Johannesburg – Law enforcers and police officials were reportedly on high alert following the disruption of a May Day rally on Sunday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was whisked away from a Cosatu Workers’ Day rally in North West after angry mining workers booed him and stormed the stage.
Ramaphosa had been scheduled to give a keynote address at the Cosatu rally in Rustenburg.
According to News24, angry workers left their seats in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, and marched to the stage, with a police cordon doing little to stop them.
The workers, who had been striking at Sibanye-Stillwater demanded an increase of R1 000.
[ON AIR] President Cyril Ramaphosa trying to calm the angry Sibanye-Stillwater workers. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/2LN6JOulGK
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 1, 2022
The protesters held up placards demanding a pay rise and chanted “Cyril must go” during a televised ceremony organised by the country’s largest union at a stadium in the northern town of Rustenberg.
Police quickly pushed back the crowd, some of whom raised their fists or used hand gestures to demand money.
EWN reported on Monday that North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said that proceedings were brought to a standstill.
#sapsNW The Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) in North West remains on high alert following the disruption of the May Day rally at the Royal Bafokeng Sport Palace on Sunday afternoon, 01 May 2022. #PoliceVisibility MLhttps://t.co/8JBFYNqCrj pic.twitter.com/717uxfovLz
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) May 1, 2022
“This disruption led to the event ultimately being called off. The situation is currently stable with no reports of injuries, loss of lives or damage to property,” the report quoted Mokgwabone as saying.
Mokgwabone added: “Decisive action will be taken against anyone who breaks the law or threatens the safety and security of law-abiding citizens in the province.”
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South Africa is the continent’s leading power but its economy has been hit hard by the Covid crisis, and unemployment is at a record 35%.
Tension in the labour market has fuelled anti-foreigner sentiment and sporadic demonstrations.
The Cosatu union that organised the event has more than two million members and was allied to the ruling ANC.
The mining sector, which is in decline, still makes up 8% of the national economy and employs 450 000 people.
Miners often go on strike for higher pay and complain of exploitation by big firms.
In 2012, police opened fire on striking miners killing 34 people in the worst police shooting since the end of apartheid.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Getty Images
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Additional reporting by AFP
