South African Unions Turn on Zuma as Strike Enters Second Week, Star Says

South African labor unions criticized President Jacob Zuma for being out of the country while a civil servants strike enters its second week, the Star reported, citing union officials.

Zuma should “beware” as he could suffer the same fate as his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, who was ousted with the support of labor unions, the Johannesburg-based newspaper said, citing James Kruger, provincial chairman of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union.

Bongani Mconyana, provincial chairman of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, told a rally in Cape Town yesterday that Zuma was doing the same thing as Mbeki did by leaving the country in the time of “turmoil,” the Star said.

Public-service unions, representing 1.3 million teachers, nurses and other state workers, went on an indefinite strike on Aug. 18 after the government rejected their demands for an 8.6 percent wage increase. Zuma is currently in China on a state visit.

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