/ 30 November 2007

World Cup: Mpumalanga stadium workers down tools

Workers at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit downed tools once again on Friday, said the Mpumalanga World Cup 2010 office.

It said the protest action began while negotiations between stadium contractors and organised labour were in progress on Friday.

Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou had a visit to the site on Friday temporarily put on hold because of the protest.

Last week, members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), who downed tools at the stadium in Mpumalanga, came back to work after negotiations.

At the time, provincial deputy director general of the World Cup 2010 Project, Desmond Golding, expressed his confidence that the dispute had been resolved.

On Friday, the provincial 2010 office said eight of 14 issues originally tabled had been resolved during negotiations.

”Several matters still remain unresolved … [including] the hourly rate paid to workers, a transport allowance for workers and a living out allowance of R1 000 per month.”

Provincial minister of sport JL Mahlangu and Mbombela executive mayor Justice Nsibande said they remained confident the dispute would be resolved.

”We wish to assure the public at large that the progress on the stadium remains on course and shall continue to do so,” said Mahlangu and Nsibande.

Earlier this month, workers at Durban’s 2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium held a two-week long strike. — Sapa