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South Africa police fire rubber bullets at farm workers South Africa police fire rubber bullets at farm workers
(35 minutes later)
South Africa's police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse striking farm workers in the wine-producing Western Cape region.South Africa's police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse striking farm workers in the wine-producing Western Cape region.
The workers barricaded roads and threw stones at police in De Doorns town, a top grape-producing area outside Cape Town, local media reported.The workers barricaded roads and threw stones at police in De Doorns town, a top grape-producing area outside Cape Town, local media reported.
The strikers, who pick and pack fruit, are demanding a doubling of their daily wage to about $15 (£9). The strikers, who pick and pack fruit, are demanding their daily wage be more than doubled to about $17 (£11).
South Africa has been hit by a series of wildcat strikes since last year.South Africa has been hit by a series of wildcat strikes since last year.
Talks between trade union and employer representatives to avert a strike on the farms broke down earlier this week.Talks between trade union and employer representatives to avert a strike on the farms broke down earlier this week.
"We have been met with naked racism and white arrogance," said Nosey Pieterse, the general secretary of the Agricultural Workers Union."We have been met with naked racism and white arrogance," said Nosey Pieterse, the general secretary of the Agricultural Workers Union.
'No money for school clothes'
South Africa's labour relations are fraught with racial tension, more than 18 years after white minority rule ended.South Africa's labour relations are fraught with racial tension, more than 18 years after white minority rule ended.
Most farm owners are white while their workers are black.Most farm owners are white while their workers are black.
Police spokesman Lt-Col Andre Traut said about 50 protesters had been arrested in De Doorns, and the anti-riot force had been deployed to contain the unrest, the South African Press Association (Sapa) reports. The region, home to South Africa's multi-billion dollar wine industry and a popular tourist destination, is extremely beautiful, but inequality is jarring, correspondents say.
"We are taking action, and arrests are being effected," he is quoted as saying. Police spokesman Lt-Col Andre Traut said about 50 protesters had been arrested in protests across the Western Cape, the South African Press Association (Sapa) reports.
The anti-riot force had been deployed to contain the unrest, he added.
"We are taking action, and arrests are being effected," Lt-Col Traut is quoted as saying.
The workers, many of them seasonally employed to pick and pack fruit, say they cannot survive on a daily wage of about $8, Reuters news agency reports.
"We are struggling. School is starting and we don't have money for school clothes," said Lena Lottering, 35, a mother of three.
Another worker, Aubrey Louw, 47, told Reuters he had worked on the farms since the 1970s when he received 45 rand ($5) a day.
"Now we get 65 rand. What is that? We want 150 rand," he said.
"Farmers would rather employ security guards and buy new cars than pay us."
The farms were hit by a similar strike last year, when two workers were killed in clashes with police.The farms were hit by a similar strike last year, when two workers were killed in clashes with police.
Police killed 34 striking workers at the Marikana platinum in South Africa's North West province in August, in the most deadly security force action since white rule ended in 1994.