SAfrica: KwaZulu-Natal Protests “Peaceful”; Strikers Urge Closure of Schools

Text of report by Giordano Stolley entitled “Private schools must be shut: SADTU” published by South African news agency SAPA website

Durban, 13 June: Sapa: Private schools should be closed down as part of the public service strike, the SA [South African] Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) urged in Durban on Wednesday.

Speaking at a rally of more than 10,000 striking public servants and sympathisers, the KwaZulu-Natal secretary-general of Sadtu said private schools should be shut because “the children of the fat cat are there.”

He also urged the complete closure of all hospitals and clinics because “unions are firm on their demands.”

“We are not going to be told by mediators what our demands are.”

He warned striking teachers that the government’s “No work, no pay” policy meant they would not receive their full salaries on Friday.

The protesters marched from Durban’s Curries Fountain Stadium to the city hall, where a memorandum was handed over to the MEC for finance, Zweli Mkhize.

About 5000 people assembled at the stadium but as the march progressed more and more joined.

The protesters sang songs, including some in support of African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma, with shouts that he should become president.

Two protesters carried a mock coffin with flowers on it, and “Hamba kahle Moleketi” written on it. The coffin was later set alight in front of the city hall after the memorandum was handed over.

Another protester carried a placard reading “Teachers get 6.5 per cent while cheaters get 57 per cent”.

Police and army helicopters circled above the march at various times.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) provincial secretary- general, Zet Luzipho, repeated his demand “for comrades to join comrades who are marching or running from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.”

He urged Cosatu members to convene early on Sunday morning in Pietermaritzburg when the country’s premier ultra marathon gets underway.

The Durban city centre was quiet before the marchers arrived, and by 2pm most shops had shut for the day.

Durban’s Warrick Triangle bus and taxi rank – the city’s busiest – was largely deserted, with only a few vendors doing business.

A vegetable vendor said she would be lucky if she made R50 for the day. Only willing to identify herself as Veronica, she said she usually made more than R300 [rand] a day.

Minibus taxis and buses are expected to be fully operational again on Thursday.

The Durban Chamber of Commerce said the decision by taxi bosses to cease services in support of Cosatu had been costly for the city’s businesses.

“We are counting the losses in millions. It’s regrettable. This is directly linked to the taxi industry coming into the fray.”

He was at pains to point out that workers in the private sector had not joined the strike.

Police spokeswoman Superintendent Zandra Hechter said that less than 1000 people marched in Port Shepstone.

She said some businesses in the town closed, but for most it was business as usual.

In Richards Bay about 1500 people marched on the department of labour offices. No incidents of violence were reported.

In Ladysmith about 4000 marched from Settlers Park to the town hall where a memorandum was handed over to mayoress Dudu Mazibuko. The march was reported to be peaceful, although many protesters carried sticks.

The KwaZulu-Natal health department urged all its employees to return to work.

“The department condemns the constant threats that some protesters direct at our staff at hospitals and clinics. We pride ourselves to the selfless nurses and volunteers who are driven by their calling to serve the public under such difficult times,” read a statement from health spokesman Leon Mbanjwa.

Earlier, Durban’s main bus operator withdrew its services after reports that a number of its buses had been stoned.

Paul Rush, operations manager for Remant Alton, said he withdrew the company’s buses shortly before 8am after learning that buses had been stoned in Ntuzuma, Umlazi and Clairwood.

He said he was still awaiting reports on the incidents and could not provide more details.

“I am not prepared to put the lives of the drivers and the passengers at risk,” he said. Staff had reported for work and the service had started operating at 4.30am as usual.

Rush said one bus driver had been stopped in Besters, near Durban’s Ntuzuma area, and robbed of his takings.

He was reluctant to link it to the strike, saying: “It may just be a criminal element.”

Remant Alton is a private bus operator contracted by the eThekwini municipality to run the city’s public bus service.

Taxi operators announced on Tuesday that they would join the strike on Wednesday.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Africa. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.