Dr Sevias Guvuriro, senior lecturer in economics and finance at the University of the Free State (UFS), says that the South African economy is still trying to recover from the effects of Covid-19 and the country has been impacted by the wars in Ukraine and Russia too, so with this shutdown, the economy will lose another day of business which the country and Bloemfontein cannot afford.

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“The shutdowns that have been suggested, the question mounts to ‘how does this benefit us as ordinary South Africans’? And we have often found that the benefits of these shutdowns are minimal and often have no effect,” said Guvuriro.

He added that these strikes and shutdowns are becoming an everyday thing and this may mean that the government would not necessarily change how they do business, because the days often just come and go with no results being delivered. 

“The major price hikes that are taking place now mostly results from the Ukraine and Russian conflict, which are external factors that the government may not have any control over. So the disruption and shutdowns are worsening the situation and not necessarily solving the problems we are facing,” he added.

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He further added that the previous shutdown did not push the government much to do things differently. There is not a lot that has been done, and thus being the reason Guvuriro alludes that instead of South Africans being vindictive, the citizens should rather be cooperative and work together to make sure that the economy is not disrupted further.

Meanwhile, OFM News' Lucky Nkuyane reports that according to one of the country’s most prominent workers' trade unions, the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (Cosatu), communities and workers - particularly across the Free State, North West and Northern Cape - are being mobilised to join the strike. 

The national picket will protest high fuel prices, the energy crisis, escalating unemployment rate, and poverty.

In a tweet, Cosatu says workers and communities in the Free State will march to the office of Premier Sisi Ntombela.

According to the national office of Cosatu in North West, Matlosana protesters will march to the Department of Minerals in Klerksdorp while Mahikeng workers and communities will march to the Provincial Legislature. Workers in the Northern Cape are set to gather in Kimberley.

OFM News