Johannesburg - Organisers of Wednesday’s anti-corruption marches have advised workers to stay away from the protests, unless they have made arrangements to be absent from work.
Employees who take part in the unprotected protests could face disciplinary action or even dismissals. Although Nedlac - the government, labour and business negotiating chamber - gave the strike the go-ahead last week, the protests may legally take place only 14 days after the approval.
Employers spent Monday informing workers of the consequences of those who joined the thousands expected to descend on the streets of Pretoria and Cape Town.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa said anyone who was absent because of protests wouldn’t be paid for the day.
“Management reserves the right to take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who absent themselves from work without the proper permission and/or authorisation,” the employer body said.
However, not all is lost for employees who want to take part in the anti-corruption strike. Organisers said on Monday that another march was due to take place on October 14, when Nedlac’s strike certificate would be effective.
The Unite Against Corruption coalition, which includes the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), has maintained an earlier stance that Nedlac’s failure to grant a certificate for Wednesday was an act of sabotage.
“The undemocratic manoeuvre by Nedlac has only strengthened our resolve,” said Students for Law and Social Justice leader Mbali Khumalo. “The coalition has been hit hard by the Section 77 committee’s decision, but this will not deter or dissuade the organisers, and Unite Against Corruption will go ahead with the marches as planned on Wednesday September 30.”
This is despite many leading voices from organised labour coming to Nedlac’s defence. Some, including the Federation of Unions of South Africa, believe Numsa should have waited until Nedlac approved the strike before it announced a date for the marches.
The coalition, which comprises unions and civil-society organisations, said that despite the setback, they expected thousands of people to show up Wednesday. Initial statements by the group indicated they hoped to attract 100 000 people - an unlikely achievement in the absence of workers.
Numsa hoped its members would not tempt fate, as employers “have it in for them”.
“Employers are very brutal. You must appreciate we are going through the phase of retrenchments as we speak. If they were to have a chance of finding workers going on an illegal protest, they will use that opportunity against workers,” said Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim.
The main marches will be to the Union Buildings and Parliament. Demands will include that the government and business “prioritise combating the corruption that impacts so negatively on every aspect of our lives, and to commit to bringing the guilty to justice”.
Affected routes
Routes affected by the marches in Pretoria include streets near the Burgers Park precinct, where protesters will gather at 11am.
They will thereafter proceed to Lilian Ngoyi Street, right into Francis Baard Street, left into Nelson Mandela Drive, right into Stanza Bopape Street and left into the gardens of the Union Buildings.
In Cape Town, marchers will converge at Keizersgracht from 11am and then move to Darling Street, left into Adderley Street, left into Spin/Bureau Street, right into Plein Street and pass Parliament. Thereafter, participants are to return to Keizersgracht along Roeland Street, left into Buitenkant Street and right into Darling.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the affected routes during the marches, which are expected to get under way from noon and disperse late in the afternoon.
The Star