COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) embarked on a national strike to highlight issues of job losses, retrenchments and corruption. The Western Cape arm of the federation led hundreds of workers in a march to the offices of the City of Cape Town.

Malvern Du Bruyn, the provincial secretary of COSATU in the Western Cape, said they were sending a message to government and the City of Cape Town that they’re unhappy about how workers are being treated and has called on government to end corruption

Sonwabile Ngxiza from the South African Communist Party (SACP) said the City of Cape Town has no shame and discards its most vital workers.

Zingiswa Losi, the national president of COSATU, said the City of Cape Town should not act as if it is a country on its own. The City of Cape Town is under the political control of the Democratic Alliance while COSATU is an alliance partner of the African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling party.