Cosatu members in massive march
When workers sell their labour, they do not sell their lives – Losi said.
Members of the trade union Cosatu took to the streets of Pretoria on Wednesday in protest of various issues including unemployment and corruption.
Local Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi called on the government to protect the lives of frontline workers who are “losing their lives owing to a lack of government support”.
“We stand firm to express our anger and disappointment at the lack of care, support and protection of fellow frontline workers who put their lives at risk to save all of us from the scourge of Covid-19 pandemic,” Losi said.
She spoke to hundreds of protesters at the march held in the city centre.
Workers embarked on a joint march demanding an end to corruption, poor working conditions and attack on workers’ rights in general.
ALSO READ: INFOGRAPH: Cosatu urges government to do more to prevent listeria
Photo: Ron Sibiya
Other issues included retrenchment and unemployment, gender-based violence (GBV), poor public transport and collective bargaining agreements.
Losi said unsafe working conditions cost workers their lives.
“Sadly, we have lost several of our colleagues because we put profit and the interests of the rich ahead of those of workers and the poor.”
She said the country’s health system was crippled by both the structural inefficiencies of the state not investing in the needs of society and “always eager to satisfy the profit of craziness of the market and the rich.”
Photo: Ron Sibiya
As a result, Cosatu demanded health and safety be prioritised and all employers in the private and public sectors comply and enforce legislated standards and conditions.
She said often the risk of non-compliance with the health and safety measures fell on employees.
“When workers sell their labour, they do not sell their lives.”
She expressed concerns over the infringement of taxi drivers and marshals’ rights in the taxi industry as a result of government failure to regulate the industry.
ALSO READ: Cosatu to march to Union Buildings over e-tolls
She called on the taxi industry to be regulated and for the taxi bosses to comply and pay what is legislated in terms of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
“At the moment, taxi drivers and marshals did not even qualify for UIF because the sector was still not controlled,” she said.
“Corruption is out of hand and more needs to be done to fight it.”
On the issue of GBV, she said unemployment increases incidences of abuse.
“We are not making an excuse but when people are hungry, they steal. When the future is bleak, it is the survival of the fittest and women become victims in the process.”
She said the sad part was this happened while those stealing from the workers are living in guarded houses.
Labour minister Thulas Nxesi and transport minister Fikile Mbalula received the memorandum on behalf of the government. Finance minister Tito Mboweni could not attend.
Marchers gave the government 14 days to respond to the memorandum and promised to take further actions should the government fail to meet their demands.
Minister Nxesi said government or an individual department responsible for various issues raised would look at them and respond appropriately within the set deadline.
“On behalf of the president and the cabinet, we have accepted this memorandum,” Minister Nxesi said.
Minister Mbalula said protesters were protesting for “legitimate issues”.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
