A Protest Song for the Deaf

Over 10000 striking municipal workers took to the streets of central Johannesburg yesterday for a 15 block march to the city municipal offices to demand an above-inflation 15% pay increase. Over 150000 police, sanitation and transportation workers are striking nationwide.

Mid-dance, a woman leads a procession ten thousand strong across the Nelson Mandela Bridge in central Johannesburg.

Photographed mid-dance, a woman leads a procession ten thousand strong across the Nelson Mandela Bridge.

Layered onlookers on Jorissen Street.

Layered onlookers on Jorissen Street.

A marshal contains protestors as police set up a perimeter.

A marshal contains protestors as police set up a perimeter.

Skyscraperside filmstrip.

Skyscraperside filmstrip.

Johannesburg metro police set up a riot guard as protestors arrive at the municipal building for an address by the mayor and union leaders.

Johannesburg metro police set up a riot guard as protestors arrive at the municipal building for an address by the mayor and union leaders.

Bullet strip at the ready.

Bullet strip at the ready.

Chants against nepotism.

Chants against nepotism.

Architecture/protest halves.

Architecture/protest halves.

Impassioned.

Impassioned.

Finger Up

Municipal workers are protesting across the country.

For another (better-researched) perspective on the same protest, check out Will’s blog Steeltown Blues.

Author

Austin Andrews is a Vancouver-based photojournalist and occasional filmmaker with a penchant for finding the fantastic in the everyday. Contact him at austin [at] disposablewords [dot] net

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