Union leaders announced a strike on 4 August. From left, Michael Helu (Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Union provincial secretary), Motlatsi Tsubane (COSATU provincial chair), Malvern De Bruyn (COSATU provincial secretary), Ernest Theron (South African Communist Party provincial treasurer), Vicky Sampson (Trade Union for Musicians of South Africa president), and Jaco Van Heerden (Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa). Photo: Marecia Damons
Unions affiliated to the Confederation of SA Trade Unions (COSATU) are calling members out on strike on 4 August in protest against the government’s “lacklustre” approach to rising crime rates in Cape Town.
Provincial secretary Malvern de Bruyn told a briefing on Wednesday that all spheres of government “don’t respect ordinary people”. He said they “undermine the safety of the poor in the province”.
De Bruyn said the union is demanding that the national (ANC) and provincial (DA) governments end gang violence, conduct regular police patrols in industrial areas, improve safety at railway stations and allow communities to evaluate their police stations.
He said the union applied for 3,000 people to participate in the protected strike. “We plan to bring the economy to a standstill so that the government can see how angry workers are.”
The union plans to deliver lists of demands to the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement department, the Western Cape premier and the national police minister.
Michael Helu, provincial secretary of the Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Union (AFADWU), said communities with higher crime rates need adequate police resources.
“Khayelitsha has more than a million residents. Constantia has far fewer people but has an adequate number of police and private security,” he said.
“If you are poor, you don’t need security and if you have money or live in a certain area, then you need security. That is how government treats our citizens,” said Helu
GroundUp has requested comment from SAPS.
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