On the march:

Thousands of workers in Johannesburg take part in the national strike called by the South African Federation of Trade Unions against a proposed minimum wage.

It was a mistake for workers to have voted for a billionaire to become the country’s president, says South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Vavi lashed out at rival federation Cosatu‚ which supported Cyril Ramaphosa during the ANC elective conference in December 2017. “Where did you hear it in the world that workers put a multibillionaire as president? The first thing he did when he took office was to raise VAT [value-added tax],” he said.

Vavi was speaking during Wednesday’s march against the minimum wage and proposed changes to the country’s labour laws. Standing outside the Gauteng department of health offices in Johannesburg‚ Vavi read from a billboard quoting the Freedom Charter outside the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters. Reading “the people shall govern”‚ he asked “where?”.

Community health workers submitted a memorandum of demands at the department.

Among those participating in the march was Thabang Mohlala, who said the R20 an hour minimum wage was worthy of a buffalo‚ but not a human being. Mohlala and colleagues from the nonprofit Casual Workers Advice Office in Germiston carried a buffalo effigy to draw Ramaphosa’s attention to the plight of workers.

Mohlala said the organisation was not affiliated to Saftu‚ but supported the fight against the proposed minimum wage.

“This is a disgrace. How can you pay such money? It’s too small for the workers to live with. They must give workers a living wage of R12‚500.

“We are disappointed with the ruling party. We were hoping it would prioritise workers’ needs, but it seems workers are not prioritised. President Ramaphosa bought a buffalo for millions of rands. We are saying it is a buffalo that should make R20 an hour‚ not workers.”