Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

Workers at Mpumalanga's Soccer World Cup venue, the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, downed tools during an unprotected strike yesterday.

This after the management failed to raise their salaries across the board by R9 an hour.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Zane Tembe said they wanted to be paid according to civil engineering industry rates.

"The civil industry rates are better compared to the building industry rates and the workers are demanding a R9 increase across the board," said Tembe.

This was the fourth strike at the stadium in the past few months.

When Sowetan arrived at the scene many workers were leaving the site and no work was in progress.

Tembe said there were clashes between strikers and non-strikers.

One worker was injured when he was hit by a stone, he said.

The Mbombela Stadium joint venture project manager, Nel Fourie, said the majority of workers were prepared to work but were "prevented from doing so by a small group of fellow workers".

"We were surprised by the action because an agreement that is valid for 12 months was reached with the union last year," Fourie said.

"There is no reason for the strike now, but the union and the lawyers are in a meeting to try and resolve the matter."

The National Union of Mineworkers could not be reached for comment yesterday.