COSATU Today, 17 December 2009

COSATU mourns the passing of former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and dips its flags in honour of a liberation heroine. We send heartfelt condolences to her husband, who is also one of our great struggle stalwarts, the rest of her family and her many comrades.

COSATU recognises and respects the great sacrifices that Comrade Manto made, including many years in exile. She devoted her life to the struggle against racism and women’s oppression, and became a much loved and respected figure iin the liberation struggle.

COSATU disagreed sharply with the Minister’s views on the causes of HIV/Aids and the need to distribute antiretrovirals, and opposed her defiance of the ANC’s Stellenbosch Conference resolution on the question.

The federation will not however allow this disagreement to blind us to the many positive contributions Comrade Manto made throughout her life. As COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini says: “She made some mistakes by driving those policies but she was a human being. Her loss is a great loss. South Africa is losing a great leader of the ANC.”

1.2 ANC YL saddened Tshabalala-Msimang’s death

Floyd Shivambu, ANC YL Spokesperson, 16 December 2009

The ANCYL has received the news of the passing of Manto Tshabalala Msimang with absolute sadness. The movement has been deprived of a steadfast and committed cadre.

Manto has served in the youth section of the ANC whilst in exile.

She went on to the ANC up to the level of its National Executive Committee with dignity and has at all times displayed exceptional leadership in her numerous roles and responsibilities including as Deputy Minister of Justice from 1996 -1999 and thereafter as Minister of Health from 1999-2008 and as Minister in the Presidency in 2008 -2009. Her significant commitment to the people of South Africa and the continent is certainly indelible.

As the ANCYL we particularly acknowledge the sterling role she demonstrated as Minister in the Presidency focusing on Youth, women and Children in ensuring the adoption of the National Youth Development Agency Bill aimed towards realising holistic Youth Development for the young people of South Africa as a task driven by the ANCYL.

As a cadre and true revolutionary, Manto had received numerous degrees and a diploma including a medical degree at the First Lenin Graduate Medical Institute.

It is with despair that the ANCYL acknowledges the loss of an inspiring leader of the glorious ANC especially during the festive season.

The wisdom and expertise of Manto will be missed.

The ANCYL further conveys its deepest and sincerest condolences to Mendi Msimang, their daughters and family during the time of bereavement.

1.3 DENOSA shocked at the passing away of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Asanda Fongqo, DENOSA Communications Officer, 17 December 2009

DENOSA has learnt with shock and sadness of the passing away of Dr Manto Tshabalala- Msimang yesterday.

The union notes and appreciates the immense contribution of this struggle heroine in the liberation of our country.

DENOSA sends its heartfelt condolences to family, friends and to the entire liberation movement.

1.4 The YCLSA sends out condolences to the family of the late Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang

Buti Manamela, YCLSA National Secretary 16 December 2009

The YCL has noted with great sadness and mourns the sudden passing on, of Dr. Manto Tshabalala Msimang(former Deputy Minister of Justice and former Minister of Health) earlier today. It is the YCLSA’s understanding that Dr. Manto Tshabala Msimang died in the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical centre and Medi-Clinic ICU shortly before 3pm due to complications related to her first liver transplant in 2007.

The organisation extends its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and fellow comrades and colleagues in the ANC and Revolutionary Alliance. In as much as we have differed and challenged her on the implementation of both the ANC and Government strategy on Aids, we can never forget her unqualified contribution to the liberation of this country.

She will not only be remembered for her views on HIV/Aids, but also her role in fighting for democracy, non-racism, non-sexism and prosperity.

The YCL condemns the insensitive utterances of Gareth Cliff(5FM DJ); as much as there has been serious disagreements in the manner in which she approached the issue of HIV/Aids this does not justify derogatory utterances to a person of late considering that her family is grieving her death.

May her soul rest in peace

1.5 COSATU applauds SANDF salary increase

COSATU has welcomed the announcement that soldiers in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will receive salary increases, ranging from 2% to 65%, effective from 1 December 2009.

COSATU agrees with President Jacob Zuma - who endorsed a recommendation from the interim Defence Service Commission - that "we want a Defence Force that will recapture and rekindle the spirit of patriotism, selflessness and love for the people of our country”. We share his hope that the increase “will bring back pride and attract many young men and women to the calling of this nature; and above all, a Defence Force whose morale and discipline will inspire all South Africans”.

COSATU does not agree, however, that the establishment of a Defence Service Commission and its recommendation of a salary increase, in any way justify the banning of trade unions within the SANDF. The low levels of salaries revealed by the Commission confirms what the unions had been saying for many years – that the soldiers had legitimate grievances about their levels of pay and therefore need a strong union to improve their salaries and working conditions.

The Commission, which is appointed from above and not accountable to the rank and file, is no substitute for a trade union formed by and answerable to the membership.

The Constitution guarantees the right of all workers, with no exclusions, to form and join trade unions, and we will oppose strongly any move to ban unions in the armed forces.

1.6 SAMWU progresses leaps and bounds and eagerly awaits 2010.

Tahir Sema, SAMWU, Spokesperson, 17 December 2009

SAMWU, the biggest trade union in the local government sector has had a fruitful 2009 and eagerly awaits 2010.

The Union Successfully held its congress on the 3-6 November 2009, has successfully emerged from a national strike this year that has translated into a win for not only local government employees but for the entire working class in general, has drastically increased its membership despite a global capitalist crisis and has emerged politically stronger in all operating spheres. These are just a few of the successes the Union has experienced during 2009, however looking forward to 2010 there still are challenges we are faced with.

SAMWU’s struggle for decent working standards and decent living conditions will undoubtedly continue in 2010 and beyond, under the newly elected national office bearers.

The newly elected President of SAMWU Comrade Sam Molope had the following to say; “As SAMWU we are committed to continue to make advances towards the achievement of a better life for all in South Africa. Looking forward to 2010 we should not forget that there are challenges that we are faced with such as casualisation and poverty; our members and communities still live in shacks and hostels with no proper basic services in place. These and other challenges will undoubtedly be dealt with in 2010. We would also continue to protect the principle of worker control in the organization (decisions taken within the Union should be based on the views of ordinary members).”

SAMWU’s membership has increased drastically despite the capitalist economic crisis we currently find ourselves in. SAMWU would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate its staff in the provinces, head offices and branches for working tirelessly to ensure the organization is at the fore front of worker related issues. SAMWU would also like to applaud the exemplary courage shown by our heroic comrades in fighting vice and ridding municipalities of corruption. We will not tolerate our members being victimized for whistle blowing by Municipalities, we will vigorously continue to campaign against corrupt individuals, regardless of their status.

A total of thirty five SAMWU Branches exist throughout the country. Together these branches represent a total number of over 136 000 SAMWU members, therefore placing huge responsibility on the Branch leadership in general and shopstewards to maintain a vibrant organization from the bottom up. SAMWU also has 9 provincial offices and two head offices.

SAMWU continues to play an active role in the affairs of individual municipalities and plays a vital role in policy making. Forming an imperative part of our policy agenda is the restructuring of local government, which will see us campaigning for the removal of provincial government as a sphere of government to allow for a two-sphere state with local government playing a significant role in service delivery; many municipalities are plagued with corruption and are not financially viable.

Equally important to us is the fight against temporary employment in municipalities and the eradication of labour brokers. We commit ourselves to fight for those who have been employed on temporary contracts as opposed to permanent contracts.

SAMWU both politically and from an organizational point of view has progressed leaps and bounds. We will continue to confront organizational and workplace challenges with the utmost vigour in 2010, critical in the strengthening of the organization and the emancipation of our members.

1.7 Over 13 000 mineworkers down tools

Lesiba Seshoka, NUM’s Head: Media & Communications

Over thirteen thousands mineworkers has today downed tools at Goldfields‘s Driefontein mine to mourn the death of two mineworkers who lost their lives last week.

The workers will gather at Driefontein Sports Arena at 10H00 for a memorial service and will later disperse.

The day of mourning is organized in terms of the NUM resolution that workers should observe it for every fatality that takes place.

1.8 Act NOW!

South Africa: Sun International must negotiate with strikers - not try to break their union

More than 3,500 SACCAWU members at the Sun International South Africa have been on strike since 4 December 2009 for wage increases and improved working conditions. The country has become one of the premier tourist destinations in the world and saw the company more than doubling over the last few years.

Throughout the period of negotiations which stretched over months now, management has demonstrated extremely bad faith, continuously derailing the negotiations, this is despite all efforts by the union to settle the strike. Since the beginning of the strike more than thirty union members have been arrested while other workers are continuously being provoked, harassed and subjected to all sorts of racial insults from the police and private security firms as the attempts to break the strike continue.

The last negotiations, just when it appeared that a agreement was reached, short of both parties agreeing on the text of the resolution and signing it the company once again returned to a pre-strike position as the final position. The union is of the opinion that this is a deliberate strategy by the company to break the strike.

http://www.labourstart.org/sun

1.9 SAMA member attacked

SAMA President, 16 December 2009

Another week, another crime... SAMA has expressed shock at the brutal assault on Dr Marius Pretorius by heartless criminals.

Dr Pretorius, an ophthalmologist and member of SAMA, from Vereeniging was assaulted at his home by ruthless criminals six days ago.

His eyes were nearly gouged out in the process. It is our concern that crime continues to ravage the country unabated notwithstanding the renewed efforts by government to root out criminal elements. It is worse in that there is tardiness (perceived or real) on the par of the authorities entrusted with the power to investigate these heinous crimes. Criminals seem to act with impunity.

The assault on Dr Pretorius mirrors similar assaults on those citizens who have committed themselves to saving the lives of others. Doctors who remain in the country have a choice to leave the country in pursuit of safer areas of residence but Dr Pretorius chose to stay and serve our country and its people.

SAMA hopes the perpetrators are apprehended and the maximum penalties are imposed on those responsible. We can only be happy that Dr Pretorius and his wife survived this attack.

SAMA calls on all South Africans to unite against crime and deal with it with the joint commitment it deserves.

The leadership of SAMA empathies with the Pretorius family and also wish the couple a speedy and full recovery.

1.10 Poor working class denied justice

Solly Nani Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 15 December 2009

COSATU in the North West province is continuing to expose the injustice, which is taking place in the local magistrate court against the black African poor working class who are being discriminated with racial attacks.

On the 11 December 2009 Ben Burger, the owner of a racist company called Falcon Security and alleged promoter of a racist song insulting the president and poor workers, appeared at Mogwase magistrates court. The matter was withdrawn with no reason that can be put to the public.

On the 14 December 2009 Anid Lynette who was working for 247 Security Company that racially harassed and discriminated the poor women at Sun City on 21 November 2009 appeared at the same court. The matter was postponed to 25 January 2010 for her to get a lawyer and to bring her witness with addition of orders. The charge against her: indecent assault.

The George Stegman inquest matter. The officials of government were represented by a state Attorney; the poor women (Mrs. Motaung) who lost her son because of the poor health care facilities and negligence of the hospital management, was instructed to get herself a lawyer. The matter was postponed to 29 January 2010.

All this is happening due to the capital power that the perpetrators have. Justice is controlled by those who have a lot of money, and they will not be arrested. But if you don’t have money your voice will not be heard. You will be assaulted, racially attacked, called baboons, pigs or “kaffir”. This is what is taking place at Mogwase local magistrate court and others in the province.

COSATU is preparing to fight all these cases with their own lawyer at the high court, right up to the national prosecution office. 2010 will be our own year of action, real practical action. The year of

reconciliation is over. We will be exposing the corrupt court, including magistrates who are biased to those who are in capital power.

2. South Africa

2.1 SASCO on the Recent contestations between the ANC YL, YCL & SACP

Mbulelo Mandlana, SASCO President, 16 December 2009

We support the call for the nationalization of the mines and seek to see it result in the socialization of both the production process and the share of the proceeds that would be generated from this nationalization. But, we are shocked, dismayed and disappointed by the lukewarm support for nationalization shown by the South African Communist Party. We raise this because we would have expected the Party of Socialism to be over-enthusiastic to find that ultimately, its views have found resonance even in the ranks of the ANCYL. Rather than take advantage of this and enrich the debate, the SACP leadership has become dismissive and overly cautious.

We reject the populist attempts by the ANCYL to opportunistically and factionally use support or lack of support for nationalization as a yardstick to elect leadership. Leadership cannot be elected on the basis of one issue. We therefore reject the Julius formula of electing leadership, either in the ANC or in the MDM as a whole.

The booing of Julius Malema in the SACP conference must be condemned and discouraged. However, it would be foolhardy of Julius Malema to expect a red-carpet treatment accompanied by loud cheers or applause from Party delegates after calling their Deputy General Secretary a “white messiah”.

It is wrong for the ANCYL without evidence and armed with nothing else but anger to insinuate that the Party leadership orchestrated the booing of comrade Julius in the SACP’s 2^ND Special Congress. We therefore condemn the childish manner in which the ANCYL has responded to the booing of Julius Malema in the SACP Conference. Rather than request the Party leadership to act against those who booed Malema, the ANCYL finds the Party leadership guilty of conspiring with delegates, and as a result declares war on the Party rather than on ill-disciplined SACP delegates.

Would it then be correct to blame the previous leadership of the ANCYL for the throwing of chairs and even exposure of buttocks by ANCYL delegates in last years ANCYL National Congress?

We condemn the opportunistic and factional isolation of Comrade Gwede Mantashe by the leadership of the ANCYL. In fact, we believe that the recent criticism of comrade Mantashe for independent actions of SACP delegates is used to mask a well-calculated strategy to isolate comrade Mantashe and present him as an irresponsible Secretary General, whose capacity to lead must be left questionable. By raising the issue of conflict of interest, does the ANCYL really want to suggest that no leader of the ANC must hold positions both in the Party and the ANC? What then of many of its NEC members? If there is nothing wrong with its NEC members as stated in its press briefing, what makes it wrong in relation to comrade Mantashe? Something more than what meets the eye is at play here!

We thank the leadership of the ANCYL for raising issues sharply. However, no amount of provocation justifies racist insults at comrades. No amount of disagreement turns comrade Jeremy Cronin (a veteran of our movement) into a mini-Tony Leon that needs to be dismissed at every point as a white chauvinist. The ANCYL needs to desist from making interventions that may leave a permanent scar that will last beyond the current debate such as they did when they called comrade Jeremy Cronin a “white messiah”.

It is unacceptable that the ANCYL describes the leadership of the Party “yellow communists”. Read for what it is, this is calling for an internal revolt against the SACP leadership. Instead of fighting through the media, the SACP and ANCYL must hold an urgent bilateral meeting to compose their differences and chart a way forward.

The problems that face South Africans are far-reaching, and need more than anger and egos to resolve.

2.2 President appoints new SABC board

SOS, 17 December 2009

The President of the Republic, Mr Jacob Zuma today, in terms of section 13(1) of the Broadcasting Act 44 of 1999 (the Act) appointed, with effect

from 10 January 2010, twelve non-executive members of the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as recommended by the National

Assembly.

These are:

* Mr Cedric Sabelo Gina

* Ms Phillipa "Pippa" Green

* Mr Peter John Harris

* Ms Barbara Masekela

* Mr Magathe Mello

* Mr Nkotomane Motsepe

* Dr Baldwin "Ben'' Ngubane

* Mr David Niddrie

* Ms Claire O'Neil

* Ms Felleng Sekha

* Ms Suzanne Vos

* Mr Desmond Golding

In terms of section 13(3) of the Act, the President has designated Dr Ben Ngubane as Chairperson of the Board and Ms Felleng Sekha as Deputy Chairperson of the SABC Board.

Dr Ngubane, a highly regarded former Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and former South African ambassador to Japan, will bring the necessary expertise and depth of experience required in a weighty position of this nature.

Ms Sekha brings extensive experience in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, having served in various positions, including as chairperson of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the National Telecommunications Forum. She was also actively involved in the Telecommunications Policy process leading to the enactment of the South African Telecommunications Act of 1996, which will assist the board in this era of convergence between telecommunications and broadcasting.

The President thanks Ms Irene Charnely and the entire interim Board for the excellent manner in which they have steered the SABC forward under challenging conditions, bringing about stability.

The President wishes the new Board members well in their task of strengthening the public broadcaster and to build an SABC that will efficiently and effectively execute the mandate of informing, educating and entertaining citizens and the world.

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