Trade union federation Cosatu is expecting a total shutdown of business in the Free State and Northern Cape during the second round of its planned protests against spiralling electricity, food, and fuel costs.
Cosatu provincial secretary in the Free State, Sam Mashinini said on Tuesday that Cosatu officials expected "thousands and thousands" of workers and community members to participate int the Bloemfontein protest march on Wednesday.
"We expect a total shutdown tomorrow (Wednesday)."
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 increased up to 27 percent in recent months.
"This will put more strain on the income of the poor households," said Mashinini.
He said the reality was that many workers and communities could not 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 had already urged their 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 was a legal strike, which was protected by the Labour Relations Act.
Mashinini said no one may be victimised or harassed for taking part in such an action.
In Bloemfontein, Cosatu was expected to march to the office of Premier Beatrice Marshoff to hand over a memorandum.
In Kimberley two memorandums would be handed over to officials of government and Eskom.
Mashinini said the intention was to put pressure on the government and Eskom to review the resent increases.
"We want an assurance that there would be no new increases in futures 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.
Cosatu provincial secretary in the Free State, Sam Mashinini said on Tuesday that Cosatu officials expected "thousands and thousands" of workers and community members to participate int the Bloemfontein protest march on Wednesday.
"We expect a total shutdown tomorrow (Wednesday)."
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 increased up to 27 percent in recent months.
"This will put more strain on the income of the poor households," said Mashinini.
He said the reality was that many workers and communities could not 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 had already urged their 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 was a legal strike, which was protected by the Labour Relations Act.
Mashinini said no one may be victimised or harassed for taking part in such an action.
In Bloemfontein, Cosatu was expected to march to the office of Premier Beatrice Marshoff to hand over a memorandum.
In Kimberley two memorandums would be handed over to officials of government and Eskom.
Mashinini said the intention was to put pressure on the government and Eskom to review the resent increases.
"We want an assurance that there would be no new increases in futures 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.
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