Cape Town — 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, it said in a statement.
“Chief among our grievances is the staggering unemployment rate in the country. As it stands 11.3 million people need jobs. This includes people who have given up looking for work, but that does not mean they don’t need jobs,” she said,
Sabelo said that despite some improvements, such as interest rate cuts by the South African Reserve Bank, COSATU’s upcoming march will focus on rising living costs, including Eskom’s proposed 36.1% tariff increase.
She emphasised the importance of uniting to highlight widespread and serious issues, urging the government and businesses to take action.
Dear #NEHAWU Member, Please join us on the 07th October 2024 as #COSATU leads a nationwide protest. This is a protected strike marching against the high unemployment rate, rampant retrenchment both in the public&private sectors, the ever rising cost of living, crime @eNCA pic.twitter.com/r3VQKhQzqx
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) October 3, 2024
The Federation also laments the ever-escalating cost of living with the increase in the price of basics such as bread, milk, eggs and vegetables exceeding CPI, it is no wonder working class and poor communities struggle to feed their families.
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.
“COSATU calls on all workers to join the action that will take place across all major urban centres in all nine provinces on 7 October and speak in one voice on all these issues that are impacting their lives daily,” Sabela said.
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”.
In a statement, 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.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
