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| South Africa faces strike chaos | South Africa faces strike chaos |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| South Africa is bracing itself for a week in which bus, train and municipal workers are all set to go on strike. | South Africa is bracing itself for a week in which bus, train and municipal workers are all set to go on strike. |
| The industrial action will see more than 160,000 people stop work in support of claims for higher wages. | |
| This is the latest in a series of challenges for South Africa's new President Jacob Zuma, who has called for understanding from workers. | This is the latest in a series of challenges for South Africa's new President Jacob Zuma, who has called for understanding from workers. |
| There were violent demonstrations in several townships last week, during which some 200 people were arrested. | There were violent demonstrations in several townships last week, during which some 200 people were arrested. |
| It is proving to be a cold and difficult winter for Jacob Zuma. | It is proving to be a cold and difficult winter for Jacob Zuma. |
| Just two months after taking power, he is facing South Africa's first recession since the end of apartheid. | Just two months after taking power, he is facing South Africa's first recession since the end of apartheid. |
| Crowd-pleasing promises are proving hard to keep. | Crowd-pleasing promises are proving hard to keep. |
| An early pledge to create 500,000 new jobs has already been retracted and demonstrations in the townships turned violent this month over long-held grievances about the delivery of services and housing. | An early pledge to create 500,000 new jobs has already been retracted and demonstrations in the townships turned violent this month over long-held grievances about the delivery of services and housing. |
| As if that wasn't enough, this is strike season. | As if that wasn't enough, this is strike season. |
| On Monday, 150,000 municipal employees responsible for, among other things, rubbish collection and the city police will refuse to work after being denied a 15% wage increase. | |
| A separate strike by transport workers will see most train and bus services grind to a halt. | |
| Several other unions say they are considering their options. |