THE BIGGEST strike in South African history took place between 6 and 8 June. Three million workers struck on the first day, responding to calls from COSATU and the UDF to protest at Botha's restrictions on trade unions and the bans on 17 anti - apartheid organisations introduced in February.
The strongest in the Pretoria -Witwatersrand Vereeninging triangle, Africa's manufacturing Eastern Cape.
Eastern All car shut. Most •Wee Transport was deserted. Support stayed high over the three full days.
On day three, 72 per cent WORKeRS in manufacturing were still out une weakest resoonse was in Western Cape and Gold, which earns 60 percent of South Africa's foreign exchange was only marginally affected.
More coal miners came out, but only a small proportion of the 555,000 the industry. The NUM claimed that 40,000 of its members came out. The Chamber of Mines claimed 9000. It's clear that the NUM still recovering from the huge exertion of its national strike last September.
whee success strike has hit Botha's immediate strategy hard. The an on the legal mass or osition around the UD was designed to force underground and prevent mass protests.
The ban one trade activity by designed to hobble COSATU into a purely economic role and avoid mass strikes to unite the black working class.
This was intended to clear te- emergence of a layee decks or black collaborators Township level, who WOle be cemented place by the elections to 'township councils' sponsored by the regime in September this year.
Botha's recent Statement that selected' black figureheads could serve as windowdressing in governmen Was following same tack. The strike has ruled this COUL with its massive reassertion of sup UDL for COSATU and the In the face of Buthelezi's opposition, the particularly Was solid in Natal. There was concerted counteratputs the UDF COSATU on an celerated offensive in the fought Drovince off Inkatha's attacks over was the last year.
capitalists, ine walte who lost £125 million through the strike. spent the strike issuing threats to the unions of dismissal and tivists.
the officials barring issuing worded tional press proclaiming by capital, CITOES inev : after reworkers lave These companies. The larger the time with the tained Botha's climate the country.
opposition have een At all army of Angola.
Bothas bankruptcy has been starkly by Townships the '76, with the six people, which a resistance undermine It 18 nationally.
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