A handful of workers and community members took to the streets of Cape Town today as COSATU led a Day of Action, demanding urgent action from government and employers across all three spheres: national, provincial, and local.
The march coincides with the International Day for Decent Work and solidarity with working-class struggles worldwide.
COSATU said South Africa is facing a deepening economic and social crisis, with unemployment having grown by over three million between 2017 and 2024, while job creation lags far behind.
The federation highlighted the devastating impact of austerity measures, soaring utility and food costs, retrenchments, and corruption on workers and low-income households.
In memoranda delivered to Parliament, the Premier’s office, and the City of Cape Town, COSATU demanded a moratorium on retrenchments, stronger enforcement of labour laws, protection for gig and casual workers, and equal pay for men and women.
The union called for an end to privatisation, the re-employment of retrenched state workers, and improved occupational health and safety standards to prevent workplace injuries and deaths.
The union also pressed the government to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, expand social grants, implement a Basic Income Grant, and take decisive steps against gender-based violence.
In its Memorandum to the City of Cape Town, COSATU called for an immediate freeze on all water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse tariff increases for six months, and a new progressive tariff structure that shifts costs from poor households to big business.
The federation also demanded the doubling of free basic service allocations for indigent households and an end to service disconnections.
On budgeting, COSATU called for a pro-poor review of the 2025/26 municipal budget to prioritise housing, sanitation, transport, and job creation, including a R500 million township upgrade fund and 5,000 new EPWP jobs.
Other demands include stronger action against crime and corruption, with more funding for community policing forums, a youth diversion and skills fund, and lifestyle audits for senior City officials.
In a stance on foreign policy, COSATU urged the South African government to cut diplomatic and trade ties with Israel and implement full Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions measures in support of Palestine.
COSATU gave all three spheres of government 14 days to respond to its demands, warning that failure to act would lead to intensified rolling protests and further legal and political action.
