Trade unions argue that the summit only raises false hopes of economic revival and demanded that the government, instead, take concrete steps like doubling the corporate tax, setting capital controls and increasing public and social expenditure

After a spate of xenophobic violence in September, refugees in Cape Town were conducting a sit-in demonstration outside the UNHCR office when they were attacked and forced to leave on October 30

The “rescue plan” for Eskom unveiled by the South African minister for public enterprises proposes the unbundling of the state-owned company and increases reliance on private Independent Power Producers, which the unions claim, is the root cause of Eskom’s financial troubles.

Over 700 workers represented by NUMSA have been on strike since October 3 demanding the university treat them on a par with permanent employees in terms of pay and medical benefits

NUMSA which is representing the workers will approach the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration following the failure of talks with employers, who are demanding the in lieu of a salary hike, the union not raise any issues for three years

Workers of Air Chefs, the catering firm that is a subsidiary of South African Airlines, were set to go on strike on October 7 under the banner of NUMSA after their employer withdrew anniversary bonuses

During talks with unions representing security guards in South Africa, the employers’ association offered a 5% hike which would still not bring salaries close to the living wage

Nine South African unions, representing around 150,000 security guards, have termed the employers’ offer of a 1.1% hike an insult. Security guards earn barely enough to afford the basic necessities for a single adult, with hardly any means left to support dependents

The strike called by the South African Society of Bank Officials over mass layoffs was interdicted by a judge on the basis of a technicality

“Not only did the authorities demolish the shacks, but also poured kerosene and burnt the belongings our people had left behind. They came later in the evening to find all their possessions burnt down,” said George Bonono of Abahlali baseMjondolo

Farm workers in vineyards in the Western Cape, who work and live in atrocious conditions, staged a march to the embassies of Norway and Sweden. State-owned monopolies in these countries buy the bulk of the produce from these farms

We also take a look into the electricity workers’ protests in France