Cosatu grinds Durban to a halt

Durban - Central Durban came to a standstill when Cosatu-affiliated unions protested for better wages on Thursday.
  
"This march is to demonstrate we are prepared to fight to the last drop of our blood… We don't want to go on strike, but if you force us we will accept the challenge,” provincial Cosatu secretary Zet Luzipho told thousands of union members at City Hall, after
they had marched there from Botha Park.
 
Luzipho said Thursday's march was a demonstration of what could happen if Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi
refused to listen to their wage demands.
  
"Today reflects the kind of crisis the county could plunge into. Our wish is to resolve the matter."
  
Clad in red Cosatu t-shirts, marchers sang, danced and blew vuvuzelas as they slowly moved through the city, watched by scores
of police officers.
  
One of the marchers, Ronny De Gee was carrying a crude home-made replica of an AK-47 rifle, which he said represented the struggle
public workers engaged in for a better wage.
  
"It took me 30 minutes to make this gun. It symbolises the struggle. We will fight for our money until we get it."
  
Others were burning impepho, a traditional incense used to facilitate communication with the ancestors.
  
"We want our ancestors to hear us," said Dumisani Gwala, another protester.
 
Metro police spokeswoman Superintendent Joyce Khuzwayo said protesters behaved themselves.
  
"There were too many people and the march finished late. We expected them to finish at 14:00, but the march only finished after
15:00. The people were well behaved."
  
Traffic was severely affected as all roads leading to Dr Pixley ka Seme Street were closed.
  
Police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said no crimes were reported during the protest.
  
Last week unions rejected the government's revised wage offer of a seven percent pay increase and a R630 housing allowance, as well as a 1.5% fixed pay progression. Workers wanted an 8.6% wage increase and a R1000 housing allowance, backdated to April 1.
  
Public service and administration spokesperson Dumisani Nkwamba said unions and the government were scheduled to meet for another round of talks in Pretoria on Thursday evening. The meeting would take place at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council in Centurion.

- Sapa