كتب : Omar AbdelAziz
Some 70,000 workers went on strike in protest over their wages this week, halting the construction process of about eight stadiums in South Africa, less than a year before the World Cup.
It was believed that a prolonged period without work could seriously jeopardize the African nation's hosting to the big event next year.
Nonetheless, Jordaan was quick to confirm that everything is going according to plan and that the problem should be resolved in the near future, stressing on the labor role.
"The construction workers have been the lifeblood of the 2010 FIFA World Cup project," the South African said in an official statement.
"Their hard work has ensured that we are on track to meet our deadlines and that our stadiums will be among the best in the world next year.
"It has always been the position of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee South Africa (OC) that we respect the right of construction workers on the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums to strike if they feel they have legitimate grievances.
"This is a right enshrined in our country’s Constitution. We believe that the strike will be resolved as soon as possible and remain confident that the stadiums will be completed on schedule."
Workers were reportedly asking for a 13% pay rise to their monthly wages, but the National Union of Mineworkers threatened that the requested percentage may go up.