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By Siviwe Feketha 
Oct 6, 2020
Johannesburg – Cosatu and Saftu called on all workers to put down tools and stay home on Wednesday as it embarks on a national socio-economic strike.
Work is expected to come to a halt in many workplaces, both in the public and private sectors, as the federation and its affiliates are taking to the streets over corruption and the government’s inability to increase salaries for civil servants. public.
Cosatu General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the federation was encouraging public and private sector workers to put down tools and stay away from work for the day as part of expressing their discontent with the misconduct and socio-economic trajectory of the country.
“We need to take a stand and reject this blatant theft of taxpayer funds and the shameful neglect of the working class by legislators and decision makers. The only way to undo this corrupt system is through disruption, non-cooperation and obstruction, ”Ntshalintshali said.
The federation indicated that the strike action would include the call for pickets and parades of cars that comply with Covid-19 and are physically distanced in all provinces.
“This decentralization of our activities will ensure that workers are involved and everyone can participate across the country, but also that our activities do not spread this deadly virus,” said Ntshalintshali.
He stressed that the acts of civil disobedience were essential to challenge “the death sentence imposed on us by the political and business power structure,” which he accused of mismanaging the country’s economy and violating the rights of workers.
“We have to refuse to be fooled by empty commitments and public statements, but demand action and effectiveness from our leaders.
“Workers must come together to defend employment, fight corruption, as well as the shortcomings of law enforcement agencies in fighting corruption and gender-based violence,” said Ntshalintshali.
Ntshalintshali criticized the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa for managing the country’s economy, adding that the 2.2 million jobs lost during the Covid-19 pandemic were an indictment against his cabinet’s performance.
The government has been criticized by unions for its refusal to abide by the 2018 multi-length three-year pay increase agreement this year, which unions say is a sign that the ANC-led government was attempting to undermine collective bargaining. .
Ntshalintshali called on all workers to come together to prevent both the government and the private sector from trying to reverse the workers’ victories.
“The cynical alliance between the government and the private sector that has seen the emergence of a corporate welfare state and the intensification of super-exploitation of workers must be collectively combated by unionized and non-unionized workers,” he said.
Cosatu and Saftu accused the government of promoting austerity and privatization policies at the expense of the working class and the poor, who remain the greatest victims of socioeconomic inequalities.
Saftu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi indicated that his federation would lead workers to nationwide protests on Wednesday.
“We are determined to make all the necessary sacrifices to ensure that SA does not have to talk about other rising levels of unemployment, poverty and inequalities in the next 26 years of democracy.
“We’ve had enough and the bus stops here,” Vavi said.
Vavi also criticized Saftu’s continued exclusion from the National Council for Economic Development and Labor, despite having grown to become the second-largest federation after Cosatu since its formation in 2017.
Political Bureau
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