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Power protest 'come what may'
07/07/2008 20:06 - (SA)
Cape Town - Cosatu says the first round of its national electricity price protests will go ahead in Cape Town on Wednesday "come rain or shine".
The provincial office confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday as the Cape continued to shiver in the grip of a cold front accompanied by downpours.
Cosatu's national spokesperson, Patrick Craven, said earlier that Wednesday would see protest marches in Cape Town, Durban and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal.
These would be followed by similar protests in the Free State, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape on July 16, and in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West on July 23.
On August 6, there would be a "national strike" with a work stay-away and marches throughout the country.
Inflationary impact
Cosatu said the protests were lawful, following a notice issued under the Labour Relations Act.
Cosatu Western Cape said the protests were against the recently approved increases in the electricity price and the instability of supply due to "the crisis in Eskom".
"These price rises have had an impact across the economy and have an inflationary impact on all price rises, including the high food ones," it said.
They also had an impact on the production costs of many companies, leading to some marginal ones closing down.
"This threat to the job security of our members is a crucial component of the decision to take strike action," said Cosatu.
- SAPA
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