Progress on the construction of venues for the 2010 World Cup were dealt a blow on Wednesday, when South African workers began an indefinite strike after wage negotiations ended in deadlock.

Around 70,000 workers at venues across the country downed their tools. Workers are reportedly demanding a 13 per cent pay rise, with employers only offering to increase wages by 10.4 per cent. The strike is expected to delay the completion of flagship projects such as the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and the Green Point stadium in Cape Town. But World Cup organizers believe that the strike will soon be resolved.

(CCTV July 10, 2009)