Thousands of South African council workers went on strike today to press for wage hikes, crippling public services in Africa's biggest economy and piling political pressure on new President Jacob Zuma.
The industrial action is being seen as more muscle flexing from the ruling ANC government's labour union allies, who have called for increased social spending to cushion workers from the country's first recession in 17 years.
The strike by public transport workers, refuse collectors and licensing officers among others, follows days of violent protests by residents of impoverished townships who have complained about lack of healthcare, water and electricity.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded in Johannesburg's central business district as bus services ground to a halt.
About 5,000 council workers, many wielding sticks, clubs and wearing T-shirts that pronounced "fighting for survival", marched in the city, singing ANC revolutionary songs and blowing plastic trumpets.
Police officers, some on horseback, kept watch over the strikers from a distance. Some workers overturned refuse containers, leaving litter strewn on the streets. Shops and businesses locked their doors as the marchers approached.
Similar marches took place in Pretoria and Cape Town and national broadcaster SABC said police fired teargas to disperse rowdy crowds in the northern city of Polokwane, arresting several people.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU), which say they represent 150,000 council workers, want a 15 per cent wage hike. They have rejected an 11.5 per cent wage increase. Annual inflation was 8 per cent in May.
"Indications are that the majority of workers, if not 90 per cent of them, are out on strike," said SAMWU General Secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo. "Refuse collection is badly affected; bus transport is badly affected. Other services like electricity are also affected. Across all services . . . the effect is visible," he told Reuters, adding the strike could be indefinite.