Corruption protest gains support despite threats

A COUNTRYWIDE protest against corruption, originally called by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), has received support from 230 civil society organisations despite reported threats and intimidation tactics.

The protest, which will include marches in Pretoria and Cape Town, and strikes in various sectors on September 30, is against what the coalition describes as rampant corruption in South Africa, which it believes is robbing people of potential jobs as well as helping destroy the economy.

Numsa, flanked by labour federation Nactu, some of the leaders of Cosatu’s unions and axed Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, said it had submitted a strike notice to the National Economic, Labour and Development Council in accordance with the Labour Relations Act.

“We will not be surprised if there’s a challenge to the legal process that we followed to ensure that workers are protected on the day of the strike,” said Numsa president Andrew Chirwa.

The coalition also complained about intimidation tactics against the business community to ensure they would not participate in the campaign. Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said business had been “muzzled”.

“Business in South Africa has been thoroughly intimidated … Very few of them, if any, would want to be identified openly with a march against the government. That’s where they rely for their tenders and their survival,” said Vavi.

The coalition is making several demands, including the need for the SA Revenue Service, the Reserve Bank and Financial Intelligence Centre to investigate illicit financial flows, transfer pricing and money laundering in the country.

The coalition would also demand the strengthening of all anti-corruption laws, a probe of the effects of corruption on socio-economic services, an investigation of apartheid-era corruption and economic crimes.