The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called on the government to declare the country’s jobs crisis a national emergency, as official data shows the unemployment rate standing at just over 30%, with most young people unable to find work.
Speaking during the federation’s annual Workers’ Day rally in Polokwane, union leaders painted a grim picture of a deepening cost-of-living crisis, with workers reporting that salary increments remain low and taxes are excessively high.
“Our unemployment must be treated as a national emergency, like we did deputy president when we were dealing with COVID-19,” said COSATU President Zingiswa Losi in her keynote address. “We believe as this federation that the issue of unemployment, the issue of young people that are not in employment, must be treated as a national emergency.”
One worker described living “from hand to mouth,” struggling to care for more patients than assigned while receiving insufficient pay. “The salaries that we are getting are less. We are not satisfied with that,” she said. “The economic crisis of the country is hitting employees’ pockets hard.”
Ma also detailed persistent workplace abuses, including posts being sold to preferred individuals, tribalism, and workers being undermined by their superiors. “What they are increasing is not what we agreed on. So they are deviating from what we have agreed on,” she added, noting that the tax burden remains very high.
COSATU demanded that the government ensure correct implementation of salary increments over the next three years.
Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party (SACP), which is contesting the upcoming local government elections, used the rally to stress unity within the Tripartite Alliance. A party representative urged “cool heads” and “levelheadedness,” warning against tolerating political enemies while becoming intolerant with allies.
“The elections did not bring about this alliance. On the contrary, it is this alliance that brought about the elections,” the SACP spokesperson said, adding that the African National Congress (ANC) must emerge victorious on November 4. “We are campaigning to win. Victory is certain.”
