SOUTH AFRICAN trade unions urged yesterday for workers to support a national strike this month to challenge the power of what it called a “predatory elite” and press President Jacob Zuma to set up an inquiry into its influence on the government.

Trade union confederation Cosatu said that “in order to promote and defend the interests of workers, the working class and the poor,” trade unionists must mobilise “against this predatory elite and pushing for processes that will ultimately dismantle their network.”

Cosatu said it was prompted to call for action by “the revelations by the public protector that the current South African administration has been captured and there is a network of the predatory elite that is engaged in looting of state resources and corrupt activities.”