Truckers, factories join SA strike

goods, and a car factory.
Police had to fire rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a group of Anglo American

Platinum (Amplats) mineworkers in Nkaneng, near Rustenburg, yesterday.
The group that had earlier gathered at the top of a hill, and had barricaded roads linking Rustenburg and Marikana with burning rocks and burning tyres, stoned police vans forcing them to call for reinforcements.

The strike by truckers, who handle about 80 percent of all South African freight, has virtually brought services to a halt spawning cash shortages in ATMs, emptying fuel stations and denying coal supplies for hospitals.

Strikers protested throughout the country this week, attacking non-striking workers and setting about 10 delivery trucks on fire.

Drivers are seeking a 12 percent wage increase in 2013 and 2014, rejecting an 8 percent increase offered by employers.

In addition, Toyota Motor Corporation said yesterday it was forced to close its factory in Durban for four days due to an illegal strike.
Union leaders said workers would return to work today after gaining a 5,4 percent pay raise.

Around 75 000 precious metal miners, or 15 percent of the local sector’s labour force, are also on strike.
They are demanding similar wage increases, arguing that their current salaries are not enough to live on.
The strikes, some of which began early last summer, have affected companies including Gold One International Ltd, Anglo American and Lonmin. — Agencies.