Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
2 October 2002
Today is the second and last day of the general strike called by Cosatu to protest against government's policies. The strike was supported by the South African Communist Party, the Landless People's Movement, the Anti-Privatisation Forum, the Socialist Party of Azania and the Treatment Action Campaign.
It is quite clear from all information available that, besides the fact of the large number of other trade unions and democratic mass organisations that did not support the strike, few workers heeded Cosatu's call (see Annexure).
In national and provincial spheres of government, attendance at work on each day was around 98% and 99% respectively, which is within the range of averages for any normal working day, taking into account normal leave provisions.
At local government level, reports from municipalities indicate that low levels of participation and no significant impact on services.
In State Owned Enterprises no more than 6% on average stayed away from work.
Within the private sector, indications are that an average of about 15% of workers took part in the strike.
Participation in the strike this year was even lower than during last year August's action in which 20% (public sector), 10% (State Owned Enterprises) and 30% (private sector) took part.
A number of critical observations need to be made.
Firstly, we are convinced that the people of our country, especially the poor, do appreciate that their plight is at the top of government's agenda. They appreciate the efforts of government to bring electricity, clean water, housing, educational opportunities, health and other services since the establishment of our democracy.
Secondly, it is quite clear that the misinformation being peddled by Cosatu and its hangers-on on the matter of restructuring of state assets has not mobilised workers and the rest of society against this programme. This is in part because some of Cosatu's pronouncements on this issue are implausible. Further, the policies being pursued by government are mandated and are intended to benefit society as a whole.
Thirdly and most importantly, the majority of our people refuse to be mobilised into debilitating action against a government they themselves elected. Opportunities for engagement exist within the democratic system; and workers would need to be convinced that these avenues have all been exhausted for them to sacrifice their wages in pursuit of any grievance.
Government raises these critical questions not because we underestimate the legacy of poverty inherited from apartheid. Nor do we wish to claim that everything in our programmes is without fault. We do acknowledge that there are many weaknesses; and we shall continue to learn from experience continually to improve our work.
Government does not wish crow at the experience of the last two days, either. A crisis of leadership in as powerful a trade union movement as Cosatu, and one with such a proud history of struggle, cannot be celebrated. What we do hope for though is that this leadership will assess the meaning of this experience, and pursue the course of constructive exchange of ideas that their membership and society prefer.
This is a course that will bring speedier provision of basic services, faster progress in poverty eradication, and greater levels of investment and job creation. It is a course charted out in the agreement in NEDLAC -among government, trade unions, business and community organisations -that we should hold a Growth and Development Summit (GDS) as soon as possible. On the agenda of this Summit are the very issues around which Cosatu had organised the general strike.
We wish to reiterate that government remains committed to the GDS, and we shall as a matter of urgency pursue the preparations jointly with other partners, so that the Summit could be held early next years as planned.
Through such constructive dialogue, all of us as South Africans will be able to lend a hand to push back the frontiers of poverty and broaden access to a better life for all.
For further enquiries contact: Joel Netshitenzhe 082-900-0083
Annexure:
PARTICIPATION IN THE TWO-DAY SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTION
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (information from DPE/Labour)
SOE Employees Striking day1 % Day 1 Striking day 2 % Day 2
Transnet 73,075 4,477 6.13% 5,042 6.9%
Telkom 38,199 2,147 5.62% 2,287 5.99%
Eskom 31,715 1,473 4.64% 1,279 4.03%
Denel 11,135 485 4.36% 406 3.65%
TOTAL 154,124 8,583 5.57% 9,014 5.85%
PUBLIC SECTOR (information from DPSA)
Overall
Day 1: 98% attendance overall and minimal disruption
Day 1: 99% attendance reported
Provincial figures for Day Two:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (information from SALGA)
SALGA's report up to 11.00 a.m. on 2 October, indicates no impact on services and very low levels of participation.
INDUSTRY & COMMERCE (information from Department of Labour)
Estimates for specific industries include: