of south africans have been taking part in strikes and demonstrations to protest the country's high unemployment and what they consider government inaction to fight it the congress of south african trade unions called its members the strike which increases the pressure on government the government of cyril ramaphosa as the country gears up for general elections in may south africa has a near record twenty seven percent of unemployment was the month with the mining sector in particular shedding jobs in recent years. from girl is in cape town to enjoy joins us now alice are these strikes just about high unemployment or against the government.

of south africans have been taking part in strikes and demonstrations to protest the country's high unemployment and what they consider government inaction to fight is the congress of south african trade unions called its members of the strike which increases the pressure on government the government of cyril ramaphosa as the country gears up for general elections in may south africa has a near record twenty seven percent unemployment was the month with the mining sector in particular shedding jobs in recent years. is in cape town to enjoy joins us now are these strikes just about high unemployment or against the government in particular in general. well for a long time to have been kind of a general unhappiness with the government the naming of government park anything and seeing that they haven't done enough to dress unemployment issues that end inequality i think the main critique was mainly when jacob zuma was the president a year ago he was forced to step down his regime was corrupt and with a lot of mismanagement there was more hope that through our post of the current president would would turn the tide but we've still seen job losses namely in a mining sector and are still more jobs

organizers said fifteen thousand people would come with probably about a tenth of that the congress the south african trade union supporters dwindled over many one of the reasons a little bit members think the leaders haven't been very effective being the government of the african national congress to actually pass legislation that help . workers. the a.n.c. needs the support of the trade unions in general elections in may but president's iran opposes research trying to please big business and foreign investors to i want to start off in his state of the nation address last week he promised economic growth and jobs. of the republic you cater to different constituencies. then serialize is that as much as they can claim to be leftist. they do need business and i think everyone realizes and then see that the majority of new jobs that have to be created created by the private sector. would be tough for the a.n.c. to please investors and keep the unions onside khamees election is expected to win fewer votes than ever before is even a chance italy's power the first time since apartheid ended in one thousand nine hundre

unions say the government's plan will lead to privatization and more job cuts. the organizers said fifteen thousand people would come that's probably only about a tenth of the congress the south african trade union supporters dwindled over many one of the reasons a little bit members think its leaders haven't been very effective at lobbying the government of the african national congress to actually pass legislation that helps workers. see needs the support of the trade unions in general elections in may the president's iraq poses also trying to please big business and foreign investors to i want to start in his state of the nation address last week he promised economic growth and jobs. of the republic. of different constituencies. there realizes that as as much as they can claim to be leftist. they do need business nothing of running our lives and then see that the majority of new jobs that have to be created created by the private sector. would be tough for the a.n.c. to please investors and keep the unions onside khamees election is expected to win fewer votes than ever before is even a chance it'll lose power for the first time since apartheid ended in one thousand nine hundred four so

particularly hard with the unions calling layoffs there a bloodbath is also anger over plans to reform the state run energy company alcoa. are. members of congress of south african tradeunions demanding an end to job cuts in the public and private sectors is also cooling full. officials businesspeople to be prosecuted one of the key to their opposition to the full plan to reform the south africa's state electricity company. employs about fifty of the people the government and to divide it up these people say that's going to mean privatization jumping out of the timing of this is particularly just leave on south africa's elections of the ruling a.n.c. are expected to get less than they ever have before. the support of the trade unions for them is going to be crucial cyril ramaphosa the president meets the backing of trade unions and other organizations to be able to maintain the majority of the a.n.c. on the other hand is the situation of police business leaders from the best as we want the states owned enterprises to be slimmed the made more efficient. public sector the police opposition these people are. on the other had their own budget is going to have you know if

of national elections for president so rival poses governing african national congress hoping for another term in office sounds a serious malcolm webber ports from johannesburg. members of congress a south african trade unionsdemanding an end to job cuts in the public private sector is also cooling full officials and businesspeople to be prosecuted one of the key demands that opposition to the full land reform in the south africa's state electricity company called it blue is about fifty the baby and the government and the divided on these people say that's going to mean privatization and job cuts now coming it is particular to leave on south africa's elections in the ruling a.n.c. expected to get less than they ever have before. the support of the trade unions for them is going to be crucial cyril ramaphosa the president made the backing of trade unions and other organizations to be able to maintain the majority of the a.n.c. on the other hand is the situation of police business leaders in front of us does he want the state owned enterprises to be slimmed the made more efficient. public sector lethal business these people are the mother had their own place is going to have a. place. in the by fifty six grou

members of congress a south african trade unions demanding an end job cuts in the public private sector is also calling for the uk officials and business people to be prosecuted one of the key to that opposition to the reform plan reforms the south africa's state electricity company. employs about fifty of the baby governments and to divide it up these people say that's going to mean privatization job cuts now coming to this is particular to the bones of south africa's elections and the ruling a.n.c. are expected to get less than they ever have before. the support of the trade unions for them is going to be crucial cyril ramaphosa the president made the backing of trade unions and other organizations to be able to maintain the majority of the a.n.c. on the other hand is those trying to please business leaders in front of us does he want the states owned enterprises to be slimmed the made more efficient they want to see a smaller public sector the police opposition these people are going to vote had their own budget is going to have been notified. a nationwide strike in belgium is paraly

members of the congress the south african trade unions demanding an end job cuts in the public and private sectors is also calling for the fish shoes and businesspeople to be prosecuted one of the key demands that the opposition reform plan reforms the south africa's state owned electricity company called the blue is about fifty of the baby governments and the divided on these people say that's going to mean privatization and jump cuts that are now coming to this particular system the bones of south africa's elections of the ruling a.n.c. expected to get less votes than they ever have before. now the support of the trade unions for them is going to be crucial cyril ramaphosa the president needs the backing of trade unions and other organizations to be able to maintain the majority of the a.n.c. in parliament on the other hand please. business leaders in front of us does he want the state owned enterprises to be slimmed made more efficient you want to see a smaller public sector to believe the opposite of what these people are doing the mother had around us is going to have no. interest in

of national elections with president cyril ramaphosa is governing african national congress hoping for another term in office. joins us live now from johannesburg so what is it that the strikers want malcolm. because the south african trade unionis demanding an end to all private and public sector job cuts also calling for covenant officials and business people to face prosecution and jail and specifically they're opposed to land reforms south africa's electricity company. employs about new fifty thousand people the government is planning to divide it up and the people here say that it's going to be a right size ation job so that's why congress the trade unions that's called it's nor the more. nearly two million members across the country to not go to work today to go to a march like this turnout so it's certainly a lot less than what they would have hoped for they said they were going to be fifteen thousand people here today probably not even a tenth of that but over the last ten years versus from worse the trade unions paul has dwindled a lot of the reasons for that is because their members feel they have been very effective lobbying the governments of the african national congress into passing legislation that actually bene