Exporters Western Cape (EWC) has raised concerns about potential disruptions to supply chains ahead of a nationwide protest action scheduled for Friday, 19 June.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will stage marches and pickets across all nine provinces to protest against the rising cost of living in South Africa. The federation filed a formal notice for the protected action under Section 77(1)(d) of the Labour Relations Act with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) on 3 June.

Cosatu says workers and communities across South Africa are facing a deepening cost of living crisis, with households forced into a debt spiral as the prices of basic goods and services continue to rise while wages fail to keep pace.

The trade union federation cites research indicating that consumers are taking home approximately 47% less in real terms than they did a decade ago, while the costs of essential services such as electricity, water, food and transport have increased dramatically.

Cosatu’s demands include the reduction of water and electricity tariffs, lower fuel and food prices, an end to austerity measures and the extension of the social wage, full enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and progress towards a living wage, an increase in social grants, and the introduction of a Universal Basic Income Grant.

The federation’s broader demands also include the abandonment of what it terms “neo-liberal” economic policies, restricting retrenchments to insolvent companies only, and a legally enforceable job-creation summit via Nedlac.

Transnet Port Terminals has advised that waterside operations are expected to continue as planned, but landside operations may face delays due to access constraints and congestion arising from the protest action.

Exporters Western Cape (EWC) has noted Transnet’s advisory and expressed concern about the economic consequences of any disruption to South Africa’s supply chains.

“While acknowledging the constitutional right to protest, EWC is concerned about the impact on exporters who continue to operate in an increasingly uncertain global trading environment,” said Terry Gale, EWC chairperson.

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Recent improvements in port performance have provided some encouragement. According to the latest World Bank Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025, Durban, Ngqura and Port Elizabeth recorded some of the strongest year-on-year improvements globally, although South African ports continue to rank among the lower-performing ports internationally and remain in a recovery phase.

“The logistics sector has worked hard to restore confidence in South Africa’s supply chains, but that recovery remains fragile,” Gale said. “Every stakeholder has a responsibility to consider the broader economic consequences of actions that disrupt trade and logistics networks. Exporters operate in highly competitive international markets where reliability and certainty are critical.”

Gale warned that any disruption, even if temporary, can result in delays, increased costs and reputational damage that ultimately affects South Africa’s competitiveness.

EWC welcomed Transnet’s efforts to prepare for potential disruptions and minimise any impact on operations.

“As a country, we can ill afford setbacks to the progress that has been achieved in recent months. South Africa’s exporters are competing for market share in a difficult global environment and depend on reliable logistics networks to honour commitments to customers around the world. Disruptions to supply chains do not only affect logistics operators – they affect exporters, producers, workers and ultimately the wider economy,” Gale said.

Because the protest is registered as a protected action under the Labour Relations Act, participating employees are generally protected from dismissal or disciplinary action for their involvement. Cosatu has called on workers not to be intimidated or victimised by employers for exercising their constitutional right to fair labour practice and freedom of association.

EWC has encouraged exporters to engage proactively with their logistics service providers regarding contingency planning.

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