The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the trade union federation is raising various issues because they affect all workers.

"The issue is not to compete, but to appeal to everyone, employed people and business people to join us."

He said Cosatu wants everyone to champion free education. All workers should join; even if they sit at home, they need to demonstrate. The march is to raise consciousness. "We are not hoping only through one march things will be sorted out."

Raising consciousness will rally everyone to find solutions. "We have to communicate and assess what has been achieved and what is our standing."

He appealed to big business to add its voice.

Education front

Cosatu has been engaging with students for some time. Although free education is necessary, there should be a balance between demands and achieving education, said Ntshalintshali.

They plan to work together to find a solution.

The major beneficiaries are the parents, who will be able to take their children to school.

Mayoral issues

On his first day in office, Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba indicated he wanted to privatise basic services such as municipal waste utility Pikitup, while Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga indicated that municipal workers in Tshwane would be retrenched. "They should not expect to do that easily," he said.

He added that the ANC had been warned that e-tolls would not work.

"It showed in the elections."