The two biggest labour federations in the country have warned South Africans that the proposed shut down on Wednesday will affect services including transport, schooling, and government departments.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) which represents about three million workers made it known that they will embark on a national strike against corruption and unemployment.
Cosatu’s indicated that its protest action and stay-away would take place on Wednesday but Saftu leaders revealed that its programme of mass action that would last until the end of November.
Numsa affiliated to Saftu plans to hold vigils from Tuesday tonight at key government institutions in every province before they begin the protests.
Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said “we will be doing a human chain at the Union Buildings to highlight all the demands that we are making, but we will centre the demands around two of them.”
“The first one, is that the government have bolted out of a signed contract with the public sector,” said Vavi.
However, due to Covid-19 fears, Cosatu warned against taking so many workers out on the streets.
It encouraged workers to stay home on that day, while few people protest on the street.
