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Cosatu has called for greater action from President Cyril Ramaphosa on corruption, as the country grapples with scandals involving alleged tender irregularities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade union federation has joined the growing calls for strong action against corrupt officials using the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich themselves. Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu spokesperson said workers are really disillusioned on the ground. "These workers are actually sitting at the PSCBC trying to resolve the issue of their wage increases that were not given to them in April, they wake up to these headlines. They see that millions of taxpayers' money is being paid to people who couldn't have told you what PPE is in January."

"You have people on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, who are dying on a daily basis, who have not been paid their salary adjustments and they wake up to read that there is money but that money is going to those who are politically connected."

Pamla said the trade union still supports and believes in the president's commitment to fighting corruption but said they would need more than promises going forward. "We are in a crisis, so what we want to see is much more than proclamations being signed with no outcomes. The fact of the matter is that he does have the powers and we want to see him using those powers but not only using them, we want to see results," Pamla said.