Thousands of workers attend Cosatu’s strike

By Yamkela Xhaso
06 August

Thousands of workers turned in their numbers to protest against the rising prices of food, electricity and fuel.

Cosatu was a chief organiser of the strike, dozens of different worker’s unions came in their large numbers.

The crowd were angry with the government not doing enough. This is evident as the songs they sang were about the government, Thabo Mbeki, Zuma being the answer to their problems.

This was revealed when Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said, “goodbye Thabo Mbeki goodbye”, which made the crowd cheer with joy outside parliament in Cape Town.

Different unions came to fight for the same course. Juwa Dimande, political educator of SADTU said,

“Our president must learn form what happened today, because if they do not feel the pain and if they do not represent the working class they must move out”

Vavi continued that they do not want change tomorrow or next year, he shouted “we want it now”

'Today we have made the couuntry to a standstill, we are poor we are hungry, forty percent of us are unemployed. We cannot cope we the demands of feeding, clothing and our families.

Vavi told the protesters that Cosatu is the way.

"Cosatu must continue to be what it is, "the voice of the voiceless", a friend of the poor not only in South Africa but to the rest of the world. It is also a trusted ally to the ANC"

But other unions had other views like Munro Mkhaliphi provincial secretary general of Cosatu said Jacob Zuma wil bring positive change to the lives of the working class,

" After Polokwane there is hope for everyone, because there the organisation was brought back to the people not to people who are up there when we tell them that we have a problem, they tell us "we don't understand"

But some of the workers felt that the strike "was not a support for Jacob Zuma" it was for unity of workers for a common goal.