Inside Story - South African challenges - 06 Aug 09

More trouble brewing on the horizon for South African President Jacob Zuma. Workers at South Africa's biggest electricity firm - Eskom - threatened to go on strike next week after rejecting a wage offer. They have been offered an 8 percent increase in wages, which is above the current annual inflation rate of 6.9 percent.... However, well below their demand of 14 percent.
Eskom generates 95 percent of South Africa's electricity and 45 percent of Africa's. A strike could result in huge disruption to power supplies.

South Africa has recently been hit by several strikes with workers demanding and often receiving huge pay rises. Last week, about 150 thousand municipal workers ended a week-long strike after being offered a pay rise slightly less than their initial demand... but nearly double the annual inflation rate. Only days before, the government was spared a potentially crippling strike in the mining industry, when they managed to agree on a wage deal.

So, will Zuma pass his first test as president? Or will the mood of anger go much further?

Inside Story, with presenter Lauren Taylor, discusses

Guests

-In Johannesburg, Patrick Craven: Spokesperson of The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU.

-In Johannesburg, Salim Vally: Senior Researcher at University of Johannesburg.




-In Nairobi, Aly Khan Satchu: Independent investment analyst.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• al jazeera english
• inside story
• jacob Zuma
• lauren taylor
• ekstrom
• strikes