South African police shoot at striking farm workers

South African police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to repel hundreds of rock-throwing farm workers on Thursday, during a second day of strike violence in the normally calm and picturesque wine region.

Police and protesting farm workers fought running battles along the shuttered N1 motorway, the main route linking Cape Town and Johannesburg, amid workers' demands for a doubling of wages to $17.50 a day.

Protesters in De Doorns hurled stones at police armoured vehicles, prompting officers in riot gear to respond with a volley of rubber bullets and tear gas.