Strikers in South Africa

Violent protests and a work strike by agricultural laborers in the Western Cape Province of South Africa began in November 2012. A man who died after being shot in the head with a rubber bullet in January became the third person killed by police in the protests. The main road from Cape Town to Johannesburg as well as roads around the town De Doorns (150 kilometers northeast of Cape Town) have periodically been blocked with rocks and boulders or burning tires by protesters. Scores of protesters have been arrested.

Workers are demanding a doubling in the minimum wage, from ZAR70 (near $7.75) to ZAR150 ($16). The strikes came at the height of the region’s table-grape harvest and, if not resolved, may also affect the wine-grape harvests.