Amy Fraser7 October 2024 | 8:18

Cosatu marches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban against 'joblessness, poverty and inequality'

The strike is protected, allowing all workers to participate.

Cosatu marches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban against 'joblessness, poverty and inequality'

Picture: Fati Moalusi/AFP

Bongani Bingwa interviews Zanele Sabela, National Spokesperson for Cosatu.

Listen below.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is urging workers to join a National Day of Action on Monday (7 October) to address the urgent economic crisis facing the country, marked by 'joblessness, poverty, and inequality'.

In Johannesburg, participants will gather at George Lea Park in Sandton before marching to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

RELATED: National Day of Action: COSATU set to march over SA's economic troubles

In Cape Town, demonstrators will march to the provincial legislature and national Parliament, while in KwaZulu-Natal, the rally will head to Durban City Hall.

Sabela emphasises that this is a protected strike, allowing all workers to participate.

With South Africa's official unemployment rate rising to 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024, she adds that there is an urgent need for protests and constructive discussions on upskilling and training individuals for better job opportunities.

"Employers don't take the time to look at other alternatives and find creative solutions; their default position is to start retrenching workers and this is why we have a problem."
- Zanele Sabela, National Spokesperson – COSATU

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.