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JOHANNESBURG - Seven unions in the public service, representing 800 000 members, have vowed to disrupt service at offices, including hospitals and courts, in a national day of action next week Tuesday in protest against the unilateral implementation of a three per cent baseline increase in public wages.
The national day of action will include a march to the offices of the National Treasury in Pretoria, and protest action in all nine provinces.
INDONESIA - The missile which hit Poland Tuesday killing two people was probably launched by Ukrainian air defence, Western leaders have said - easing fears that the strike could drag NATO into direct conflict with Russia.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, speaking after a meeting of his security council Wednesday, said he has seen ‘no evidence’ the missile was fired by Russia and it was in fact ‘highly probable’ the Soviet-era S-300 rocket came from Ukraine.
There is no indication that Poland was deliberately targeted, he added.
‘‘Ukraine’s defence was launching their missiles in various directions and it is highly probable that one of these missiles unfortunately fell on Polish territory,’’ according to Duda, who added that Russia bears ultimate responsibility for the strike because Putin began the war in Ukraine.
Deliberate
Jens Stoltenberg, Head of NATO, backed that analysis saying the strike was likely a Ukrainian missile, there is ‘no indication’ it was deliberate and there is ‘no indication’ Russia is preparing an attack on NATO. However, he added: ‘‘This is not Ukraine’s fault. Russia bears ultimate response. Locals said the pair were working to offload grain at a drying facility when the missile hit, killing them instantly.’’
Blast
The blast happened around 900ft from a housing compound where around 500 people live. If the missile had struck it, casualties would have been much higher.
Horrified residents reported hearing ‘strange whistles’ as the missile flew overhead and then ‘a massive explosion, about a thousand decibels.’