Thousands of South Africans are participating in a nationwide strike to show their opposition to the country’s rising cost of living.
Recall, News Central reported last week that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) would embark on a nationwide strike action on Wednesday, August 24th 2022.
The initiative, which calls for a “complete shutdown” of the economy, is being led by two of the biggest unions in the nation.
All provinces are expected to see demonstrations, with Pretoria and Cape Town likely to see the biggest ones.
The rising cost of food, fuel, and transportation as well as the stagnant earnings are being protested by the unions.
They demand that the government set a cap on fuel prices, lower lending rates, and offer a basic income stipend.
A third of the population of South Africa is unemployed, and the nation is struggling financially as a result of international conflicts like the conflict in Ukraine and Covid-19.
Even if the action’s organisers claim they want to put the nation’s economy on hold, they have also conceded that the number of participants may not match that of prior years’ shutdowns.
According to the government, the no-work, no-pay principle will be in effect, and essential employees cannot participate.
However, unions assert that this is just the first in a succession of steps they’re prepared to take in order to get outcomes.