IE BIGGEST strike in South African history took ice between 6 and 8 June. Three million workers uck on the first day, responding to calls from )SATU and the UDF to protest at Botha's restricns on trade unions and the bans on 17 anti- apareid organisations introduced in February.
The response was ongest in the Pretoria -twatersrand - Vereenjing triangle, South rica s Ban actua artland, Natal Cape. All Cal ints were shut. Most avy manufacturing closdown. Transport was serted. Support stayed in over the tree ran On day three, 72 per workers where sill it. The weakest response as in western Cape and mining. Gold, which rns 60 percent of South frica's foreign exchange, only marginally afcted.
y Paul Atkin More coal miners came it, but only a small proortion of the 555,000 in c mausuy. The NUM aimed that 40,000 of its out. The CROCES Calle hamber of Mines claim9000. It's clear that the UM is still recovering om the huge exertion o s national strike last Sepimber.
Nevertheless, the overhelming success of the trike has hit Botha's imrediate strategy hard. The osition around the UDF an on the legal mass vas designed to force it inderground and prevent nass protests.
The ban on political etivity by the designed to LIONS lobble COSATU into a surely economic role and void mass strikes to unite he black working class. the last year.
The white who million LOSI through the strike, spent the strike issuing threats to the unions of dismissal and victimisation of union activists.
In Free State the liberal' tion took injunctions against officials barring them issuing worded unions capital, they Gays alli These The larger companies.
with the Botha's resthe ponse climate in the country.
opposition At the deteriorating the South African Army in Angola.
Bothas