People from various labour unions flocked to eMalahleni for a nationwide march against rising living costs.

Following the call for a national strike by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and South African Federations of Trade Unions (SAFTU), a peaceful march was held on Wednesday, August 24 in eMalahleni.

A memorandum of demands was submitted at Eskom Park to Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, Eskom representatives as well as labour representatives.

“We need a response within 14 days from today,” said the workers.

The memorandum of demands was received by all the representatives, who promised to forward it to the officials. 

The Premier said, “We gratefully accept the memorandum that has been handed over to us. We will definitely look at crossing issues and will appropriately escalate those of national nature while also addressing our own issues and those of our municipalities.”

Workers’ cries were not only about socio-economic issues but also about the entire crisis that the country is facing daily, demands are as follows: 

*Campaign against corruption.

*Fight against job losses/retrenchments.

*Stop the attachment to collective bargaining and signed agreements.

*Provisions of quality service delivery in municipalities.

*Fight against Gender-Based Violence.

*Stop coercing victims to settle out of court with the perpetrators,

a violation of the justice system.

*Stop violence and harassment in the workplace

*Defend and promote compliance with the Health and Safety in the

workplace, which includes Covid- 19 protocols and vaccination.

*Fight to defend Freedom of Association.

*Austerity measures by Treasury.

*High cost of living.

*Petrol hikes through government levies

*To stop Eskom black-outs

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