VIDEO: Capital city suffers less effect of Cosatu national shutdown
It was business as usual for most businesses and government departments in the Capital city despite the Cosatu national shutdown.
It was business as usual in Pretoria despite the Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu) nationwide protest against state capture, corruption and job losses on Wednesday.
It was however reported that the protest had affected some schools in Pretoria as teachers – who are members of Cosatu – were ferried to Johannesburg for the march but most government services ran smoothly.
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Queues were short and moved quickly at Home Affairs in the city centre.
Nana Masothe said she spent less than an hour in line to apply for a passport.
“I am happy with the service, I didn’t notice there was a protest in the country,” she said.
Another home affairs client Jobori Binchamo shared Masothe’s sentiment.
“…everything is good…,” he said.
It was business as usual also at the Social Development and many other departments.
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A security officer at social development, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he had not experienced any service interruption.
Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the protest had been prompted by the findings of state capture made by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela last year.
“There is a network of the predatory elite that is engaged in looting of state resources and corrupt activities,” Pamla said.
He said to promote and defend the interests of workers, the dangerous situation in which the country found itself had to be dealt with by mobilising against the predatory elite, and implementing processes to ultimately dismantle its network.
He said Cosatu wanted all contracts involving the Guptas, including mining licences, tenders, subsidies or intervention of on their behalf to be urgently reviewed by the Auditor General for irregularities.
He also called for an investigation of the allegations contained in recently leaked Gupta business emails and all implicated to be suspended.
“Ministers implicated in alleged state capture must be urgently investigated and if they cannot provide a proper explanation for their actions, charged.
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