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In article <t1kcjp$33e2l$1@news.freedyn.de>
<governor.swill@gmail.com> wrote:

So much for diversity. This is what Obama voters demanded. Enjoy liberalism!

People across South Africa are taking part in a nationwide
strike in protest against the rising cost of living.

Singing songs from the country's liberation struggle, thousands
marched towards the president's office, demanding reductions in
prices.

Inflation has hit nearly 8% - the highest in 13 years - and
around a third of South Africans are unemployed.

This is the most unequal country in the world, according to the
World Bank, and many are finding things tough.

Africa Live: Updates on this and other stories from the continent
Thousands of protesters have been marching, chanting and holding
signs echoing familiar complaints from workers around the world:
"Say no to high inflation" and "Stop the steep increase in the
price of petrol".

The country's two largest union groupings, who called the
strike, urged the government to intervene to cap fuel prices,
reduce interest rates and introduce a universal basic income of
roughly $90 (£75) a month.

Around 5,000 people took part in the rally in Pretoria.

"Don't moan; Mobilise or starve," was the message to those
wondering whether to take part in the strike on a poster from
the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).

Its head Zwinzilima Vavi questioned how President Cyril
Ramaphosa could give himself and ministers a 3% pay rise but
refuse their demands.

At the front of the march in Pretoria, one woman who didn't give
her name told the BBC why she was on strike: "We're tired. The
cost of living is too high now - we can't afford anything any
more. It's school fees , it's transport, it's rent, it's
everything."

"We can't any more and we've been without a [pay] increase for
four years now, and things are getting hectic now. The
government must intervene and do something now," she added.

The nationwide strike comes as South Africa grapples with the
economic impact of global events such Covid and the war in
Ukraine.

Under the gaze of Pretoria's Union buildings - the office of
President Ramaphosa - I spoke to a group of women who said the
cost of living crisis had driven them to desperate measures to
try and make ends meet.

"Sometimes I don't have money so I have to go and take a loan -
from the loan sharks. We don't manage. That's why we're here
today - because we're struggling," one said.

Another said she spent almost half of her monthly income of $210
on transport. "And food is expensive right now. We can't buy
full groceries- it's basics only."

Another woman said: "At the end of the month we're left with
nothing."

While organisers of Wednesday's action say they aim to bring the
country to an economic halt, they have also acknowledged that
numbers on the streets may not match similar shutdowns in
previous years.

The government says a "no-work, no-pay" principle will apply -
and essential workers cannot take part.

The one voice who's not been heard from is President Ramaphosa.
I ask the group of women at the Union buildings what they would
say to him. Their message is simple: "Please help us president,
we are struggling. Please."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62659893

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