Scores of workers to protest at Treasury

THOUSANDS of public sector unions affiliated to Cosatu, Fedusa and Saftu are set to descend on the National Treasury headquarters in Pretoria to demand the government's reversal of its unilateral 3% salary increases.

The marchers are expected to gather at the Burgers Park in Pretoria in their thousands, while other members hold various protest actions in the nine provinces.

In the capital, the protesters will march to the National Treasury offices on Madiba Street to hand over a list of demands to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana or any other designated official.

During the Public Servants Association (PSA) march on November 10, thousands of its members had expected President Cyril Ramaphosa to accept the memorandum, but he and Godongwana were reportedly in Kenya.

Their absence outraged the scores of PSA members who demanded their presence during the march today.

Tshwane Metro Police Department spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the workers were expected to disperse from the National Treasury after 1pm, to march to the Department of Public Enterprises and later to the Union Buildings.

Mahamba said motorists should avoid streets such as Visagie Street, Nana Sita Street, Francis Baard, Pretorius, Helen Joseph, Madiba, Johannes Ramokhoase, Paul Kruger, Thabo Sehume, Lillian Ngoyi, Du Toit, Nelson Mandela Drive, Edmond Street, Steve Biko Road, Hamilton Street and Government Avenue. Motorists were advised to use alternative routes such as Bosman Street, Struben Street, Boom Street, Stanza Bopape, Park Street and Robert Sobukwe Street.

Over the weekend, tempers among union leaders flared up after the Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration Thulas Nxesi claimed in a public statement that the increases to public servants amounted to a 7.5% rise.

In reaction union leaders lambasted Nxesi saying it was his latest attempt, but an outdated exercise, to try to demobilise workers' ongoing demonstrations which would culminate in a national day of today.

According to the unions “for the last two years, workers have not received any increase but have been given an untaxed R1000 stipend across the board. This stipend did not affect the baseline variations and was also non-pensionable.

“It was extended at the beginning of this financial year while negotiations were ongoing. The only offer that was presented by the government was a 3% baseline salary increase across the board,” the unions said.