Durban — Several hundred workers affiliated with the Congress of the South African Trade Union (Cosatu) painted Durban red on Monday and voiced their concerns against high unemployment rates, among other things.
Edwin Mkhize, Cosatu KZN Provincial Secretary, said if the Government of National Unity (GNU) wants to deal with the issue of economic growth, they must commit to upping the standard of living for the workers.
He highlighted the disconnect between the government's stated commitment to economic growth and the reality faced by workers.
The march reached its peak at the Durban City Hall, where union leaders presented a memorandum to eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba, KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande.
Economic commentator Duma Gqubule came out boldly in support for Cosatu's national march campaign, saying South Africans needed something to stop them from “normalising this crisis”. He said the country had the second-highest unemployment rate in the world after eSwatini.
Speaking on eNCA he said "we have a catastrophe", proposing that South Africa should set its unemployment target at less than the "world unemployment rate" of 5.1%.
In Cape Town, a group of young teachers in the province who are facing job uncertainties joined the Cosatu National Day of Action against what they described as a “crippling economic crisis”.
Hundreds of Cosatu members and affiliates peacefully marched to the Western Cape Legislature and Parliament on Monday to hand over a memorandum of demands.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) on Monday morning said policing resources were deployed across the country.
He said lawlessness, blocking of roads and other disruptions would not be tolerated.
“The government must end austerity budgets and its focus on reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio and reducing expenditure.
“One in four households had limited access to food and 1 in 4 individuals had limited access to food in 2023.
“Steep price increases in the food basket, electricity, municipal rates, and transport hit the poor especially hard,” said Cosatu.
The union also wants the government to develop a more focused implementation and well-resourced GBV plan.
“This plan must include support for victims, stiffer penalties for offenders, and rehabilitation programmes.
“The Government must suspend their ill-informed decision to cut teaching posts, there is a pending decision that will affect 2407 teachers by the end of this year. This is an onslaught on working class schools and the downgrading of educational outcomes,” it added.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a group of newly qualified teachers said the thought of losing their contracts in December was frustrating.
“To know we are faced with the possibility of being added to the statistic of unemployed people is nerve-racking. It's our disadvantaged communities where overcrowding already exists that will be affected. Our government needs to do better, treat teachers better,” they said.
Cosatu demanded a response to their demands within 14 days.
Signing and addressing the protesters outside Parliament, Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane said the grievances cut across various sectors.
“We want to affirm that we support the International Day for Decent Work, we are also committed to fill the gaps that workers are complaining about. I will share this copy of grievances with the various ministries,” said Nkabane.
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