Protesters clash with police at Parliament
THE South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) is demanding a basic income of R12 500 for all workers.
The trade union federation organised a nationwide stay away yesterday which saw the Kwazulu-natal leadership hand over a memorandum of demands at the legislature in Pietermaritzburg.
Saftu provincial secretary Moses Mautsoe said the federation was raising its concerns as a result of the national Budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. They also wanted to be addressed by Premier Sihle Zikalala.
“We are conducting this national stay away campaign because it is the workers who are the backbone of this economy. History tells that when the Budget is done, the Minister focuses on the rating agencies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the poor are the last to be given consideration. Workers did not get even a cent from the Covid R500 billion. People are still getting retrenched, lockdown evictions continue and people are poor,” said Mautsoe.
The federation yesterday disrupted traffic on the N3 with a motorcade of about 200 vehicles to the legislature.
In Cape Town, two of the federation’s leaders – Andre Adams and Nadine Simons – were arrested after police used stun grenades to disperse the protesters on their way to present their demands to Parliament.
But the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said the strike action was protected under Section 77.
“That means every worker, regardless of union affiliation, whether you are organised or unorganised, has a right to go on strike and there is nothing the employer can do about it. It is a legally protected strike for all workers,” said Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-majola.
Saftu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi condemned the arrest of the provincial leaders by the Western Cape’s “trigger happy” police.
“Saftu had taken all the steps to comply with the regulations but still the police came with a two-line barb wire, surrounded the protesters and ordered them to disperse. We condemn the arrest of our comrades and maintain that we will not be intimidated by the police,” said Vavi.
The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry bemoaned Saftu’s strike action, saying “protest action can only exacerbate the existing strain on the economy”.
“As organised business, we believe protest action of this magnitude will be detrimental to the economy, given South Africa’s weakened economic environment. Every lost hour of business has a knock-on effect on productivity, business stability, job security and, ultimately, business survival,” said the body’s chief executive, Palesa Phili.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said although they could not be part of the strike action, they were in solidarity with Saftu.
“The latest job figures are a scathing indictment on policymakers and the decision-makers, especially the National Treasury. The austerity measures adopted by the government are also weakening key labour institutions such as the CCMA,” said Cosatu’s national spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla.
The premier’s spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, said the Office of Premier would study the correspondence received from Saftu.