Jane Flanagan
Mail Online
June 14, 2010
Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the World Cup’s first episode of crowd unrest – by stadium staff.
Officers wearing helmets charged at least 400 stewards protesting about low wages.
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Clashes: A policeman fires tear gas at protesters near the Moses Mabhida World Cup stadium
Wage protest: Security staff run to safety as riot police fired tear gas and let off percussive grenades after last night's Germany v Australia World Cup match in Durban
After refusing to disperse, around 300 police used stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets to drive the crowd out of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, most of whom then re-grouped nearby.
The clashes came after workers refused to leave the ground at the seaside resort of Durban last night, following Germany’s 4-0 win over Australia, claiming they had been underpaid.
After separating male and female protesters, officers surrounded the groups and spent hours in negotiation before the crowds finally broke up peacefully. One female protester suffered a minor injury after being hit by a rubber bullet.
Today, FIFA ordered local organisers to ensure its security contractor had settled all pay disputes to prevent further strikes from derailing the tournament.
Watching: Riot police monitor the protesters last night before the situation escalated
Angry: The security staff say they received less than 20 per cent of the pay they were promised
Protesters said they had gathered
after the match to complain to bosses - claiming they had been paid a
fraction of what they had been promised.
Fanak Falakhebuengu said he had
expected to be paid £23 (R250) a day but instead had received £17
(R190) in cash at the end of the match.
Some said they had been promised £135 (R1500) per shift at the 'dry run' before the tournament began.
Others complained that no transport had been provided for them and that, by the time they escorted crowds out of the stadium after evening matches, there was no public transport running to get them home.
A man is arrested for carrying a concealed firearm during a protest held by World Cup security stewards about low wages at the Moses Mabhida Stadium
'The organising committee will engage with its stadium security provider to avoid a repeat of the situation during the course of the tournament,' Rich Mkhondo, the local organising committee spokesman said.
Lt. Colonel Leon Engelbrecht, a
police spokesman, confirmed tear gas had been used to help end the
lengthy protest, but nobody was seriously injured.
'It's a concern that the security
company didn't have this pay dispute settled before the tournament,' Lt
Col Engelbrecht said. 'Dialogue will continue to ensure this sort of
thing doesn't happen again.'
