[VIDEO] National Day of Action: Cosatu, communities take a stand in Limpopo

LIMPOPO – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has dubbed 7 October as a ‘National Day of Action’. Cosatu and various community structures gathered at various venues across the province and country, to fight community issues such as gender-based violence and corruption.

Cosatu, in a statement, called for workers to stay at home in support of the strike as they feel it “remains a primary tool of exercising power that workers have at their disposal”.

“We need to take a stand and push back against this flagrant theft of taxpayer funds and the disgraceful abandonment of the working class by policy-makers and decision-makers. The only way to undo this corrupt system is through disruption and non-cooperation and obstruction,” the statement reads.

Polokwane

Members gathered at the SABC Park before they marched to the police station, National Prosecuting Authority and the Premier’s Office. They will hand over a memorandum at the Premier’s office with grievances related to gender-based violence, retrenchments and labour breakers, among others.

Video: Umpha Manenzhe

Mokopane

Members of the Mogalakwena Concerned and Affected Community (MCAC) group, the Mokopane Task Team (MTT) and the South African National Civic Organisation joined the march.

According to a statement by Motsobane Masenya, the Chairperson of MTT, civil society organisations feel they have a responsibility to support the workers who form part of their communities “in their quest to get their well-deserved salaries and better conditions of employment as they are burdened with providing for their unemployed family members”.

“Racism and corruption in the mines is undermining our communities and we are mobilising and uniting the people of Mogalakwena on a common struggle against mining houses. For that reason, we will also be seen with Cosatu as they hand over a memorandum to Ivanplats and we will communicate other actions aimed at our mines in Mogalakwena,” Masenya added.

He added that they have previously expressed their support for Cosatu’s call for Chupu Mathabatha to vacate his responsibility as the Premier of Limpopo. “We have substantial reasons to believe that he has chosen unethical and corrupt leaders of Mogalakwena Municipality over the people of Mogalakwena. We will therefore mobilise our communities to the demonstration and once again express our utmost disgust towards corruption and lawlessness at Mogalakwena Municipality,” the statement reads.

Video: Lizette Conradie

Rest of Limpopo