Hundreds of construction workers striking at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium began dispersing on Friday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said.
Msi Poswa, the NUM’s regional organiser and chief negotiator, said tired protesters were told by the union they could return home. ”They will regroup on Monday outside the stadium to continue striking,” he said.
The angry workers, striking for the third day outside the 2010 World Cup stadium site, said they are not prepared to settle for anything less than what they believe they deserve.
”The management pays so much to use the building equipment for the stadium, but they can’t pay us our money,” protester Lutho Mcwabe said. ”Why can’t they pay us our R1 500 bonus? It’s not like they can’t afford it. We are earning peanuts …”
Hundreds of protesters — brandishing sticks, umbrellas and knobkerries — converged on the stadium at 7am, but were prevented from coming within 50m of the entrance by police in riot gear. Despite anger among the strikers, police cordoned off the 50m area and warned protesters that they were not allowed to go beyond that point.
Toyi-toying protesters, some holding R20 notes and vuvuzelas, told reporters at the scene they wanted their money.
The Group Five-WBHO Consortium on Thursday obtained an interdict preventing construction workers from entering the building site. The move came after violence erupted during the strike on Thursday morning, when two security guards were chased by protesters.
For several hours on Friday, the large crowd — including general and subcontracted workers — danced and sang songs about the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Police said there were no reports of violence.
Mcwabe said general workers earn R11,09 per hour (R2 200 per month) and many subcontracting workers are earning R8 per hour. Other contracted workers, he said, are earning less than that. ”No one is benefiting from this stadium except the fat cats,” he added.
Union member Benson Lukhele (27) said the soccer spectacle needs to benefit all South Africans.
The NUM is demanding project bonuses of R1 500 a month for each worker. It is further demanding that subcontractors meet minimum wage requirements for the civil engineering sector.
The union also wants workers to be allowed to elect a full-time safety compliance officer, as they are unhappy with the 15 safety compliance officers provided by the consortium.
Group Five management was not available for comment, but earlier in the week gave its reassurance that the deadline for the stadium’s completion would not be jeopardised. — Sapa