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May 15 2012 - A legal protest march by about 5,000 Democratic Alliance opposition party members outside Cosatu headquarters in Beyers Naude square in Johannesburg today turned into a full-scale clash with stone-throwers pelting each other from both sides. The Cosatu members set upon the DA in a dramatic assault and forced the truck with DA leaders and executive members to flee from the area. The police had to form a phycical barrier with their bodies to stop the Cosatu members from assaulting the DA. Rocks were thrown which injured at least three people - all DA-members. Twelve people were treated for injuries within minutes after the assault. The injured people had to be transported on the DA truck to get them out of harm's way.
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PICTURE ALBUM BY SAPA PHOTOGRAPHER WERNER BEUKES: http://www.news24.com/Multimedia/South-Africa/DA-march-turns-violent-20120515
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When the DA march was announced, the Johannesburg metropolitan police also granted permission to Cosatu to hold a counter-demonstration. Pictured is Nicolas Bauer, who was one of patients treated at the emergency service ambulances standing by - minutes after the first bricks started raining down on DA-members, reports VERASHNI PILLAY on Twitter #DAMarch. The SAPS used teargas to drive the two clashing factions apart.