The bodies of 78 dead miners have been retrieved from a shaft in Buffelsfontein mine’s Shaft 11 after being trapped underground since last August by the South African police who cut-off food and water supply in its attempt to crackdown on unlicensed mining.

Two workers abducted by goons “were held hostage and beaten in full view of the management inside the factory premises. Managers neither called the police nor the ambulance,” said union leader Mametlwe Sebei.

Khilson Manaka, a member of the General Industrial Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), was killed while fleeing police bullets. He was an employee of Clover Diaries where workers are on strike demanding a 16% hike

COSATU, which has called for a national strike on October 7, is a traditional ally of the ruling African National Congress. The strike raises questions about the future of this alliance

The employees of Transpharm, a leading pharmaceutical distributor, are on strike in Pretoria and Cape Town after the company refused their demand of a minimum wage of R12,500 (about USD 855). The strike is being led by the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa

Led by the GIWUSA, the workers have been demanding a hike for 8.5% across the board to counter the cost of living and regularization of the workers hired through labor brokers.