Catholic Bishops in South Africa condemn violence and intimidation perpetrated by
activists in the 3-week strike that is crippling the country and say the Government
must go back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, some 1.3 million public workers
are continuing to stay off work. The decision was made after the main trade union
federation rejected an improved wage offer from the government. Earlier this week,
the government raised its pay offer to 7.5%, but the unions are demanding 8.6%. Cardinal
Wilfrid Fox Napier, Archbishop of Durban and spokesman for the Southern African Catholic
Bishops Conference told Linda Bordoni that the country is in a very precarious situation…
Interview
excerpts: “The government has put itself in a weak position by having splurged
out on the World Cup and then today saying that there is not money, and that is inflaming
the situation to quite an extent…” “The intimidation unfortunately is something
that is reminiscent of the days when we were told that the people had decided, but
only a little group was the one that knew what the people had decided and were then
enforcing will upon the majority, and I think there is still that tendency within
some of the labour organizations …” “It’s gone beyond a wage dispute, I think it’s
become a power struggle between the political elements in the labour movement and
the political elements in the governing party, the ANC…”