Thousands gather for marches

2008-08-06 12:04

Pretoria - Thousands of workers descended on Pretoria's City Hall on Wednesday to take part in the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) picket against high prices.

A wave of members of Cosatu-affiliated unions clad in red T-shirts gathered at the hall around 10:00 waving sticks and placards, some of which read: "Government must protect poor consumers."

Parts of Paul Kruger street were blocked off to traffic and there was a heavy police watch over the crowd as they chanted songs and blew vuvuzelas.

Several shops along the street which led to the hall also remained closed in anticipation of the protest.

Cape Town

Hundreds of striking demonstrators gathered near Parliament in Cape Town during the morning. The more than 300 protestors were in a jovial mood, singing liberation struggle songs and chanting anti-government slogans.

"Workers can't be made to pay for government and Eskom's poor planning," read one placard.

A police helicopter hovered over Keizergracht Street where the crowd is gathering and more than 20 police vans patrolled the venue.

Durban

About 100 protestors had arrived at Durban's Botha's Gardens by mid morning for the march to the City Hall.

A Sapa reporter on the scene said marchers were slowly gathering, while hawkers sold T-shirts of ANC president Jacob Zuma.

It was thought that some protesters were battling to get to the gardens as transport was limited.

Johannesburg

Shop owners in Johannesburg's central business district closed their doors on Wednesday morning after protesters threatened to vandalise their property.

A Sapa reporter on the scene said about 100 protesters, who are taking part in a national stayaway against rising living costs, were wandering through the streets of Johannesburg, even though there was no march planned in the city.

Diskom shop attendant Sevha Mahori, 39, said a group of protesters tried to break into the shop in the morning, threatening to vandalise its goods if its workers did not participate in the strike action.

"We are trying to call our boss to find out of we should go home and wait for the strike to end," he said.

Mthatha

Meanwhile, commuters were being intimidated and asked to walk to work by certain taxi operators in Mthatha on Wednesday morning, Eastern Cape police said.

Captain Zamakulungisa Jozana said there had been incidents of intimidation in Mthatha but there was no violence.

"We managed to stop those operators from intimidating people. A large contingent of police are in the town monitoring every street and every taxi rank.

"Hundreds of people have gathered for the march at Freedom Square, but the situation is very calm."

Several businesses and schools in the town were still open, Jozana said.

Ladysmith

An estimated crowd of about 600-strong had gathered in Ladysmith amid a heavy police presence in preparation for the march.

The marchers are expected to march through the town centre to the city hall where a memorandum is to be handed over to the Mayor Dudu Mazibuko.

Kimberley

Thousands of workers also gathered in Kimberley in the Northern Cape to take part in the protest march.

Workers gathered at the Open Air arena and were marching to the offices of Eskom in the city.

- SAPA