Union chiefs see results from South African strike

Leaders of last week’s massive workers’ strike in South Africa say they are already seeing results from the protest. “Anybody who claims these actions are a fruitless, wasteful exercise is wrong. I have heard that a national task team wi

Leaders of last week’s massive workers’ strike in South Africa say they are already seeing results from the protest.

“Anybody who claims these actions are a fruitless, wasteful exercise is wrong. I have heard that a national task team will be looking into the food crisis and the electricity problems,” said union federation president, Sdumo Dlamini.

City centers around the country were like ghost towns as businesses shut and public transport came to a halt during the April 6 strikes. Mines and factories closed as their workers stayed away in support of the national strike. Around the country, thousands of union members marched. It was hard to find anyone with a good word to say about current South African President Thabo Mbeki.

While the marchers sang and danced through the streets of Pretoria, 17 other demonstrations were taking place across South Africa.

“Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni continues to insult us by telling us to tighten our belts,” said Cosatu’s Zwelinzima Vavi. “There’s no more space to tighten. The belt is on our bones. Perhaps he must look at his own stomach and tighten his belt.”

Special to the NNPA from GIN

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Copyright 2008 NNPA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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