8 DAYS AWAY
A crisis loomed as COSATU refused to abandon its plan for a national strike. On Tuesday, 30 April COSATU staged its general strike. At lunchtime unionists rallied outside Parliament and a hapless Tony Leon was manhandled and slapped in the face when he tried to address the gathering. Throughout the day, the Constitutional Committee met with COSATU strikers outside Parliament. No resolution was reached. The Constitutional Committee met briefly but then adjourned. This pattern continued into the night as haggling came to nothing.
Fears that the Rand would be hurt by COSATU’s strike have not materialised. At the same time COSATU claims a good turn-out for its strike but estimates are that it was nowhere near as big as it could have been. COSATU was protesting to stop the inclusion of a clause in the Constitution that would allow employers to lock out striking workers.
Andrew Bolton
702 Eye-witness News
COSATU’s Secretary-General, Sam Shilowa, during the strike. Subash Jeram / Constitutional Assembly
