Truck drivers strike in major cities

Action started on 27 February developed into a countrywide truck drivers' strike on 1 March. The strike involved over 35,000 workers, who were demanding a wage increase of 9 percent across the board and 10 percent for workers earning the minimum wage. During the following days truck drivers brought major cities to a standstill when they abandoned their trucks in the city centres, in the process blocking traffic and creating chaos. Blood flowed in the streets of Johannesburg as striking truck drivers turn violently on other truckers on the first day of the pay strike, causing police to open fire with rubber bullets. On March 4, security guards shot four demonstrators outside the gates of Cargo Carriers in the Vaal Rand area. The dispute affected half of South Africa's transport businesses and had a considerable impact on the economy of the country. The retail and manufacturing industry were affected, with the delivery of rice, meat, sugar and beverages to supermarkets disrupted. There was also a shortage of petrol, leaving some petrol stations without fuel. The matter was resolved after ten days.