Police fire tear gas to break up pay protest in South Africa

Armed police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters during frantic scenes at a World Cup stadium in South Africa, it was confirmed today.

Officials said one woman protester suffered minor injuries when the violence flared at about 3am today inside the Moses Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Riot police were sent in after a group of about 80 refused to leave the ground following Germany's match against Australia.

Police spokesman Leon Engelbrecht said the group were all stadium security workers who were expressing their dissatisfaction over pay.

He said: "There was some commotion inside the stadium and it got a bit ugly.

"The private sector security guards picked up their pay envelopes at the end of the night and found they were not being paid as much as they thought.

"A group of them gathered inside the stadium at around 1.30am and refused to leave. The police monitored the situation and between 3am and 4am decided to fire tear gas and rubber bullets in order to flush them out."

Colonel Engelbrecht said one woman suffered bruising during the scuffle after being hit by a police rubber bullet. Four people were arrested at the scene and later released. Police said the trouble flared several hours after the fans had left the stadium.

Some of the protesters employed as security supervisors claimed they were offered up to £88 (1,000 rand) for their shift by the private firm responsible for public safety at the ground but in fact only received £35 (400 rand).

Normal ranking security guards claimed they had been offered a daily rate of £22 (250 rand) but only received £8.80 (100 rand).