Police have had to resort to some extreme measures to quell a strike by municipal workers in Cape Town this morning, firing stun grenades as the crowd broke away from the designated route on their way to the Civic Centre on Hertzog Boulevard.

A glance out our office windows showed us firsthand another group of protesters on their way to the city, with the workers tipping over bins, emptying bags filled with litter and blocking traffic. It looks like the strikes are set to get worse, with this from IOL:

The union’s regional chairman, Mlandeli Bonile, said members should not tire themselves as the strike might go on for longer.

“There is still a battle of wages coming on so let us not exhaust ourselves, don’t waste your energy cause we have only been going for three days. Let us go teach the City of Cape Town a lesson,” Bonile added before the marchers headed off.

South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) are unhappy with the increase in pay granted by the City of Cape Town, with protester Sindile Makiwana speaking to IOL:

When they increase our money they give us percentages, we don’t want percentages, we want money. The trick is with the percentages and the money ends up being a little.

Looks like it could be a messy week here in the Mother City.

[source:iol]