ADVANCED PROTEST ALERT – Nationwide COSATU Industrial Action – 07 October 2025

The Congress of South African Trade
Unions (COSATU) has announced plans to embark on nationwide protected
industrial action on Tuesday, 07 October 2025. The action forms part of
COSATU’s annual National Day of Action and aligns with the Worldwide Day of
Decent Work (WWDW).

A Section 77 Notice, submitted to
the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) on 16 September
2025, permits COSATU members to participate in protected strike action on this
date.

Confirmed
Demonstration Plans (07 October 2025)

Despite limited confirmed details,
COSATU has voiced the following intentions in Johannesburg (Gauteng):

• Assembly
  Point: COSATU House (Cnr Jorissen & Simmonds Streets, Braamfontein)
  from 08:30.
• Picket
  Action: Tembisa Hospital from 08:30.
• Planned
  March Routes / Destinations:
• Game Johannesburg City (89 Pritchard St, Johannesburg Central).
• Office of the Premier of Gauteng (30 Simmonds St, Marshalltown).

Other provinces may see parallel
marches and pickets, although details remain unconfirmed.

Risk Assessment:

• Nationwide
  Disruption:
  High likelihood of protest activity across major metros and provincial
  capitals.
• Business
  Disruption:
  Potential impact on transportation, logistics, and access control at
  workplaces, especially during lunch hours in the build-up period.
• Security
  Concerns: Risk
  of road blockages, traffic congestion, and sporadic incidents of unrest
  at protest sites.
• High-Risk
  Areas: Gauteng
  (Johannesburg, Tembisa), KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and
  other provincial hubs where COSATU has strong presence.

Summary:
COSATU’s National Day of Action on 07 October 2025 is a protected strike under
Section 77 of the LRA, expected to cause nationwide disruption. Demonstrations
will target socio-economic grievances and government accountability, with confirmed
gatherings in Gauteng (Johannesburg CBD & Tembisa).