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Zuma criticises violent strikes

Johannesburg - Destruction of property and assaulting people during strikes is unacceptable, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

"We should discourage such activities. They are not good for our country," he told the Black Business Summit in Midrand, Johannesburg.

"The rights of workers and employers are guaranteed in the Constitution of our country. We have adequate mechanisms to resolve disputes in our country."

Zuma said the country had lost R4.5bn in the gold and platinum mining sectors, and R180m in the coal industry, due to ongoing strikes.

Currently an estimated 75 000 miners and 20 000 truck drivers were on strike.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that we do not reach a crisis point," Zuma said.

He said that the labour unrest had caused a leading ratings agency to lower the country's economic outlook. Foreign investors were concerned about the strike and the fact that it could reduce the country's ability to attract foreign investment.


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