Cosatu protesters 'disgusted'

2008-07-23 14:08

Johannesburg - A 25 000-strong protest march in Johannesburg on Wednesday showed how "disgusted" people were at the spiralling costs of living, said Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

"Together we have formed a broad coalition of organisations prepared to register their disgust at the spiralling cost of living affecting people," Vavi said as the crowd excitedly welcomed him with a song and the blowing of vuvuzelas.

He chanted "amandla", to which the crowd replied: "awethu" outside the Braamfontein offices of Eskom where the Congress of SA Trade Unions would hand over a memorandum protesting against rising electricity prices.

Vavi said the protests had also brought the Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo to a standstill.

'Disciplined'

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

Johannesburg metro police estimated that about 25 000 people were participating in the march.

Earlier, Cosatu's Gauteng chairperson Thuthas Tseki said the government should drop interest rates and intervene against rising food and fuel prices.

"Everything is shooting through the roof... If the government doesn't respond, we will continue protesting," he said.

Dressed in red t-shirts and caps, members of the trade union federation held placards reading "Away with food prices" and "Away with high fuel prices".

Entrepreneurs were selling food and vuvuzelas to the group whose march would see road closures in the city centre from 11:00 until 15:00.

Cosatu is also planning a national stayaway for August 6.

- SAPA