The Citizen writes that scores of marchers including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and alliance partners flooded the gates of ArcelorMittal in Vanderbijlpark during a picket against the looming closure of the steel giant. On February 7, the gathered crowds demanded an end to job losses and called for the utility to return to government hands.

Despite Mittal’s decision to delay its shutdown for another month, workers and activists say the temporary relief isn’t enough. They (unions) want immediate intervention to save thousands of jobs in Vereeniging and Newcastle. Bringing out the big guns and heavyweights from SANCO, ANC in Sedibeng, and the SACP, marchers stood shoulder to shoulder with workers showing support against corporate greed.

SACP’s general secretary Solly Mapaila took the mic and dropped bombshells during his keynote address to the masses. Mapaila called for the re-nationalisation of Mittal, demanding that industries like this serve the people, not ‘profit-hungry’ corporations. “This steel industry is so important for the development of our country. The Expropriation Bill shouldn’t just apply to land, Mittal must be included,” he said. “We must organise a public meeting in the community with the workers of Mittal to discuss their concerns. We must take control of our economy,” he added.

Closing his speech, Mapaila said Mittal should be part of the R940b set aside by the government, as stated during the State of the Nation address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, for infrastructure development. Meanwhile, SANCO Sedibeng also resonated the distress, with the civic organisation’s Nkosinathi Ndwandwe firing virtual shots at policies that leave workers struggling.

“Neo-liberalism doesn’t care for the working class. It’s a policy of greedy people who don’t care about the world-class. Our message as SANCO is that we are in solidarity with the SACP. We must also mobilise all branches of SANCO to stand together and fight side by side,” he said.

by Sifiso Jimta