Construction on Jahannesburg Stadium Halts

Stadium workers governed by the National Union of Mine Workers have stopped all construction work at Johannesburg's new Soccer City Stadium. The stoppage is part of a protes tover wages, in which the union is demanding that the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors increases wages by 13%.

The strike threatens the tight deadlines set for each of the new stadia being built for the 2010 World Cup.

But by midday the main 2010 World Cup venue resembled a battleground. More than 1 500 workers had swapped their picks and shovels for sticks as they toyi-toyied outside, demanding a pay rise.

Work at the opening and closing venue for next year's World Cup was brought to a standstill, with the only activity being that of the subcontractors. Even the foremen and site managers seemed at a loss and watched from inside the perimeter fence.

Work stops at Soccer City
Mail & Guardian
July 10, 2009