Nedlac has granted trade union federation Saftu permission to participate in the National Shutdown protests planned for Monday 20 March.
SAFTU general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi announced earlier that the union agreed to participate in the shutdown following the EFF’s request and sought permission from Nedlac
Nedlac’s Standing Committee considered Saftu’s application and confirmed the protest would be protected under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act which means no employer may institute disciplinary action against employees who decide to join the protest.
Vavi stressed,however, the independence of the union and said they were responding to the socio-economic crisis and not joining the EFF’s political programme.
“SAFTU is not willing to just join a political party programme, we can’t do that because we are an independent federation,” said Vavi.
The Red Beret have been pushing for the country’s shutdown over load-shedding, service delivery and calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation over Phala Phala and Eskom blackouts.
Pan African Congress of Azania also said it would support the EFF for the National Shutdown.