Safu’s national shutdown to be held on Wednesday

Trade union federations, Cosatu and Saftu called on all non-essential workers to strike on Wednesday, 24 August 2022.

Saftu’s national committee (NEC) held a meeting last month where a collective decision was taken for a national strike.

The national shutdown comes as a result and march against the high employment rates, the steep cost of living standards and basic food, electricity tariffs, interest rates, petrol and transport costs, financial liabilities, and inequality.

All marches will lead to government offices and national key points.

The planned national shutdown will be held in different provinces, excluding the Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the North West. The exclusion of the 3 provinces comes after they did not respond to the call to march.

For each province an assembly point has been appointed.  In the Eastern Cape, the March will take place in  Bisho, at the Fort Hare Grounds at 8am, where they will march to Bisho Legislature at 10am.

Saftu general secretary,  Zwelinzima Vavi said, “ small black businesses including the taxi associations and truck owners and drivers are all set to join the marches”.

Vavi also mentioned that they are not aiming at having just a one day strike.

NGO’s and some political parties such as the EFF, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Azanian People’s organization, Worker’s and Socalist Party and about 200 working class formation as well as others have committed themselves to joining the strike.