PROTESTERS from trade unions around Mzansi took to the streets on Wednesday, 24 August, to protest for better living conditions.
In Tshwane, they marched from Burgers Park to the Union Buildings over high debt.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) demanded urgent action from decisionmakers to avoid an economic collapse threatening the lives of people.
Protesters said half the country lived in poverty, with many families forced to live without adequate food. Many could not find jobs and workers were dealing with inflation and punishing debt.
Cosatu Gauteng secretary Moepeng Modikwe said since the capitalist crisis, ruling elites had implemented reckless budget cuts and imposed extreme sacrifices on workers.
“There has been a blatant attempt to erode workers’ hard-won rights and reverse the gains of democracy,” she said, adding that they wanted the government to introduce strong interventions in the economy.
“This includes the release of a research report conducted by the Department of Energy, looking into the possibility of a fuel price cap.
“We remain opposed to the privatisation of state-owned companies.
“Privatisation widens inequality and takes resources from the poor and hands them over to the rich.”
Saftu leader Zwelinzima Vavi said for 15 years, the country had faced load shedding yet both the former and current presidents failed to address it.
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) general secretary Anele Yawa said women were still oppressed in the healthcare system.
“The struggle for the right to quality healthcare is at a critical juncture. Legal victories, without strong accountability mechanisms, rarely effect change.”
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele received the memorandum and said: “We owe it to you to seriously look at your concerns. We agree that unless we deal with poverty, joblessness and other important issues, we will be irrelevant.”
Gungubele assured unions the government had no plans to sell Eskom.
In KZN, high prices of food, petrol, job losses and unemployment were the reason unions and residents went on a march.
Leading the march, that started from King Dinuzulu Park to the Durban City Hall, was Cosatu national secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali.
Workers said their salaries were low and life was hard for them. Some businesses had to close shop while others had high security visibility.
A resident said they were also affected by the high prices of food, especially cooking oil.
Ntshalintshali said: “At least 17 million people are living on social grants. Many families go to bed without food. Inequality is increasing.”
KZN transport, community safety and liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka accepted the memorandum.
In North West, more than 200 Cosatu members gathered at Rustenburg Taxi Rank ahead of the march to municipal offices to hand over the memorandum of demands.
North West education MEC Wendy Matsemela accepted it, sating that it reflected on the unions’ frustrations over the rising cost of living.
The government was given 14 days to respond.
