Cosatu protests hit 4 provinces

2008-07-23 14:57

Johannesburg - Tens of thousands of workers downed tools in four provinces on Wednesday to voice their "disgust" with rising living costs.

Commuters were left stranded while mining industries and essential services ground to a near halt as the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) flexed its muscles in Johannesburg, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West.

"Together we have formed a broad coalition of organisations prepared to register their disgust at the spiralling cost of living affecting people," Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told some 25 000 workers at a Johannesburg march.

Cosatu handed over a memorandum of demands to Eskom's general manager in the central region, Hugh McGibbon, at the electricity utility's office in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

"We know the increase in electricity prices has affected the working class and we are working with stakeholders to minimise the effect," McGibbon told protesters chanting "no to electricity hikes", referring to a 27.5% increase in Eskom tariffs.

The document detailed demands that workers not be retrenched as a result of power cuts and called on the government to invest in the development of alternative energy sources.

Four cities brought to a standstill

Earlier, Vavi told protesters that the stayaway had brought cities in four provinces to a standstill.

He said those who complained about disruptions should be thankful that there was a solid trade union movement that could organise workers in a disciplined way.

The marches all proceeded peacefully amid a strong police presence.

Meanwhile, Ipsos Markinor released a survey concluding that Cosatu members had good reason to protest. The survey found that the majority of Cosatu members did not think the government was handling rising costs well.

Some 66% of Cosatu members questioned believed that the government was "not at all handling the increase in the petrol price well". Another 68% felt the same about rising food prices while 54% said the electricity crisis was not being handled well.

The findings of the study were based on answers received in the Pulse of the People series, a survey taken every six months by Ipsos Markinor among 3 500 South Africans from all provinces, language groups and religions. The opinions of Cosatu members were filtered out from the total survey.

- SAPA