As Cosatu gears up to embark on what it hopes will be a national shutdown on Wednesday, taxi associations have sought to correct reports that there would also be a taxi strike in Johannesburg. According to Eyewitness News (EWN), the South African National Taxi Council and the National Taxi Alliance said rumours that there would be a taxi strike on the N1, N12 and M1 on Wednesday were incorrect.
Reports on social media that taxi commuters should make alternative travelling arrangements were also not correct, the organisation said.
Cosatu is planning 13 marches around the country on Wednesday against corruption and state capture. Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said on Tuesday that the strike was about "mobilising against a predatory elite".
"The strike is about sending a message to both government and private sector that as workers and citizens we are tired of corruption," Ntshalintshali said.
According to eNCA, the SACP, which is also part of the march, urged cabinet members who were SA Communist Party (SACP) members not to attend a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, but to join the march instead.
"We don't want ministers to go to Cabinet tomorrow [Wednesday]. They must apologise to go to Cabinet, we have given that instruction," SACP deputy secretary Solly Mapaila reportedly said.
Cosatu has also urged employers not to intimidate workers who want to join in the strike.
The strike was approved by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in August and is expected to start at 10am, News24 reported.
Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane told News24 that the roads around Cosatu House in Braamfontein would be the only ones permanently closed.
The marchers would then move towards the City of Johannesburg offices, to Bank City, on to the premier's office and then to the Chamber of Mines.
No road closures are expected in Cape Town, and marchers are expected to move down Darling Street in the city centre.