[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Cosatu to shut three provinces tomorrow

[Patrick Bond]

Cosatu expects to 'shut down' three provinces
BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA Jul 15 2008 16:32
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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is expecting a total 
shutdown of business in the Free State, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape 
during the second round of its planned protests against spiralling 
electricity, food, and fuel costs.

Cosatu's provincial secretary in the Free State, Sam Mashinini, said on 
Tuesday that its officials expect "thousands and thousands" of workers 
and community members to participate in the Bloemfontein protest march 
on Wednesday

"We expect a total shutdown tomorrow [Wednesday]," he said.

Protest marches are planned for Bloemfontein, Kimberley and other towns 
in the Northern Cape and various places in Mpumalanga.

The protests, along with a call for a day-long general work stayaway, 
are mainly against the cost of electricity, which has increased up to 
27% in recent months.

"This will put more strain on the income of the poor households," said 
Mashinini.

He said many workers and communities cannot pay the new prices.

"There are many signs that families cannot handle the high increases. If 
you go inside Bloemfontein, you would realise that poor families send 
their children to school without taking something to eat in the morning."

Mashinini said Cosatu has already urged its members to tighten their 
belts. "The belt we have asked them to tighten has been tightened up to 
the buckle."

He said Wednesday's action is a legal strike, protected by the Labour 
Relations Act, adding that no one may be victimised or harassed for 
taking part in such an action.

In Bloemfontein, Cosatu is expected to march to the office of Premier 
Beatrice Marshoff to hand over a memorandum. In Kimberley, two 
memorandums will be handed over to officials of the government and Eskom.

Mashinini said the intention is to put pressure on the government and 
Eskom to review the recent increases. "We want an assurance that there 
would be no new increases in future to pay for the blunders and 
sloppiness of the two in failing to actively do their duties which they 
were deployed to."

More protests are planned for July 23 in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, 
Limpopo and North West, while a "national strike and stayaway" for all 
provinces is planned for August 6. -- Sapa