ID Start Date End Date year Duration City Province Sector Sub-sector Union Employer Type of strike Strikers Reason_1 Reason_2 Reason_3 Details 1 2023-01-06 2023-02-07 2023 32 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Privatised Public Service Transport Workers Libhongolethu IPTS Bus Service Wildcat 1 Unpaid bonuses Workers went on strike after their bonuses were not paid 2 2023-01-31 2023-01-31 2023 1 Emfuleni Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU Emfuleni Local Municipality Protected 1 Unpaid wages Decaying service delivery Workers went on strike against irregular salary payments, unpaid January salaries and deteriorating service delivery 3 2023-02-01 2023 Ekurhuleni Gauteng Privatised Public Service Private Security PSWTU Ngodvongodvo Security, Zabalaza Security Wildcat 1 Unpaid wages The city failed to pay the security companies and 1000 workers went unpaid as a result in January. The workers went on strike at five sites that they guard for the municipality. The city claimed it had paid the security companies. 4 2023-02-02 2023 Hopetown, Orania, Strydenburg Northern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Thembelihle Local Municipality Protected 1 Unpaid wages Deductions for benefits not paid on to benefits provider The municipal manager resigned and the chief financial officer and other executive officials were suspended, leaving nobody to make payments. Workers went unpaid in January and their medical aid schemes went into arrears. 5 2023-02-06 2023-02-06 2023 1 Stellenbosch Western Cape Private Food Processing SOLIDARITY Distell Wildcat 50 Union recognition 50 workers went on strike for two days demanding recognition of their union, Solidarity. 6 2023-02-14 2023-02-14 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Private Security AWU, KAWU, NUMSA, SATAWU Imvula Protection Services, Mafoko Security, Tshedza Protective Services, Ithuba Security, Easy Security, A Force Security, Eagle Eye Security, Reshebile Security, EBS, TR Security, Merlin, Ubuntu, Sinqobile Security, Venes Security, Mabotwane, Mjayeli, Vision Tactical, Tyeks security companies Wildcat 1 Deductions for benefits not paid on to benefits provider Security guards' medical aids were not paid and they could not access health services, therefore they downed tools. 7 2023-02-22 2023-02-22 2023 1 Cape Town Western Cape Public and Private All SAFTU National Government Workplace-related action 1 Against austerity Against loadshedding The unions protested during the Budget speech, rejecting government's austerity measures and demanding a 10% wage increase in public sector wages, a R1 500 basic income grant and more public sector jobs. 8 2023-03-01 2023-03-01 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Private Private Security AWU, KAWU, NUMSA, SATAWU Mafoko Security Patrol Protected 350 Deductions for benefits not paid on to benefits provider The company deducted medical aid contributions but did not pay them over to the medical fund, leaving workers to pay their medical bills themselves. Unions say R16 million is owed. 9 2023-03-01 2023-03-01 2023 1 Stellenbosch Western Cape Private Transport TFGWU Trip Trans Trucking Company Protected 1 Deductions for benefits not paid on to benefits provider Health and Safety Unfair surveillance Workers went on strike against union subs deductions that were never paid over to the union, which is not recognised, and cameras in the truck surveilling them, being registered as BEE with the company somehow and not paid and no payment for injury on duty 10 2023-03-03 2023-03-03 2023 1 Fort Beaufort Eastern Cape Private Private Security PSWTU Whispers Security Company Wildcat 1 Unpaid wages Security guards held a three-hour strike after the Department of Health did not pay their company . Police removed the strikers. On 18 May, 33 strikers were dismissed. 11 2023-03-06 2023-03-06 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Privatised Public Service Transport SAMWU Rea Vaya Bus Services Wildcat 1 Unpaid wages All buses were blocked from leaving the terminus in a wildcat strike after drivers were not paid by Piotrans, who is contracted by Rea Vaya to manage the bus services 12 2023-03-06 2023-03-16 2023 10 National National Public National Government PSA, NEHAWU, POPCRU, SAPU, DENOSA, NUPSAW, SAMATU, PAWUSA, SAEPU, HOSPERSA Department of Public Services and Administration Protected 1 Wage increase For increase in benefits The strike was for a 10% increase in the 2022/23 wage talks, R2500 monthly housing allowance and bursary scheme for employees' children. The union settled after 10 days on an agreement to include the 2022/23 wage dispute in the 2023/24 negotiations and to conclude a minimum service level agreement within 6 months. 13 2023-03-09 2023-03-09 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Health NUPSAW Gauteng Department of Health Protected 1 For permanent jobs Union members demanded the absorption of 4000 EPWP workers on temporary contracts who had been doing permanent work. 14 2023-03-10 2023-03-10 2023 1 Villiersdorp Western Cape Private Agriculture BAWUSA High Noon Farm Wildcat 70 Wage increase Management violence For benefits Farmworkers downed tools against the implementation of a 5% increase when they had demanded 8%, against the farmer's physical abuse of workers, against the lack of transport to and from the farm, and against the reduction of GP visits benefit to 2 visits per year. 15 2023-03-12 2023-03-26 2023 14 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Private Transport SATAWU C Steinweg Bridge Terminals Protected - Wage increase Racism Union demanded a pay increase of 7% plus backpay, employer offered 6.5% with no backpay. 16 2023-03-14 2023-03-14 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Health NUPSAW Gauteng Department of Health Wildcat 4000 For permanent jobs Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers had a night vigil outside the offices of the Gauteng Department of Health against contract termination and for absorption. The workers then occupied the Premier's office and continued protesting the next day. 17 2023-03-20 2023-03-20 2023 1 National National Public and Private Multi-sector SAFTU Presidency Protected 1 Against austerity Against loadshedding Saftu and the EFF held a national shutdown, demanding jobs for the unemployed at a living wage; an end to load-shedding; a universal basic income grant; a lower cost of living; a minimum wage of R72 per hour for all; an end to crime and violence against women and children; a transition to renewable energy without job losses; for renationalisation of certain entities, including SAA; an end to austerity, better pay for teachers, nurses, and social workers. 18 2023-03-21 2023-04-04 2023 14 Ladysmith KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government SAMWU uThukela District Municipality Wildcat 1 For permanent jobs Unpaid wages Decaying service delivery The strike was a protest against wages having been deducted for a wildcat strike over Xmas (2022), and demanding that EPWP workers be hired permanently. 19 2023-03-23 2023-03-23 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Privatised Public Service Transport SAMWU Rea Vaya Bus Services Wildcat 1 Unpaid wages Workers stopped all busses from running in another protest against not being paid. 20 2023-03-23 2023-03-24 2023 1 Rustenburg North West Public Local Government SAMWU Rustenburg Municipality Wildcat 1 Unpaid allowances Workers went on strike, demanding Covid-19 danger allowances they had been promised since 2021, and proper grading. Workers continued their protest at Deputy President Paul Mashatile's visit, demanding that he solve their grievances. 21 2023-03-24 2023-06-08 2023 76 Cape Town Western Cape Private Wholesale & Retail SACCAWU Makro Protected 100 Wage increase For increase in benefits Workers began a protracted strike at Makro by marching to Parliament to hand over a memorandum to the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition demanding that it intervene in the dispute. 22 2023-03-24 2023-06-08 2023 76 National National Private Wholesale & Retail SACCAWU Makro Protected 900 Wage increase The longest strike of the first six months of 2023 ended after Makro agreed to pay an increase of the greater of 4.5% or R450 for 2022/23; the greater of 5% or R480 for 2023/24 and the greater of 5% or R500, backdated to 1 April, 2022. It was agreed that there would be ‘engagement’ on the 600 workers dismissed. 23 2023-03-27 2023 Cape Town Western Cape Private Wholesale & Retail SAHAWU, NIMWU Global Roofing and Builder's Hardware Wildcat 40 Wage increase Union recognition Workers downed tools after being suspended for trying to get their unions recognised and for trying to negotiate a pay increase. 24 2023-03-30 2023-03-30 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Health NUPSAW Gauteng Department of Health Wildcat 1 For permanent jobs EPWP workers picket in protest against the Health MEC firing over 4000 EPWP workers. The workers then occupied the building. 25 2023-03-31 2023 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Private Automotive NUMSA Tenneco Automotive Holdings Protected 1 Wage cuts Workers went on strike against a proposed 42% pay cut at the catalytic converter manufacturer, who introduced the proposed pay cut during bargaining, seeking to reduce the hourly rate from R114.67 to R67 even though other similar companies pay at least R87. 26 2023-04-18 2023-04-18 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Health NUPSAW Gauteng Department of Health Wildcat 1 For permanent jobs EPWP workers picketed against the Health MEC terminating the contracts of over 4000 EPWP workers on 31 March. Their contracts were later extended. 27 2023-04-25 2023-06-08 2023 44 Ladysmith KwaZulu-Natal Private Automotive NUMSA Sumitomo Rubber South Africa Wildcat 900 Flexibilisation of labour Workers went on strike against short time and being removed from a hiring committee. The employer dismissed all 900 workers on 24 May after the courts declared the strike to be unprotected, but reinstated them on 8 June after a settlement was reached. 28 2023-04-25 2023 Louis Trichardt Limpopo Private Manufacturing NUPSAW Crimson Loo Pty Ltd Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike for a minimum wage of R8 500, overtime on weekends and public holidays, uniforms and PPE, a night shift allowance of R60 per hour, maximum working hours of 180 per month (because they work with dangerous chemicals), a milk allowance of R250 per month and to get payslips at least two days before the pay date. 29 2023-04-26 2023-04-26 2023 1 Makhanda Eastern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Makana Municipality Wildcat 1 Unpaid overtime Workers in the water department allegedly held a go-slow against unpaid overtime, opening water for the town several hours late. 30 2023-05-01 2023-05-01 2023 1 Bethlehem Free State Public National Government NEHAWU Tripartite Alliance Workplace-related action Against austerity At the Cosatu May Day rally, Nehawu members sang struggle songs during speeches by President Cyril Ramphosa, the SACP secretary general and Cosatu president, and said that they could not celebrate May Day under austerity conditions. 31 2023-05-01 2023-06-02 2023 32 Butterworth Eastern Cape Private Wholesale & Retail THORN Elite Bakery and Confectionary Protected Wage increase Bonus Workers went on strike and secured a 7.5% increase, a two week bonus, backpay to 1 April 2023, and agreement to negotiate the 2023 bonus in October this year. 32 2023-05-05 2023-05-05 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Private Wholesale & Retail SACCAWU Makro Workplace-related action Wage increase Bonus increase Union members picketed the US embassy after 600 Makro workers were fired for allegedly behaving 'unlawfully' while on strike. Cosatu also supported the picket. 33 2023-05-05 2023-05-05 2023 1 Phalaborwa Limpopo Private Mining NUM Phalaborwa Foskor Mine Protected 1 For permanent jobs Employment Equity Increased youth employment The union went on strike for increased youth employment, for the union to be part of decisions around procurement, and for an employment equity and skills development structure to be set up; for workers pay not to be deducted when communities protested against the mine; and for all security guards to be insourced. 34 2023-05-09 2023-05-09 2023 1 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Private Metal NUMSA Scaw Metal Protected 1 Racism Sexual Assault For removal of managers The union went on strike against racism (300 workers dismissed by white management over four years; Black workers banned from speaking in mother tongues; Black workers allegedly beaten and sexually assaulted by white managers, a white-dominated management, and unfair disciplinaries for 'gross misconduct'). 35 2023-05-11 2023-05-11 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Johannesburg Protected 7000 For permanent jobs Reinstate dismissed workers Workers marched on the City, Premier's office, and Luthuli House against government's failure to run municipalities properly. They demanded reinstatement of 130 CoJ dismissed employees, an end to outsourcing, timeous payment of salaries, and an end to victimisation. 36 2023-05-15 2023-05-17 2023 2 Kimberley Northern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Sol Plaatje Municipality Wildcat 1 For permanent jobs Allowance increase Reinstate suspended workers Workers demanded that 100 contract workers be absorbed, that suspended workers be reinstated, that Covid-19 allowances be paid, that danger allowances of R558 paid out to workers who qualify at the end of July, and that transport allowances be increased for workers using public transport. They won all of their demands except the reinstatement of suspended workers. 37 2023-05-22 2023-05-25 2023 3 Hammanskraal Gauteng Public Health Workers Gauteng Department of Health Wildcat 100 For permanent jobs Nurses at Jubilee District Hospital had been on temporary contracts since July 2020 which were eventually terminated at the end of March 2023. They demanded an end to working for the hospital via agencies. Following the protest, the provincial department promised to extend their contracts to March 2024. 38 2023-05-24 2023-05-24 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Private Private Security SACSAWU, IDUSA 22 security companies Protected 400 For permanent jobs The guards demanded to be employed permanently by the city, saying they are only paid R5000 per month after security companies have taken their cut, and because there was an outstanding 2018 council resolution to insource 4000 security guards. 39 2023-05-25 2023-05-25 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public and Private All sectors SAFTU, GIWUSA South African Reserve Bank Workplace-related action 50 Against austerity Saftu and Giwusa picketed against a 50-point basis interest rate hike. 40 2023-05-29 2023 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Regulatory Bodies NEHAWU Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Protected Wage increase Allowance increase Reinstate suspended workers Workers demanded a 6.5% increase and PPRA offered 5%. Workers also went on strike for a housing allowance, more medical aid options, an end to employees’ intimidation and victimisation by management, and reinstatement of the union branch secretary. 41 2023-05-31 2023-05-31 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Health HAITU Gauteng Department of Health Protected 200 For permanent jobs The union marched for student nurses to continue to receive their bursaries post-graduation, until they receive their practicing certificates, on the grounds that they cannot work without a practicing certificate, even if they have graduated. 42 2023-06-05 2023 Verulam KwaZulu-Natal Private Food Processing AMITU Frimax Wildcat 247 Unpaid wages Union recognition Management violence Workers downed tools over discrimination, mistreatment and withholding of their salaries. They refused to be members of FAWU (closed shop), and demanded recognition of the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union. 247 workers were dismissed, with 100 workers later reinstated while the remaining 147 dismissed workers approached the CCMA. 43 2023-06-07 2023-06-08 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Privatised Public Service Transport SAMWU Tshwane Bus Service Wildcat Unpaid overtime Unilateral change Bus drivers stopped work after not being paid overtime. The union also said bosses had drawn up a new shift system without consultation, and that toilets for workers were not working whereas toilets for managers were fully functioning. 44 2023-06-08 2023 Ga-Rankuwa Gauteng Education Education APSA, NEHAWU, SAPTIU Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike for a 7% wage increase, R3 000 once-off payment to each worker, and permission for five days of annual leave to be cashed out. The employer offered 5.7%, two days of leave to be cashed out, and a R1 000 once-off payment. The unions slammed the use of expensive private security hired by the university to suppress the strike. 45 2023-06-09 2023-06-09 2023 1 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Privatised Public Service Transport Workers Spectrum Alert Wildcat Unpaid wages All workers of the Libhongulethu bus system including cleaners, ticketers and bus drivers, blockaded the roads around Gqeberha City Hall after not being paid their wages for two months. 46 2023-06-13 2023-06-13 2023 1 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Food Processing SWF Registrar of Labour Relations Workplace-related action 100 Union recognition Members of the Simunye Workers Forum marched on the Labour Court where they had taken the Registrar of Labour Relations to court over his refusal to register SWF as a union. The SWF won the case and the Registrar was ordered on 22 June to register SWF within 14 days. 47 2023-06-15 2023-06-15 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Public National Government SAFTU Department of Social Development Workplace-related action 80 Against austerity Basic Income Grant Saftu held a picket for a Jobs Guarantee and a Basic Income Grant outside the offices of the Department of Social Development. 48 2023-06-15 2023-06-15 2023 Kuruman Northern Cape Public Provincial Government NUPSAW Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works Workplace-related action For permanent jobs Against corruption For benefits EPWP picketed against unfair labour practices and demanding to be permanently absorbed. Some EPWP workers’ names appeared on the Persal employee system where they received payslips stating that they earn salaries of R9 000 but they are only being paid R2400 per month by the NGOs that government registered them with. They also do not qualify for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) relief or low-cost housing, were not paid for working on public holidays and were not given any sick or family responsibility leave. 49 2023-06-24 2023-06-24 2023 1 Germiston Gauteng Private Wholesale & Retail SWF Golden Bakery Workplace-related action 50 Against Xenophobia 50 members of the SWF and CWAO marched on Golden Bakery demanding confirmation letters of employment for workers to re-apply for their work permits. The Golden Bakery workers had been working there for between 7 and 15 years and the employer had never asked them for their work permits before. But as soon as they started organising and wanting their Basic Conditions of Employment Act rights, the employer threatened to have them deported unless they came up with work permits. The employer’s iinkabi (snipers) shot at least four of the SWF and CWAO members with live ammunition, including one board member, who were all seriously injured and admitted to hospital, including to the Intensive Care Unit. 50 2023-06-29 2023-06-29 2023 1 Cape Town Western Cape Public Health Workers St John's Ambulance Wildcat dozens For permanent jobs Against short pay The provincial health department's contract with St John's ended, leaving 21 Nyanga and Gugulethu community health workers out of work. Some were then hired by Anova. However, the community health workers protested for those who had been left out of work, and also against being short-paid for May - they continued working for the whole month but the new employer only paid them from mid-month. 51 2023-07-03 2023-07-03 2023 1 KwaMashu KwaZulu-Natal Public Health PSA Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital Wildcat 120 Health and Safety Unpaid overtime Workers downed tools over demotions, understaffing and burnout, no lunch breaks, nurses leaving in large numbers because of poor working conditions that also affect patients. Workers also protested against 12 hour shifts and a lack of security to protect them and non-payment of overtime. 52 2023-07-04 2023 #VALUE! Bethlehem Free State Private Private Security AWU, KAWU, NUMSA, SATAWU Maluti Security Wildcat 200 Unpaid benefit deductions Workers went on strike over medical aid and provident fund deductions by the employer which were never paid over to the funds. 53 2023-07-05 2023-07-05 2023 1 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Public Health NEHAWU Grey's Hospital Wildcat Corruption Short Staffing Workers picketed inside the hospital demanding that vacancies be filled and the number of ghost workers on the payroll be investigated. 54 2023-07-10 2023-07-12 2023 3 Chatsworth KwaZulu-Natal Privatised Public Service Private Security Workers Mafoko Security Patrol Wildcat - Unpaid wages Job Losses Security guards on month-to-month contracts went on strike over unpaid wages and three days later, the hospital terminated the contract with the security company and hired another company 55 2023-07-13 2023-07-13 2023 Pretoria Gauteng Sex Work SISONKE National Government Wildcat 120 Health and Safety Against poor working conditions Sex workers demanded that government speed up the decriminalisation of sex work so that they can work without fear of arrest, and so that they can report assaults on the job to the police and be taken seriously. The sex workers have been fighting for decriminalisation of sex work for decades. 56 2023-07-18 2023-07-28 2023 National National Public Health NUPSAW National Government Workplace-related action 3000 For permanent jobs NUPSAW shut down several of the government's public hearings into the basic conditions of employment and wages for CHWs. The hearings were held over 7 days in East London, Cape Town, Gqeberha, George, Mogale City, Kimberley and Tshwane. The government planned to transfer CHWs to NGOs whereas the CHWs are demanding permanent employment by the government. 57 2023-07-26 2023-11-10 2023 90 Tshwane Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Tshwane Wildcat 7000 Wage increase Unilateral change Against corruption SAMWU began a strike after the City refused to pay the 5.4% wage increase agreed in 2021 as part of the national collective bargaining agreement in for all municipalities in South Africa. The strike was permanently interdicted on 16 September but the workers continued striking. 123 workers were dismissed for striking and one worker died after he was dismissed, under circumstances not disclosed. The strike ended on 10 November with the unions agreeing to re-enter negotiations with the municipality over the unpaid wage increase. 58 2023-08-01 2023-08-01 2023 1 Makhado Limpopo Public Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Makhado Municipality Wildcat 300 Against nepotism Against ANC political interference Hundreds of municipal workers downed tools against alleged ANC political interference in the appointment of the municipality’s chief financial officer (CFO) post, which has been vacant for nearly 5 years. The workers demanded fairness, transparency and that the ANC stop trying to appoint only their cadres. 59 2023-08-01 2023-08-01 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Public Provincial Government MAWUSA Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Wildcat 2000 For full time jobs Wage increase About 2000 Community Work Programme (CWP) workers from all nine provinces marched on COGTA demanding permanent full time work and an end to a two day per week job that only pays between R880 and R950. MAWUSA said the workers had marched on COGTA 55 times previously and would stop voting if they were not made permanent and given a decent monthly salary. 60 2023-08-04 2023-08-04 2023 1 Tshwane Gauteng Private Domestic Work UDWOSA, SADSAWU Hundreds of employers Wildcat 100 Racism Rape Dog attacks Over 100 domestic workers protested at the Union Buildings, saying it was three years since the Constitutional Court ordered that they be eligible for workplace compensation but they were still struggling to access these funds. The workers said they were still being attacked by employers’ dogs, raped and sexually assaulted at work, impregnated by employers, racially abused, and paid less than the statutory minimum wage. The domestic workers from other countries said employers are failing to help them with their visa applications. 61 2023-08-04 2023-08-22 2023 Makhanda Eastern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Makana Municipality Wildcat Health and Safety Refuse removal workers started a sit-in/go slow and refused to collect refuse after the Municipality failed to provide them with the necessary PPE. The workers' refuse removal truck often breaks down and is not repaired timeously, leaving them with the hazardous job of piling very high mounds of garbage in bags onto the back of a bakkie. 62 2023-08-04 ongoing 2023 Boksburg Gauteng Privatised Public Service Private Security UPSWU Khayalami Security, Zabalaza Security Wildcat For permanent jobs Unpaid wages GroundUp reported that 1000 security guards working mainly for Khayalami Security and Zabalaza Security, who were contracted to the City of Ekurhuleni, lost their jobs after the City replaced these companies with TSS Security and Bravo Security. The guards, who used to work at city sites in Germiston, Benoni, Daveyton, Brakpan, Benoni, Alberton and Boksburg, had not received their wages for November and December 2022 and said the companies and the municipalitywere passing the buck and “blaming each other”. The UPSWU has demanded the guards be insourced in line with the council budget, which they say allocated R2 billion for safety and security, which is more than enough money to insource all the guards. 63 2023-08-07 2023 Kimberley Northern Cape Private Mining NUMSA Ekapa Diamond Mines Protected 700 Wage increase Housing Allowance Once-off payment About 700 workers downed tools, demanding a housing allowance, once off payment of R10 000 and a 17% wage increase. The employer offered a 6.5% wage increase and a three-year agreement and a 17% increase for some workers only. Three days after the strike began, police fired water cannons and tear gas at the strikers and arrested 43 workers. The workers were still on strike by mid-September. 64 2023-08-08 2023-08-08 2023 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Provincial Government NUPSAW Gauteng provincial government Protected 2000 For permanent jobs For correct salary scales Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers marched in demand of EPWP’s permanent employment as promised in May 2023, by the Premier who agreed that EPWP workers would get first priority for vacancies. A process was supposed to be finalised within two months but instead the provincial government advertised 687 posts without considering the 2000 existing EPWP workers. NUPSAW also discovered a further 2000 ghost workers in the EPWP programme. The CHWs were employed in 2020 but on a lower salary level than agreed. NUPSAW demanded that they be regraded to salary level 3 as negotiated. 65 2023-08-16 2023-08-16 2023 Mahikeng North West Public Health NUPSAW North West Provincial Department of Roads and Public Works Protected 1200 For permanent jobs Against nepotism Against ghost workers About 1200 EPWP workers marched on the North West Premier for permanent jobs and against nepotism. The union said many of the 13 500 EPWP workers who the government said had been working on 12 month contracts for up to seven years, were ghost workers. 66 2023-08-17 2023-08-17 2023 1 Boksburg Gauteng Privatised Public Service Private Security UPSWU Khayalami Security, Zabalaza Security Workplace related action 40 Extension of contracts For permanent jobs Unpaid wages 40 of the striking security guards shut down the Boksburg Civic Centre by protesting at the entrance, demanding salaries that have been outstanding since November 2022. The workers are part of the group of 1000 who lost their jobs after the City of Ekurhuleni changed security companies. 67 2023-08-29 2023-08-29 2023 1 Louis Trichardt Limpopo Public Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Samwu and Imatu members marched against political interference on the part of the municipality who has not appointed a chief financial officer for five years because they did not want to appoint the candidate who scored the highest in the interview, Godfrey Raliphada, who had acted in the position since 2022. The court eventually ruled in February 2024 that Raliphada should be appointed, and the municipality eventually appointed him at the end of July 2024. Protected 100 Against nepotism Political Interference Samwu and Imatu members marched against political interference on the part of the municipality who has not appointed a chief financial officer for five years because, the unions believe, they want to interfere in a fair recruitment process. The municipality did not want to appoint Godfrey Raliphada who had been acting CFO since 2022 and scored highest in the interview. Finally in February 2024, the courts ruled that Raliphada should be appointed, which the municipality only did at the end of July 2024. 68 2023-09-07 2023-09-07 2023 1 Welkom Free State Public Local Government SAMWU Matjhabeng Local Municipality Protected 600 Wage increase Sexual assault Unpaid benefit About 600 Samwu members marched on the municipality calling for the salaries and benefits they are owed to be paid to them. The workers also marched against outsourcing of services, alleged harassment of workers by the mayor, political interference in the running of the municipality, correct grading, and against GBV and sexual harassment at work, and against nepotism in recruitment. 69 2023-09-09 2023-09-09 2023 1 Paarl Western Cape Private Chemical WFP Bayer Workplace related action 200 Health and Safety About 200 farmworkers marched on Bayer demanding that the company stop exporting pesticides to South Africa. WFP said the pesticides are causing chest and sinus ailments for women farmworkers as well as skin rashes. 70 2023-09-15 2023-09-15 2023 1 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Privatised Public Service Private Security NEHAWU Unnamed security company Protected Health and Safety Low wages Unpaid benefit Security guards blocked entrances to the hospital, shutting it down, saying they had no uniform, were paid on different dates, and did not receive bonuses on time. 71 2023-09-17 2023 Richard's Bay KwaZulu-Natal Transport AMCU Richard's Bay Coal Terminals Protected Wage increase For benefits The workers demanded a 7% increase and a housing allowance and the bosses offered only 6% per year for three years. The strike went on for 3 weeks. 72 2023-09-19 2023-09-21 2023 2 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Transport EPCO Uber, Bolt Wildcat Health and Safety Low wages The e-Hailing Partners' Council of South Africa (EPCO) started a strike outside the Gauteng Premier's office against low pay, attacks on drivers, extortion from public taxi drivers and Uber and Bolt trying to reduce payments to drivers. 73 2023-09-21 2023-09-21 2023 1 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government SAMWU eThekwini Municipality Protected 2000 Health and Safety Lack of tools Poor grading The union marched because of 17 outstanding grievances, including the murder of workers at work, severe shortage of tools to do the job, unpaid performance bonuses, and the municipality's failure to grade the workers properly which means workers are earning less than they should be. 74 2023-09-25 2023 Cradle of Humankind site Gauteng Public Regulatory Bodies NEHAWU Cradle of Humankind Heritage Site Protected 85 Wage increase Unpaid benefit Nearly all 95 workers at the site went on strike for an 11% increase after not receiving a pay hike for five years. The workers said their bonuses were also cancelled. 75 2023-09-26 2023 National National Private Food Processing NUFBWSAW Coca-Cola Beverages SA Protected Forced Sunday work Wage increase Workers went on strike over an unfair shift system including compulsory public holiday and Sunday work. Workers also demanded a 4.8% increase. FAWU had already agreed to the shift system. 76 2023-10-05 2023-10-06 2023 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Food Processing SWF Simba-Pepsico Protected 317 Removal of benefit Unpaid benefit The workers went on strike after the company deducted pay from workers' wages for transport that should have been free for six years. It then offered to pay R30 000 in compensation only if workers agreed to give up free transport going forward. On Day Two, the Labour Court interdicted the strike from proceeding. 77 2023-10-06 2023-10-06 2023 1 National National Public and Private All COSATU Workplace-related action Wage increase Benefits Health and Safety Cosatu affiliates downed tools for International Day of Decent Work for compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act, for a living wage that includes pension, medical, education and other benefits, against late payment of wages in the public service, against casual and temporary work, against sexual harassment and GBV at work, against injuries and deaths on the job, for Employment Equity, for paid time off for parents, and for the right to join a union and bargain collectively. 78 2023-10-12 2023-10-12 2023 Mahikeng North West Public Provincial Government NUPSAW North West Provincial Department of Roads and Public Works Wildcat 600 For permanent jobs About 600 EPWP workers marched on the MEC for Public Works and Roads, demanding to be made permanent. The MEC had failed to respond to the demands they made in their march on 16 August. 79 2023-10-12 2023 Springs Gauteng Private Mining AMCU Gold One Modder East Wildcat 300 Union recognition Workers gathered again to complain that the NUM was insisting on a 30 day termination notice of their closed shop agreement. This meant that although NUM had cancelled the closed shop agreement, workers could still not join AMCU. AMCU affiliated workers demanded a meeting over the fact that mine bosses refused to recognise AMCU. Police fired rubber bullets and teargas to keep workers out of the mine. By 18 November, AMCU launched a court challenge against Gold One bosses who had twice ignored a workers' petition with the names of workers who wanted to move from NUM to AMCU. 80 2023-10-17 2023 eNkgangala Mpumalanga Private Mining NUM Kangala Colliery Protected For benefits Full-time Branch secretary Workers went on strike at the colliery, which is owned by Thungela and Exxaro, demanding a full time union branch secretary position, and R100 000 per worker as this sum was allegedly given to all Thungela employees through the Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs). 81 2023-10-17 2023-10-24 2023 National National Public Government Agency PSA State Information Technology Agency Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike demanding a 12% increase and the bosses offered only 2%, later offering a 5% increase. The strike was settled after 7 days, but the final percentage was not made public by the PSA or SITA. 82 2023-10-22 2023-10-25 2023 3 Springs Gauteng Private Mining AMCU Gold One Modder East Wildcat 500 End to closed shop agreement Union recognition Over 500 AMCU members remained underground, halting production, after the mine bosses refused to recognise the union, insisting that they would continue a closed shop agreement they had with the NUM since 2012. The workers surfaced after three days and the NUM announced on 15 November that it would end its closed shop agreement. The bosses suspended 34 workers in November, accusing them of having held the other 450 plus workers hostage underground. 83 2023-10-25 2023-10-31 2023 6 Matjhabeng Free State Public Local Government SAMWU Matjhabeng Municipality Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers downed tools for six days and burnt garbage after the municipality's account was frozen the day before payday, and workers were not paid. 84 2023-10-25 2023-10-25 2023 Mdantsane Eastern Cape Public Health NUPSAW Eastern Cape Department of Health Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs Community Health Worker members of NUPSAW held a mass rally in Mdantsane, demanding to be made permanent employees of the department. 85 2023-10-25 2023-10-29 2023 Mahikeng North West Public Provincial Government NUPSAW North West Provincial Department of Roads and Public Works Wildcat Extension of contracts Hundreds of EPWP workers marched on the provincial legislature, saying the Department of Roads and Public Works had reneged on a promise to extend their 3 month contracts. They had continued to work another 3 months, based on the promise, but had not been paid. The workers, who earn only R1800 per month, also demanded 12 month contracts. 86 2023-11-01 2023-11-01 2023 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government Workers eThekwini Municipality Wildcat 400 Contract termination About 400 workers tried to storm City Hall in eThekwini after their Presidential Employment Programme contracts were abruptly terminated by the municipality, who claimed it had run out of funds. The workers had been employed to clean river banks and public parks. 87 2023-11-06 2023-11-06 2023 Johannesburg Gauteng Public National Government Workers National government Workplace-related action 1000 Solidarity with Palestine The Simunye Workers Forum, GIWUSA, and other workers and solidarity movements protested against the Israeli genocide in Gaza outside the United States consulate in Sandton, following a protest earlier in the day against the South African government. Protestors demanded that the government stop doing business with the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This protest took place outside the AGOA Forum in Joburg. 88 2023-11-06 2023-11-08 2023 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Education SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Education Department Workplace-related action Health and Safety Unfilled posts Austerity SADTU members picketed for 3 days over unsafe working conditions for teachers, lack of funding for schools and because workers who exited their jobs were not replaced, meaning the remaining teachers had to do more work 89 2023-11-13 2023-11-20 2023 National National Public National Government NEHAWU Productivity South Africa Protected Wage increase The workers wanted a 7.5% increase and a 2% backpay increase from 2022/23 but the bosses offered 4%. The strike ended after 6 days with an agreed 5% increase, backdated to 1 July. 90 2023-11-15 2023-11-16 2023 Carletonville Gauteng Private Mining AMCU, NUM Blyvoor Gold Mine Wildcat 800 End to closed shop agreement 13th cheque Incentives More than 800 mineworkers remained underground for two days in protest against a minority union having a closed shop agreement with the mine bosses. The workers also called for 13th cheques and incentives. Mine bosses responded by threatening to fire 240 workers. 91 2023-11-15 2023-11-15 2023 1 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government SAMWU eThekwini Municipality Wildcat 500 Performance Bonuses Against political leaders Workers turned a 2 hour meeting into a protest in the middle of town, demanding that the mayor be axed and that their working conditions be improved. The workers had been demanding performance bonuses for some time. They used municipal trucks to block the nearby roads. 92 2023-11-16 2023-11-16 2023 Pretoria Gauteng Public National Government SACOSWU Department of Correctional Services Wildcat Union recognition SACOSWU occupied the head offices of the department after it refused to grant the union a single organisational right, telling the union it must go and ask the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). 93 2023-11-18 2023-11-18 2023 N4 highway Lebombo Mpumalanga Public Transport Workers National government Wildcat 400 Health and Safety Poor working conditions Lack of police protection Truck drivers blocked the N4 highway on the road leading to the Lebombo port saying there was often only one border official to process 1500 trucks, leading to drivers queuing for four days. This meant the drivers could not meet their delivery targets and were not paid. Some trucks were allowed to skip the queue which led to violence in which the police did not try to protect drivers, the drivers' co-ordinator told SABC. 94 2023-11-21 2023-11-21 2023 Cape Town Western Cape Public Health Workers Israeli government Workplace-related action 300 Solidarity with Palestine Health workers affiliated to Health Care Workers for Palestine picketed outside Red Cross Childrens' Hospital after 200 Palestinian health workers were killed and at least 130 wounded in Gaza in the preceding five weeks. The group demanded "an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid. They also called for hospitals and clinics to be allowed to operate without fear of being bombed", GroundUp reported. 95 2023-11-22 2023-11-22 2023 Mangaung Free State Public Education Workers Department of Education Wildcat 600 Austerity Health and Safety Early childhood development workers affiliated to the Forum on Service Delivery marched against corruption, budget cuts, and poor treatment by Education Department officials who they said frequently threaten to shut ECD centres down. 96 2023-11-22 2023-11-22 2023 George Western Cape Public Health NUPSAW Western Cape Department of Health Protected For permanent jobs Community Health Worker members of NUPSAW demanded insourcing by the government, to be placed on the DPSA's level 5 on the salary scale, for counsellors at clinics to be absorbed by the government too, a danger allowance, and the same "token of appreciation" that was negotiated in the Public Health Sector Bargaining Council for other permanent health workers. 97 2023-11-23 2023-11-23 2023 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Food Processing SWF Simba-Pepsico Workplace-related action 100 Union recognition Transport Allowance SWF members protested outside the Labour Court where they won their case against Simba. Simba forced to withdraw its bid for a permanent interdict against deemed permanent workers together with permanent workers who went on strike over Simba cancelling the free transport it used to provide. (A ‘deemed permanent worker’ refers to a worker who is still being forced to work for a company via a labour broker even though the Constitutional Court in 2018 clearly ruled that any worker who has been doing a permanent job for more than three months at one company is automatically deemed permanent). 98 2023-11-29 2023-11-29 2023 National National Public National Government SAFTU, COSATU National Government Workplace-related action 2000 Solidarity with Palestine COSATU and SAFTU unions, including the Simunye Workers' Forum and GIWUSA, protested against the Israeli genocide in Palestine with other solidarity groups and the ANC and EFF. Protests were held in Joburg, Cape Town and Potchefstroom. The protestors called for an immediate end to the Israeli bombings of Gaza and for the Apartheid Israeli state to be dismantled. 99 2023-12-04 2023-12-04 2023 Paarl Western Cape Private Agriculture WFP South African Police Services Workplace-related action 200 Police Failures Against Gender-Based Violence About 200 women farmworkers marched on the Winelands district commissioner of police saying that police were not responding to calls from women on farms affected by sexual assault or Gender-Based Violence, and nor were the police arresting perpetrators. 100 2023-12-06 2023-12-13 2023 Hammarsdale KwaZulu-Natal Private Food Processing AFADWU RCL Foods Wildcat 500 Union recognition Workers went on strike after the union's organisational rights at Rainbow Chickens were terminated. Rainbow Chickens tried unsuccessfully to interdict the strike in the Labour Court and later reinstated recognition of AFADWU. 101 2023-12-07 2023-12-07 2023 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Local Government Workers Government Wildcat 50 Unpaid wages Health and Safety Recycling workers hired on stipends by the Department of Environment's Municipal Cleaning and Greening Programme (MCGP) went on strike, supported by the DA, for unpaid wages, and gloves. GroundUp reported that the workers said they work "eight hours a day at R16 per hour, picking up human faeces without gloves". They had not yet been paid yet although they started work 2 months before the protest. 102 2023-12-07 2023-12-09 2023 Rustenburg North West Private Mining NUM Wesizwe Bakubung Platinum Wildcat 250 Wage increase Retrenchments About 250 NUM members refused to surface for 3 days after finishing their shift, after wage negotiations made no progress and the bosses threatened to retrench 530 workers. The workers demand 100% medical aid contribution, for the company to stop cutting off pregnant women workers' medical aid and pay when they are on maternity leave, and a living out allowance of R6800 per month. The workers also demanded the resignation of the general manager. 103 2023-12-08 2023-12-11 2023 Springs Gauteng Private Mining AMCU Gold One Modder East Wildcat Union recognition Mineworkers held another sit in. The reason was not clear but mainstream media reports said it was a resurgence of the dispute in October. Again, the employer and NUM said workers were being held hostage underground. After four days, Gwede Mantashe (minister of Mineral Resources and Energy) threatened to send in the police. 104 2023-12-19 2023-12-21 2023 Rustenburg North West Private Mining NUM Impala Platinum Wildcat 2000 Pension fund payouts Workers at the Bafokeng Rasimone Mine went on strike for three days after the mine changed ownership and the workers demanded their pension contributions back. The workers remained underground, stopping production. The NUM said they were not saying the workers should not be disciplined only that they should not be dismissed. 105 2024-01-10 2024-01-10 2024 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government Workers eThekwini Municipality Wildcat 100 Unpaid wages Termination of contracts 100 workers had their contracts terminated by a Public Employment Programme. The programme was run by the municipality, but funded by Presidency's stimulus fund that was set up to provide temporary jobs during Covid-19. The funding ran out and the workers were also not paid for November. Police opened fire on the march with rubber bullets. 106 2024-01-12 2024 Kariega Eastern Cape Public Health NEHAWU Provincial Department of Health Wildcat 30 Health and Safety Staff at the Mabandla clinic in Kariega (former Uitenhage), stopped work because the fence was stolen, meaning that security guards can no longer guard the clinic and staff are at risk of attack by criminals. The workers also said they were shutting down the clinic because the water had been switched off and toilets could not be flushed. 107 2024-01-29 2024-04-08 2024 Welkom Free State Public Local Government SAMWU Matjhabeng Municipality Protected 300 Against nepotism Workers began another protected strike, demanding an end to cadre deployment and for Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha to be removed. The bosses tried to interdict the strike on 2 February but were unsuccessful. The strike was eventually suspended after 10 weeks, so that negotiations could resume. 108 2024-02-01 2024-02-03 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Transport SAMWU Metrobus Wildcat 20 Unpaid allowances Workers brought buses to a standstill until management would agree to meet 19 demands, which they did not reveal publicly. Two days later they returned to work saying that they had decided to pursue seven demands, again not disclosed, but which according to the media included Workers "issues with shifts and not being paid allowances when buses are hired for private trips". 109 2024-02-07 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Health Workers Livingstone and Dora Nginza public hospitals Wildcat 700 Unpaid overtime Doctors, nurses, porters, general workers, cleaners, drivers and food workers at both hospitals went on a go-slow over unpaid overtime 110 2024-02-08 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Other Education UCTEU University of Cape Town Protected 1400 Wage increase Collective Bargaining Workers went on strike demanding a 7.5% wage increase for 2024, a further 1.5% increase for 2023 and a unified bargaining forum. The union represents professional, administrative and support service workers. There are also two other unions organising the same workforce at UCT - DETAWU and NEHAWU - who have already signed a wage deal with management. 111 2024-02-12 2024 Tshwane Gauteng Privatised Public Service Transport SATAWU Northwest Transport Investment Wildcat 1500 Unpaid wages More than 1500 bus drivers said they hadn't been paid for three months and downed tools. The company only said it would need to apply for business rescue. 112 2024-02-14 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Private Local Government SAMWU uShaka Marine World Protected 100 Wage increase An end to hourly pay Fire the senior managers Workers went on strike for a 15% wage increase, shutting down the tourist spot. Several months of negotiations with the city had failed. Four days into the strike, the workers marched from the Marine World to City Hall, disclosing that they had not been provided with uniforms since 2017. They demanded a proper grading system, an end to hourly pay and for senior management to be fired. 113 2024-02-15 2024 Pretoria Gauteng Other Education NEHAWU University of Pretoria Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike for a 7% salary increase but the bosses offered only 4%. Workers blockaded the entrance to the university for several days. On 26 February, police attacked workers, shooting them with rubber bullets and firing teargas at them. By 27 February, students had joined the workers in support of the strike demands. By June 2024, workers were still on strike, citing the UNISA 6.6% increase, Nelson Mandela University 6.9% increase, and Wits 6.4% salary increase as reasons for rejecting 4%. 114 2024-02-15 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Health Workers Dora Nginza public hospital Wildcat 400 Unpaid overtime After a one week go-slow over unpaid overtime, health workers went on strike and shut the hospital down. 115 2024-02-19 2024-02-19 2024 Polokwane Limpopo Public Provincial Government Workers Polokwane municipality, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Wildcat 1500 Unpaid wages Health and Safety 1500 workers held a wildcat strike after they were not paid for two months, nor supplied with protective clothing. 116 2024-02-20 2024 Thabazimbi Limpopo Private Mining NUMSA Sylvania Platinum Mines Protected 2000 Wage increase Housing Allowance Other allowances Workers went on strike for a wage of R17 000 per month, up from R12 999. The employer offered only a 9% increase for workers on the lowest grade and 6% for those workers above the lowest grade. The union also demanded an increase to the housing allowance, commuting allowance, medical aid contribution and standby callout allowance. 117 2024-02-23 2024 Several towns Limpopo Private Food Processing GIWUSA RCL Foods Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike after the employer rejected their demand for a R600 per month wage increase and offered only R410 per month. This was even worse than the R450 per month increase the workers got last year. Workers at these RCL Foods plants are only earning R5100 per month. 118 2024-02-26 2024-03-14 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Private Education NEHAWU Nelson Mandela University Protected 200 Wage increase Increased housing allowance Increased medical aid benefit Workers demanded an 8% wage increase but the university unilaterally implemented a 6.9% increase. The workers also went on strike for an increase to the housing allowance from R1100 to R1500, and for the employer to start paying 60% of the workers' medical aid contributions. The settlement was a 7,45% increase for employees on PL 12 – 16, backdated to 1 March 2023; a benchmarking exercise on the Housing Allowance and Medical Aid benefits in public universities with the outcome to be included in next year's wage talks, and no work no pay for 13 days of the strike to be deducted from workers' annual leave. 119 2024-02-26 2024-03-18 2024 All cities National Private Wholesale & Retail BWAWUSA The Building Company (BUCO) Protected 455 Wage increase Bonus Pay Increased provident fund benefit Hundreds of workers at 46 of the 48 BUCO stores in South Africa held a three week strike after wage negotiations stalled and conciliation at the CCMA failed. The workers demanded recognition of their union, no work on Sundays, an increase in annual leave and sick days, R6 000 as a basic entry-level salary, a 13th cheque, a 50% employer contribution to a provident fund, and medical aid. The workers said they worked seven days a week and needed more than 38 days sick leave over a three year period. "Some of the workers earned less than R5 000 a month with no 13th cheque and were not paid overtime for Sunday work" and some workers toil for 12 consecutive days before getting two days off, workers told the False Bay Echo newspaper. 120 2024-02-27 2024-03-13 2024 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government SAMWU eThekwini Municipality Wildcat Unpaid wages Durban Solid Waste workers downed tools after a general meeting where workers said they were not getting the correct salaries as per the national collective agreement. Workers went on strike, shutting down major roads in the city, including the M4 highway, stopping the water services and ceasing waste collection. Three days later, on 29 February, the municipality interdicted SAMWU but workers continued to strike. 79 workers were then served with disciplinary notices for misconduct. By 13 March, most workers had returned to work while 13 appeared in the magistrate's court, charged with public violence for setting up burning tyres across a road. 121 2024-03-08 2024-03-08 2024 East London Eastern Cape Public Health NUPSAW Provincial Department of Health Protected 300 For permanent jobs For benefits A few hundred Community Healthcare Workers marched on the Department of Health's offices in East London, demanding to be insourced. Their union said the workers had to walk through informal settlements and townships to track and trace TB and HIV treatment defaulters but the government did not value this work and kept them on month to month contracts. The CHWs had no benefits and were becoming depressed after retiring with "nothing to show for their labour", the union said. 122 2024-03-10 2024 Midrand Gauteng Private Manufacturing NUMSA Rosond Protected For the correct pay Against discrimination Blue collar workers who earn only R7000 per month went on strike after being refused the same 13th cheque that the white collar workers get. Rosond is a drilling company that contracts to Amplats mine. The union demanded a R1000 increase for workers on the lowest pay at the company and a R1500 housing allowance. The bosses offered only a R509.04 increase. 123 2024-03-13 2024-03-13 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Other Education NEHAWU Nelson Mandela University Protected 300 Wage increase Better benefits Against racism Workers went on strike again for an "8% salary increase, better housing allowances, medical scheme benefits and equality between Black and white staff members", GroundUp reported. Black workers said they were on the minimum salary levels while white workers were paid more for doing the same job. Cosatu, the SACP, SANCO and Sasco supported the strike. 124 2024-03-14 2024-03-14 2024 Polokwane Limpopo Private Chemical NUPSAW Global Oil Company Protected 400 For benefits Workers demanded to be part of the MIBCO provident fund, and to stop working more hours than are required by the Bargaining Council agreement. 125 2024-03-20 2024-03-20 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Local Government Workers Nelson Mandela Bay municipality Wildcat 200 For unpaid stipend Workers from the Mayoral Cleaning and Greening Programme went on strike and dumped bags of garbage on the steps of City Hall after they were not paid their stipends. The project is funded by national government. 126 2024-03-25 2024 Nkowankowa Limpopo Private Agriculture Workers Pepper International farm Union recognition Workers at the peppadew farm went on strike and overturned all the containers of peppers after the company refused to give their union recognition or organisational rights. No further information was available. 127 2024-04-04 2024-04-11 2024 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government Workers KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Workplace-related action 57 For permanent jobs Unemployed doctors held a sit-in at the KZN department of Health after not being employed even though there is a shortage of doctors working in the public health system. A week later, the department advertised 120 doctors' posts. 128 2024-04-10 2024-04-17 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Provincial Government SACSAAWU Mjayeli Security; Tshedza Protective Services; Ally's Counter Force security companies, all contracted by the Gauteng Department of Health Wildcat 70 For permanent jobs Female security guards went on strike after being forced to work as casual labourers for years, being subjected to unfair dismissals, and being abruptly terminated at work after the security company was changed. On the seventh day, they stripped naked to highlight their oppression. The workers said they were also not registered with UIF and had no pension fund or medical aid. The workers camped outside the department first then in May moved their protest outside ANC offices in Luthuli House and then outside the offices of the Star newspaper. Twenty-four workers were arrested. By 16 August, 2024, the workers were still camping and had moved back to the Department of Health. 129 2024-04-11 2024-04-11 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Local Government Workers Nelson Mandela Bay municipality Wildcat 60 Health and Safety Paramedics marched on the municipality, calling for safety at work after being robbed many times at gunpoint by criminals while trying to collect sick patients in ambulances. 130 2024-04-12 2024-04-12 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Provincial Government NUPSAW Eastern Cape Department of Health Wildcat 200 For permanent jobs Community health workers marched on the Department, demanding permanent jobs. They were supported by Cry of the Xcluded. Some of the CHWs are on month to month contracts earning R4480 per month to test dozens of patients for HIV every day - a job that should be done by permanent employees. 131 2024-04-15 2024-04-17 2024 Hazyview Mpumalanga Public Provincial Government SADTU, NEHAWU Mpumalanga Department of Education Wildcat 100 Health and Safety Teachers downed tools in protest against being robbed at gunpoint by criminals while teaching classes. Learners have also been robbed during class. 132 2024-04-16 2024-04-19 2024 Meyerton Gauteng Private Metal NUMSA SA Steel Mills Wildcat 200 Union recognition Workers went on strike, demanding that the employer recognise NUMSA and allow them to be represented by shopstewards. The strike was interdicted on 19 April but most workers only heard about the interdict by 23 May. The employer later suspended over 200 workers on 30 April for not getting back to work soon enough. 133 2024-04-17 2024-04-17 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Privatised public service Private Security NASAWU Sakhile Ezweni, Black Industrial Africa Wildcat 200 Late payment No uniforms The security guards, hired to protect SASSA offices, downed tools against being paid late most of the time, never getting a pay increase, and being threatened with dismissal when they complain about bad working conditions. 134 2024-04-19 2024-04-19 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Public Provincial Government Workers Eastern Cape Department of Education Protected 300 Health and Safety Teachers and principals marched with learners and school governing body members to the Motherwell police station against the lack of security at township schools. GroundUp reported that since November 2023, 131 schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay region have been robbed by criminals, mostly at gunpoint. 135 2024-04-19 2024-05-17 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Transport NEHAWU Dube Trade Port Corporation Protected 112 Wage increase Workers went on strike after months of negotiations failed. They demanded a 13th cheque, to be treated with dignity, a wage increase, housing allowance and an increased employer contribution to the provident fund and medical aid. They settled after almost one month on strike on a 6.5% pay increase, a 12% increase in the employer contribution to medical aid and a transport and call out allowance. 136 2024-04-22 2024-04-22 2024 Mahikeng North West Provincial Government DENOSA North West provincial Department of Health Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs Over 200 unemployed nurses held a sit-in at the Department, against government's refusal to employ them after they completed their community service (even though the public health system is understaffed). 137 2024-04-23 2024-04-23 2024 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Public Provincial Government NUPSAW KwaZulu-Natal provincial government Protected 600 For permanent jobs EPWP workers, security guards, food handlers, cleaners and community health workers who are all hired on short term contracts marched on the Premier in Pietermaritzburg to demand absorption into the permanent workforce. The workers also demanded that they be placed in the many vacant posts in the provincial government. 138 2024-04-23 2024-04-23 2024 Tshwane Gauteng Private Security Workers Various private security companies contracted by City of Tshwane Workplace-related action 180 For permanent jobs For wages to be paid on time Security guards from 22 different companies contracted by the city of Tshwane held a night vigil to demand insourcing. Some of the workers have been on short term contracts continuously for 14 years and go for months at a time without salaries when the companies fail to pay them on time. 139 2024-04-26 2024-04-29 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Transport WCEA Uber, Bolt, inDrive Wildcat Against poor working conditions E-hailing drivers held a 3 day stayaway, boycotting the Cape Town International Airport over poor working conditions including a lack of toilet facilities, and a lack of parking spaces for the taxis to queue up to get passengers. 140 2024-05-01 2024-05-01 2024 Soweto Gauteng Mining NUM Sibanye-Stillwater; Tripartite Alliance Workplace-related action Against the Tripartite Alliance Mineworkers disrupted the Alliance MayDay rally, unhappy about retrenchments at Sibanye-Stillwater. According to GroundUp, the workers held up posters condemning the ANC, COSATU and Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe over the silence of the ANC and trade unions in the face of workers’ struggles. They allegedly cut the microphone wires so that politicians could not speak and drowned out other speeches. 141 2024-05-01 2024-05-01 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Fishing Workers KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government Workplace-related action 100 Right to work 100 fishers marched in protest at having been banned from fishing off EThekwini's beach piers, which extend out into the sea. The fishers were banned in 2009 and have struggled to survive since, and also 200-300 fishers have been arrested since 2009 for continuing to fish off the piers. 142 2024-05-01 2024-05-02 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Provincial Government NUPSAW Gauteng Provincial Government Protected 2000 For permanent jobs About 2000 workers marched on the provincial government, demanding that short term contract workers hired by the Department of Health and EPWP be made permanent. The workers had been on short term contracts for up to 10 years each. They had held a night vigil the night before - the night of May Day. About 150 workers resumed their camp outside City Hall in November 2024. On 9 December 2024, they held a protest and about 35 workers stripped naked and were arrested for indecency. 143 2024-05-02 2024-05-02 2024 East London, Qonce, Peddie, Queenstown, Butterworth, Dutywa Eastern Cape Privatised public service Transport Workers Eastern Cape Department of Transport Wildcat 400 unpaid wages Scholar transport operators contracted by the provincial government went on strike across the province after they were not paid. They blocked major roads leading in and out of cities, bringing the province to a standstill. The provincial government blamed "technical difficulties". 144 2024-05-07 2024-06-03 2024 Rustenburg North West Public Local Government SAMWU Rustenburg Local Municipality Protected 400 Wage increase Workers went on strike demanding to be paid the salaries of category 7 municipal workers- they were only being paid at category 5. The strike was settled after the municipality agreed to reclassify itself as category 6, meaning the workers will also get a wage increase. 145 2024-05-07 2024-05-08 2024 Tshwane Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Tshwane Wildcat 60 Demanding a meeting with management Bus drivers from Tshwane Bus Services went on strike for two days, bringing the bus service to a standstill. The workers had asked for a meeting with management of the municipality to discuss various grievances but management did not show up. 146 2024-05-11 2024-05-11 2024 West Rand Gauteng Private Mining NUM Sibanye-Stillwater Protected 600 Against retrenchments Hundreds of mine workers marched against the proposed retrenchment of 575 employees with a further 550 to take voluntary severance. The workers demanded the axing of Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman who is paid about R300 million per year. 147 2024-05-15 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Privatised public service Local Government DEMAWUSA Pikitup Wildcat For permanent jobs Workers went on strike, preventing garbage trucks from leaving the depot. Their demand was an end to casual employment. Some have been casuals for 10 years, while others only earn R2700 per month. By 21 May, the City of Johannesburg had interdicted the strike. But workers continued to strike anyway. 148 2024-05-16 2024-05-16 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Other Co-operatives Workers Gauteng Provincial Social Development Department Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers from 21 sewing cooperatives protested outside the Gauteng Province Social Development after they were not paid for providing school uniforms to the province. They were supposed to be paid by the first week in March. 149 2024-05-17 2024-05-17 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Public Provincial Government NUPSAW Western Cape Provincial Department of Health Protected For permanent jobs About 2000 workers marched to demand that the provincial government permanently absorb CHWs and Lay Counsellors into the Western Cape Department of Health on the DPSA's salary level 5. They also demanded a Danger Allowance and the same tokens of appreciation that other health workers under the same Bargaining Council get. 150 2024-05-20 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Private Wholesale & Retail DPYUSA SG Convenience Protected 60 Wage increase Workers went on strike for a 15% wage increase, subsidised medical aid and better working conditions from the distribution company. 151 2024-05-22 2024 Meyerton Gauteng Private Metal NUMSA SA Steel Mills Wildcat Against dismissals Union recognition Workers began striking again after the company dismissed 162 workers for taking part in what the bosses described as an unlawful strike in mid-April. The workers said they would strike indefinitely until all were reinstated. On 28 May the union held a march demanding reinstatement of the workers and full recognition of the union and shopstewards. 152 2024-05-23 2024-05-23 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Other Sex Workers SWEAT National Government Workplace-related action 100 For decriminalisation of sex work Sex workers picketed outside Parliament, voicing concerns about what would happen to their decades long campaign for decriminalisation of their work. This would mean sex workers would have labour rights and it would be easier for them to seek protection. They were joined by the Sisonke national sex worker's movement and Gender DynamiX, the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Workers, Triangle Project, Imbawula Queer Podcast, Gender Equity Unit. 153 2024-05-25 2024-05-25 2024 Germiston Gauteng Provincial Government Workers Gauteng Provincial Government Workplace-related action 100 For permanent jobs About 100 workers from the Lungile Mtshali Development Plan Project (provincial government job creation project) protested, demanding permanent jobs. They had been dismissed several years earlier. They won their case in the Labour Court but later, the Labour Appeal Court upheld their dismissal, and the workers were protesting because many still want their jobs back. 154 2024-05-26 2024-05-27 2024 Bisho Eastern Cape Provincial Government NUPSAW Eastern Cape Provincial Health Department Workplace-related action 500 For permanent jobs NUPSAW held a night vigil and then a march the next day, demanding that Community Health Workers, pharmacy assistants and paramedics be permanently employed. Although there are severe staffing shortages in the Provincial health service, there is also a jobs freeze and many of these health workers are either on short term contracts or sitting at home unemployed. The union also demanded that all vacant posts should be filled. 155 2024-06-03 2024-06-05 2024 Kroondal North West Private Mining AMCU Sibanye Stillwater Wildcat 200 Unfair payments About 200 workers remained underground for more than 24 hours in a strike against payments from an Employee Share Ownership Scheme being paid to some workers and not others. Some workers were instantly dismissed after the strike, workers said. 156 2024-06-07 2024-06-07 2024 Sandton Gauteng Metal NUMSA SA Steel Mills Workplace-related action 40 Union recognition The workers picketed outside the Industrial Development Corporation against SA Steel Mills' dismissal of 162 workers for striking earlier in the year. The union also demanded that Numsa be recognised as the majority union. 157 2024-06-10 2024-06-10 2024 Kroondal North West Mining AMCU Sibanye Stillwater Workplace-related action 200 Demanding reinstatement The workers protested against being fired for staging a wildcat strike the week before. The workers demanded reinstatement. 158 2024-06-12 2024-06-12 2024 Chatsworth KwaZulu-Natal Private Security Workers Mafoko Security; Calvin and Family Security Workplace-related action 60 For permanent jobs Over 50 workers protested outside RK Khan public hospital after losing their jobs in 2023 when the provincial health department changed security companies. They had been on month to month contracts with Mafoko Security to guard three hospitals but after their June 2023 salaries were not paid, they went on strike and were dismissed. Some workers were later hired by the new security company, Calvin and Family, but were then laid off on 6 May 2024. 159 2024-06-13 2024 National National Private Private Security SATAWU G4 Cash Solution Management Protected Against dismissals An unspecified number of workers who transport money to banks and retail stores went on strike after they were unprocedurally retrenched by G4S who claimed they were bankrupt. The union said no retrenchment procedures had been followed. 160 2024-06-14 2024 National National Private Private Security MTWU Cash-in-transit Employers' Associations Protected Health and Safety The union's members in the cash-in-transit business went on strike against being attacked while transporting cash. They demanded that at least 3 guards work in every cash-in-transit van, and not only two, saying that every week a van was bombed, shot at and a worker killed or injured. 161 2024-06-20 2024-06-24 2024 Boksburg Gauteng Private Wholesale & Retail SWF Core Group Protected 80 Wage increase For benefits The strike began after wage negotiations deadlocked and conciliation failed. Workers demanded a R1700 per month increase, a guaranteed 13th cheque and a 10% provident fund contribution from the employer. They settled on a R1100 monthly wage increase. 162 2024-06-21 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Transport TASWU Grindrod Logistics Ltd Protected 85 For permanent jobs Workers went on strike after 85 were unjustly retrenched and dismissed because the company wanted to increase its use of labour brokers and subcontractors. The company's profits increased by 16% last year, yet they began casualising: retrenching workers and hiring them back through labour brokers. 163 2024-06-25 2024-06-26 2024 Msunduzi KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Msunduzi Municipality Wildcat 400 Unpaid wages Reduction in night allowance payment Workers blocked the entrance to the municipality with garbage after not being paid their wages. The municipality agreed to pay within three days of the strike. 164 2024-06-28 2024 Sandton Gauteng Private Food Processing GIWUSA Ribas Manufacturers Protected 100 Wage increase The workers, who only earn the minimum wage, went on strike for a R4 per hour increase. The employer offered only an R1.75 per hour increase. The workers work 10 hour shifts making TOP brand sauces and only get a 30 minute break. Some workers have been at the factory for 10 years, never earning more than the minimum wage while others spend most of their pay on transport. 165 2024-07-02 2024-07-04 2024 2 days Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Private Private Security Workers Reshebile Aviation and Protection Services Wildcat 29 Unpaid wages The security guards hired to guard the airport went on strike after not receiving their wages for between one and three months. The company said the municipality had not paid them and therefore they could not pay the workers and would have to shut down. 166 2024-07-04 2024-07-11 2024 Pretoria Gauteng Private Manufacturing NUMSA Ford Protected For a profit share Workers went on strike for a share of Ford's profits after the company made over R500 billion in profits over the past four years globally. In November 2023, the company said its South Africa plant would be the only one making hybrid electric bakkies, which are very profitable. The strike was interdicted a day later and the union settled four days later with an agreement for workers to receive a once off R20 000 payment. 167 2024-07-07 2024-07-26 2024 19 days Midrand Gauteng Private Transport NUMSA Bombela Operating Company (Gautrain) Protected 286 Wage increase Workers went on strike for a 13% wage increase, after bonuses of R22 000 were given to management only. The employer offered 5.6%. The union later dropped its demand to 9%, plus a 60% medical aid contribution from the company and to be compensated for having to work a six day week. The Gautrain workers don't get overtime payments on Saturday. The strike continued for almost 3 weeks and the union settled on a 6.8% across the board increase, a R7 per shift increase on the night work transport subsidy, a R2 per shift increase to the night shift allowance, a R90 per month increase to the housing subsidy, and a 6.8% increase to the performance bonus. 168 2024-07-15 2024-07-17 2024 Makhanda Eastern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Makana Municipality Wildcat Health and Safety Makana refuse removal workers went on strike and refused to collect refuse for three days after not being provided with protective clothing. The municipality still uses old trucks and bakkies and workers have to hoist the garbage bags by hand. 169 2024-07-15 2024 Cape Town, East London, EThekwini, Johannesburg, Gqeberha National Private Aviation NUMSA Menzies Aviation Protected For permanent jobs Workers went on strike demanding to be converted from permanent hourly paid work to permanent monthly paid work. The workers do not get paid sick or annual leave under the hourly paid system - they only get paid for the hours they work. The workers demanded a minimum 195 hours of work per month, but the employer only offered 165 hours per month at all airports and 195 hours per month at OR Tambo, which the union rejected. 170 2024-07-17 2024 Kimberley Northern Cape Other Non-profit HOSPERSA Helen Bishop home Wildcat 48 Unpaid wages Workers at the home caring for children with mental and physical disabilities went on strike after not being paid since May. The employer had referred them to the Department of Health, who referred them back to the employer. 171 2024-07-19 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Public Local Government MATUSA eThekwini Municipality Wildcat 9000 For permanent jobs EPWP workers went on strike after an internal memorandum was leaked to social media announcing that 9000 EPWP workers would have their contracts cancelled. This was supposedly because the funder of the programme, the Department of Public Works, reduced the budget by R42 million. Some of the EPWP workers have been in the job for 10 years and do the job of municipal workers in removing refuse. The workers told Elitsha News that UIF is deducted from their wages of R3000 per month but that the employer has probably not registered them with the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The workers continued to camp outside the city hall for 5 days. 172 2024-07-22 2024-08-02 2024 Pretoria Gauteng Other Regulatory Bodies NEHAWU South African Bureau of Standards Protected 300 Changes to working conditions The strike began following a salary harmonisation process where SABS unilaterally changed the terms and conditions of employment without consulting the union. Conciliation failed. A new payment structure was implemented and housing allowance, medical aid and 13th cheque were taken away. The union demanded an end to any payment changes, and for SABS to maintain the benefits. Nehawu also demanded that SABS must fairly place employees absorbed from their 12-24 months graduate programme during the organisational review process. The strike ended after 2 weeks with a settlement of a 4% to 5.8% wage increase, backdated to 1 April 2024. 173 2024-07-31 2024-08-15 2024 Krugersdorp Gauteng Private Food Processing SAICWU Rhodes Food Group Protected Wage increase The union went on strike for a three year wage agreement with an increase of R700 per month in the first year, R800 per month in the second year, and R900 per month in the third year. The bosses locked out the workers and on the second day, called police to teargas workers and shoot workers with rubber bullets. The strike went on for 3 weeks and the union settled on R620 per month for the first year and R650 per month for the second year. 174 2024-08-07 2024-08-07 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Local Government SAWPA City of Johannesburg Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs Health and Safety Over 200 waste pickers marched on the city demanding that it halt its plans to incinerate the waste that the recyclers usually recycle. They also called for waste pickers to be compensated for collecting cans, plastic and cardboard and to be provided with PPE, trolleys and motorbikes to collect their recycling. 175 2024-08-13 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Privatised public service Private Security Workers Unknown Wildcat For permanent jobs Security guards working at SASSA offices in Cape Town went on strike for the day because of a labour dispute. No further information was available. 176 2024-08-15 2024-08-15 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Food Processing SWF Registrar of Labour Relations Workplace-related action 300 Union recognition Members of the Simunye Workers Forum marched on the Labour Appeal Court where the Registrar of Labour Relations was appealing the July 2023 Labour Court ruling ordering him to register SWF as a union. 177 2024-08-15 2024-08-18 2024 Tshwane Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Tshwane Wildcat 60 Against disciplinary hearings Bus drivers from Tshwane Bus Services went on strike for three days in protest against 48 drivers being called to disciplinary hearings for striking on 7 and 8 May. 178 2024-08-16 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Private Food Processing FAWU Heineken Protected 70 For the correct pay Members of FAWU went on strike because they were not being paid overtime on Saturdays and were only paid time and a half, instead of double time, on Sundays. The employer claimed he had compressed their working week and was allowed to do away with overtime and weekend rates. 179 2024-08-19 2024-11-01 2024 Wadeville Gauteng Private Food Processing SWF Mister Sweet Protected Wage increase The Simunye Workers Forum began a strike at Mister Sweet for a R19 500 per month basic wage and for a R15 per hour increase for workers earning more than R19 500 per month. Some workers had been working at Mister Sweet for 10 years and are still earning only R6000 per month. The bosses locked the workers out and threatened to deduct money from their 6% wage offer if the strike continued for longer than one day. The strike continued for 11 weeks. At least two casual workers had their fingers chopped off by Mister Sweet machinery during the strike. The eventual settlement was 7% for operators, 6% for general workers (2024); 6% for operators; 5% for general workers (2025); 6% for operators; 5% for general workers (2026). 180 2024-08-20 2024-08-20 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Transport WCEA Uber; Bolt Wildcat Health and Safety Uber and Bolt drivers went on strike for one day. After the strike ended, they announced they would strike for one day every month for the next four months. The drivers are striking over attacks on them by minibus taxi owners and vigilantes which the Uber and Bolt bosses have done nothing to stop. The e-hailing drivers want to go cashless so that they cannot be robbed or targeted as much. 181 2024-08-22 2024-08-22 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Johannesburg Wildcat 3000 Wage increase SAMWU members in Johannesburg blocked the M1 and M2 highways, marching along the busy roads and barricading them with rocks and burning tyres, in support of their national 8% wage demand. Three rounds of national negotiations had already taken place with employers demanding to cap the increase at 6% for this year, and by CPI + 0.75% for year two and three and CPI + 1.25% for year four and five; with a 4.5% increase to the homeowner allowance and medical aid this year. The minimum wage offer is an increase from R9,531 to R9,960, and an increase to R10,109 by 2025. 182 2024-08-22 2024 Makhanda Eastern Cape Public Local Government SAMWU Makana Municipality Wildcat Unpaid overtime Workers went on an extended strike after being asked to work after hours repairing water and electricity problems and not being paid overtime. The municipality said it had to pay Eskom outstanding debt and had no money left to pay the workers' overtime. The strike resulted in prolonged water and electricity outages for a few days at a time. 183 2024-08-22 2024 Emakhalathini KwaZulu-Natal Private Mining NUM Zululand Anthracite Colliery Protected 300 Wage increase Workers went on strike for a wage increase after management tried to impose a CPI increase only, and a 13th cheque that is dependent on workers meeting production targets. The managing director of the company sidelined the NUM's negotiating team and threatened to retrench any worker who went on strike. This is the same company that retrenched all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a directive from the Department of Minerals and Energy against such actions. The union has called on the Department of Minerals and Energy to withdraw the mining rights from the employer if they proceed to retrench striking workers. 184 2024-08-26 2024 Springs Gauteng Private Food Processing NUFBWSAW Frio Foods Protected 300 Union recognition 300 workers embarked on a protracted strike for recognition of their union, NUFBWSAW. The bosses were deducting UIF and provident fund payments and not paying these monies over. The company has about 500 workers in total, mainly women and the employer refuses to engage with them at all. 185 2024-08-27 2024-08-27 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Agriculture WFP Commercial farms Workplace-related action 150 Health and Safety Against pesticides Farmworkers marked on the German consulate in Cape Town to demand an end to the export of harmful pesticides from German companies. The march was part of the ‘Double Standards Pesticides‘ campaign which demands the banning of 67 pesticides, which are banned in the European Union but still used by commercial farmers in South Africa. 186 2024-08-28 2024-08-28 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Food Processing SWF Mister Sweet Workplace-related action 100 Wage increase Activists protested outside the Public Investment Corporate in Pretoria and the Allan Gray offices in Rosebank, demanding a R19 500 per month basic living wage. The workers had been on strike for 8 days by now. Mister Sweet belongs to Premier, which made over R3 billion in profits last year. Premier itself is owned by big investment companies including Brait, Titan Premier Investments, Allan Gray and even the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). 187 2024-08-29 2024 Mahikeng North West Privatised public service Private Security AWU, KAWU, NUMSA, SANSAWF, SATAWU 400 security companies Wildcat 500 Unpaid benefit deductions Unfair deductions Unregistered companies Mukurukuru Media reported that workers went on strike and protested outside the North West provincial government for hiring 400 security companies who refused to comply with the main collective agreement. The unions said the companies were deducting money from workers for medical aid and provident funds without paying this over and some of the companies where not even registered. 188 2024-08-29 2024-09-04 2024 Ga-Rantho village outside Steelpoort Limpopo Public Education SADTU Tibamoshito Primary School Wildcat Health and Safety Teachers downed tools because of a lack of water, unsanitary pit latrines, and disruptions from local residents who had chased the principal away, accusing him of fraud. The teachers went back to work six days later after the provincial Department of Education reinstated the principal. 189 2024-08-30 2024-09-03 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Privatised public service Private Security Workers Golden Security Services Wildcat 110 Unpaid wages Guards working at Groote Schuur hospital and Heideveld day hospital downed tools after not being paid all their wages. The guards said they only get paid R6000 per month and large sums are deducted randomly for leave without pay even if the guards have not taken leave. The Labour Court granted an interim interdict against them on 3 September. 190 2024-09-02 2024-09-03 2024 Mdantsane Eastern Cape Other Water Board SAMWU Amatola Water Board Wildcat 400 Mismanagement Workers went on strike over mismanagement by the Water Board, including a failure to hear workers' grievances for up to two years, and unfilled vacancies which mean that workers are overworked. The strikers switched off the water to Buffalo City for two days. 191 2024-09-05 2024-09-05 2024 Polokwane Limpopo Provincial Government Workers Provincial Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Workplace-related action 300 For permanent jobs EPWP workers, who earn less than R2500 per month, marched to the Office of the Limpopo Premier and Polokwane municipality offices today demanding better wages and permanent jobs. 192 2024-09-16 2024 Pretoria Gauteng Private Manufacturing NUMSA BMW Wildcat Against dismissals Workers went on strike against mass dismissals but the employer said the protest was a response to alleged fraud in the BMW Employees Medical Aid Scheme and that six workers hadbeen arrested, 20 dismissed and over 500 were facing disciplinaries. 193 2024-09-17 2024-09-17 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Transport WCEA Uber, Bolt, inDrive Wildcat 250 Wage increase Poor working conditions The E-hailing drivers kicked off a series of mass actions, striking against drivers being unfairly removed from the system by employers to be reinstated and low pay. GroundUp reported that they want improved driver safety features and an end to “unfair car age limits” where only cars that are three years old and less can be driven for Uber. The drivers also went on strike against City Council delays in granting them permits. 194 2024-09-21 2024-09-21 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Agriculture CSAAWU Groot Constantia Wine Estate Wildcat Against evictions CSAAWU members marched against farmworkers being evicted. They marched to the Groot Constantia wine estate. 195 2024-09-24 2024-09-24 2024 Cape Town Western Cape Private Security KAWU, NUMSA, SATAWU, AWU Security companies Workplace-related action 800 Unpaid benefit deductions The unions protested outside Parliament, calling on the government to rethink its tender process for security companies, because it is hiring security companies who deduct pension and medical aid contributions from workers but don't pay them over to the funds. 196 2024-10-02 2024-10-02 2024 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Mining NUM Zululand Anthracite Colliery Workplace-related action 200 Wage increase For benefits The workers marched to the Department of Minerals and Energy and demanded it intervene in the long running wage dispute. The march was part of the strike which began on 22 August. The wage dispute started four years ago when the company fired hundreds of workers during Covid-19. It later re-employed them without 13th cheques and threatened to retrench the workers if they objected. 197 2024-10-02 2024-10-07 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape public Local Government SAMWU Nelson Mandela Bay municipality Wildcat For allowances The city terminated scarce skills allowances of 10% and workers went on strike immediately, cutting off the electricity to parts of the city. 198 2024-10-03 2024-10-21 2024 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Private Transport SAEWA DSV Transport and Logistics Wildcat 250 Wage increase Workers downed tools for a wage increase after finding that their wages were much lower than others in the sector. Within five days the workers were suspended and called to disciplinary hearings. The employer did not show up at the hearings and after two hours, the chairperson of the hearing vanished. On 21 October, the company fired 250 workers by SMS, accusing them of "gross misconduct" for going on strike. 199 2024-10-07 2024-10-07 2024 Komatipoort Mpumalanga Agriculture Cosatu Sonoma Investments CC Workplace-related action 300 Wage increase No sick leave Child Labour COSATU members marched in solidarity with farmworkers on Sonoma Investments farm, demanding an end to child labour, for the national minimum wage to be implemented, for payslips for workers, for public holidays, sick and annual leave, for an end to workers being forced to pay for uniforms, for electricity and running water in the workers' accomodation, and for the bosses to stop preventing the workers' children from attending school. 200 2024-10-07 2024-10-07 2024 National National All Cosatu Government and Private Sector Workplace-related action 11 000 Economic crisis COSATU unions called a day of action against poverty, joblessness and inequality. They called for a moratorium on all retrenchments, and an end to the privatisation of state-owned enterprises such as the Post Office. In the Western Cape, COSATU rejected the provincial government's plans to cut teachers’ jobs; and the relentless attacks on collective bargaining. 201 2024-10-08 2024-10-08 2024 Polokwane Limpopo Transport Workers Great North Transport Workplace-related action 500 Unpaid pensions GroundUp reported that hundreds of retired workers and family members of deceased workers began holding sit-ins and night vigils at the Limpopo Premier’s office demanding their unpaid pensions and provident fund monies. They worked at 11 depots, including those in Giyani, Makhado, and Phalaborwa. They had been paying into a pension fund and R300-million of their pension money vanished. 202 2024-10-08 2024 Springs Gauteng Private Private Security Workers Mjayeli Security Services Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers went on strike over unpaid salaries. The company had not paid the workers their September salaries by 15 October, claiming that they had not been paid for a contract. 203 2024-10-18 2024-10-18 2024 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Textile SACTWU, COSATU Department of Employment and Labour Workplace-related action Against hiring workers from other countries The workers marched against undocumented workers from other countries taking up jobs in the textile sector, saying South Africans should be first preference for such jobs, and that workers from other countries were being exploited as cheap labour. The unions gave Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour 14 days to respond. 204 2024-10-21 2024-10-23 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Wholesale & Retail FAWUSA Lupo Bakery Protected 250 Wage increase The FAWUSA members went on strike for three days for a 13% wage increase and employer contribution to UIF after wage negotiations failed. The strike ended with a settlement on a 10% increase and a 2% employer contribution to UIF. 205 2024-10-24 2024-10-24 2024 Centurion Gauteng Manufacturing NUMSA Denel Workplace-related action Wage increase Workers picketed outside Denel for the day because they have had no salary increases for the past five years. 206 2024-10-25 2024 South Coast KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality Wildcat 400 Unpaid wages Correct job grading Workers went on strike over R144 million that they were owed in unpaid wages. A few days into the strike, the municipality got a court order against the workers but they continued to strike right into 2025. The workers are demanding to be placed on the correct pay grade, which is two grades higher above their current pay grade. 207 2024-10-29 2024-10-29 2024 Alberton Gauteng Food Processing SWF Department of Employment and Labour Workplace-related action 400 Health and Safety Mister Sweet workers, who had been on strike for 10 weeks, protested outside the Department's office in Alberton after the department sent an inspector to the factory in response to a call from SWF after several workers were injured by Mister Sweet machinery, including two workers having their fingers chopped off. However, the inspector never released a report but instead left the factory carrying bags of sweets from the bosses. 208 2024-10-29 2024-10-29 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Health NEHAWU Department of Health Workplace-related action 300 For permanent jobs Community Health Workers picketed outside their Labour Court case. They've brought the case to review a bargaining council arbitration award that ruled against the union’s application to compel the Department of Health to give community health workers permanent employment, GroundUp reported. About 50 000 community health workers are on short terms contracts in South Africa. The contracts are repeatedly renewed and the workers lose out on all benefits of permanent positions. Some of the workers have been on these short-term contracts for 20 years. 209 2024-10-30 2024-10-30 2024 Cape Town Western Cape All SAFTU, COSATU National Government Workplace-related action 500 Against austerity For permanent jobs Workers marched on Parliament against the Finance Minister's medium term budget. They were supported by civic organisations. The demands were permanent jobs for all, an end to the government's austerity measures, an end to budget cuts to education that mean teachers will be laid off and for regulated petrol prices, so that workers do not have to spend up to 40% of their salaries on transport. 210 2024-11-05 2024-11-05 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Local Government Workers Pikitup/City of Johannesburg Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs 200 EPWP workers who had been working as casual employees at Pikitup protested outside the Mayor's office after 300 jobs were advertised and none given to the casual workers. The workers said corruption and nepotism were to blame. Some of the workers have been in the casual role since 2021 and only earn R120 per day, or R2400 for a full month's work. 211 2024-11-13 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Privatised public services Private Security Workers Amabhokobhoko Security Services Wildcat For payment of salaries Security guards contracted to guard Joburg Water downed tools after not being paid on time. Joburg Water blamed the City of Johannesburg for not releasing the funds to them on time, saying they could not pay the workers. By 22 November, Joburg Water had interdicted the strike. 212 2024-11-14 2024-11-28 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Private Metal NUMSA Arcelor Mittal South Africa Protected 400 Against retrenchments Workers went on strike after over 107 workers were retrenched. On the 5th of November the bosses rushed to issue notices of dismissal, and refused to engage on alternatives, NUMSA said. Workers went on strike for two weeks and ended the strike after reaching that some retrenched workers could apply for other vacancies, and some might be considered for training. NUMSA then called on the government to rescue the Newcastle plant. 213 2024-11-20 2024 Pretoria Gauteng Education Workers Department of Basic Education Workplace-related action 100 Against austerity Early childhood development workers marched against the government calling for more funding for school nutrition and an increase to the government subsidy which is just R17 per child per day. 214 2024-11-20 2024 National National Other Regulatory Bodies NEHAWU National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Protected Wage increase Mismanagement Nehawu members went on strike after demanding an 8% increase. The bosses offered no increase at all, a wage freeze for the next two years (which meant an effective wage cut as the price of everything would increase but workers wouldn't get an increase to cover it). The bosses also said they would not be filling any vacant post except for management jobs, which meant an increased workload for workers. They also said they would freeze all 13th cheques, performance bonuses and long service bonuses, begin retrenchments and that they would modify all existing collective agreements without consultation. 215 2024-11-25 2024 Cofimvaba Eastern Cape Public Health DENOSA Eastern Cape Department of Health Wildcat 160 Mismanagement Against favouritism GroundUp reported that nurses went on strike at Cofimvaba Hospital demanding the removal of the CEO on the grounds that she insulted and disrespected them. 216 2024-12-01 2024 Louis Trichardt Limpopo Privatised public services Provincial Government Workers Baagishani Projects Wildcat For payment of salaries Workers building a road downed tools after they were not paid on time. The employer then brought in new workers two days into the strike. The striking workers said one of the new workers then pointed a gun at them, prompting the strikers to call police. It is not clear how the matter was resolved. 217 2024-12-04 2024-12-04 2024 Sebokeng Gauteng Public Health NUPSAW Sebokeng Hospital Wildcat 200 Against short staffing Unpaid overtime Workers downed tools and demanded that staff vacancies be filled, an end to austerity measures, immediate payment of overtime and that hospital bosses provide security for health workers who are being attacked at work. 218 2024-12-05 2024-12-08 2024 National National Private Aviation SAAPA South African Airways Protected 100 Wage increase Against short staffing Health and Safety SAA pilots went on strike for three days for a wage increase of 15.47%. The employer offered only 8.46% backdated to April, which the pilots rejected. During the strike, 60% of flights were cancelled. The workers settled after two days for a 9.47% increase. 219 2024-12-12 2024-12-12 2024 Johannesburg Gauteng Public Local Government SAMWU City of Johannesburg Wildcat 1300 Wage increase Workers went on strike against corruption after hearing that councillors had increased their salaries by R6000 per month, yet refused to pay workers more. One worker was badly injured by police. The workers blocked the M1 highway for 24 hours. 220 2024-12-20 2024 Germiston Gauteng Private Manufacturing GIWUSA, NUMSA, Solidarity, CEPPWAWU Isanti Glass Protected Against retrenchments More than 300 workers went on strike against the retrenchment of 24 workers. 79 workers had already opted for voluntary retrenchment. The company claimed that they were selling fewer glass jars and needed to restructure, making fewer workers do more work. This led to overwork, stress and anxiety in the workplace. 221 2025-01-06 2025-01-06 2025 Bhisho Eastern Cape Health Workers Eastern Cape Department of Health Workplace-related action 150 For permanent jobs Unemployed doctors and dentists protested outside the Eastern Cape Premier's office against the provincial Department of Health's failure to hire them. The medical professionals had completed their community service, and there is an extreme shortage of doctors and dentists in public hospitals in the province, so there was no need for the Department not to hire them. 222 2025-01-06 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Private Transport NUMSA Bidvest South African Container Depot Protected 106 Against retrenchments Workers embarked on an indefinite strike against the company's planned retrenchments. According to the Daily Sun, the bosses barricaded beyond the exterior of the company with razor wire, forcing striking workers to protest far from the premises. The union said there was no need for retrenchments because the company had already said that after it retrenched the permanent workers, it would bring in an outsourced workforce. Hence, the jobs will still need to be done. By 17 January, three workers had been killed in circumstances that were unclear. 223 2025-01-08 2025 Daveyton, Wattville, Benoni Gauteng Public Provincial Government Workers Provincial Department of Co-operative Governance Wildcat 108 For permanent jobs The EPWP and Community Work Programme (CWP) workers downed tools after the national government said it would terminate the contracts of all EPWP or CWP workers if they were 55 years old or older. 224 2025-01-09 2025-01-09 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Health NUPSAW Eastern Cape Department of Health Workplace-related action Against short staffing Nurses and community members picketed outside Motherwell clinic, demanding more staff. The clinic had only two professional nurses who are expected to see hundreds of patients every day and therefore had to shut down. 225 2025-01-09 2025-01-13 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Transport SAMWU Mega Express (Gautrain Bus Service) Wildcat Health and Safety Drivers went on strike for 4 days, demanding transport to get to and from work and for an end to being forced to drive unroadworthy busses. They returned to work after being interdicted. 226 2025-01-13 2025-01-13 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Health NUPSAW Eastern Cape Department of Health Workplace-related action Against short staffing Nurses and community members held another protest outside the Motherwell clinic, which had shut down because of a nurse shortage. The protestors demanded that the provincial Department of Health re-open the clinic with enough staff to serve the community. 227 2025-01-19 2025-01-24 2025 Provincial nature reserves Mpumalanga Tourism NEHAWU Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency Wildcat For permanent jobs Workers at 17 nature reserves managed by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency across the province went on strike for just over a week for permanent jobs, better working conditions and work tools. Budget cuts were cited as the reason. Workers agreed to suspend the strike and set up a committee to look at the issues. 228 2025-01-20 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Health DENOSA, NUPSAW Dora Nginza public hospital Wildcat Unpaid overtime Nurses and other health workers at the hospital went on strike over overtime that had not been paid since October 2024. They had only worked overtime because of serious staff shortages. After five days, the strike was still going on and work was at a standstill. GroundUp reported that the provincial Department of Health undertook to pay the unpaid overtime by 10 February and that it also threatened to discipline all striking workers. 229 2025-01-20 2025-02-06 2025 Bizana Eastern Cape Health DENOSA, NUPSAW, NEHAWU, PSA Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital Wildcat Against mismanagement Doctors announced an intermittent strike after the hospital's CEO was suspended for writing a letter to patients advising them that because of short staffing, there would be no doctors on duty from time to time. The unions appreciated the support from the CEO. Nurses also went on strike. By 6 February, the CEO had been reinstated. 230 2025-01-23 2025-01-23 2025 Lichtenburg North West Local Government SAMWU Ditsobotla municipality Wildcat Health and Safety Some workers fought with councillors after a worker was attacked, allegedly by hired criminals who are connected to councillors. SAMWU then urged all union members to stay away from work for their own safety, until the municipal managers promised to protect them from councillors. 231 2025-01-23 2025-01-23 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Transport PWEHA City of Tshwane Wildcat 300 Against police harassment E-hailing drivers from Uber and Bolt blocked roads in Tshwane and marched after police seized their cars for not having permits. The drivers said they were denied permits. 232 2025-01-31 2025-01-31 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Health SAMATU, SAEPU Department of Health Workplace-related action For permanent jobs About 2000 unemployed doctors and health workers marched with the support of COSATU, demanding permanent jobs in the public health service. They demanded that all unemployed doctors in South Africa be immediately hired, given the massive doctor shortage in public health. 233 2025-02-01 2025-03-03 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Transport SAMWU Mega Express (Gautrain Bus Service) Wildcat Against short staffing The bus drivers downed tools in another wildcat strike, after SAMWU tried to interdict the bosses from disciplining workers over the January 2025 wildcat strike, but the Labour Court dismissed their application. On 26 February, Megabus dismissed all the bus drivers after illegally locking them out. By 3 March, agreement had been reached for workers to return to work. 234 2025-02-03 2025-02-03 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Media & Entertainment Workers TV Producers of 'My Brother's Keeper' Wildcat Unpaid wages About 13 background actors on the SABC TV show staged a sit in on set and prevented shooting after they weren't paid for two months. More than 50 actors had not been paid on the show, and even though they were not being paid, they were getting called to come into work on a regular basis. The bosses denied knowledge of the non-payment. 235 2025-02-12 2025-02-12 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Transport SATAWU North West Transport Investment Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers protested outside the North Gauteng High Court against the business rescue practitioners in their company. The workers had not been paid for nine months. 236 2025-02-13 2025-02-13 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Engineering Ibhayi Workers' Forum Dormac Workplace-related action 60 For permanent jobs About 60 workers protested outside the company after being interviewed for jobs, but never getting work. The workers said the company had brought its own workers from Durban, where it relocated from. 237 2025-02-19 2025-02-19 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Multi-sector COSATU, SAFTU National Department of Finance Workplace-related action Against austerity The union federations marched against the budget with Equal Education, Cry of the Xcluded, People’s Health Movement, Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), and Rural Women’s Assembly. They opposed austerity measures and a proposed increase to VAT. At the last minute, the Finance minister's budget speech was postponed for three weeks. 238 2025-02-21 2025-02-21 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Metal NUMSA Arcelor Mittal South Africa Workplace-related action 100 Against retrenchments The union picketed outside the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) against ArcelorMittal's planned retrenchments of 3500 workers. The union wants the IDC to intervene to protect jobs in the steel industry. 239 2025-02-22 2025 Mahikeng North West Tourism NEHAWU North West Parks and Tourism Board Wildcat Wage increase Workers went on strike for a wage increase and also for an end to late salary payments. They said management had changed 6 times since the new MEC took over in September 2024 and the workplace had become unstable. The wage increase agreed in December 2024 had not been paid by March 2025. The workers said there were rumours that their employer had run out of money. The workers had not been receiving regular salaries since 2022. One month into the strike, the employer implemented a unilateral increase of 4.7%, half backpaid to March 2024 and another half implemented in April 2025. 240 2025-02-25 2025 Port Shepstone KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality Wildcat Unpaid wages The workers began striking again after they did not get paid for February, and nor did they get their agreed two months backpay. The workers had only been back at work for a month following a 3 month strike over R144 million in unpaid wages that they were owed, and because they had not been placed on the correct pay grade. The employer blamed loadshedding for the payment delay. 241 2025-02-27 2025-02-27 2025 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government NEHAWU Provincial Government Workplace-related action For permanent jobs For unpaid overtime Workers picketed the opening of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, against unpaid overtime, outsourcing, cost cutting measures, and the provincial government's failure to carry out job evaluation. The workers also demanded post-retirement medical aid, car allowances for some employees and the absorption of managers. 242 2025-02-27 2025-02-27 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Media & Entertainment Independent Black Filmmakers Collective, Independent Producers Organisation, Animation SA, South African Film Empowerment, Documentary Filmmakers Association Department of Trade and Industry Workplace-related action 200 For government funding Workers in the film industry picketed outside the Department of Trade and Industry, handing over a memorandum against the department for failing to support the industry, with Black film companies in particular forced to close down for lack of funds. They called for a well managed production rebate system so that small and local film producers would be able to access the incentives they needed to fund their films. 243 2025-03-03 2025 Nqanqarhu Eastern Cape Health PSA Maclear public hospital Wildcat Against short staffing Workers began a go slow against heavy workloads due to staff shortages. The government admitted that there were only six doctors instead of the bare minimum of nine and that they were still trying to recruit more nurses. 244 2025-03-03 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Mining NUM Tradekor (Pty) Ltd and Thembi's People Protected Wage increase Workers went on strike for a wage increase, better implementation of job grading, for workers in the same job category to earn the same, for better health and safety protections as they work with manganese which is toxic and for an end to the employer dismissing workers without compensation when they get sick from manganese contamination. 245 2025-03-04 2025-03-06 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Health COSATU Board of Healthcare Funders Workplace-related action 100 For National Health Insurance COSATU protested in solidarity with the government in their case against the Board of Healthcare Funders and private medical practititioners who want to stop the National Health Insurance by having it declared unconstitutional. 246 2025-03-04 2025-03-04 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Local Government SAMWU Tshwane Metro Police Department Wildcat Against nepotism The metro police officers protested against nepotism in promotion to warrant officer positions, saying that people could buy a promotion for R40 000 and that those officers with long service were not being promoted. 247 2025-03-06 2025-03-06 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Transport NUMSA Tshwane Affected Operations Investment Workplace-related action For permanent jobs Unpaid retrenchment packages The workers marched on the Tshwane mayor after the company, a bus operator formerly contracted to the Tshwane Rapid Transport Service, failed to pay agreed retrenchment packages for over 3 months. The City of Tshwane had terminated the bus operator and promised to absorb some of the 261 workers but reneged on this, the workers said. 248 2025-03-07 2025-03-07 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Provincial Government NUPSAW Western Cape Provincial Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Wildcat 80 For permanent jobs EPWP workers in the department protested against the looming termination of contracts to them and to military veterans and demanded to be absorbed as full time workers in the provincial government. 249 2025-03-07 2025-03-07 2025 Schweizer-Reneke North West Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Mamusa Local Municipality Wildcat For payment of salaries Morongwa community news reported that workers downed tools after their salaries were overdue. The workers demanded that officials who are not managing to make payments on time should be fired. 250 2025-03-08 2025-03-08 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Domestic Work SADSAWU Private household employers Workplace-related action For labour rights Domestic workers in Salt River picketed against the government for failing to uphold labour laws and the National Minimum Wage act and for leaving domestic workers unprotected. 251 2025-03-10 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Transport SAMWU Johannesburg Metrobus Wildcat Wage increase Poor working conditions Bus drivers across Johannesburg went on a wildcat strike and refuse to drive. The drivers want a pay increase, are short staffed and there are not enough working buses for them to drive. 252 2025-03-10 2025-03-10 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Local Government DEMAWUSA City of Johannesburg Wildcat 200 For permanent jobs The EPWP workers who work for the city downed tools against nepotism and against the hiring of girlfriends and relatives of management. The EPWP workers, who are only paid R120 per day, also demanded that managers stop hiring fake contractors and keeping millions, and instead spend the money on making all EPWP workers permanent and hiring more of the workers. 253 2025-03-11 2025-03-11 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Wholesale & Retail Workers Pick 'n Pay Wildcat 51 Against retrenchments Workers downed tools and protested outside the supermarket with the EFF in support, shutting the shop down after being given just six days verbal notice that they would be retrenched and would not be given any retrenchment benefits. 254 2025-03-11 2025 Lichtenburg North West Local Government SAMWU Ditsobotla municipality Wildcat Health and Safety Workers were forced to go home for their own safety after two Executive Mayors, two Speakers, and two Municipal Managers reported for duty simultaneously at the municipality. Two parallel council meetings were called and ANC councillors began fighting violently, putting the lives of municipal workers at risk. 255 2025-03-13 2025 Kimberley Northern Cape Local Government Workers Sol Plaatje Municipality Wildcat 40 For permanent jobs Wage increase Health and Safety The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers went on a go slow after the Northern Cape Premier said it was not uncommon to see them sleeping under a tree all day. The Noordkaap Bulletin reported that the EPWP workers strike was for a monthly stipend of R3800 which they were promised (but they had only ever been paid R2600 per month), for permanent employment and paid annual leave over December, for PPE, especially gloves to pick up waste, for mobile toilets and for spades and rakes to do their work. 256 2025-03-17 2025-03-17 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal SOE NEHAWU Ithala Society Limited Workplace-related action Against workplace closure NEHAWU protested outside the Durban Labour Court after the Regulatory Authority initiated proceedings to liquidate Ithala Soc Limited, a state-owned bank that employs 400 workers. The union said it was clear that the government was simply planning to privatise Ithala. 257 2025-03-19 2025 Germiston Gauteng Local Government SAMWU Ekurhuleni municipality Wildcat 400 Wage increase For overtime Over 300 Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers blockaded highways near the OR Tambo airport and marched on the Germiston civic centre demanding better salaries, overtime payments and a danger allowance. They vowed to continue striking until their demands were met, saying that these problems had not been resolved since they first raised the issues in 2020. On 6 May, 400 of the officers were issued with pre-dismissal notices by the bosses. 258 2025-03-19 2025-03-25 2025 Nationwide National Aviation SAAPA, NTM South African Airways Wildcat Wage increase SAA pilots went on a work to rule strike for six days for a 15.7% increase and settled after one week. The settlement was not immediately available. 259 2025-03-21 2025 Provincial nature reserves Mpumalanga Tourism NEHAWU Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency Wildcat For permanent jobs Workers downed tools again, demanding permanent jobs for all workers whose contracts end on 31 March, and preventing all tourism sites in the province from functioning. On 22 March, the bosses said they would seek a Labour Court interdict to shut down the strike. 260 2025-03-21 2025-03-21 2025 Secunda Mpumalanga Domestic Work UDWOSA Domestic work bosses and the Police Workplace-related action Against killings on the job Domestic workers protested outside Secunda Police Station after one of their members, 65 year old Tryphina Mngomezulu, was attacked by dogs at her workplace and killed. "In no other job would death be the norm", the union UDWOSA said. 261 2025-03-25 2025-03-25 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Aviation Workers Airports Company South Africa Workplace-related action Against harassment at work The airport porters staged a short picket at O.R. Tambo International airport saying they were threatened every day by ACSA with evictions from the airport and withdrawal of their permits. ACSA replied that the 234 porters were not employees but independent workers. 262 2025-03-26 2025 East London Eastern Cape Water Board SAMWU Amatola Water Board Wildcat Wage increase Workers went on strike and shut down several water plants. Two days later, the water board interdicted the strike and by 7 April 2025, the bosses had suspended 10 SAMWU shopstewards. The reason for the strike was that the water board had failed to adhere to the wage agreement or to carry out an agreed organisational review. 263 2025-04-01 2025-04-01 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Health SARUW M.J. Laboratories Wildcat Wage increase Workers marched for a wage increase from R4750 per month to R7000 per month for general workers, R8500 for dispatch, storeroom and maintenance workers and R10 000 per month for workers who mix chemicals. The workers also rejected unsanitary conditions at the company with 18 workers forced to share a wash basin. They also demanded recognition of their union, proper showers and changing facilities. 264 2025-04-03 2025-04-03 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Local Government SAMWU City of Johannesburg Wildcat 700 For benefits Health and Safety Today, hundreds of SAMWU members participated in a demonstration directed again the mayor of Joburg. The protest was for proper equipment to use to do their jobs, against the cutting of transport benefits which took place in December 2024 and for an end to attacks on union leaders. 265 2025-04-03 2025-04-03 2025 Port Shepstone KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality Wildcat 150 Against mismanagement The workers marched on the municipal office calling for the municipal manager and the mayor to step down and for workers to be placed on correct grades. This followed a strike in February 2025 and a 3 month strike that only ended in January 2025. The earlier strikes took place over R144 million in unpaid wages that workers were owed, and because they had not been placed on the correct pay grade. 266 2025-04-08 2025-04-08 2025 East London Eastern Cape Local Government SAMWU Buffalo City municipality Wildcat 1500 Against corruption SAMWU held a mass march with the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP against the ANC municipality to object to financial mismanagement of the municipality as highlighted by the Auditor-General, corruption, union bashing, outsourcing, privatisation, failure of the municipality to implement Local Labour Forum agreements, and exploitation of EPWP workers. The union demanded new leaders in the municipality. 267 2025-04-10 2025-04-10 2025 Mbombela Mpumalanga Provincial Government NUPSAW Provincial Departments of Health and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Protected 500 For permanent jobs The union marched on the two provincial government departments to demand the permanent appointment of all Community Health Workers and all contract workers throughout the public service in Mpumalanga. The workers have been demanding permanent jobs since 2014. They also don't have working tools, benefits and are paid too little. Some workers have been in the job for 15 years but are still not permanent. 268 2025-04-14 2025-04-14 2025 Bojanala district North West Mining Workers Tharisa Minerals Wildcat 150 For worker rights Mineworkers who occupied a road outside the mine were shot at with rubber bullets by police. This is a breaking news item and will be updated as soon as more information becomes available. 269 2025-04-15 2025-04-15 2025 Nkandla KwaZulu-Natal Education Workers uMfolozi Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers at the Nkandla campus of uMfolozi TVET downed tools and burnt tyres in the street, shutting down the institution after not being paid their salaries. They were joined by students who had not been paid their NSFAS allowances. 270 2025-04-15 2025-04-15 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Education SACECD City of Johannesburg Workplace-related action 70 Against restrictive by-laws GroundUp reported that early childhood educators and principals marched against the city's creche bylaws which don't allow township creches to get a permit if they admit too many children. The educators say they have no choice because parents have to go to work and have nowhere else to place their children. 271 2025-04-16 2025-04-16 2025 Ngcobo Eastern Cape Small Business Workers; SMEs Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality Protected 150 Against corruption Workers and small business owners under the banner of the Ngcobo Small and Medium Business Sector "used trucks to block roads from Ngcobo to Mthatha and Komani, bringing traffic to a standstill", Ground Up reported. They were protesting against municipal corruption, which resulted in infrastructure collapse, which in turn was bad for business because they had to provide all their own services. The protestors said this was turning small towns into "ghost towns" where people couldn't get jobs or run businesses. 272 2025-04-17 2025-04-17 2025 Port Shepstone KwaZulu-Natal Criminal Justice POPCRU Port Shepstone Correctional Centre Workplace-related action 30 Against mismanagement Prison workers picketed, demanding that the head of the prison be fired on the grounds that he did not respect the union and intimidated workers. 273 2025-04-23 2025-04-23 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Education SADTU National Department of Basic Education Protected 4000 Against job losses Thousands of teachers marched against the government's budget cuts to basic education, which have caused dismissals of teachers, and a severe lack of funding for textbooks, admin support, staff, libraries and school facilities 274 2025-04-23 2025-04-23 2025 Makhanda Eastern Cape Local Government SAMWU Makana Municipality Wildcat 80 For health and safety Workers downed tools against "arrogant" bosses who had failed to provide them with protective clothing, tools of trade and work wear. They protested outside the City Hall, saying they wanted to deliver services to the community but had no protective gear. They told the media that a worker was paralysed after hitting his head when he fell out of a vehicle and another was seriously injured when a tipper truck drove over his feet and broke them. 275 2025-04-26 2025 Elgin Western Cape Agriculture Workers Boomerang Fruits Wildcat 100 Unpaid overtime The workers went on strike after not being paid overtime at the correct rate. They also they were forced to drink from toilets, pay for their own transport, work without being paid overtime and subjected to racial abuse and racism. They were interdicted on 7 May 276 2025-04-30 2025-04-30 2025 Sebokeng Gauteng Health NUPSAW Gauteng Provincial Department of Health Workplace-related action 300 For permanent jobs EPWP contracted to hospitals and clinics in the area marched for permanent jobs, saying they had been employed as EPWPs in these workplaces for 10 years, earning no benefits or salaries and just getting a stipend, while also filling the staff gaps created by government's austerity measures. The workers demanded an interim stipend increase to R5000 per month while the absorption was taking place. 277 2025-05-02 2025 KwaDukuza KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU KwaDukuza Municipality Wildcat 250 Unpaid overtime Workers went on strike from May on and off until July 2025. They downed tools against unfair job grading, delays in job evaluations, and unpaid overtime, and the municipality introducing a new concept that was not provided for in the collective agreement - six-day workers (in other words 5 days workers who worked 40 hours per week now have to work a 6th day without any overtime). 278 2025-05-02 2025-05-02 2025 Plettenberg Bay Western Cape Private Security NUMSA Isolomzi Security Workplace-related action 120 Unpaid wages The security company, which is contracted by Bitou municipality, failed to pay their workers full salaries, owes money to workers and deducts money for provident fund and also for medical insurance, but it does not pay that money over to service providers. The union threatened legal action if monies were not properly paid within five days. 279 2025-05-06 2025 Delmas Mpumalanga SOE Workers Daybreak Foods Wildcat 200 Unpaid wages Workers went on strike at the Daybreak state-owned poultry farm, blocking the road, after not being paid for April and only half pay for March, even though they received payslips showing deductions. The workers blocked the R50 road. Private security opened fire on the workers with rubber bullets, and police shot teargas at them. Workers from other Daybreak plants came out in solidarity. By the fourth day, the Department of Employment and Labour visited after hearing that the chickens were dying. 280 2025-05-05 2025-05-05 2025 Sebokeng Gauteng Health NUPSAW Gauteng Provincial Department of Health Protected 400 For permanent jobs EPWP workers contracted at the Sebokeng Hospital, Kopanong Hospital, and other clinics marched to demand permanent employment, condemning the department for keeping them on temporary contracts for 10 years, with no benefits, not even UIF. 281 2025-05-05 2025-05-05 2025 Province-wide Western Cape Criminal Justice Workers Western Cape courts Wildcat 70 Unpaid wages Court interpreters embarked on a strike after they weren't paid since January. Some of the freelance interpreters had not been paid for services they already provided since 2023. The provincial Justice department head claimed that they hadn't paid the interpreters because they didn't have enough admin staff to make payments. 282 2025-05-06 2025 Mahikeng, Klerksdorp North West Transport Workers North West Provincial Department of Education Wildcat Late payment Workers who provide scholar transport for the Provincial Department of Education downed tools after not being paid for transporting hundreds of children for the past five months. The government said not all of them had not been paid, but admitted that mainly, they hadn't paid transport providers since December because of "challenges with cash flow". 283 2025-05-06 2025-05-06 2025 Komani Eastern Cape Health NUPSAW Eastern Cape Provincial Health Department Wildcat 250 For permanent jobs NUPSAW's Eastern Cape Chris Hani Region marched on the Komani Health District Offices to demand Filling of Vacancies, provision of Health Services and Permanent employment of all CHW, EPWP, CWP, HTS Counsellors and all contract workers. 284 2025-05-07 2025-05-07 2025 Pretoria Gauteng Lottery PSA, NUPSAW National Lotteries Commission Protected 100 Wage increase Lottery employees marched on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition after wage negotiations for the 2025/2026 financial year deadlocked. The PSA is demanding an 8.5% increase and the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is offering 6.5%. Last year, the NLC simply implemented an increase that had not been agreed on. 285 2025-05-07 2025 Kimberley Northern Cape Provincial Government NEHAWU Northern Cape provincial department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Wildcat 150 Against corruption Workers went on strike after a security company who won a tender in a corrupt manner was not terminated despite a court order instructing that the contract with Masicebise Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd be terminated in 2022. Nehawu also protested against poor audit outcomes and that money in the R1 billion Presidential Housing Project meant for building houses had vanished. 286 2025-05-09 2025-05-09 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Regulatory Bodies Workers SA Health Products Regulatory Authority Workplace-related action Forced return to work Workers protested in their lunch hour at management's decision to revoke the work at home policy that began during the Covid-19 pandemic. Workers did not want to go back to work in the office full time. 287 2025-05-12 2025-05-12 2025 Rustenburg North West Mining Unemployed workers Royal Bafokeng mines Workplace-related action Against corruption The local unemployed residents marched on the mine, saying that it was not hiring people from the area even though it was one of the wealthiest communities in the country. 288 2025-05-13 2025-05-13 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Agriculture WFP Commercial farmers Workplace-related action 200 Against government incompetence The farm workers marched on the Western Cape Department of Labour in Cape Town saying it was failing to send inspectors to commercial farms where labour rights were being flouted and was not assisting rural farmworkers with their UIF claims. 289 2025-05-13 2025 Kimberley Northern Cape Health HOSPERSA Helen Bishop home Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers at the home caring for children with mental and physical disabilities went on strike, and burnt tyres outside the workplace, after they didn't get paid in April. They'd previously gone on strike in 2024 after not being paid. At that time, the employer had passed the buck to the provincial Department of Health, who referred them back to the employer. 290 2025-05-19 2025 Honeydew Gauteng Wholesale & Retail EFF, PTAWU The Creative Stone Company Wildcat 20 Wage increase The EFF and workers went on strike against slavery wages. They said the company had changed its name from 'Colonial Stone' to 'Creative Stone' but had not ended its colonial habits. Workers held placards saying they had been paid R1200 from 1998 until now and wanted an increase to R2000. No information was available about whether this was R1200 per week or per month. 291 2025-05-19 2025 Rustenburg North West Mining NUM Samancor mine Protected Wage increase NUM went on a strike against unequal wages at Samancor mines and smelters. The union also demanded that the mines provide opportunities to local small businesses and a living wage for all workers. 292 2025-05-20 2025 Bothaville Free State Local Government SAMWU Nala Municipality Wildcat Against corruption Workers downed tools, calling for the removal of current administrator, who had been only one month in office. The municipality was earlier put under administration for not paying workers and other bills, and because of fraud and corruption by the leaders. This municipality has been forensically investigated for corruption since 2012. 293 2025-05-20 2025-05-20 2025 Upington Northern Cape Agriculture WFP Commercial Farms Workplace-related action 200 Against government incompetence Women farm workers staged a march to the Department of Employment and Labour to demand protection of their labour rights. Female farm workers are fed up with being denied assistance by the very department tasked with safeguarding them. 294 2025-05-21 2025-05-21 2025 Mpumalanga Mpumalanga Energy Unemployed workers Eskom Workplace-related action 70 Against joblessness GroundUp reported that unemployed workers from across Mpumalanga protested outside the Eskom Head Office in Joburg calling for local residents of communities next to power stations to be given preference for jobs at those power stations. The workers said that even graduates from power station communities could not get jobs at their own power stations. 295 2025-05-23 2025-05-23 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Local Government ILAWU Joburg Social Housing Company Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs The EPWP workers attached to the social housing company protested for the day for permanent employment, payment of outstanding salaries, and salary increments. They vowed to return and set up camp if the company did not comply and demanded that the CEO and chief operating officer be dismissed after the supervisor did not advertise EPWP posts and only gave these out to their friends and family. 296 2025-05-23 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Wholesale & Retail NUMSA The Waste Trade Company Protected For benefits The workers went on strike for a 13th cheque, condemning the 'gifts' the employer gives them. The company pleaded poverty and workers demanded to see proof that the company had lost business and could not pay bonuses. 297 2025-05-23 2025-05-23 2025 Polokwane Limpopo Mining NUM Venetia Mine, Barberton Mine, Bokoni Platinum Mine, Bauba Mine, Modikwa Platinum Mine, Minopex Bokoni, Zizwe Mine Wildcat 400 Against retrenchments NUM members marched against hundreds of looming retrenchments by several mines. 298 2025-05-27 2025-05-27 2025 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Private Security DETAWU, NUMSA, SAFTU Provincial Government Workplace-related action 300 Wage increase Security guards from across the province marched for medical aid and provident funds and a decent basic salary. The security guards also demanded that no more tenders be given to security companies who did not comply with the law. 299 2025-05-28 2025-05-28 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government NUPSAW KwaZulu-Natal Premier Protected For permanent jobs GroundUp reported that "security guards, food handlers, cleaners and community health workers, working on contract to various provincial departments" marched for permanent jobs, "uniforms, guardrooms for security officers at schools, and overtime payments". Some of the workers earn only R1700 - R2000 per month and have been in the job for 15 years. 300 2025-05-28 2025 Bojanala district North West Transport DEMAWUSA Mvelatrans Pty Ltd Protected 100 Against poor working conditions Workers went on strike after conciliation failed. Their demands were: Improvement of sleeping ground conditions; Tracking of drivers; Reimbursement of over taxation on bonuses; Weigh machines and emergency tickets; Compulsory airtime and data to drivers; Stop blacklisting of dismissed workers; Poor bus conditions; Expired bus driving permits; Transporting for bus drivers after work; removal of two bosses. The company tried to interdict the strike on the grounds that it was not protected but lost in court. The employer then dismissed 100 of the workers while they were on strike, claiming that they did this because the company was sold and the workers who were striking did not sign new fixed term contracts. 301 2025-05-29 2025-05-29 2025 Mafube Free State Local Government SAMWU Mafube Local Municipality Wildcat Unpaid wages Central News reported that workers downed tools in protest after not receiving their salaries, saying they were fed up with continued delays in salary payments. The workers demanded immediate intervention from municipal leadership and the Free State provincial government. 302 2025-05-31 2025-05-31 2025 Mfuleni Western Cape Provincial Government Workers Provincial Department of Health Wildcat 60 Health and Safety Paramedics marched through Mfuleni in Cape Town, supported by the Community Policing Forum and Neighbourhood Watch. The protest was against continual brutal attacks on paramedics while they were at work fetching sick people. 303 2025-06-02 2025-06-02 2025 Barberton Mpumalanga Health DENOSA, NEHAWU Barberton public hospital Wildcat Health and Safety Health workers downed tools and demanded property safety measures, after a crowd of people stormed the hospital asking for immediate treatment for victims of a shooting. 304 2025-06-09 2025 Polokwane Limpopo Provincial Government NUPSAW Provincial Departments of Health and Education Protected For permanent jobs Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Grade R teachers marched for permanent jobs for Community Care Givers, Lay Counsellors, Condom Distributors, Mother Mentors, and Peer Educators. None are permanent employees. Registered/professional nurses also joined the march saying that when they do further qualifications, these are not recognised. 305 2025-06-09 2025 Hartswater Northern Cape Health Workers Provincial Department of Health Wildcat Unpaid allowances Health and safety Health workers and paramedics at Connie Vorster Hospital in Hartswater downed tools after a previous 3 week go-slow didn't achieve results. The Taung Daily News reported that workers had not received overtime or public holidary or night shift allowances since March this year and the hospital had only two nurses on for the night shift, meaning that they were overworked. 306 2025-06-14 2025-06-14 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Health HCW4P-SA National Government Workplace-related action For a Free Palestine Health care workers for Palestine marched with other Palestine solidarity groups against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. 307 2025-06-17 2025 uMhlathuze KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU uMhlathuze Municipality Protected 140 Unfair labour practices Workers went on strike against a list of problems: Persistent unfair dismissals and a pattern of victimization against union members, misuse of Ratepayers' funds to pay private lawyers to conduct disciplinaries; no security policies or protection for workers even after a shooting at work; exclusion of people with disabilities; widespread violations of health and safety practices and workers being exposed to hazards and crumbling buildings; nepotism in hiring; exploitation of EPWP workers who have been on temporary contracts for over five years; failure to implement Grade 6 compensation for all employees, despite the Municipality falling under Category 6; lack of Danger Allowance for Essential Services Employees, undermining the risks they face daily; lack of essential tools, including functional computers, laptops, and a roadworthy fleet; external appointments of senior managers which demoralizes qualified internal staff and undermines fair recruitment; racism within Electricity and Energy Services (rehiring white retired employees as temporary staff); non-Compliance with PPE Policy and employees don't have appropriate personal protective equipment; Non-Payment of Overtime; a Lack of Accountability for Senior Managers who need to have lifestyle audits done on them; and a demand to immediately halt current unlawful cost containment practices and fill all vacancies. 308 2025-06-17 2025-06-19 2025 Province-wide KwaZulu-Natal Education SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education Protected Against corruption Teachers from across the province embarked on a work to rule strike over the department underpaying the basic finance allocations per pupil, leaving schools with far l. The provincial department also failed to pay acting allowances to office-based teachers and education workers. Schools were left no money to procure other teaching and learning support resources. Stationery providers were not paid in January, Grade R teachers not paid for a month, and schools could no longer hold extra curricula activities because the department had no funds. 309 2025-06-18 2025-06-18 2025 Centurion Gauteng SOE NUMSA Denel Workplace-related action Wage increase NUMSA members picketed outside Denel for a 7% wage increase. Management has offered an inflation-linked pay hike only. 310 2025-06-24 2025-06-24 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Criminal Justice POPCRU South African Police Services Workplace-related action Against sexual harassment POPCRU marched in a 'Restore Dignity' protest against abuse of women police trainees and sexual misconduct by police managers at SAPS training facilities. The union also demanded that whistleblowers be protected. 311 2025-06-25 2025-06-25 2025 Nkomazi Mpumalanga Local Government SAMWU Nkomazi Local Municipality Wildcat 150 For payment of allowances Workers went on strike after the municipality sent them a letter on 23 June saying they would only be paid their basic salaries on 25 June, and not their overtime, travel and standby allowances (which are provided for in the national collective agreement). The workers said the municipal leaders had wasted the money on corruption and also that they were unable to provide proper services to the community because they were not provided with work equipment or tools. The municipality told the media they would only pay back the outstanding allowances from July 2025. 312 2025-06-26 2025-06-26 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Provincial Government Workers Gauteng Provincial Government Wildcat 330 Against austerity GroundUp reported that more than 300 workers and beneficiaries from non-profit organisations in Gauteng’s childrens sector marched against recent budget cuts that reduced monthly psychosocial support funding from R1,000 to R500 and removed food parcel distribution responsibilities from the organisations. 313 2025-06-26 2025-06-26 2025 Drakenstein Western Cape Agriculture WFP Commercial farmers Workplace-related action Against evictions Farm workers marched on the Drakenstein Municipality demanding proper implementation of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) and the Constitution, which say farmworkers can only be evicted under certain conditions and only with a court order, that municipalities are obliged to provide suitable alternative housing. Instead, municipalities ignore this and farmworkers get evicted to empty patches of land, often with a few sheets of zinc and told to set up their own shacks. 314 2025-06-27 2025-06-27 2025 Mahikeng North West Local Government SAMWU Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers marched against nepotism and not being paid the correct salaries, saying their grievances had not been resolved for the past five years. 315 2025-06-30 2025-06-30 2025 Setlagole North West Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Ratlou Local Municipality Wildcat Union recognition Workers downed tools ahead of a council meeting in protest against the organogram not being approved by the local labour forum, unfair recruitment, and a great disrespect for workers and laws, union leaders said. They highlighted that this is the same municipality that spent R1.million on 22 laptops. The union leaders demanded a forensic audit into the municipality and a lifestyle audit of senior officials. 316 2025-07-01 2025 Tzaneen Limpopo Wholesale & Retail Workers Super Spar Tzaneen Wildcat 50 Against nepotism Tzaneen Voice news website reported that workers downed tools and protested for a 10% increase, and the end of nepotism and managers only promoting their own family members. The workers demanded fair and transparent promotion processes, better working conditions, and an immediate response regarding salary adjustments. 317 2025-07-03 2025-07-03 2025 Delmas Mpumalanga SOE Workers Daybreak Foods Wildcat 200 Unpaid wages Workers went on strike again, after they only received 50% of their pay for May and no pay at the end of June. Workers again blocked the R50 highway until 2:15pm. The workers said they cannot even afford transport to get to work, let alone groceries or electricity. 318 2025-07-08 2025-07-13 2025 Kimberley Northern Cape Privatised public service Local Government Workers Sol Plaatje Municipality Wildcat 60 Unpaid wages The municipality outsourced the installation of water meters to a private company. This company then told the 20 plumbers and 40 general labourers that he was cutting their pay down to R20 per meter installed. This is well below the national hourly minimum wage, and workers' transport costs R30 per day, so workers downed tools. They also said they were not given safety boots, tools or equipment, get bitten by dogs, are confronted by snakes when digging the trenches for the water pipes and get no paid sick leave. The pre-paid water meters are part of the national government project to convert hundreds of thousands of household water connections to pre-paid. After the strike, the municipality backed down and restored the daily pay rate to the R180 per day that was initially promised. 319 2025-07-15 2025-07-15 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Transport EPCO Uber Wildcat 75 Wage increase Drivers went on strike after Uber increased the amount it deducts from their fares and also condemned unprofitable trip fares. 320 2025-07-17 2025-07-17 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Local Government SAMWU City of Tshwane Workplace-related action 1000 Wage increase Workers marched against the city of Tshwane's continued refusal to pay the wage increases agreed on in centralised bargaining for all municipalities across the country. 321 2025-07-17 2025-07-17 2025 Ekurhuleni Gauteng Local Government SAMWU City of Ekurhuleni Wildcat 300 Bad working conditions The workers downed tools for the day against favouritism, nepotism, and very poor service delivery to township areas. The union said the municipality behaved like it was doing workers a favour by employing them - as if the workers didn't have rights. 322 2025-07-21 2025-08-01 2025 Nationwide National Aviation Solidarity FlySafair Protected 200 Wage increase Pilots at FlySafair began a two week strike over wage and working condition issues. Pilots demanded 10% and the bosses offered 5.7%. The strike got off to a good start with 20 flights cancelled on the first day. The pilots also went on strike over exhaustion and a lack of time off which resulted from a new roster system that was imposed on them by the bosses. The union and airline settled on increases of between 6% and 6.9% over the next four years, with pilots flying more than 65 hours per week to be paid additionally. 323 2025-07-22 2025-07-22 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Multi-sector Campaign to Scrap Labour Law Amendment Bills National Government Workplace-related action 200 Against labour law amendments Workers from 40 different labour organisations and social movements protested outside NEDLAC against proposed changes to labour laws that will allow bosses to dismiss workers without a disciplinary hearing even if no misconduct has been committed and if they just don't like the worker. The workers condemned COSATU, NACTU, FEDUSA and NEDLAC for reaching an agreement that labour laws could be downgraded without even consulting workers. 324 2025-07-29 2025 Thembisa Gauteng Private Security SACSAAWU Jonet Security Wildcat 250 Unpaid wages Security guards at Thembisa Hospital went on strike after not being paid for two months. The company blamed the provincial Health Department, but the department showed the union that it had paid the security company. The workers said they were struggling to survive, had no money left for transport to work and could not afford to eat without their wages. 325 2025-07-30 2025 Umkhanyakude KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU Umkhanyakude District Municipality Wildcat 550 Unpaid wages Workers downed tools after not being paid on 25 July 2025. This apparently happened after the municipality was placed under administration by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance. On 2 August, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that all workers must be paid their outstanding salaries by 5 August. 326 2025-08-01 2025-08-01 2025 Nigel Gauteng Manufacturing Civics Chung Fung Metal & Steel Company Workplace-related action 400 For permanent jobs The Greater Nigel United People’s Parliament (GRNUPP) and Kwatsadusa (Kwa-Thema, Tsakane and Duduza) community forums organised a march on the Chinese-owned Chung Fung Metal & Steel Company factories in Nigel to demand jobs for local young people. The company had been advertising posts for people with many years of experience, which was not needed and which meant that young people did not qualify to apply. 327 2025-08-04 2025 ThabaNchu Free State Manufacturing NUMSA Big5 Cookware Protected 270 Union recognition Workers downed tools and demanded that the boss recognise their union, NUMSA. The oner is based in China and was dodging the workers and refusing to engage. 328 2025-08-06 2025 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Health Workers KZN Provincial Department of Health Workplace-related action 150 For permanent jobs Unemployed doctors protested because they had not been placed at hospitals. Medical students downed pens and joined the protest, saying it seemed likely that they would suffer the same fate after graduation. The groups demanded jobs and that government build more hospitals to serve more patients and provide better services to the community. 329 2025-08-06 2025-08-06 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Local Government SAMWU City of Tshwane Wildcat 400 Reinstatement of dismissed workers Workers went on strike to demand the reinstatement of their fellow workers who were dismissed in 2021 for protesting against unpaid salary increases. The workers also demanded the salary increases of 3.5% and 5.4% that were outstanding since 2021. 330 2025-08-08 2025-08-08 2025 Mangaung Free State Privatised public service Local Government Workers Centlec Power Utility Wildcat 100 Against mismanagement Workers downed tools and marched on the Centlec headquarters, demanding the dismissal of the CEO, an end to unfair labour practices, reinstatement of dismissed workers, an end to the nepotistic hiring of friends and relatives, an end to bullying, corruption and mismanagement. They were supported by the SACP. 331 2025-08-08 2025-08-08 2025 Mangaung Free State Health Workers Free State Psychiatric Hospital Wildcat 50 For permanent jobs Unpaid wages The workers went on strike after not being paid properly for some time, saying they are only paid seven hours' pay for working a 12 hour shift. Contract workers also demanded to be absorbed permanently and the workers demanded more security guards at night, because criminals were sneaking into the hospital then. 332 2025-08-08 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Media & Entertainment Workers Stained Glass TV Productions Wildcat Unpaid wages Actors, crew and extras on the TV show, Uzalo, went on strike after not receiving salaries for two months. Production stopped and the striking workers demanded that the SABC intervene. This is not the first time the TV show has fallen behind on paying staff. In 2023, over 50 extras and background actors downed tools after months of no pay. The company said it was experiencing financial constraints and that's why they had not paid. 333 2025-08-11 2025-08-11 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Media & Entertainment SAGA National Government Workplace-related action 300 Against poor working conditions The actors' guild held a protest outside the Union Buildings to demand that the national government intervene and set up fair pay and workers rights for actors in South Africa. 334 2025-08-11 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Transport TASWU Kalahari AutoForce Protected For permanent jobs The truck drivers, who transport manganese, downed tools after being told that they had a choice of accepting a forced transfer to a "bogus company" or being dismissed. The drivers said they were also striking against low wages of R16 400 per month. 335 2025-08-12 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Privatised public service Transport SAMWU North West Transport Investment Wildcat 100 Unpaid wages The bus drivers went on strike again after not being paid their salaries for up to 11 months. The bus company is owned by North West Star which is wholly owned by the North West provincial government. The company is under business rescue despite receiving R60 million in government subsidies. The workers themselves are keeping the buses running for the community, using donations to do so. There is no longer any diesel, electricity or water at the depot. Workers said they cannot continue working for no pay as they have no food to eat, and demanded that 5 months of the outstanding 11 months pay must be paid and then they'll go back to work. 336 2025-08-14 2025-08-14 2025 Johannesburg, Cape Town National Media & Entertainment Journalists Against Apartheid State of Israel Workplace-related action 40 Against genocide South African journalists belonging to 'Journalists against Apartheid' and 'Journalists against Genocide' protested against the Israeli killings of Palestinian journalists. Israeli has killed over 275 Palestinian journalists since it began its genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. This protest was sparked after Israel assassinated six Gazan journalists, including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif, in a drone strike on a media tent outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Dozens of journalists in Cape Town also joined the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign’s weekly vigil against genocide outside St George’s Cathedral on Wednesday. 337 2025-08-14 2025-08-14 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Education Gauteng ECD Forum Gauteng Provincial Department of Education Workplace-related action 100 Against austerity The early childhood development workers marched on the Gauteng Premier's office in protest against inadequate funding of R17 per child per day, less than the R24 per child per day promised. The R17 has been paid per child for 5 years with the result that ECD centres cannot pay for staff and can't provide adequately for children. The march organisers said they are never consulted on any decisions of the government about early childhood eduction and were not told why they weren't paid. 338 2025-08-14 2025 Cofimvaba Eastern Cape Private Security AMITU, PATU Reliable Guards, Mantl Five Wildcat 60 Against unfair dismissal About 50 security guards went on strike for several days after 20 guards were fired for joining unions. The fired guards were then not paid the money they were owed. The workers want to be made permanent employees of the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and Department of Education, whose offices they guard. 339 2025-08-15 2025-08-15 2025 Meyerton Gauteng Provincial Government Workers Gauteng Provincial Government Wildcat 100 Unpaid wages Community Works Programme workers held a wildcat strike on the R59 highway, barricading the highway with burning tyres and debris, preventing traffic from moving. The strike was held over unpaid wages. 340 2025-08-17 2025-08-17 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Media & Entertainment Journalists Against Apartheid State of Israel Workplace-related action 400 Against genocide Journalists and media workers marched in Sea Point, Cape Town against Israel's genocide in Gaza and murders of Palestinian journalists. High profile local and Palestinian journalists condemned Israel. The organisation demanded that media organisations call Israel’s killing of media workers “what it is – a war crime”; Israel must immediately release all arbitrarily detained Palestinian journalists in the West Bank and Gaza; and Israel's ban on foreign journalists must end and foreign correspondents must be allowed entry to Gaza. 341 2025-08-18 2025-08-18 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Provincial Government Workers Gauteng Provincial Department of Transport Wildcat Unpaid wages Workers and their bosses downed tools - they are subcontractors hired to upgrade Lynnwood Road. They had not been paid by the government and were unable to pay wages or buy materials needed to renovate the road. 342 2025-08-19 2025-08-19 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Transport EPCO Gauteng Provincial Department of Transport Wildcat 100 Health and Safety E-hailing drivers marched on the Provincial Department of Transport demanding safety for drivers, fair price setting and an end to their vehicles being impounded. The march came just days after meter taxi operators shot and burnt an e-hailing driver to death in Soweto. 343 2025-08-19 2025-08-19 2025 Msunduzi KwaZulu-Natal Local Government Workers Msunduzi Municipality Wildcat For permanent jobs A group of EPWP workers who have been working for the municipality in waste removal on temporary contracts for 5 years downed tools demanding permanent jobs, proper wages and PPE. The workers said when permanent jobs are advertised, they never get the jobs. They are paid only R120 per day and don’t even have uniforms to wear while collecting waste; they have to ask permanent staff to supply them with the old uniform that they no longer wear. The workers blocked the entrance to the municipality for the day with burning tyres. It also emerged that EPWP workers are used to run the water service after a water breakdown during the strike went without being mended for several days. On 29 August, the municipality interdicted the strike. 344 2025-08-19 2025 Laaiplek Western Cape Food Processing FAWU Oceana Group Protected 2000 For benefits For organisational rights Workers at Oceana's at Lucky Star fish processing plant and its associated Amawandle Pelagic Fishing plant began an indefinite strike after the company replaced a seasonal allowance with a 13th cheque of lesser value. The bosses also undermined the union, and refused to reinstate the full time shopsteward's position. 345 2025-08-21 2025 Boksburg Gauteng Manufacturing SWF CHEP SA Protected 110 For permanent jobs Wage Increase For benefits Workers belonging to the Simunye Workers' Forum went on strike at CHEP SA, which makes pallets and containers, demanding permanent jobs, a wage increase of R2500 per month across the board, Share Scheme, Study Assistance, Housing allowance of R5000, Medical Aid, Branded CHEP PPE, Payslips directly from CHEP. The bosses of CHEP initially offered workers a miserable 5,5% wage increase but then withdrew this miserable 5,5% wage increase. 346 2025-08-21 2025-08-21 2025 Phuthaditjhaba Free State Education SADTU Free State Provincial Department of Education Wildcat 3000 Against mismanagement Teachers marched on the district education office in Thabo Mofutsanaya District demanding that the district manager be axed over poor management, a “lack of leadership” and a dysfunctional human resources department, GroundUp news website reported. The union also alleges that SADTU principals are targeted and “union bashing persists”. SADTU said there were 70 vacancies which meant that teachers were overworked. 347 2025-08-22 2025-09-05 2025 Boksburg Gauteng Manufacturing NUMSA Macsteel Protected 300 Against retrenchments Workers went on a two week strike against retrenchments that the company began before finishing the consultations. 348 2025-08-22 2025-08-22 2025 Qonce Eastern Cape Provincial Government NEHAWU Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education Wildcat Against harassment at work Workers downed tools for the morning. They demanded that the new MEC's spokesperson, Velani Mbiza-Gola be suspended after he manhandled an assistant director at a government event. 349 2025-08-26 2025-08-27 2025 Edenvale Gauteng Private Security SACSAAWU Edenvale Hospital Wildcat 130 Unpaid wages Security guards contracted by a company to guard Edenvale Hospital were not paid since the end of July. The union said the workers have to down tools at the end of every month if they want to get paid because the security never pays them. Previously, another security company had not paid workers for three months and then disappeared so workers went on strike because they predicted that this company would do the same. This company had also failed to pay workers their bonuses or register them for UIF. 350 2025-08-28 2025-08-28 2025 Cape Town Western Cape Agriculture WFP Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Workplace-related action 150 Demanding land The farm workers marched on the government, to support the demand made by the Rural Assembly for one hectare of land for each farm worker, farm dweller, small-scale producer, and impoverished working-class woman, and calling for an end to evictions of farm workers by commercial farmers. The farm workers need their own land not just to live on but to grow food on because 20 million people suffer from hunger in SA. 351 2025-08-28 2025-08-28 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Education SACECD Gauteng Provincial Department of Education Wildcat 300 Against austerity The early childhood development workers marched on the Gauteng Premier's office again in protest against inadequate funding of R17 per child per day. GroundUp reported that the Gauteng Department of Education had failed to honour an agreement signed in March to pay ECD centres R24 per child per day. Instead, the centres say, they have received only R10 per child, and many centres have not been paid at all. 352 2025-09-01 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Local Government Workers eThekwini Municipality Wildcat 150 Unpaid wages Refuse removal workers subcontracted to the municipality via private companies downed tools for several days after being suddenly told that their pay would be slashed from R8400 per month, to R4000 per month for the next three years. On the fourth day of the strike, the workers marched on Durban's International Convention Centre where the council was meeting. The workers told TV news that they'd been paid R8400 per month since 2008 and they wanted the truth about who had decided to slash their pay. 353 2025-09-02 2025 Gqeberha Eastern Cape Health Nupsaw, Nehawu, Denosa, Hospersa, and PSA. Dora Nginza public hospital Wildcat Unpaid overtime The combined health unions went on strike and shut down access to the hospital after not being paid overtime for five months. The provincial department of Health said it would finally pay the outstanding amounts. 354 2025-09-04 2025-09-04 2025 Rosslyn Gauteng Manufacturing Reyaga Community Project, Soil of Africa, Progressive Forces and SANCO BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen, Lion Match and the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund Board Workplace-related action 6000 For permanent jobs Over 6000 unemployed young people from Soshanguve, Mabopane, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveldt and Hammanskraal marched on BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen, plus others like Lion Match and the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund Board. Their demands were permanent jobs with a 30% quota of all new jobs to be given to the people living in the area, 40% of non-core contracts to be given to small businesses from townships by 2026, for big contracts to be split up so smaller players can bid, for all supplier lists and deal values to be made public, and for 500 township youth to be taken on for training every year. 355 2025-09-05 2025-09-05 2025 Sandton Gauteng Multi-sector SWF, Campaign to Scrap the Labour Amendment Bills NEDLAC Workplace-related action 100 For permanent jobs The groups protested outside the NEDLAC summit, demanding the scrapping of proposed labour law changes that are going to intensify the casualisation of work and increase the precarious and short-term nature of employment, through doing away with formal disciplinary hearings. The groups demanded that NEDLAC scrap the changes. 356 2025-09-08 2025 Umdoni KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU, IMATU Umdoni Municipality Wildcat Against mismanagement Workers downed tools, putting a stop to service delivery and garbage collection, demanding that the provincial government take over and end corrupt, month to month contracts being given to companies. The workers also demanded that the staff organogram, which has been in draft form for 5 years, be finalised. 357 2025-09-11 2025-09-11 2025 Gelvandale Eastern Cape Education Workers Gelvandale High School Wildcat Health and Safety Teachers at the school downed tools and brought the school to a standstill in protest against learners threatening and intimidating them. 358 2025-09-12 2025 Germiston Gauteng Local Government MECSU City of Ekurhuleni Wildcat For permanent jobs Workers downed tools, demanding an end to the outsourcing of services, including security and cleaning workers, and wanting contract workers to be converted into permanent employees. 359 2025-09-16 2025-09-24 2025 Buffalo City, Qonce Eastern Cape Local Government SAMWU Buffalo City Municipality Protected 4000 For permanent jobs For benefits Thousands of workers went on strike against outsourcing and casualisation of work, failure to pay workers the incentives promised during the Covid pandemic, and salary disparities with other cities. The municipality had hired private companies to read meters and drive trucks when municipal workers had been employed for the work. The workers barricaded roads with burning tyres. A few days into the strike, the municipality interdicted SAMWU from barricading roads and disrupting services but workers continued the strike for one week until it was called off. The settlement was that the municipality said it would reduce outsourcing and that it might pay a danger allowance to the workers in place of the Covid-19 allowances that it owed workers. 360 2025-09-25 2025 Rustenburg North West Mining NUMSA Steel Trading Wildcat 250 For wage increase About 250 of the 320 workers at the company began a strike demanding to be paid bargaining council wages. Workers were charged on Friday afternoon, the 2nd day of the strike, and called to a disciplinary on Monday morning. 361 2025-09-29 2025-09-29 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Local Government ARO City of Joburg and Pikitup Workplace-related action 1000 For permanent jobs Reclaimers from ARO marched on the City of Joburg and Pikitup in protest against the closure of all landfill sites by this time next year. This will put thousands of reclaimers out of work and leave residents drowning in waste as the city forks over millions to private landfills to take whatever garbage they can. It will also cause an environmental crisis because ARO members recycle hundreds of millions of tons of material dumped every year and this will no longer happen. ARO demanded that landfills must stay open until there are social plans for reclaimers and that the city and Pikitup must partner with reclaimers and residents to develop environmentally sustainable, reclaimer-led, public solutions to the crisis. 362 2025-10-03 2025-10-03 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Health NEHAWU Gauteng Provincial Health Department Protected 1400 Against corruption Nehawu members marched on the provincial Health Department demanding an end to corruption, that rundown health buildings be repaired, that 34 cleaning workers who were dismissed from Charlotte Maxeke Hospital be reinstated, insourcing of all outsourced workers, and for staff vacancies at clinics and hospitals to be filled to prevent overwork and burnout. 363 2025-10-07 2025-10-07 2025 Johannesburg, Cape Town National Multi-sector COSATU National government Workplace-related action 3000 For decent work Thousands of workers marched on World Day for Decent Work. They marched on different government offices and a hospital, demanding an end to corruption, an end to assassination of whistleblowers, government action against crime, gangsterism and high municipal tariffs, for youth jobs projects, payment of outstanding UIF and pension fund money, compliance with minimum wage laws, safer worker transport. 364 2025-10-11 2025-10-11 2025 Bisho Eastern Cape Health Workers Eastern Cape provincial department of Health Workplace-related action 30 For permanent jobs A group of unemployed health care professionals protested for jobs, saying they had been promised that the Health department would hire them but instead, posts in the understaffed health service had been left vacant. 365 2025-10-12 2025 Alberton Gauteng Mining NUM Pharaoh Cement Wildcat For wage increase Cement workers walked out indefinitely after the company refused to give a R10 per hour increase on the current wage of R35.55 per hour. The union dropped the demand to R7 per hour but the company would only offer an increase of just over R2 per hour, which the union said was an insult to workers. 366 2025-10-13 2025-10-13 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Criminal Justice JOASA Department of Justice Workplace-related action 20 For wage increase Magistrates picketed outside the Durban magistrate's court for better salaries, a magistrate's pension fund and saying that in 30 years, there was no democracy for magistrates. GroundUp reported that the magistrates earn R1.1-million a year but the protesters said they should be earning at least R1.5-million. 366 2025-10-15 2025-10-15 2025 Nigel Gauteng Local Government Arla Park Youth Unemployment Group City of Ekurhuleni Workplace-related action 60 For permanent jobs Young, unemployed workers protested outside the municipality, stating that they wanted to be employed as cleaners. GroundUp reported that a 3 year cleaning project had just been renewed but the jobs had been given to the same people, whereas the unemployed youth expected that it would be their turn to work. 367 2025-10-15 2025-10-16 2025 Polokwane Limpopo Transport SATAWU Great North Transport Wildcat 100 For pension payouts The current and former workers of the state-owned bus company protested, demanding that the Limpopo Premier intervene in their troubles. The workers demanded that their provident fund schemes payout their pension funds, estimated at more than R300 million. Some workers worked at the company for 30 years and paid pension fund contributions but say these were stolen by a union representative and the company who did not pay the contributions into pension schemes. More than 800 pensioners have never received their pensions. 368 2025-10-23 2025-10-23 2025 Khayelitsha Western Cape Local Government Workers Manandi Services Wildcat 150 Unpaid wages The refuse removal workers went on strike after not being paid or short paid every month since September by the private company, which the City of Cape Town had privatised refuse removal to. Workers said they had been forced to take out loans from loan sharks because of this. 369 2025-10-23 2025 Kimberley Northern Cape Mining NUMSA Ekapa Mines Wildcat 500 Against retrenchments Workers went on a wildcat strike after 387 workers were laid off in September 2025 and promised they would be re-hired 12 months later. The mine claimed it was experiencing financial difficulty. The union insisted that the mine should apply to the COVID-TERS fund which used to give employers in financial crisis money to pay workers but by October 2025, they had not yet been paid. The mine workers previously went on strike in 2023 for a wage increase, and at that time, police fired water cannons and tear gas at the strikers and arrested 43 workers. 370 2025-10-27 2025-10-27 2025 Phuthaditjhaba Free State Privatised public service Local Government Workers Maluti-a-Phofung Water Wildcat 36 Against retrenchments The municipality decided to close down the water entity and absorb the workers back into the municipality but the workers objected, saying they had not been properly consulted and had also been informed that some would be retrenched. 371 2025-10-31 2025-10-31 2025 Tshwane Gauteng National Government NUMSA, SANSAWF, AWU National government Workplace-related action 300 Unpaid wages Workers marched against government, demanding that it stop giving tenders to security companies that don't comply with Bargaining Council minimums or collective agreements. The union said that national government had contracts with 23 000 security companies across the country but only 5000 of these were compliant. The rest were not and many did not even pay workers' provident fund and medical aid contributions over to the providers. 372 2025-11-03 2025-11-03 2025 Tshwane Gauteng National Government MAAWUSA Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Wildcat 600 For permanent jobs The workers from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Community Work Programme (CWP), doing work such as road maintenance and street sweeping, went on strike for permanent jobs and better pay. Even the supervisors only earn R1900 per month. 372 2025-11-04 2025 Centurion Gauteng Wholesale & Retail NUPSAW Transpharm Pty Ltd depots Protected 610 For allowances Workers went on strike after 610 were transferred unilaterally from Tshwane to Centurion and Isando and had to pay their own transport costs of R3500 a month. The bosses offered only a R500 transport allowance. On the first day of the strike, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security personnel opened fire on striking workers at the Centurion depot, injuring several in the process. 373 2025-11-04 2025-11-04 2025 Nationwide National Aviation SACCA FlySafair Protected For wage increase FlySafair's cabin crew downed tools over failed wage negotiations and unilateral changes to their working conditions. 374 2025-11-05 2025-11-05 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Manufacturing Workers CHEP SA Workplace-related action 300 For permanent jobs For wage increase Community members and worker activists blockaded the CHEP SA Alrode plant in solidarity with the CHEP Jet Park workers who started a strike months earlier, on 21 August 2025. Since then the company shifted production to Alrode. The bosses refused to give workers a R2500 wage increase and also refused to make workers permanent even if they qualified under the law (some had worked continuously for CHEP for 18 years). 375 2025-11-07 2025-11-07 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Agriculture FAWU Daybreak Foods Workplace-related action 150 For permanent jobs The workers marched on the Department of Employment and Labour after Daybreak Foods was put into business rescue and workers were sent home and paid only R1500 a month each. The workers demanded to be paid Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) funds, which provides temporary financial assistance of up to 12 months to companies or employees facing financial distress. 376 2025-11-08 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Manufacturing SOA; SACWU Promac Paint Company Wildcat 56 For permanent jobs The 56 workers went on strike against the company's arrogance, saying they'd been working there for seven years without contracts, and for benefits. By 9 December, the employer accused the workers of embarking on an illegal strike. 387 2025-12-09 2025-12-09 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Manufacturing SOA; SACWU Promac Paint Company Wildcat 56 For permanent jobs The 56 workers went on strike against the company's arrogance, saying they'd been working there for seven years without contracts, and for benefits. By 9 December, the employer accused the workers of embarking on an illegal strike. 377 2025-11-08 2025-11-08 2025 Bellville Western Cape Provincial Government NUM, SACP Eskom; provincial department of Labour Workplace-related action 200 For permanent jobs NUM and SACP marched for the SACP's Red October campaign calling for job creation and protesting against the unbundling of Eskom, demanding that labour centres be set up - especially in rural areas; more labour sectors be employed to do spot visits to commercial farms; an end to subcontracting at Eskom which exploits workers and only offers precarious work. They also said Eskom must not be privatised (unbundled into three separate companies). 378 2025-11-08 2025-11-08 2025 Northern Cape Local Government SAMWU; IMATU Sol Plaatje Municipality Wildcat 300 For permanent jobs Members of Samwu and Imatu marched and shut down the municipal offices, demanding the permanent absorption of 498 long-serving contract workers. Union leaders say the suspended municipal manager had confirmed funding and a June 1 start date for the appointments, but workers say no letters have been issued. The wildcat strike was victorious with the municipality agreeing to start absorbing the workers in batches of 125 workers at a time from 1 December 2025. 379 2025-11-10 2025 Khayelitsha Western Cape Private Security Workers Sibakulu Guarding Division Wildcat Unpaid wages GroundUp reported that security guards hired to guard a building site went on strike after not being paid their October wages. The City of Cape Town had contracted a company to build pavements in the area which then subcontracted the work to three different companies, including the guards, and then allegedly failed to pay any of the companies. After the guards started striking, the construction workers downed tools and went on strike, burning tyres, revealing that they also had not been paid. 380 2025-11-17 2025-11-17 2025 eThekwini KwaZulu-Natal Criminal Justice JOASA Department of Justice Wildcat 80 For wage increase Magistrates downed tools again saying they were neglected and wanted to be paid on par with High Court judges and not treated as the stepchild of the justice system. They also said they needed security to be provided for them - there is no security in court corridors, they have to use the same bathrooms as accused and no security is provided, and there is uncontrolled public access to their judicial chambers (offices), which is dangerous for magistrates. 381 2025-11-17 2025-11-23 2025 Province-wide Mpumalanga Health NEHAWU Mpumalanga provincial department of Health Wildcat 400 Against exploitation Union members began a strike, shutting down pathology services at 2 hospitals because workers were being forced to dissect deceased peoples' bodies, which is not in their job description. They are also overworked because of staff shortages, have very few of the tools they need and want forensic officers to be professionalised by the department. 382 2025-11-18 2025-11-18 2025 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Health NEHAWU Grey's Hospital Workplace-related action 100 Against nepotism For permanent jobs Workers protested at the hospital against alleged nepotism and corruption by hospital management, including appointments being made without transparent and fair procedures, sidelining existing workers who have long service. The workers also protested against EPWP workers being hired for a long time without proper employment or pay. 383 2025-11-19 2025-11-19 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng Health NUPSAW Gauteng provincial department of health Wildcat 2000 For permanent jobs Contract workers, including EPWP workers, Covid-19 workers, EMS personnel, community health workers, interns, nurses and doctors marched on the MEC for Health for permanent jobs. The Covid-19 workers had been on temporary contracts ever since the pandemic in 2020, the EPWPs had been on short term contracts and stipends for up to 20 years even though they worked 40 hour weeks, the community health workers had been excluded from the government salary scales and the emergency medical services workers work for up to 200 hours per month without being overtime and some are owed 17 years of overtime backpay. 384 2025-11-20 2025-11-20 2025 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Local Government SAMWU Msunduzi Municipality Workplace-related action 400 Against exploitation Workers marched on City Hall in the latest of several actions, objecting to "the continued use of external legal practitioners in internal disciplinary hearings; what it describes as a “culture of impunity” among senior managers; the absence of consequences for non-performance; and management’s alleged reluctance to address concerns about unqualified managers, for which Samwu is demanding a full audit and corrective action." reported The Witness newspaper. 385 2025-11-21 2025-11-21 2025 Nationwide National Multi-sector Women for Change National Government Workplace-related action 8000 Against GBVF Ahead of the G20 Johannesburg world leaders' summit of the world's most powerful economies, thousands of union members from TASWU, NUPSAW and NUMSA joined the feminist national shutdown in South Africa against gender-based violence and femicide. The protestors demanded that government proclaim GBVF to be a national emergency. 386 2025-11-22 2025 KaBokweni Mpumalanga Health NEHAWU Mpumalanga provincial department of Health Protected 60 Against mismanagement Forensic pathologists went on strike. The workers said they are not even provided with enough doctors to dissect bodies. There was a shortage of doctors meaning forensic pathologists had to step in and do doctors' work, which is out of their scope. The government said the workers should just go back to work because they'd employed other staff to assist them, and scheduled a meeting with the union for 17 days later. 387 2025-11-22 2025-11-22 2025 Boksburg Gauteng Local Government MECSU City of Ekurhuleni Workplace-related action 300 For permanent jobs MECSU workers who've been on strike since September protested outside the Boksburg Civic Centre. The workers are demanding that fixed-term contracts be made permanent, the insourcing of security guards and cleaners, and salary adjustments. 388 2025-11-27 2025-11-27 2025 Ekurhuleni Gauteng Local Government SAMWU City of Ekurhuleni Workplace-related action 1100 Against mismanagement Union members marched over 27 grievances, giving the municipality 14 days to respond. The grievances are: unpaid benefits such as leave encashment, acting allowances, COVID-19 compensation, funeral assistance, and implementation of arbitration awards. The union wants salary disparities addressed, transparency in senior management recruitment, and the removal of political interference in administrative roles. They call for fair promotion processes, danger allowances, and the scrapping of experience requirements for entry-level jobs to open opportunities for youth. Members also demand insourcing of cleaners, security guards and other non-technical services; the conversion of traffic wardens and reservists into permanent posts; and the filling of vacant positions to improve service delivery. Additional concerns include proper PPE provision and decentralised procurement, repairs and maintenance of fleet and facilities, adherence to correct working hours without unilateral changes, and the reinstatement of victimised workers. 389 2025-12-02 2025-12-02 2025 eMalahleni Mpumalanga Mining NUM Spr Vanchem Workplace-related action 100 Health and Safety Workers went on strike against the Vanchem primary vanadium processing facility over unpaid wages and severe occupational health and safety regulations 390 2025-12-02 2025-12-02 2025 Orkney North West Wholesale & Retail SACCAWU SPAR Orkney Wildcat 150 Against racism Workers downed tools for several days against nepotism, favouritism, unfair wages. Several political parties came out to support the workers and shut the store down on 11 and 12 December. The workers told the media that white workers were paid more than Black workers, and that women workers who'd been working at the shop for 20 years were still earning only R4 800 to R5600 as cashiers, as shelf packers, as bakery and daily employees. White workers, were given between R10 000 and R11 000 per month as a wage as soon as they were hired. 391 2025-12-04 2025-12-04 2025 Delmas Mpumalanga Mining NUM National Government Workplace-related action Against assassination NUM members protested outside the murder trial of the assassin of former Evander Gold Mine Branch Secretary, Comrade John Simelane, who was killed in 2017. The NUM demanded justice. The killers are said to be from a rival union and have been out on bail for years. 392 2025-12-09 2025-12-09 2025 Tshwane Gauteng Metal NUMSA National Government Workplace-related action For nationalisation The union marched to demand that the government nationalise SA’s ferrochrome smelters, saying that 10 538 jobs at Glencore, Rustenburg, Almar and Samancor smelters were at risk because the high price of electricity made operating the smelters unsustainable. 393 2025-12-10 2025-12-10 2025 Johannesburg Gauteng General Workers ANC Wildcat Unpaid wages ANC staff went on another wildcat strike, again after they were not paid their salaries. They also protested outside the party’s 5th National General Council against intimidation and the ANC not paying their provident funds. They said they'd gone for months without pay and attracted support from the ANC Youth League who demanded their immediate payment.