The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) are set to embark on a nationwide strike against the rising cost of living on Wednesday morning, 24 August.
The unions have received the necessary certificates to proceed across all nine provinces and will assemble at various times this morning at a number of meeting points.
The Public Service and Administration Department (DPSA) has warned that workers who fall into the essential services category are prohibited from participating in the national strike.
In a media statement to the public, the department said that the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ will be applied if employees choose not to come to work.
The DPSA further said that government departments that do not affect the ductions in monthly pay would violate the Public Finance Act.
“No leave should be granted for purposes of participation in strikes/protest actions. Leave should only be granted under the leave regulations,” added the DPSA.
The DPSA said that the strike falls under section 77 of the Labour Relations Act. This allows for workers in all sectors of the economy, including the public service industry, to participate.
Despite this, the legislation bars essential service workers from participating during their prescribed working hours.
Solly Phetoe, the deputy general secretary of Cosatu, said: “The entire country, all Cosatu 9 provinces will be engaging in this action. We hope that workers in the country, whether they belong to Cosatu, Saftu or any other union. They are invited, they are covered by the certificate for them to join the strike. The strike will be protected.”
The unions are specifically looking to voice their anger and frustration over the rising cost of living and a lack of action from the government.
The strike aims to address the following:
- The fuel price cap – four years ago Cosatu proposed introducing a fuel price cap. At the time, the government promised to research the proposal and publish a report – nothing has been delivered since. Cosatu wants the report published.
- RAF vs RABS – Cosatu said that a huge chunk of the fuel price goes to servicing the R300 billion debt at the Road Accident Fund. The Road Accident Benefit Scheme was introduced as an alternative, but the bills went nowhere. The union wants the bills to be re-tabled.
- Load shedding – The union put forward the ‘Eskom Social Compact’ to address load shedding and power concerns, but little has been done in terms of the execution of the policies raised.
- Price gouging by retailers – Cosatu said that over the last two years evidence emerged that there was price gouging in the pharmaceutical and retail sector. The union believes that retailers are now using inflation as an excuse to gouge prices further.
- Investment strike – Cosatu said that it believes private companies are engaging in an ‘investment strike’ and are taking money out of the country.
- Xenophobia – finally, Cosatu said that the strike would get South Africans together to focus on directing their frustration at the right target – the government and policymakers – rather than each other and foreigners in the country.
Cosatu has shared details about the times and assembly posts for the strike.
In Tshwane, protesters are set to meet at Burgers Park in Vander Walt street and will march to the Union Building to hand over the memorandum to president Cyril Ramaphosa. In KwaZulu-Natal, protesters will assemble at King Dinuzulu Park and march to Durban City Hall where they will also hand over a memorandum.
In Mpumalanga, the march will start at Broadway- in Witbank and proceed to Eskom Park Offices, “to deal with issues of energy security and supply and cost of living”, and in the Western Cape protesters will demand a more “functional, timeous, accessible, affordable, and integrated public transport”.
#COSATU Gauteng Province declares its readiness to lead a massive national strike in Tshwane #CosatuNationalStrike #CosatuNationalStrike#CosatuNationalStrike2022 #CosatuNationalStrike2022 @pretorianews @PresidencyZA @GovernmentZA @LivePretoria @TeamNews24 @City_Press pic.twitter.com/Va6ecr2jzO
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) August 23, 2022
Saftu, the second largest of the country’s main trade union confederations, has also detailed its assembly points.
“We are calling for a general strike, a stay away and a national shutdown of all workers – ordinary and middle class, and for those in areas where we will be organising marches, to join us,” it said.
“The unemployed and all other people concerned about the future of ordinary people in this country should join us.”
These are the places of assembly in the various provinces:
- Limpopo: The march is taking place in Polokwane from SABC Park at 08h00, with a walk to the Office of the Premier from 10h00.
- Mpumalanga: The march is taking place in Witbank from Broadway at 09h00, with a walk to Eskom Park from 10h00.
- Gauteng: The march is taking place in Pretoria from Burgers Park at 06h00, with a walk to the Union Building from 10h00.
- Free State: The march is taking place in Bloemfontein from 07h00 at Batho Location Hall, with a walk to the Office of the Premier (OR Tambo Building) at 10h00.
- Eastern Cape: The march is taking place in Bisho from 08h00 at Fort Hare Grounds, with a walk to Bisho Legislature at 10h00.
- Western Cape: The march is taking place in Cape Town from Keizersgracht at 08h00, with a walk to the City of Cape Town, Dept Mineral Resources and Energy, Provincial Government and Parliament from 10h00.
- In KwaZulu-Natal, the union has called on workers to observe the call for a stay-away, general strike and national shut down. SAFTU has not planned any activity in KwaZulu Natal.
“SAFTU calls on all members to join hands with other workers irrespective of a different logo and must unite in actions in all these provinces, where our locations coincide with their locations. We call on the black women and the youth who are the face of the crisis we face, the small black business including the taxi associations and truck owners and drivers to join.”
Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Monday (22 August), that the main grievance remains unemployment.
“We want jobs, in particular for black youth and black women, and that can only be achieved if the government restructures and totally overhaul the economy,” he said.
#24Aug22NationalShutDown pic.twitter.com/QQSY9Xes3Y
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) August 22, 2022
Read: Good news for South Africa’s unemployment rate
