Zwelinzima Vavi, secretary general of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), rejected suggestions that Monday’s planned national shutdown would be characterized by violence and intimidation.
National shutdown
Vavi has slammed the government as well as other political parties and organizations for spreading public panic over the national shutdown.
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He said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government had reason to panic over Monday’s demonstrations because South Africans were finally rejecting the country’s socio-economic challenges.
“Yesterday’s press conference [Thursday] by the minister [in the security cluster] and the statement of the president, panic on the side. And they have reason to panic because the lid will be taken off the pot from Monday onwards.
“We will not do one demonstration and they will go back to peace and business as usual.
“No, this is one of the many shots we have fired, and we will fire endless shots until the burden is solved, until the youth unemployment crisis. [and] women’s unemployment is addressed – but we insist on peaceful demonstrations,” he said.
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Vavi made the remarks on Friday during a Saftu media briefing in Johannesburg on preparations for the national shutdown.
The union federation will join the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and other organizations, in a protest action against load shedding, the country’s high crime rate, and Ramaphosa’s resignation, among other issues.
Peaceful demonstration
Vavi said the demonstrations across the country would be peaceful without violence and intimidation.
“Our protest action will be peaceful, we want to emphasize this,” he said.
“We are not a product of violence. We do not continue an agenda of violence against society. We are not a product of any intimidation to rob others of their right to exercise [their freedom] accepted from the South African constitution.”
Vavi added that Saftu members should isolate “agents provocateurs” involved in violence.
‘Government Propaganda’
Saftu’s secretary general said Thursday’s media briefing by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cabinet minister, on security measures ahead of Monday’s demonstration, was propaganda to scare the public.
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This comes amid concerns about a repeat of the July 2021 civil unrest that resulted in the destruction of public and private property as well as the looting of shops and shopping malls.
“This attempt to associate us with the events of July 2021, is part of the propaganda of the other party to scare the country and make us [seem] like us some barbarians who do not understand the basic principles of the South African constitution.
“We are not barbarians, but we will be militants. And we are not sweethearts. We will be militants on Monday even if we show at all assembly points,” said Vavi.
“There will be a shutdown. There will be no point where people have to do anything in the country. A shutdown is a shutdown. It will happen in every city, village, factory, or mine.
‘Workers will not be victims’
Vavi further called on all workers to join the national strike, saying the protest was protected by law.
“Monday’s protective action is completely protected unless you are a specified worker through an agreement to work in an essential service.
“Any worker who participated on Monday will not be victimized or subject to disciplinary hearings or dismissal.”
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