The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) expresses its full solidarity with its affiliate, the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU), and the Union Against Hunger (UAH) in their campaign for justice for the 28 Sunbake workers who were dismissed in 2023.
SAFTU calls on all workers, trade unionists, community organisations, progressive formations, students, faith-based organisations and all those who believe that no human being should go hungry to join the picket outside the South African Human Rights Commission’s National Investigative Hearing into South Africa’s food system on Friday, 10 July 2026, in Braamfontein.
This struggle is about far more than the fate of 28 workers.
It exposes one of the greatest contradictions of South Africa’s economy: the workers who plant, harvest, process, bake, transport and sell food are themselves trapped in poverty and hunger. Millions of workers cannot afford the very products they produce. There can be no greater indictment of an economic system than one that condemns food producers to food insecurity.
The Sunbake workers were entitled to receive bread under an existing workplace agreement. The dispute concerns allegations that some workers exceeded the agreed allocation. Even if those allegations were accepted, SAFTU believes the dismissal of 28 workers was grossly disproportionate. Progressive discipline, engagement and corrective measures should always be preferred over destroying the livelihoods of workers and condemning their families to years of hardship.
Almost three years later, the punishment continues—not only for the dismissed workers, but for their children, partners and entire households who have lost income and security.
This case reminds us that hunger is not caused by a shortage of food. South Africa produces enough food to feed its people. Hunger exists because millions of working-class families cannot afford to buy the food they help produce. It is the direct consequence of poverty wages, unemployment, inequality and an economic system that places profit before human need.
That is why SAFTU supports the campaign led by FAWU and the Union Against Hunger. Their struggle is our struggle.
SAFTU further believes that discussions about South Africa’s food crisis cannot be separated from discussions about wages, labour rights and economic justice. A food system that generates enormous profits while those who produce the food remain hungry is fundamentally unjust.
We therefore support FAWU’s demands for:
- The immediate reinstatement of the 28 dismissed workers.
- Genuine engagement to resolve the dispute fairly.
- Recognition of the existing bread-allocation agreement.
- A review of workplace benefit systems through collective bargaining.
- Fair, corrective and proportionate disciplinary practices.
SAFTU also supports FAWU’s position that, should meaningful engagement fail, workers and communities have every right to consider lawful consumer action against companies that refuse to correct injustice.
We call on all progressive South Africans to stand shoulder to shoulder with the dismissed workers by joining tomorrow’s picket. Every victory won by workers strengthens the entire working class. Every injustice tolerated weakens us all.
An injury to one is an injury to all.
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku newtonm@saftu.org.za
0661682157
Media Officer: Asive Dyani 0719019564
