No metro buses will be operating in Johannesburg on Wednesday because of the planned Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) protest march through the CBD, the City of Johannesburg announced on Tuesday.
”There will be no buses to ferry commuters on Wednesday due to the protest,” said city spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane.
He advised metro bus commuters to make alternative arrangements.
Metro police expect at least 10 000 protesters to take part in Cosatu’s march against rising electricity and food prices.
”Traffic will be affected from Beyers Naude Square, up Rissik Street to Braamfontein where a memorandum will be handed over,” said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
The protesters will then proceed down Harrison Street to the local government offices on the corner of Commissioner and Sauer streets, where a second memorandum is expected to be handed over.
”Metro police will monitor the march and divert traffic,” Minnaar said.
The march is expected to end at 3pm. Motorists are advised to avoid the area at the time of the march, said Minnaar.
Cosatu said on Tuesday: ”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.
”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 trade-union federation said the provincial African National Congress will also take part in the march through 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, 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