The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on civil society to join in a protest against rising electricity and food prices in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
”This march … is called in response to the danger of retrenchments in the mining sector and elsewhere due to Eskom’s decision to reduce electricity supply to the industry, and its threat to oppose any new major construction initiatives,” a Cosatu statement read on Tuesday.
It said the provincial African National Congress would also take part in the march in the Johannesburg city centre.
”Cosatu Gauteng province calls on all members of civil society to join the alliance/Cosatu-led march in the city centre of Johannesburg.
”Cosatu is further concerned that Eskom’s 27,5% tariff increase, which municipalities can increase still further, will put thousands more jobs at risk.
”This country cannot afford any further job losses. Poverty and unemployment are already way too high and an increase in this will destabilise the country further,” the statement read.
Cosatu, which held protests in the Free State, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga last week, is planning more mass action in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West on Wednesday, leading up to a national stayaway on August 6. — Sapa