South African Stadium Workers Back on Strike

December 3rd, 2007 | by: Daryl |

As you can see from the picture, the World Cup 2010 stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa isn’t quite finished. FIFA could try and stage a World Cup game there, but I doubt it would be particularly successful. And the Nelspruit stadium isn’t getting any closer to being finished as construction workers are back on strike. A recent strike was temporarily suspended while management and unions entered talks, but since no agreement has been reached workers have downed tools again until their demands for bonuses and travel allowances are met. Just to make things extra embarrassing, Confederation of African Football president Issa Haiyatou had been scheduled to visit Nelspruit to check on progress, but that was obviously canceled as there hasn’t been any progress to check on recently.

I confess to a lack of knowledge of South African labour laws, but surely these guys are on strike for a reason? Workers don’t just stop working and risk their jobs for nothing. Seems that the companies building the stadiums are looking to save money, but by treating the construction workers badly enough for production to stop they’re endangering the entire event.

I’m 100% behind the World Cup being held in South Africa. But I’m well aware that not everyone is so enthusiastic and problems like this only give the doubters more ammunition.

FIFA still aren’t too worried, but eventually no stadiums will mean no World Cup in South Africa. So it would be to everyone’s benefit if the construction companies treated the workers fairly, negotiated an acceptable agreement and let everyone get on with the important business of staging a World Cup.

Nelspruit2 [Update: Jan points out that the above image is not from Nelspruit, but Johannesburg. I'm reliably informed that the image to the left is from the Nelspruit stadium.]

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Luis

Well said, Daryl! I think it would be a tragedy if the world cup had to be moved from South Africa! Hopefully, the workers are treated to fairer compensation and wages and the contruction resumes.
Jan

Please refrain from writing about something that you do not have a clue about. The photo is not of Nelspruit, it is of Johannesburg stadium. The photo is also probably 4 to 5 months old. Further to that, this is 2007. The world cup is in 2010!

One more thing, strikes are part of life. The South African labour force, are no different from any other labour force in the world.

I would suggest that you travel to South Africa at some stage. You will find a progressive country with the warmest most sincere people.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Jan,

Have added a correct image of Nelspruit, thanks for pointing that out. I’m not doubting the warmth or sincerity of the South African people, or that strikes are part of life.

But even though it’s only 2007, the stadiums need to get completed and continuing strikes put that in doubt. Yes there’s two and a half years until the World Cup, but that isn’t forever.

That’s why I’d like to see the construction companies settle their differences with the workers, who obviously aren’t happy with current conditions. If you know more about exactly what’s going on between the workers and the management then I’d love to learn more.