Thousands of South African municipal workers began a protest rally to press their wage demands on Thursday, as negotiators tried to end a two-week strike marred by violence and vandalism.
Placard-waving protesters sang anti-apartheid songs under the watchful eye of police as they began a 15-km (nine-mile) march from central Johannesburg to the offices of business leaders, located in a wealthy suburb.
The march was delayed for two days to allow police time to prepare for the event, after striking municipal workers smashed windows and looted shops in central Johannesburg two weeks ago.
On Monday, a man was shot dead and three were hurt when a local government official opened fire on striking workers in the town of Louis Trichardt in the northern Limpopo province.
”This march is part of our programme of going to institutions that could add influence in the resolution of the matter,” labour spokesman Andrew Nkoenyane told Reuters.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and its employer’s group reached an agreement on Wednesday that could end the strike — the most vitriolic so far this year — but are still waiting for approval from their members.
Samwu representative Dale Forbes told Reuters there would be a meeting late on Thursday to look at responses from the 120 000-member labour union in different parts of the country.
The parties agreed on an eight percent wage rise for workers earning a monthly salary of 3,200 rand and nine percent for employees earning below that amount. Samwu was initially demanding a 10% across-the-board increase. – Reuters