Cape Town – The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) will be mobilising its members to join the EFF’s national shutdown on March 20.
Saftu said on March 8 that food and transport had become more expensive yet workers’ wages had been declining while bosses’ profits had risen.
“There are more than 11 million unemployed people in South Africa. To live, the unemployed and lowest-paid workers must received basic income grant of R1 500 and a job guarantee scheme,” it said.
EFF leader Julius Malema has said the national shutdown would demand an immediate end to load shedding and for president Cyril Ramaphosa to resign. The shutdown, he added, would make the Zuma Must Fall protest look like “Micky Mouse”.
#NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/f0SpxJv97f
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) March 9, 2023
Saftu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said that all workers would be protected, including those outside the federation.
“We have submitted [a] section 77 notice to Nedlac to protect workers in and outside the federation. This means any worker, even if they are not members of unions affiliated to Saftu, will be protected from victimisation by employers.”
Meanwhile, former Operation Dudula movement leader Nhlanhla ‘Lux’ Dlamini called on supporters to help prevent the EFF from “collapsing” the country’s economy.
“On March 20 those who are sane, I want you to go out and protect the malls and shops. Take formation as we always do in our townships and suburbs. We are not going to let these anarchists collapse our economy,” Lux was quoted as saying.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/ @EFFSouthAfrica
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
