SADTU supports COSATU’s high cost of living marches
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) stands firmly behind the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in its national marches against the high cost of living taking place across the country on Friday, 19 June 2026.
These marches form part of COSATU’s ongoing campaign to defend workers, the unemployed, pensioners, and poor communities from the worsening cost of living crisis that continues to erode the dignity and livelihoods of millions of South Africans.
Workers and communities are facing immense economic hardship as wages are depleted within days of payday, while the costs of basic necessities continue to rise. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group’s Household Affordability Index, the average household food basket in May 2026 stood at R5 479,26. This amount is significantly higher than the National Minimum Wage income of a general worker, which is R4 836,80 per month.
This alarming reality means that many working-class families and grant recipients cannot afford adequate food, let alone meet other essential needs such as electricity, water, transport, healthcare, and education-related expenses. The burden is particularly severe for workers in low-income households who are forced to make impossible choices between feeding their families and paying for basic services.
According to Statistics South Africa, annual consumer inflation rose to 4,5% in May 2026, the highest level since July 2024, driven largely by escalating fuel costs. The fuel index increased by 14,3% in May, recording an annual increase of 28,7%. Rising fuel prices continue to have a ripple effect across the economy, driving up the costs of food, transport, and other essential goods and services.
SADTU fully supports COSATU’s call for urgent government intervention to protect workers and the poor from the devastating impact of the cost of living crisis. We support the Federation’s demands for:
- A reduction in electricity and water tariffs.
- Lower fuel prices and measures to stabilise food costs.
An end to austerity measures that undermine public services and economic growth. - Expanded social protection for the unemployed, vulnerable households, and poor communities.
- Increased social grants to help cushion the most vulnerable against rising living costs.
- The introduction of a Universal Basic Income Grant to provide a sustainable social safety net.
As a union representing education workers, SADTU is acutely aware that the cost of living crisis affects not only educators but also learners and their families. Hunger, poverty, and inequality remain significant barriers to quality education and learner success.
We therefore call on all workers, communities, and progressive forces to support COSATU’s marches and join the collective struggle for economic justice, decent living conditions, and a more equitable society.
We urge government to prioritise the needs of workers and the poor over policies that deepen inequality and social hardship.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat