This is according to senior lecturer in economics and finance at the University of the Free State (UFS), Dr Sevias Guvuriro. 

This is as the shutdown by Cosatu and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), which took place on Wednesday has been hailed a resounding success by the involved parties, with six cities and provinces partaking in the demonstration against the rising cost of living, unemployment, crime, power cuts and the country’s struggling economy.

Guvuriro says some of the businesses in towns where the shutdown took place closed down out of fear of being vandalised, meaning a knock has been felt by the economy. Now, the businesses will have to work twice as hard to recover the money lost on Wednesday.

Also Read: Shutdowns may not be effective

He shared that although he understands the reason behind the shutdown, it has come at a difficult time, while the economy is still trying to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, and also trying to survive the impact that Russia's war in Ukraine has had on the global economy. For the government to change the way business is approached in the public sector Dr Guvuriro believes a lot of things will have to be taken into consideration but it is possible.

Will the demonstration lead to any tangible change?

The UFS lecturer says that this demonstration is one of many others and doesn't believe any tangible change will come from it.  When looking at the reasons why prices are so high, some of the reasons are because of the war that is not happening in the country but is indirectly impacting the country. So the government has limited power in what it can do when it comes to external factors that impact the country’s economy.

OFM