On Monday night Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO) had their offices looted and burnt [1]. This is a major blow to an organisation that has stood side by side with casual workers to fight for dignity, by providing organising support and free legal advice. Just last year they won a Constitutional Court victory against labour brokers, to ensure better wages and benefits for workers [2]. 

Our friends at CWAO have vowed to not let this attack stop their work. But they have lost computers, printers and furniture. Lets show solidarity by donating what we can. 

Funds raised will go towards rebuilding the CWAO office and to support their work against xeno/afrophobia.

Was Casual Workers Advice Office targeted specifically or were they simply victims of the recent looting? At this point they are not sure, but there are worrying signs. You can read CWAO's full statement here.

Greedy companies and government inaction has seen workers exploited and working in conditions no human-being should be in. But CWAO has stood with workers to support their fight back. They’ve taken on the abusive labour practices of multinational giants such as Heineken [3] and Pepsico [4]. But this attack hasn’t only hurt CWAO, but also the Simunye Workers Forum, an assembly of workers from different companies who are hosted by CWAO. 

The events of the last week have left many in Mzansi in more shock than usual. That's why it's more important than ever that we come together in our shared struggle for justice.

You can learn more about the work of CWAO by visiting http://www.cwao.org.za or following them on Facebook and Twitter. 

[1] Worker advice office a casualty of Joburg looting. Zoë Postman for GroundUp 4 September 2019

[2] Bye, brokers: Hello, service providers. Sarah Smit for Mail &Guardian 10 Aug 2018

[3] Heineken workers strike over ‘slavery conditions'. IOL 10 October 2018

[4] Chips are down at Simba as workers prepare to strike. Sarah Smit for the Mail & Guardian 17 Apr 2018