The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has warned it will embark on a national strike against unemployment rates and high living costs.
The strike will take place on Monday 7 October, highlighting “joblessness, poverty and income inequality”, on top of the high costs. According to COSATU spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, the socio-economic crisis in South Africa has affected many people, The Citizen reported.
“A year later, not much has changed regarding the economic issues facing our country. Unemployment remains persistently high,” she said.
“Although we have seen some improvements – such as the South African Reserve Bank cutting interest rates – the march also addresses the rising cost of living, including Eskom’s proposed 36.1% tariff increase for next year,” she added.
Sabela said some issues were raised with certain sectors and ministers but doing it disjointly means the problems are not as big as they are made out to be.
“It’s about raising our voices together, ensuring that the problems are recognised as widespread and serious, which compels the government and businesses to take action,” she said.
Many COSATU affiliates, including the SADTU, and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, highlighted issues within their sectors, including job cuts and environmental safety.
Many other COSATU affiliates are expected to join the strike, while NUMSA and SAFTU have indicated it will not participate. SAFTU noted its support for the strike but will not participate due to a lack of mandate and failure to collaborate.
Political analyst, Andre Duvenhage, said the strike could send a strong message to the Government of National Unity (GNU). He said South Africa has faced serious unemployment and economic challenges. Duvenhage believes trade unions have played a role in limiting investment opportunities and that they are part of the problem instead of the solution.
According to The South African, the intended protest comes from COSATU’s demands from a few years ago that companies should stop retrenchments to maximise profits.
Intended protest action stems from COSATU’s demand some years ago that companies must stop retrenchments to maximize profits and allegedly stated that since then they ‘have seen the number of retrenchments increase at alarming rates accompanied by weak economic growth as well as rising costs of living’.
According to Crisi24, the planned areas for the strikes are as follows:
- Amazimtoti: Protest at Makro retail store, time unclear
- Cape Town: March from Hanover Street to the National Parliament, 08:30
- Durban: March from Nkosi Dinuzulu Park to City Hall, 09:30
- Durban: Protest at Isibaya Casino, time unclear
- East London: March from North End Stadium to the Department of Labour, 09:00
- Johannesburg: March from Sandton Park to the Treasury and also the South African Reserve Bank, among other locations, 08:30
- Jozini: Protest at Jozini Tiger Lodge, time unclear
- Kimberley: March from the Honoured Dead Memorial to the office of the Premier, 09:00
- Komatipoort: March from Strydom Block Road to the Sonoma Investment farm, 10:00
- Pietermaritzburg: Protest at Makro retail store, time unclear
- Polokwane: March from SABC Park to the office of the Premier, among other locations, 09:00
- Rustenburg: March from the taxi rank to the municipal offices, among other locations, 08:00
- Sasolburg: March from Eric Louw Circle to the municipal offices, 08:00
According to BusinessTech, COSATU plans to strike nationally and will hand its demands to the Department of Labour, however, some businesses have hit back at the union’s plans to strike, labelling it “misguided”.
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) expressed concern over the strike and believed the strike would not address any issues raised by COSATU.
“We respect the right to strike or protest, within the dictates of the law, but believe the issues raised by Cosatu are structural in nature and can be addressed through the various bilateral and multilateral processes, engagements, and partnerships underway,” it said.
Cas Coovadia, BUSA CEO, said the economy is already under strain and the strike would add more pressure to South Africa’s economic recovery.
