Durban — As the ANC-alliance partner the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) gears up for a nationwide strike on Monday, opposition parties and employer organisations have slammed the federation, questioning the legitimacy of its protest against a government it is part of.
The planned march, which aims to address the skyrocketing unemployment rate, currently at 33%, and a sluggish economy, has opened the floodgates of criticism.
In a statement, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) chief executive Cas Coovadia said: “At a time when the economy is under severe strain, such protests will add further pressure, and do not contribute to efforts to achieve sustainable economic recovery.
“These actions also hinder our collective efforts to grow the economy at a rate that can address unemployment, inequality, and poverty. We need to prioritise stability and collaboration to foster long-term economic growth, rather than resorting to measures that negatively impact business and citizens.”
Busa also called for the reform of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act to curb the misuse of strikes.
“These recurring protests, using outdated Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council), certificates, place undue strain on businesses and the economy as a whole,” said Busa.
Nedlac is a grouping consisting of government, labour, business, and community of which Cosatu, led by Zingiswa Losi, is a part.
Questions abound as to why Cosatu is not raising these issues inside the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Opposition parties to the GNU, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) expressed concern about Cosatu’s planned strike action.
Another critic of Cosatu, Julius Malema’s EFF, could not be reached for comment.
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, MKP spokesperson and Member of Parliament expressed disbelief at Cosatu’s tack, saying: “How can they march against the government they are part of? It does not make sense.”
The MKP is the official opposition to the GNU, with 58 seats in the National Assembly.
The sharpest criticism though came from ATM President Vuyo Zungula.
He told the Daily News: “It is with a sense of disillusionment that we observe the actions of Cosatu as they prepare for a nationwide protest.”
Not pulling the punches, Zungula added that the upcoming march appears to be less about genuine concern for workers and more about political posturing, highlighting Cosatu’s “glaring hypocrisy.”
“Their ongoing support for government actions contradicts their claims of fighting for fair labour practices and improved conditions. The reality is that many of the government’s decisions, which Cosatu has backed, have resulted in detrimental consequences for the labour force they claim to protect,” he said.
The marches are expected to take place in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Gerhard Papenfus, the Chief Executive of the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa), labelled Cosatu’s strike a “futile annual tick-box” exercise.
“Cosatu’s primary demands are, once again, ‘the halting of the escalating retrenchment rate, addressing weakened economic growth and combating living costs’.
“Ironically, Cosatu wants to achieve this by calling on South Africans to either join the planned activities across the country or withdrawing their labour by staying at home on the day, thereby exacerbating the very issues they are protesting against,” he said.
Papenfus said the companies associated with his association would apply the “no-work, no pay” rule if workers did not pitch up for work on Monday.
He further accused the ANC-Cosatu-SACP alliance of “business-hostile policies”.
Chief economist at Efficient Group Dawie Roodt said it was amiss for Cosatu to be striking when the economy was under pressure.
“It is their constitutional right to strike, but I don’t think it is a wise decision for them to call a nationwide strike when the economy is strained,” he said.
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Daily News