South African strike turns violent
7.6.2007. 20:03:23

South African police used stun grenades and a water cannon to disperse striking hospital workers in the port city of Durban.

The violence came as a crippling public sector strike entered its seventh day.

The pay strike has highlighted the ideological battle facing the ruling African National Congress as it prepares to elect a new leader in December,with unions saying President Thabo Mbeki’s business friendly policies have
left millions behind.

The SAPA news agency said police in Durban moved against about 200 workers who they charged were blocking the entrance to the King George V hospital.

“They refused to move when we asked them and a decision had to be made,” Inspector Glen Nayager told the agency, adding that four people had been arrested and he was not aware of any injuries.

Workers at the scene said no warning was given before police used batons and stun grenades.

“They posed for the camera with their guns. Then next they were hitting us with their batons,” said one protester.

A National Education Health and Allied Workers Union spokesman, Pakama Ndunakazi, said the skeleton staff were chased out of the hospital by police.

“If you chase those people, who is going to provide the minimum service?” he asked.

The government has offered a 6.5 per cent pay hike, but public sector unions have held fast to a demand for 12 per cent and embarked on work stoppages that have all but paralysed many hospitals, schools and government offices
around the country.

COSATU, the umbrella union body that has lead the strike of some 600,000 workers, has been at loggerheads with the ruling African National Congress over policies COSATU says have neglected millions of poor South Africans.

COSATU leaders were due to meet later today to discuss further ways of supporting the strikers.

There have been sporadic reports of clashes between strikers and police seeking to enforce court orders requiring workers providing essential services to remain on the job.

Tensions over the strike look likely to increase as other unions mull plans for sympathy strikes, which could broaden the impact on Africa’s biggest economy.

Unions representing the mining industry – which generates billions of dollars in export revenue every year – have said they may join in to support civil servants.

SOURCE: REUTERS