The heart of Durban’s city centre turned into a sea of red, yellow and green on Tuesday, 7 October as thousands of workers work, fair wages, and better living conditions.
The march, organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), started at the King Dinuzulu Park in Berea and moved through West Street, culminating at the Durban City Hall, where a memorandum of demands was handed over to eThekwini mayor, Cyril Xaba and KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli.
The demonstration, held annually on 7 October to mark International Day for Decent Work and International Working-Class Solidarity, drew workers from across the province, including members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), South African Teachers Union (SADTU), South African Transport Workers Union (SATAWU) and other labour federations. Protesters held banners calling for an end to job cuts, wage inequality, privatisation, and the erosion of workers’ rights.
COSATU provincial chairperson Phumalani Duma said the march was a unified response to the worsening socio-economic crisis faced by South Africa’s working class.
“We are gathered here to express our collective frustration on behalf of millions of workers and ordinary people living under horrifying socio-economic conditions,” Duma told the crowd. “We join comrades across the world in the fight for decent work and human dignity. Our struggle is part of a global movement committed to justice, equality, and solidarity.”
Duma criticised government and business leaders for failing to protect workers’ interests, accusing them of prioritising profits over people. He pointed to rising unemployment, deepening poverty, and soaring living costs — including food, transport, and utility prices — which have worsened under government austerity policies.
“We are angry at the lack of care, support, and protection for workers,” Duma said. “Government austerity has reduced social spending and weakened the state’s ability to support the poor. We demand action to reverse this.”
The memorandum presented by COSATU outlined a wide range of demands, including the urgent convening of a provincial job summit, stronger labour law enforcement, and decisive measures to prevent retrenchments. COSATU also called for respect for collective bargaining agreements, the elimination of labour broking and exploitative gig work, and the enforcement of the national minimum wage.
Other key demands included halting privatisation and outsourcing, strengthening whistleblower protections, expanding social grants, and increasing funding for public services such as healthcare, education, and transport. The federation also urged the government to address the gender pay gap, fill funded vacancies, and implement the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190 to eliminate workplace violence and harassment.
The plight of the unemployed was another major focus of the protest. COSATU highlighted alarming statistics showing that between 2017 and 2024, more than three million people joined the ranks of the unemployed, while only 600 000 jobs were created. Nearly 800 000 workers lost their jobs in the past three months alone due to retrenchments, company closures, and contract terminations.
“The unemployment crisis is catastrophic,” Duma said. “Employers abuse Section 189 retrenchment processes and even lobby to weaken labour laws. This must stop.”
The march ended peacefully, with leaders warning that if their demands continue to be ignored, COSATU and its affiliates will intensify their campaign for economic justice.
“The plight of workers cannot be ignored any longer,” Duma concluded. “We demand that government, business, and all stakeholders take decisive steps to advance the rights and dignity of South Africa’s working class.”
The memorandum was received on behalf of the provincial government, and COSATU said it expects a formal response in the coming weeks.
