COSATU Today, Tuesday 01 December 2009

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins the people of the world on World AIDS day, 1 December 2009, in recommitting ourselves to the fight to drive back the devastating HIV/Aids pandemic, which continues to sweep through the country, claiming thousands of lives.

We bow our heads in memory of all the people who have died due to AIDS and related HIV infections like TB. We also need to give strength to all people living with HIV, and make a commitment to give them support and justice.

The federation is greatly encouraged by the spirit of unity between government and civil society around the issue. The new government is intent on turning the tide on HIV and we particularly welcome the President’s decision to have himself tested on World’s Aids Day.

COSATU also applauds the new Minster of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, on the progress he has made to date, and his rejection of any trace of denialism. When he addressed COSATU’s Central Executive Committee on 23-24 November 2009 he confirmed that the level of HIV/Aids is a national emergency, with infections at 23 times the global average.

HIV/Aids and the TB, which is the main cause of death amongst HIV+ people, is a far bigger cause of death than violent crime of road accidents yet attracts far less media attention.

The CEC demonstrated its commitment to the campaign for voluntary testing by opening a wellness centre, at which CEC members, led by the COSATU Office Bearers, were tested for HIV and other health matters.

We would like to all encourage workers, shop stewards and leaders in the labour movement to join the campaign on voluntary HIV counselling and testing on 1 December.

The CEC pledged its full support for the SANAC campaign to reduce the rate of infections by 50% and get ARV treatment to 80% of those who need it. We welcome the Global Fund’s approval of funding for South Africa of $108 974 360 million, an indication that the resource mobilisation committee through the minister’s leadership understands that as a country facing a high rate of HIV infection we need all the resources we can get.

COSATU are very concerned however that strategies and mechanisms to deal with the deepening HIV and AIDS crisis are still not sufficient to tackle the challenges we face. SANAC is providing the leadership we expected when it was restructured in 2007. It has begun to make progress in the last few months to achieve its work in line with the HIV National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2007-2011. But it has only another 18 months to be implemented and we are worried about progress in meeting its targets.

SANAC has appointed a fulltime senior management team, with Dr. Nono Simelela as CEO. Its secretariat is also being re-constituted at the Development Bank of Southern Africa. These steps will go a long way to giving SANAC the ability to coordinate and oversee the national response to HIV and AIDS. As we have noted above, however, a lot of work still has to be done.

Dealing with HIV in the workplace is one of the key issues of the decent work agenda, but there is a growing number of workers employed on a casual basis or by contractors who are less likely to benefit from anti-HIV workplace initiatives, because these mostly only target permanent workers.

During the 17^th International AIDS conference in Mexico City, in August 2008, 40 trade unionists from 20 countries representing the International Trade Union Confederation and the Global Union Federations emphasized the role of workplace-based action in combating HIV/AIDS.

The world of work emerged as a major theme at the conference, which highlighted the impact of AIDS on the productive population of some of the world's most vulnerable economies, as well as the need for successful mobilisation of the workplace as an entry point for AIDS responses. 2010 is the deadline for universal access to treatment set by world leaders; the question is whether South Africa going to be able to do that.

Let us all use 1 December 2009 as the day when we pledge as a nation that this is a battle we absolutely cannot afford to lose.

1.2 SAMWU supports government’s change of stance to HIV and AIDS

Tahir Sema, SAMWU’s National Media and Publicity officer, 30th November 2009

It is at this time of year, when World Aids Day comes around, that we are able to reflect on where we are as a community, country, a continent and as a Working Class Movement in relation to HIV/Aids.

What we can state categorically is that there has been a ‘wind of change’ in Governments responses to the HIV/Aids crisis compared to the cold, distant and denial-ridden period that characterised the previous Presidency of our country. It is now acknowledged that the culture of denialism and its paralysing impact on public consciousness about HIV/Aids has cost us dearly. Conservative estimates put the number who has died as a result of not seeking or being ill-advised about treatment at over 300,000. This is a truly shocking indictment and we must all bear some of the responsibility for allowing it to configure our thinking and the inadequate responses it produced.

For many generations to come there will be thousands of families made up of children only, who will be parentless. There will be orphans begging on the streets of our cities who have lost everything. There will be countless others still traumatised at losing loved ones in a climate of silence and fear.

SAMWU would like to congratulate those who stood firm against the tsunami of denial; the thousands of nurses and carers who witnessed the devastation of the disease, the community activists that ran workshops and meetings to counter denialism and tell the truth and the few politicians who said that the arguments emanating from the Presidency and the Department of Health were misguided, harmful and irresponsible. We would like to congratulate our comrades in the TAC and COSATU who refused to be bludgeoned into silence.

Our Government has started the long hard road back from the brink of catastrophe, and has embraced the insights of the TAC and COSATU. It is committed to rolling out treatment to every corner of the country. We congratulate the Government for this. We do know however, through our own membership networks of community health workers that many of the old delusional ideas continue to limit the responses that should be developed. We know that some hospitals turn patients away, and that many of our poorer communities remain at risk of devastation. This must come to an end once and for all.

We also acknowledge that as a Movement, we do not do all that we can to defeat HIV/Aids; we rarely tackle the silences that dominate the funerals we attend when the cause of death is raised. We stand on the sidelines as we witness our comrades and loved ones descend into ill health. We fail to tackle the misinformation born of ignorance that we hear in our communities and workplaces. We say we stand with our comrades who are affected and infected, but what does this mean in practice? We know we have a special responsibility to challenge the stigmatism that allows those affected by HIV/Aids the space to be discriminated against.

Lets us all recommit ourselves to making an unambiguous commitment to the fight against HIV/Aids. Let us take responsibility for ourselves, our communities, our workplaces, and for our class. Let’s make HIV/Aids history!

1.3 COSATU Mpumalanga launches 16 Days of Activism Campaign

Abigail Mathebula, COSATU Mpumalanga Gender Coordinator, 30 November 2009

On 26 November 2009 more than 60 delegates from all the COSATU affiliates and COSATU locals in Mpumalanga gathered at the NUMSA Hall to launch the 16 days of activism campaign in a summit that was vibrant and revolutionary.

Delegates to the summit vowed to use the 16 days of activism to put on the public agenda in the Province the plight of women and children who are exposed to abuse and exploitation by their employers from the farms and domestic households.

Women and children in farms earn as little as R300.00 per month; they work more than ten hours a day, they are sexually abused by their bosses and supervisors; their employers refuse to comply with the labour laws of this country.

As long as the capitalist brutal and evil system remains hegemonic in society, the emancipation of women and children will remain a pipe dream.

Under capitalism, women and children are exposed to domestic violence and rape; they get treated as the hewers of wood and drawers of water; they are underpaid and under-employed; they are exposed to unequal power relations that lead to patriarchy.

During the next 360 days, COSATU in Mpumalanga will engage in activities aimed at educating and bringing awareness on the plight of women and children at the workplace, in business and in society.

We call upon all South African to use this sixteen days of action to develop strategies to deal with Women and Children abuse wherever it manifest itself.

1.4 Football players deserve on the World AIDS Day - SAFPU

Thulani Njapa SAFPU’s Communications Coordinator, 01 December 2009

On the occasion of addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 29^th Oct 2009, President Jacob Zuma said “We will need to mobilise all South Africans to take responsibility for their health and well-being and that of their partners, their families and their communities.

All South Africans must know that they are at risk and must take informed decisions to reduce their vulnerability to infection, or, if infected, to slow the advance of the disease. Most importantly, all South Africans need to know their HIV status, and be informed of the treatment options available to them.

There should be no shame, no discrimination, no recriminations. We must break the stigma surrounding AIDS.” This call for us at South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) is a clarion call that as we continue to excite people about their most loved sport - football, we must also take responsibility and correctly use our status as celebrities to challenge South Africans to do the right thing – get tested, to know your status and if one is negative, one should practice ABC (abstain, be faithful or condomise), and if one is positive then one must get treatment early, stick to the treatment regime and enjoy a fruitful long live.

SAFPU needs the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and South African Football Association (SAFA) leadership to take responsibility and assist the players as well. The teams are employers, and they are duty bound to put in place workplace HIV and AIDS policies. No PSL team has a HIV and AIDS workplace policy, and this is travesty to justice. SAFA as well does not have an HIV and AIDS policy, which is not acceptable. The players are the most important commodity, and we know as the Union that the players are not immune. Before the situation reaches crisis proportions, something must be done, and something must be done now!. This World AIDS day presents an opportunity for the football administrators to rise to the challenge and be responsible.

It is within this context of taking responsibility that SAFPU has developed a campaign called SHOW ME YOUR NUMBER. Through this campaign, we are involved in the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) processes, and in a small way we are contributing towards the attainment of the objectives of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, TB and STI’s 2007 – 2011. We call on all sporting codes – from players, technical staff, administrators and the fans to join in this battle being waged by South Africa against this pandemic. No retreat, no surrender!

The 2010 FIFA World Cup presents an opportunity for South Africa to showcase to the world that as a nation, we do take responsibility both on an off the field of play. As footballers, we are heroes, and as heroes we save lives, both our own lives and the lives of the fans who look up to us. The 2010 FIFA World Cup should leave a lasting Legacy that in part should read – I took responsibility for my HIV and AIDS status by using the World Cup as a launching pad. When the World Cup is over, and the Brazilians are getting excited about hosting this global spectacle in 2014, we in South Africa should be in the final push to win the war against this pandemic.

Simba Marumo, President of SAFPU says “We cannot have a situation where football players, or any celebrity for that matter dying from AIDS, is hiding from society and afraid to disclose their status just because they are afraid of stigma attached with disclosure. This disease is here, and it is a part of us, and the best way to defeat it’s impact is to deal with it openly”. In the same manner that we speak about the beloved football players, teams and administrators, in the same way that we are passionate about Bafana Bafana winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we need to use the same energy in this battle against HIV and AIDS. For us at SAFPU, we call on all South Africans to sing with us as we say SHOW ME YOUR NUMBER. The battle against HIV and AIDS will be won when we all take responsibility.

1.5 NUM joins million on World Aids Day commemoration and 16 Days of Activism Campaign

Shane Choshane. National Union of Mineworkers

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) today joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day, under the theme ‘Universal Access and Human Rights.’

Although the fight against the HIV and AIDS is gaining momentum many challenges remain complex in the industries in which we organize. Some companies have managed to lower infection rates, but progress remains uneven, as these successes are off set by lay-offs and poor nutrition in mining canteens. NUM appeals to employers to offer comprehensive support system to workers especially mining communities.

The face of mining industry is fast changing from single sex to communal accommodation and we appeal to companies to take conscious view of these developments and provide necessary resources in line with government strategies. Resourcing the empowerment of mining communities we believe is central to reversing the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

As South Africa celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the 16 days of Activisms Campaign for No Violence against Women and Children we encourage our members to speak out about HIV, report abuse; accept and show sympathy for people living with HIV.

We further applaud the determination of the new ANC government in taking the lead to reverse the devastating effect of the pandemic.

1.6 ANC YL calls for comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS

Magdalene Moonsamy, ANC YL Spokesperson, 30 November 2009

The ANCYL joins the world in marking World AIDS Day, on the 1st December 2009 under the theme, Universal Access and Human Rights.

The ANCYL reaffirms the right to live, the right to health and access for all to HIV prevention treatment care and support as an imperative of the Universal Access to HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care and recognises these as fundamental human rights and believes that young people should live full and prosperous lives.

The ANCYL acknowledges with concern that half of the 33.4 million people living with HIV around the world become infected before they are 25 years old and die of AIDS by the time they reach 35 years of age.

This is tragic reality that requires urgent action and a comprehensive response in order to defeat the disease and the negative impact on the lives of young people.

The ANCYL believes that the implications of HIV on the youth of South Africa cannot go unnoticed especially when it is the youth that inspire society and further emphasise the 23rd National Congress Resolutions to achieve zero infections amongst youth by 2014.

The ANCYL therefore calls for Prevention to be the language of society in ensuring the mass distribution of male and female condoms.

We further call for the acceleration of the process towards Professionalisation of Youth Workers in order to ensure that support is propelled in order to provide adequate treament, care and support to young epople who are living with HIV and AIDS but also to ensure that the circle of care is comprehensive.

The ANCYL sees the destigmatisation of HIV and AIDS as fundamental to its zero infections campaign and calls for clinics to be friendly and accessible to young people, the acceleration of a comprehensive health care programme and that the provision of ARV's at all health care facilities, this must include the close monitoring of side effects.

As The ANCYL we are committed to ensuring that there is an ongoing programme targetting young men on gender equality and build the confidence of young women to and to be able to negotitae and decide on their reproductive rights we find ourselves within the ambit of the 16 Days of Activism against the violence against Women and Children.

The ANCYL has initiated a Campaign against Substance and Alcohol Abuse as we believe that it further provokes the rate of infection and reiterates the call for the banning of advertising of alcohol.

The ANCYL continues to reaffirm the One Boyfriend, One Girlfriend Campaign and calls upon the young people of South Africa to practice safe sex at all times. No Condom...No Sex!!! One Condom...One Round!!!

1.7 SADTU commemorates World AIDS Day

Nomusa Cembi, SADTU’s Media Officer, 01 December 2009

SADTU has joined the entire country and the world in marking World Aids Day under the theme “I am responsible, we are responsible, South Africa is taking responsibility”.

SADTU realises the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their lives and therefore urge our members to get tested so that they know their status and take the necessary precautions.

Through our Prevention Palliative Care for Teachers, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (PPCT-OVC) Project, we have seen a dramatic increase in the uptake and demand for voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) by both male and female members through our “Know your status campaign” which takes place in all union events where VCT services are made available to members.

When the Project began in 2007, the numbers of those who came forth for counseling and testing were as low as eight per event. The figures have now risen to as high as 142 per event.

The Project was launched with the aim of using the Union’s structures – 9 provincial, 54 regional and 553 branch offices and over 20,000 school site committees – to roll out a programme of increased access to HIV/AIDS prevention, awareness, voluntary counseling and testing, care, treatment and support, to reduce stigma and discrimination in the workplace and school community by promoting human rights and a safe environment.

The Project is aligned with the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS for 2007-2011.

It targets educators, orphans and vulnerable children in schools. A total of 3 318 orphaned and vulnerable children from six out of the nine provinces, have their education needs such as uniforms, school shoes and toiletries provided for through the Orphans and Vulnerable Programme. The children are also taught life skills to enable them to report any form of abuse, know their rights and responsibilities, respect other people’s rights, personal hygiene and self-respect.

The PPCT-OVC grew out of the PCTA pilot project funded by PEPFAR (Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) through the CDC (Centre for Disease Control), and rolled out by the Solidarity Centre and AFT (American Federation of Teachers) in partnership with teacher unions. The pilot project’s achievements include the following:

Over 10,000 educators trained as peer educators to run peer education schools on HIV/AIDS issues in KZN, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape
Over 1000 educators accessed voluntary counseling and testing (VCT)
Over 500 educators accessed ART (Anti-retroviral treatment)
A number of support groups were established
1,500 trained peer educators were regularly reporting through the monitoring and evaluation system put in place.

1.8 SACCAWU takes World AIDS Day to the workplace

Mike Abrahams, SACCAWU Media Officer, 01 December 2009

16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children is an International Campaign that takes place every year. The Campaign starts on 25 November and ends on 10 December. These 16 days are used to highlight the widespread problem of Violence Against Women and Children.

The 25^th November, the day on which the Campaign starts, has its roots when the First Feminist Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean held in 1981, declared the 25^th as an International Day Against Violence of Women and Children. The protest day was called to commemorate the death of the three Mirabal sisters in 1960 at the hands of the Dominican dictator Rafeal Trujilo and to condemn violence against women. The United Nations in 1999 then officially recognized the 25^th of November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women.

Since then the campaign has received widespread momentum as is part of the programme of progressive governments, NGO’s, women and feminist organisations, trade unions, social movements etc. who all want to see an end to the widespread violence. Both women and men have spoken out against the carnage. The 16 days is significant because there us also other important days which highlight the plight of women and that violence against women is a human rights violation.

The 1^st of December marks World Aids Day, this is an important day as there is a close link between gender violence and the spread of HIV/Aids, this is so because women are unable to negotiate due violence and other forms of oppression. The virus has a number of consequences women, as they are not only more vulnerable to being infected but also have to bear the burden of caring for the sick and orphans.

SACCAWU joins the campaign by doing the following:

►Raise Awareness at the workplace and community by having discussions for half an hour on 1^st December,

►Organise and distribute white and red ribbons and pamphlets at your workplace, shopping areas and communities,

►Join other organisations activities on World Aids Day and December 10

Include in your discussion the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace. Sexual Harassment is a form of violence and discrimination against women. Discuss what actions we can take to end violence and to establish a world free of violence based on respect for all human beings.

1.9 World Aids Day commemoration at Ekhaya Park

Moses Ka Moyo, Chairperson of the Friends of the Inner-city Forum, 30 November 2009

Inner-city Residents have been invited to gather at Ekhaya Park, in Hillbrow (Claim Street), at 6:30pm on Tuesday, December 1, to mark the international day of HIV and Aids awareness.

Pamphlets and condoms will be distributed at the Event. Friends of the Inner-city Forum Chairperson, Moses Ka Moyo, said: "The vigil is a chance to reflect on those we have lost and to celebrate the lives of those who are living with HIV and Aids."

Moyo Further urged that the community turn out for the Vigil in numbers to help remember, mourn, and celebrate the lives of those the world has lost to AIDS.

It is against this background that in the Morning of the 1^st Of December, Friends of the Inner-city Forum will be joining hands with the South African AIDS Council (SANAC) and government at the Pretoria show grounds to mark the World AIDS Day under the theme “I AM RESPONSIBLE, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE, SOUTH AFRICA IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY”.

Friends of the Inner-city Forum calls on all Inner-city Residents to join hands in the continuing fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS.

1.10 COSATU Limpopo embarks on Operation Safe Season

Dan Sebabi, Limpopo Provincial Secretary, 30 November 2009

COSATU in Limpopo Province hereby throws its full weight behind the 2009 Arrive Alive Campaign and the Operation Safer Festive Season itself.

COSATU notes that road fatalities in our country and our province are quite high, costing our economy our economy roughly R 50 million, mostly due to human errors and unroadworthy vehicles, killing more than 14 000 people.

After careful consideration of the facts above , we have decided to JOIN HANDS with your department and to add our voice in the relentless fight we must wage and sustain.

The federation will therefore deploy its PEC Members to various operation centres as follows :

1. Mokopane to Polokwane: Provincial Deputy Chairperson

Cde. Essop Mokgonyana.

2. Mantsole to Modimolle : Provincial Secretary

Cde. Dan Sebabi.

3. Polokwane to Tzaneen : Provincial Chairperson.

Cde. Ronnie Moroatshehla

4. Polokwane to Makhado: Provincial Treasure.

Cde. Kate Matlou

5. Makhado to Musina : PEC Members

Cde. Alphy Sebola

Cde. Berrick Maluleke.

Forward to a safer festive season, forward!

1.11 COSATU set the record straight on Sun City racial trial

Solly Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 01 December 2009

COSATU in the North West province has rejected the views of some racist media, and people who are leading a racial agenda against workers in Sun City and in the farms.

COSATU wants to put on record that the racist case against Marieta Le Roux is not withdrawn. It has been struck off the roll, due to unprocedural matters that were misled to the court by a few officials of the Department of Justice at Mogwase Local Magistrate Court.

The matter will be re-submitted to the Equality Court early in 2010. Marieta Le Roux insulted our members in June 2009 and called them baboons. To us as African black workers and the poor working class and this is the serious insult and racist.

In a period of only three to four months more than three racial incidents took place in Sun City. Anyone who is in the process of taking COSATU and its leaders to court, to sue, threaten, intimidate and victimize us is wasting his or her own time.

Ø In June 2009 Marieta Le Roux called people or workers baboons, and said they smell like baboons.

Ø In October 2009 workers and the President Mandela were called “kaffir” and be told that they are friends to baboons.

Ø In November 2009 poor women were subjected to strip off their clothes accused for stealing R40. 00 by white racist working for 247 Security Company.

Those who are in government, the private sector and some politicians must not interfere with our programme to fight racism and corruption both in Sun City and government.

Their political agenda and personal interests as shareholders will not stop our action. Those who have shares in 247 Security Company, Falcon Security, Tours in Sun City and many others must just keep quiet, and they must stop threatening us with the aim of making us run away from leading our campaign against racism and corruption. Both racism and corruption are criminal and they affect our economy and destroying our democracy.

COSATU is putting up legal people in the province to fight the case against Marieta Le Roux and other cases of racism in the province. Corrupt politicians, officials and those who are racists are not our friends.

Marieta’s case is on our programme, and come the new date for court we will be there. On 3 December 2009 we will be at Sun City main gate demanding 247 and Falcon Security company to be kicked out or else we will not leave the gate.

Mluleki Mntungwa (Communications Officer)

COSATU ICT Unit

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Street

Braamfontein

2007

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg

2000

South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940

E-Mail: mlu...@cosatu.org.za

image001.jpg

image018.jpg

image019.png

image020.png

image021.png

image002.jpg

image003.png

image006.jpg

image008.png

image010.gif

image011.png

image013.png

image016.png

image017.jpg

Reply all

Reply to author

Forward

0 new messages