Labour minister cannot intervene in security strike

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has appealed to trade unions representing striking security guards and employers to resume negotiations. Briefing the media, Mdladlana said he had been asked to intervene in the impasse over wages and working conditions in the security industry. However, according to law, he is unable to do so. He says the law is clear and arbitration must be carried out by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Mdladlana says he has called the most experienced commissioners to help the parties go back to the negotiating table, but the commissioners were waiting for a go ahead from the parties concerned.