Cosatu strike could cost SA two billion rands

Economists estimate that yesterday’s Cosatu general strike could cost the South African economy more than two billion rands. They say the strike actually defeated the aims of organising unions as it would have a negative impact on job creation and poverty alleviation. According to reports Chief Operations Officer at the Business Unity of SA Vic van Vuuren says the size of the stay-away should not be underestimated. He said while there had not been a massive national stay-away, some industries had been hard hit. He said there had been a loss of more than a billion rands in the mining industry where some mines reported 100 percent stay-aways.

Cosatu, meanwhile, claims there had been what it calls a brilliant response to the call to strike. The union federation called on the government and employers to treat unemployment and poverty as a national emergency. It wants to see far more of the country’s growing wealth being ploughed into job creation projects, training programmes and the provision of basic services.

Cosatu has also announced that General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been invited as a guest to the National Congress of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions which is to taking place today and tomorrow. Vavi left for Harare last night. Several other international invited guests to the congress, including those from Norway, Zambia and Swaziland, have already been deported from Zimbabwe by the authorities. Cosatu is waiting to see whether Vavi will be allowed into the country.