16 Jun 2010
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Disgruntled security guards for the 2020 FIFA World Cup have been replaced with South African Police Services (SAPS) staff in Cape Town (Green POint Stadium), Durban (Moses Mabhida) and Johannesburg (Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums). All about Salaries, Wages, Unions and more on Mywage South Africa.
Disgruntled security guards for the 2020 FIFA World Cup have been replaced with South African Police Services (SAPS) staff in Cape Town (Green Point Stadium), Durban (Moses Mabhida) and Johannesburg (Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums).
Security guards went on strike in Cape Town just before the clash between Italy and Paraguay on Monday night. Earlier in the day, Durban security staff held a protest at the Moses Mabhida Stadium over unpaid and low wages. They overturned dustbins and pelted police with rubbish before being dispersed by armed riot personnel using rubber bullets and tear gas.
"People before Profits"
Disputes have arisen over salaries to be paid to security staff over the World Cup period. The security arrangements were outsourced to private security companies. Some staff say they were promised R350 a day for being on duty, but were now working 12-hour days for between R125 to R135.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has tasked its provincial leaders to investigate the situation and find out what was needed to "defend members against exploitation".
Meanwhile on Wednesday, hours before Bafana Bafana were due to start their second World Cup match, striking stadium security guards joined a service delivery march by thousands of people in Durban.
The march was attended by shack dwellers and street vendors, as well as the security guards.
Marchers complained about the lack of service delivery and high electricity prices. They said the country should put people before profits, and demanded a "World Cup for all".
"Security not Affected"
Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said that strikes by Soccer World Cup security staff would not affect security at the world's biggest sporting event.
"An additional 44 000 policemen have been made available to make sure we can deal with any eventuality. Fans do not have anything to fear about the security arrangements for the matches," he said.
Read all about the Cost of the World Cup and how much the Winners get Paid.