Following union intervention, stranded migrant laborers in India to be transported home
The over 130,000 workers will be transported home in a safe manner ahead of the harvest season after the intervention of the Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Workers Union
South African government allows mining activity despite lockdown extension
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union in South Africa questions the government exemption provided to gold, platinum and even diamond mines as essential services and has accused the mining department of succumbing to pressure from companies
Delhi airport workers not paid during lockdown, says union
Cargo workers at New Delhi’s international airport say their salaries have been deducted as they were unable to report to work due to the country-wide lockdown in India. The Airport Employees’ Union has taken up the matter
These African countries brace for potential COVID-19 cases
A few countries in Africa which have not recorded any cases of COVID-19 are preparing for the impact. These include Lesotho, South Sudan, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe
Army brought in to aid illegal evictions in South Africa, several left homeless amid lockdown
The Azania shack dwellers’ settlement of Abahlali baseMjondolo in Durban, was attacked by agents hired by the eThekwini municipality authorities on April 2. 15 shacks were demolished, leaving several people homeless
As South Africa locks down, the homeless left most vulnerable
Soon after the lockdown began in South Africa, security forces patrolling the streets of Johannesburg were seen chasing homeless people with batons. Later in the afternoon, eight shacks were demolished in eThekwini municipality, while 17 have been marked for demolition in Durban
Egyptian government may be concealing extent of COVID-19 spread in army
While official figures from the health ministry state 456 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country as of March 26, there may be at least 550 cases in the Egyptian army alone, say activists
Disease is political! Social justice movements in South Africa call for moratorium on evictions
Shack-dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, along with 26 other social justice organizations, has called for a moratorium against evictions and the stoppage of water and electricity supply to self-laid connections in settlements in South Africa