Many Australian football fans left Durban鈥檚 Moses Mabhida Stadium early on June 13 following Australia鈥檚 particularly dismal four-nil loss against Germany. Had they remained they would have witnessed scenes more dramatic than any that had unfolded on the field, when police violently attacked 500 stewards striking over a pay dispute.
A memorandum of grievances by Durban civil society organisations against 鈥渢he way the World Cup has been implemented by FIFA, its corporate partners, politicians and bureaucrats鈥 described the clashes as evidence that 鈥渙utsourcing of casualised labour has become a full-fledged crisis鈥. The stewards are employed by subcontractor Stallion Security.
The memorandum cited 鈥渢he excessive force 鈥 stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets 鈥 used to subdue non-violent Stallion Security workers protesting at Moses Mabhida Stadium鈥 as evidence of police brutality surrounding the World Cup.
The Guardian reported on June 16 that the strike had spread to other stadiums in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and to the International Broadcast Centre.
On June 16, 800 people marched through Durban protesting the abuses of workers鈥 rights and other abuses associated with the World Cup. For more information visit .