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While the South African (bourgeois) media celebrates the 2010 FIFA World Cup as "Explosions of Happiness", the situation for the workers who are making the World Cup possible is far off 'happiness'!

Today's Reuters reported the following from Durban:

Police clash with World Cup workers

South African police fired teargas and rubber bullets late Sunday/early Monday to chase hundreds of protesting World Cup workers out of the Moses Mabhida stadium in the coastal city of Durban.

Hundreds of riot cops armed with shotguns, tear gas guns, batons and riot shields chased the workers, who were deployed as stewards in the ground and were protesting over wages, out of the stadium where Germany had earlier beaten Australia 4-0 in their opening World Cup game.

Several workers, incl. at least one woman were injured when they were hit by rubber bullets, a witness said.

"We were mounting a peaceful protest because they were not paying us what we expected and we were surprised that the police started charging at us. They fired teargas at us," said one of the workers, Sydney Nzoli.

The around 500 workers later dispersed after police gave them a 10-minute deadline and said their grievances had to be discussed with their employers.

A police spokesman said the disturbance started after workers were paid less than they expected for their work during the match.

One worker said they were paid 190 rand ($24.50) for the day's work, instead of the 425 rand they were supposed to have been paid in terms of their contract.

Related article:
☞ Police clash with workers in first unrest (Mail&Guardian, 6.14)