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South African Riots and Strikes: Stagflation Unrest
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by peder.sande | July 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm
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The UN made a press release stating the South African riots, which have erupted from protests for increased sanitation, water, electricity and housing services, have caused the agency alarm.
The United Nations agency tasked with promoting adequate shelter for all has voiced alarm at the riots over housing and basic services that have engulfed many South African townships over the past week.
South African strikes are being used in a coordinated effort by government employees to increase wages. In total over 200, 000 employees from the public sector are on strike. In Johannesburg, garbage lines the streets not from inaction, but from preemptive measures: protesters have dumped garbage on the streets and are refusing to go back to work until their demands are met.
The public servants are striking for an increase of 15% in a one year collective agreement. The employees are citing inflation for the drastic wage increase.
Things are getting deeper, it's too heavy to buy something, it's too expensive.
This year inflation soured to a high of 14%. Currently the inflationary rate is projected at 8%, however with high inflation and the first recession in 20 years public unrest is inevitable.
South Africa, a regional powerhouse, has entered its first recession in nearly two decades after the economy shrunk 6.4 per cent during the first quarter of this year.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 16:04 on July 28th, 2009
I think we may see more riots rather then less and sadly the Government seems to be unable to manage the situation or make the needed amendments to improve this at all.