Saftu members gather in Johannesburg for protest

25 April 2018 - 12:03 By Penwell Dlamini

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Those gathered outside the Workers’ Library & Museum in Newtown, Johannesburg to support the SAFTU call for a national strike raise their concerns around #outsourcing, minimum wage, taxes, & labour brokering.
Image: AC Fick via Twitter

President Cyril Ramaphosa received the most attention in the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) protest in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning.

Clearly .@SizwePamla and his friends @cosatu2015_ are struggling to explain to their members why they agreed to allow the state to limit the right to strike. They can’t defend the poverty wage of R20 per hour. We say VOETSEK to poverty wages! #DefendRightToStrike #LivingWageToday pic.twitter.com/IgU82UFtsU
— NUMSA (@Numsa_Media) April 24, 2018

One of the posters showed Ramaphosa with buffalo horns‚ with the text "Cyril Buffalo is R20 p/h" and was lifted high for everyone to see. Next to the big poster was another one depicting Ramaphosa dripping blood from his mouth‚ with the words "bloody agent".

While these posters were held high‚ a traditional poet shouted "take the R20 and shove it under the tail of a buffalo".

"R20 is modern day slavery and our right to strike has be sold by Cosatu"
SimunyeWorkersForum#SaftuStrike #ScrapNewLabourLaws pic.twitter.com/na5O8CdAdZ
— SAFTU (@SAFTU_media) April 25, 2018

The workers began arriving at about 10am from various parts of the province. They are marching against the national minimum wage and proposed changes in the labour laws of the country.

Trains from different parts of Gauteng have been organised to bring people for free to Johannesburg's inner city.

People gathered in Newtown ahead of their march to the Department of Labour‚ the premier's office and the Gauteng department of social development.

#SAFTUstrike #ScrapNewLabourLaws #Defendtherighttostrike @Numsa_Media @SAFTU_media @CWAO_ZA @LivingWageZA #PhantsiNgoRhamaphosa pic.twitter.com/fR3Galx2v7
— Bolshevikova (@MikaelaNhondo) April 25, 2018

Parliament's labour portfolio committee is currently discussing three bills that could see significant changes in the country’s labour laws. Some trade unions are opposing these bills and have embarked on a nationwide strike to underline their viewpoint.