South Africa: Labor unrest, strikes wind down with Amplats deal

Zuma has called on wildcat strikers to return to work, pledged to speed up a massive infrastructure program to improve living conditions in the mining belt and held a high-level meeting with labor and industry trying to break the impasse.

Local media said Zuma appeared to have an edge in the ANC race, in which about 4,500 local branch delegates will select the party’s leaders. Zuma’s foes, who see him as an ineffectual leader, could be emboldened if labor tensions flare again.

Many strikers accuse ANC leaders and their labor allies of worrying too much about their political ties and not showing enough concern for miners working deep underground.

The strikes have highlighted persistent glaring income inequality in South Africa.

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