Workers take to the streets demanding jobs as unemployment crisis deepens

Members of Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and its affiliated unions have turned up the heat on employers and government, demanding an end to workplace exploitation and action on South Africa’s unemployment crisis.

Thousands of workers took to the streets in Tshwane and Johannesburg for the annual International Decent Work Day March.

Among their key demands are better working conditions, fair treatment in the workplace, job security and meaningful action to tackle unemployment.

COSATU says it is unacceptable that millions of South Africans remain without a source of income, while workers who do have jobs continue to face retrenchments, stagnant wages and what the union describes as exploitation, particularly in the private sector.

Gauteng COSATU chairperson, Amos Monyela, says the marchers are now taking their demands directly to government departments.

“In terms of exploitation in the workplace, particularly Makro, Clicks and other private companies. We are marching against that. We are also marching against the disrespect of the labour laws of this country, as well as the undermining of collective bargaining in our country and in our province. We think that the march is significant and we aim to submit our memorandum to different areas, giving them 14 days to respond to our demands,” Monyela said.

Monyela says workers remain an important cog in South Africa’s economy and society, calling on government to ensure they receive the support they need.

And those on the ground say they are tired of suffering in silence.

Roughly 2,000 workers descended on the City of Tshwane headquarters on Wednesday, insisting their concerns be heard and addressed without delay.

They say workers should not have to take to the streets every year to fight for salary increases while companies continue to retrench employees.

Tshwane COSATU deputy chairperson, Themba Masuku, says it is deeply concerning that unemployment continues to rise while workers are being left without job security.

Masuku says the growing number of graduates struggling to find work is another sign that urgent action is needed to address unemployment.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) is also backing the march, calling for capable people to fill municipal positions and for improved service delivery.

SACP Central Committee member, Mabuse Mpe, says workers continue to give their all, yet jobs are being lost and communities are left bearing the consequences.

The organisation has warned that it could resort to a sit-in if its demands are ignored.

“We are joining you when our municipalities are enemies of outsourcing. They are enemies that shred our workers’ employment. We are joining you when unemployment is rife and since we have made our demands, our demands have not yet been responded to, and today, I hope you are going to do a sit-in,” Mpe said.

The unions have also raised concerns about South Africa’s Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) crisis, calling on men to take a stand against violence targeting women and children.

Mpe has also criticised what he describes as the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) inability to adequately respond to GBVF, pointing to the continued deaths of women and children.

The City of Tshwane has now received the workers’ memorandum.

MMC for Human Settlements, Aaron Maluleke, accepted the document on behalf of the city, promising to forward the demands to the relevant officials.

For the workers, the message is clear: decent work is not a privilege and they want action, not just promises.

Workers in South Africa embark on marches, pickets and demonstrations against rising costs of living

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— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) October 7, 2026

Written by: Odirile Rabalao