Turn down the heat

SOUTH Africa commemorates its 24th Freedom Day this weekend under a dark cloud of unrest across the country. Yesterday’s national strike by the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), which drew tens of thousands of workers to protest against the proposed minimum wage of R20 an hour was the culmination of weeks of turmoil across the country. Violent taxi protests in Mthatha and looting across the North West coupled with the health crisis in that province, an ongoing bus strike, the Moses Mabhida Stadium violence and sporadic protests across Gauteng have combined to test the country’s fragile democracy to the limit.

The Saftu strike, though peaceful, did cause disruptions in schooling and to some businesses in some parts of the country. In central Johannesburg, thousands of marchers claimed that Fedusa, Nactu and Cosatu had sold out the workers. “They have sold the workers out,” Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said. Speaking against labour brokers, Vavi said: “Some of them are sitting in Parliament and using fronting tactics to enrich themselves by setting up labour-broking companies.” Experts said that workers and unions should exercise restraint when it comes to work stoppages as the country’s economy could not afford further disruptions.

Alan Mukoki, the CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci), said South Africans should worry about all strikes, big or small. “They disturb the day-to-day economy and investors will stay away.” Another hot spot was Mthatha, where taxi operators went on the rampage in the city centre yesterday and Tuesday, after a peace accord between Uncedo Service Taxi Association and Border Alliance Taxi Association, meant to end a month-long taxi ban. Two weeks ago, Police Minister Bheki Cele decided to close taxi ranks in the city because of ongoing violence. Commuters complained that taxi drivers were stopping cars from entering or exiting the CBD. A hawker who works in the CBD, Thembeka Gawulekhaya, said her heavily pregnant daughter was removed from a car that was taking her to the local hospital after she complained of labour pains. “The taxi drivers told us to take her out of the car. When I called an ambulance, they told us that there is only one working,” Gawulekhaya said.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Capt Mali Govender said a total of 115 taxis were impounded on Tuesday and five people were arrested for public violence. Santaco spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa condemned the inability of the warring associations to resolve their problems peacefully. Meanwhile, the country is feeling the effects of the ongoing nationwide bus strike, which is now set to affect holidaymakers travelling for the long weekend using long distance buses. Luxury travel buses including Greyhound have terminated their services until further notice. Johannesburg and Durban remain affected due to the closure of the main terminal, Durban station, due to the protest. “The Greyhound terminal at Park station in Johannesburg has been closed and our commuters can get buses at the N1 Ultra garage in Midrand.

In Durban, buses have been moved to South Beach,” a representative said. In the North West, the anti-Supra Mahumapelo protests have left a trail of destruction and loss of life. This together with a debilitating strike by healthcare workers including nurses and doctors over corruption allegations at the provincial department of health among other issues, has brought the province to its knees, with many healthcare facilities forced to close due to intimidation of workers while the province is experiencing medicine shortages. Staff at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp were intimidated yesterday and barred from attending to patients by an unknown group of people.

In Gauteng, healthcare workers at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital are at loggerheads with the provincial department over the payment of performance bonuses dating back two years, among other issues. The sporting sector has also not been spared the mayhem, with a match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium descending into chaos at the weekend. EThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede has estimated the cost of the damage to the stadium at R2.6m.

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