SA does not have a mild-to-moderate unemployment problem. That would allow the luxury of traditional thinking and politically safe solutions.
Despite the sympathy and outrage, the Democratic Alliance still lacks street cred, writes Phillip de Wet, who attended the DA march earlier this week.
There were no winners in the clashes in Jo’burg on Tuesday. But the main protagonists at least balanced out their losses, unlike the ANC and police.
DA national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane has laid charges against Cosatu after a protest by the party turned violent in Johannesburg.
Violence erupted when Cosatu would not allow the DA to approach their offices in Braamfontein during their march for youth wage subsidies.
The M&G’s Nickolaus Bauer became the man of the moment at the Democratic Alliance’s march to Cosatu House in Jo’burg. Here’s how the drama unfolded:
Unions, the ANCYL and YCL have vowed to disrupt a DA-led march on Cosatu’s headquarters, warning it will mark the beginning of "open class warfare".
While the ruling party has lauded workers for sustaining the economy, the DA has taken a swipe at Cosatu for the country’s unemployment rate.
Sanral and the Department of Transport have decided to postpone the implementation of the e-tolling for a month to "finalise regulations".
Amid more court action and warnings of freeway blockades to protest e-tolling, it seems motorists who have already signed up may have to re-register.
The ANC and its alliance partner Cosatu say their bilateral meeting to discuss labour brokers and e-tolls was "fruitful and honest".
The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions was involved in adopting the decision to regulate labour brokers, says President Jacob Zuma.
Government is adamant e-tolling will start on April 30. The DA and Cosatu have threatened boycotts and barricades if it does. Who will blink first?
The factionalism and divisions within the ruling party and how they play out will determine the relationship between the party and the electorate.
Cosatu has now backtracked on its strong opposition to the Info Bill and called for discussions.
Cosatu has tried a more measured approach
to attain its economic policy goals and it seems to be working.
The journey to Mangaung has come across a few stumbling blocks.
Hopes that non-unionists would join Cosatu’s march fell a little flat on Wednesday, but the protest nevertheless did show hints of wider appeal.
Cosatu has staged the largest planned civil protest since the dawn of democracy, giving a loud voice to discontent over labour "slavery" and e-tolls.
Zwelinzima Vavi says Wednesday’s march is the first warning shot in Cosatu’s war on e-tolling, "and we’ve got lots of bullets".
Zwelinzima Vavi and Julius Malema have joined the Cosatu march in Jo’burg against e-tolling and labour brokers, swept up by a swarm of supporters.
The ANC’s young lions are set to confront the government by joining Cosatu’s national strike against labour brokers and the e-tolling system.
Teachers are marching with Cosatu, but their pupils must be in class tomorrow. Except maybe in Cape Town, where children have been invited to join in.
The Democratic Alliance has turned down an invitation to join a Cosatu-led protest against labour broking and e-tolling in Cape Town’s CBD.
Cosatu’s strike will be the biggest in years, but it insists its war on tolling and brokers is not a power play ahead of the ANC elective conference.
Malema’s exit from the ANC stage strengthens President Zuma’s position, but it’s Cosatu’s Vavi who holds the trump cards now, writes <b>Nic Dawes</b>.
A faction aligned to President Jacob Zuma in Cosatu enjoys the upper hand after the federation’s central executive committee meeting this week.
Cosatu says it asked its affiliates to develop education programmes and campaigns to educate members on violence-free strikes and demonstrations.
Employers have been urged to make contingency plans ahead of Cosatu’s planned nationwide strike over labour brokers and new tolls in Gauteng.
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/ 24 February 2012
Some small businesses are likely to benefit from minor tax tweaks but there is no relief on the jobs front.
Pravin Gordhan is standing firm on curbing hikes in public sector wages, raising the hackles of Cosatu, which is girding itself for war on the issue.
Cosatu leader’s warning comes as a battle over union affiliation plays out at Implats’ s shaft six.