregnant girls were hurt. I was hit on the shoulder and legs." Mr. Gavin Andersson, acting general secretary of the local MAWU branch, who had addressed the meeting, had his arm broken by police batons; he was also arrested and released on bail. The next day the police were again present in force as workers began returning to work. Four workers re-applying for employment were arrested and charged under the Riotous Assemblies Act and Bantu Labour Regulations Act. They were refused bail, on police application. All denied the charges.
