Saftu members are marching to Parliament on Wednesday ahead of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's Budget speech at 2 pm.
Several small gatherings, in line with COVID-19 regulations, were expected to take place around the country to highlight challenges such as unemployment which now sits at 32.5%.
Saftu will embark on industrial action on Wednesday in response to a number of economic challenges facing the country.
The federation said this was one of the issues it would be protesting against when it embarked on a general strike next Wednesday.
The action, which involves mass stay away and protest in major cities, is over joblessness, poverty and corruption among other social issues.
Workers affiliated with Cosatu, Saftu, Fedusa and other trade unions united in protests across South Africa on 7 October 2020.
Cynthia Seopa, an immigration official at Home Affairs, said government had taken food out of their children’s mouths.
Workers marched through the Pretoria CBD most of the day to register their discontent with the current state of the economy, lack of an efficient public transport system and non-payment of public sector wage increases, among other issues.
The march is part of a one-day strike aimed at hammering home the message that government's efforts to grow the economy and deal decisively with corruption and gender-based violence, among other issues, had failed.
Cosatu and Saftu, who collectively represent close to three million workers, embark on a national strike against corruption and unemployment.
Workers affiliated to Cosatu, Saftu, Nactu and Fedusa marched across South Africa on 7 October 2020 in protest against corruption, the failing economy, gender-based violence, and government’s non-implementation of this year’s wage hikes for public servants.
Traffic disruptions were expected in parts of the Johannesburg CBD and surrounding areas, as well as in Tshwane.
Protests are taking place across SA over corruption, the failing economy, gender-based violence, and government’s non-implementation of this year’s wage hikes for public servants.
Business Unity South Africa’s executive officer Cas Coovadia has told Eyewitness News that while they understood the issues which had pushed workers out on the streets, it was counterproductive.
In a historic show of unity, the two biggest labour federations in the country, Cosatu and Saftu - who collectively represent close to three million workers, will be embarking on a national strike against corruption and unemployment.
The federation will join forces with Cosatu in strike action against corruption, the state of the economy, joblessness and gender-based violence and femicide, among other issues.
In a virtual address with leaders of affiliate unions on Thursday night, secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi said that the current education system made the youth unemployable and therefore susceptible to crime and joining gangs.
Saftu said it fully supported teacher organisations that urged their members not to return to class until Minister Motshekga can guarantee schools will not be ground where the coronavirus spreads.
