Trade union Solidarity today said that in the coming year it would focus intensely on the expansion and sustainability of South Africa’s domestic steel industry. It is for this reason that the trade union today announced that it would soon launch a campaign, Support Our Steel (SOS).

According to Solidarity’s Deputy General Secretary Marius Croucamp, the domestic steel industry had suffered major setbacks in recent times especially after the closure of Highveld Steel last year. “Solidarity regards the steel industry as a matter of great importance, and we want to ensure job retention in the industry for the sake of our members and of all other employees in the industry. The announcement that R95 million has been budgeted for to establish a steel development fund in the coming year to support the steel industry, is therefore encouraging,” Croucamp said.

According to Croucamp, Solidarity’s upcoming SOS campaign is of crucial importance as far as creating awareness and achieving purposeful intervention are concerned at this stage. “We must now pull out all the stops to make the domestic steel industry a strong industry in South Africa again. Recent financial support and instructions regarding the use of local steel by government institutions already represent a step in the right direction. By its SOS campaign and the watchdog role it takes on readily, Solidarity will ensure that such steps are indeed taken,” Croucamp explained.

Issued by Solidarity