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COSATU in Gauteng in anticipation of the rapid surge of coronavirus infections in the coming weeks in the province, as a result of the return of workers from other provinces met with the MEC of Health to discuss the department's plan to manage the spread of the virus. The Federation is comfortable with the plan put in place with its limitations. Government can only do so much to stem the tide of infections, but we all need to take responsibility. 

On the back of badly mismanaged socio-economic conditions in South Africa which have exacerbated inequalities, adherence to some COVID-19 regulation will be difficult. Some workers reside in congested hostels and shack settlements.

The weak enforcement of these regulations adds to the rapid spread of the virus. COSATU calls on in order to save lives. We appeal to our people to stay at home, avoid all gatherings where possible. 

We salute all frontline workers for the work they have done since March 2019 and call all employers to provide quality personnel protective equipment, communicate positive cases in the workplace and perform decontamination afterwards. In case these protocols are not complied with, workers should refuse to work as announced by the Minister of Employment and Labour.

We note the new announcement on the vaccine, and we don’t believe that the vaccine will be a silver bullet. We shall support the MEC of Health in Gauteng to prepare a roll out plan because health is a provincial competency.

Issued by COSATU