Johannesburg workers march against privatisation

Johannesburg workers march against privatisation

By Norm Dixon

Around 20,000 members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) paralysed the streets of Johannesburg on October 26 to protest against the African National Congress-controlled city council's "iGoli 2002" privatisation and restructuring plans.

The march was supported by the South African Communist Party (SACP), the South African National Civic Organisation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Hawkers Association and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Unions.

Under the iGoli 2002 plan, the council-run gas system, Rand Airport and the Johannesburg Stadium will be privatised, while council departments — electricity, water and sanitation, waste removal, the zoo, bus services, the Civic Theatre, property and the fresh produce market — will be corporatised in preparation for eventual sell-off.

SAMWU's greater Johannesburg secretary, Hlubi Piyana, said the workers believed that the plan would not deliver to historically disadvantaged communities, who are the majority in the city. SAMWU called on the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council to stop immediately its implementation of iGoli 2002.

SACP secretary-general Blade Nzimande said the party was fully behind the municipal workers and opposed privatisation because it caused job losses. The iGoli 2002 plan indicated that if residents did not have money, they would not be able to receive their basic needs, Nzimande said.

The chairperson of the council's "transformation committee", Kenny Fihla, had to be rescued by police when angry workers refused to accept that he could not immediately agree to suspend the implementation of iGoli 2002.

From GLW issue 383