Tade Unions to launch local strikes with national strike to follow

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is planning to launch a series of strikes and protests on 9 July 2008 over high food and fuel prices and the loss of jobs resulting from an electricity crisis. The first set of strikes will take place in the provinces of Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on 9 July. The KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Alliance and the KZN Taxi Council will participate in the strike in KwaZulu-Natal, where most stores are expected be closed and there will be no taxis on the roads. Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Durban at Currie's Fountain and will march to City Hall. Local metro police officers will patrol the march to ensure it remains peaceful. An additional march is planned in Newcastle from Pioneer Park to Newcastle High School. In Western Cape, a march is planned from Keisersgracht to Parliament in Cape Town and to local police stations in other cities at 1100 local time. In Eastern Cape, protesters will march from North End Street to the Border/Kei Chamber of Business in New London at 1000 local time. Other marches are planned in the province in Port Elizabeth, Umthatha, Queens Town and Xola Phakati. Additional actions are planned in the provinces of Free State, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape on 16 July and in Gauteng, Limpopo and North West on 23 July. The provincial actions will be followed by a national strike on 6 August.