Pretoria - The head of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee (LOC) Danny Jordaan has thanked the unions representing the construction workers and their employers for reaching an agreement to end the industry strike.
An agreement was reached between the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Building, Construction and Allied Workers Union's (BCAWU) in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
It's believed the employers agreed to up their wage increase offer to 12 percent.
The move officially ended the strike which affected the building of soccer stadiums and other projects associated with next year's world cup.
"We are happy that an agreement has been reached between the unions representing the workers and the employers.
"The agreement gives practical meaning to their commitment to infrastructural development in South Africa, a key to future economic prosperity and stability in our country," Dr Jordaan said.
Dr Jordaan said the agreement expressed the parties' commitment to the building industry.
"In doing so, the workers and employers have paved the way for the timely construction of the stadiums to be used during the world cup next year," added Dr Jordaan.
He said the long hours of negotiations also demonstrated patriotism and love of the country.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana further said he was pleased with the agreement and expressed his gratitude to all the parties that were involved in the negotiations.
The minister commended the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration for the crucial role it played in brokering the agreement.
"The minister would also like to emphasise that he did not interfere with the talks whatsoever, but his role was to encourage the parties involved," said the minister's spokesman Mzobanzi Jikazana.
