The 1973 Durban strikes, also commonly referred to as the Durban Moment were a series of labour disputes and worker-led demonstrations held in Durban in 1973. Underpaid, black African workers across various sectors deliberately withheld their labour in an attempt to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Beginning on 9 January 1973, mass strikes broke out in Durban and continued for three months until the end of March. The strikes involved roughly 60 000 black African workers and impacted more than 100 firms. The highest number of strikes occurred on the outskirts of Durban in textile, metal and chemical plants. Although the number of strikes declined after March, 100 000 black African and Indian workers were reported to have taken some form of industrial action by the end of 1