The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) stands in unwavering solidarity with the members of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW), who have embarked on a protected nationwide strike at all Transpharm Pty Ltd depots. SAFTU fully supports this just and lawful industrial action, born out of the workers’ legitimate demands for fair treatment, safe working conditions, and a reasonable transport allowance following the company’s unilateral decision to relocate operations from Tshwane to Centurion and Isando.
The relocation, implemented on 1 July 2025, has had a devastating impact on more than 610 employees, who now face crippling transport costs simply to keep their jobs. Despite numerous engagements and proposals tabled by NUPSAW, Transpharm has responded with arrogance and bad faith, offering a meagre R500 transport allowance to workers who spend on average R3,500 per month commuting to the new depot. This is not negotiation, it is exploitation. It reflects a broader pattern of corporate greed and disregard for the economic hardships endured daily by South Africa’s working class in a country already suffocating under austerity, inequality, and a spiralling cost of living.
SAFTU condemns in the strongest possible terms the violent conduct of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security personnel, who opened fire on striking workers at the Centurion depot, injuring several in the process. The right to strike and protest is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and protected by the Labour Relations Act. For law enforcement officers and hired security to respond to peaceful pickets with live ammunition and rubber bullets is not only unlawful but a shameful throwback to the brutal policing tactics of apartheid.
Workers do not deserve bullets for demanding fairness, they deserve justice, dignity, and safety. SAFTU demands an immediate investigation into the violent actions of SAPS and private security, and calls for accountability and disciplinary action against those responsible for the assault on workers exercising their constitutional rights.
Furthermore, SAFTU demands that Transpharm management return to the negotiating table in good faith and meet the workers’ reasonable demands. The company’s pleas of financial constraint ring hollow when it continues to expand operations nationally while refusing to bear the minimal cost of ensuring its employees can reach their workplace. No employer has the right to restructure operations in a manner that worsens the material conditions of workers and pushes them deeper into financial distress.
The struggle waged by NUPSAW members is not just about transport allowances, it is about the right of workers to refuse to carry the burden of corporate restructuring. SAFTU reaffirms the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all. Any attack on one section of the working class is an attack on the entire labour movement.
SAFTU calls on all its affiliates, community organisations, and progressive movements to stand in active solidarity with the NUPSAW strike and to defend the constitutional right to strike and protest wherever it is under attack.
The right to strike is sacred.
The right to life and safety is non-negotiable.
SAFTU will not stand idly by while workers are shot, intimidated, or criminalised for demanding justice and dignity.
A Statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at
Newton Masuku at:
Newton@saftu.org.za
0661682157
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
