WORKERS affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions downed tools across the country on Wednesday to protest job losses and unemployment plaguing the economy. In Durban, police fired teargas at about 300 residents of the Lamontville township who were trying to force others to heed the strike call, police said. The mob stoned cars and fired shots at police, a spokesman said, but dispersed after the teargas was released. In the rest of the country, the strike disrupted commuter traffic to varying degrees as buses, taxis and trains operated at reduced strength. The strike is expected to cost the country R3,2-billion.
09