
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has com=nfirmed on Thursday that it will be joining the national shutdown which is planned by the Economic Freedom Fighters on the 20th of March.
The EFF announced this shutdown early in the year and with it they intend to bring the country to a standstill when it takes to the streets to demand an end to the electricity crisis and the resignation of the President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The federation’s General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said in press briefing that they have decided to join the protest as the request came from a leftist organization.
“This means we mobilize our members to join the protest across the country, however, our participation has conditions which we have discussed with the EFF. This includes that the shutdown is not sectarian, where all other formations will be called to join a programme of one political party.
“SAFTU is not willing to just join a political party programme, we cannot do that as we are an Independent Federation. We only join a broad front of left formations working together to achieve a common goal of an effective national shutdown.