SOUTH AFRICA: Tens of thousands of South Africa's workers went on strike yesterday as part of a nationwide protest over the nation's high unemployment figures.
The country's main union, Cosatu, had planned demonstrations in most of the country's major cities and an estimated 30,000 union members took to the streets in the capital Johannesburg to air their grievances over an employment rate that some analysts put at 40 per cent.
According to Cosatu, the action was the first of a series of strikes that will take place between now and next February.
Workers took to the streets with banners demanding an end to privatisation and action to devalue the currency, the rand, which has steadily strengthened over the past few years and has had a negative effect on local business's export capabilities.
The action is considered to be a serious test of the union's power in South Africa as stoppages in recent years have been poorly supported. Unions hope the strike will be the most concerted industrial action for more than 15 years, involving up to 500,000 members.
"We want a completely different mindset from business - saving jobs instead of cutting them for short-term commercial gain," said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.
Most mineworkers at AngloGold Ashanti stayed away from work. However, another mining group, Goldfield, said most of its employees were working.
Cosatu says textile workers and car plant employees went on strike, bringing many businesses to a standstill. But the South African Chamber of Business said only 10 per cent of workers went on strike.