COSATU Today, 18 March 2010

We will also use this gathering of the workers to mobilise workers for the May Day celebrations as well as the forthcoming General Strikes against the granted electricity tariff increase as well as in defence of decent jobs.

The Shop Stewards council will be addressed by the 1^st Deputy President of COSATU, Comrade Tyotyo James, as well as the Provincial Chairperson of the ANC, Comrade Fikile Block, and the Provincial Secretary of the SACP, Comrade Mahobe Shushu.

Workers, especially shop stewards, are invited to attend this highly enriching workers forum in their numbers.

1.2 COSATU protests labour broking

Solly Nani Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 18 March 2010

COSATU and its affiliates will be marching to the Premier of North West on 19 March 2010 at Mafikeng. The march will start from the Crossing Mall to the Provincial Legislature.

COSATU’s demands will include termination of the use of labour brokers in the government departments, municipalities and private companies that are doing business with the government. We demand the withdrawal of the letter terminating contract of employment of 200 community development workers who have been employed for ten years by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. This action is also preparing our members to fight against the high electricity increase which is currently affecting the poor working class and rural poor people.

COSATU calls all affiliates, members of the community, civil society and churches to support the protest action for better life for all.

2. South Africa

2.1 COSATU to oppose Metro Rail fare increases

Tony Ehrenreich, COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 18 March 2010

COSATU Western Cape is outraged at the intended fare increases by Metro Rail to be effective 1 April 2010 and will oppose its implementation.

COSATU will reinstate the Section 77 notice that gives COSATU members the right to bring the economy to a standstill should Metro Rail continue with this ill considered increases. These increases are to be opposed for the following reasons;

· there has been a reduction in service levels over the last 4 years, instead of an increase in services.

· the way they calculate the cost of a ride seeks to hold poor people responsible for having been housed far from the areas of work, so they are charged more for the length of a ride.

· the increases are way in excess of the inflation rate and will have a greater impact on poorer communities.

· should there be a need for greater increases these have to be justified and if need be, phased in over a few years.

· the levels of overcrowding has gotten worse in the last few years, and the relative as well as the absolute levels of services have declined.

This is an entirely unsatisfactory situation and coming on top of the Eskom increases as well as the taxi and bus increases poses a huge challenge to commuters. Workers and working families are having increasing difficulties to make ends meet and this increase will compound their desperation. The working class cannot carry any further burden of these price hikes across all areas. Metro Rail should go and negotiate the special prices with Eskom that Eskom have been granting big businesses, as a way to keep the prices down.

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2.2 Gauteng Alliance office bearers welcome ANC NEC decision

The Gauteng Alliance Provincial Office Bearers met on Monday 15^th March 2010 to deliberate on the state of the Alliance in Gauteng, service delivery in accordance with manifesto priorities and prepare for the Provincial Alliance Summit that is scheduled for 26-28^th March 2010.

The Alliance Office Bearers also received a briefing on the outcome of the ANC NEC meeting held on 12-13^th March 2010. The Alliance welcomed the decisions of the NEC on calling for action to stop public spats among the leadership of both the ANC and the Alliance. We support the call for taking disciplinary action against anyone who continues to engage in such acts of ill-discipline and disrespectful conduct which erode the standing and image of the ANC and the Alliance in the eyes of ordinary members and citizens.

The Alliance in Gauteng has its own challenges regarding its effective functioning and ability to work together on the ground in leading communities. However, mutual respect and comradely discussions have characterised the way we relate and work even when we have major disagreements on issues. We have avoided and will continue to avoid public spats, question each other’s bona fides, personalizing issues, spreading false rumours against each other and character assassination of those with whom you disagree.

We have developed a framework of protocols that should govern the functioning and workings of the Alliance in Gauteng which will be discussed and finalised by the forthcoming Provincial Alliance Summit. Once adopted, this framework will be our contribution to the way the National Alliance should function and work within the spirit of the decision of the recent ANC NEC. This framework is not a pact nor code of conduct but a political guide to build comradely relations among cadres who are committed to the cause of the National Democratic Revolution.

PROVINCIAL ALLIANCE SUMMIT

The Gauteng Alliance Summit is scheduled for the 26-28 March 2010. It is an important platform for political education, comradely and robust battle of ideas in order to improve the functioning of the alliance and enhance its ability to lead the people of Gauteng.

The Alliance has always fully understood that transformation is contested by different forces in society and many contradictions and tensions will arise in the process. Our Revolutionary Alliance seeks to resolve such contradictions in favour of progress that improves the quality of life of the workers and the poor. The need for a strong Alliance is even more urgent in the midst of such contestations and contradictions. Whatever challenges we face, the Alliance remains the only source of hope for the overwhelming majority of our people.

It is in this regard that the Alliance Summit will address fundamental issues that relate to the following:

· Current political challenges facing the National Democratic Revolution and the Alliance.

· State of the Alliance and framework to build a strong Alliance

· Commissions that will deal with: 2009 Manifesto priorities, public transport, political management of Governance; local government and building organizations.

The Alliance Summit will deliberate on efforts to intensify service delivery in ensuring quicker and more effective intervention in government. This will be done within the spirit of increasing social activism, organizational renewal and strengthening unity and cohesion in the alliance.

Service delivery protests

The Alliance has noted with serious concern the recent wave of protest actions across the province. In particular the violence associated with some of the protest where Councillors have been attacked and property destroyed.

The right of communities to raise their complaints through peaceful protests and other such non-violent means is sacred in our democratic society. Active citizens help to expose and reveal weaknesses and failures of government and this is welcome. We therefore call on our branches to protect this right by ensuring that it is not deliberately undermined by resort to violence by few criminal elements. The local structures of the Alliance must play a role in providing leadership to our communities and ensure that Councillors are not targeted and victimized by protesters when there are service delivery weaknesses. The Provincial Alliance leadership will be visiting all hotspots and will also visit families of those Councillors attacked during protests.

The unique feature of protest in Gauteng is that they are taking place in communities where there is a lot of development underway. In this sense, the protests are more about calling for speeding up of service delivery in line with the call made in the ANC January 8^th Statement of 2010. It is not lack of service delivery but problems arising from development underway in these areas that has drawn communities to action.

The Alliance has also noted that local in-fighting among our cadres has also increased as we draw closer to the next local government elections. Councillors are being deliberately maligned and discredited by those who are positioning themselves for the list process. The Alliance will visit branches affected by this in-fighting and ensure that disciplinary action is taken against those responsible for causing instability and divisions.

2.3 COSATU Free State backs closure of G Hostel in Thabong Welkom

Sam Mashinini, COSATU Free State Provincial Secretary, 18 March 2010

COSATU in the Free State province has supported the decision by the government of the Free State to close the G Hostel in Thabong, Welkom.

This is the hostel that for many years has been used as the place where criminals are hiding themselves. It is in this hostel where residents’ belongings have been taken after they have been stolen. Many Thabong residence communities knows very well the situation surrounding this hostel and that it is in fact that the place that should have been closed long time ago.

COSATU is urging the government to speed up the closure and ensure that it finds a suitable and alternative place for families that are staying in this hostel who are not part of those that are using the hostel as a place to hide and do their criminal activities.

COSATU further supports the government in ensuring that all the old and unused buildings in and around Mangaung are not used for criminal activities by the criminals. This is the right step to ensure that crime is fought by all means.

2.4 COSATU condemns racism at Sun City

Solly Nani Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 18 March 2010

COSATU and its affiliates at Sun City is on record as having said that Falcon Security Company is still leading racism right inside the company, Sun International.

On 3^rd December 2009 COSATU and Sun City International Chief Executive Offices signed a memorandum of understanding. One of the clauses was that if Falcon Security continues with its racial attitudes the contract will be terminated with immediate effect.

On Friday 12 March 2010 one of the Falcon African Security workers, Steven Modise, was attacked and assaulted by two white security officers, calling him by racist names while he was on duty. Steven lost his belongings - bank card, staff card, purse with R500 inside. With his swollen face he went to the Sun City police and he was turned back for no reason.

This is a clear picture of racism which workers at Sun City are faced with on a daily basis during working hours and after.

Falcon Security is not prepared to change. Therefore it means our campaign against racism is being intensified towards 2010 World Cup.

Therefore we are calling for Sun International management to terminate the contract with Falcon Security Company and 247 as they are friends of racism in Sun City.

COSATU is back at Sun City to protect its members, to fight against racism and exploitation.

2.5 POPCRU welcome the LOC Statement on Israel Security for World Cup

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 17 March 2010

POPCRU has welcomed the pronouncement advanced by the Local Organizing Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup around the intention to secure services of Israel Security Companies. The union is content that positive declaration resonates well on COSATU Solidarity Campaign against Apartheid Israel. LOC Spokesperson said “The South Africa Government is responsible for general security, while venue security is the responsibility of the 2010 FIFA World Cup LOC”.

Whilst we condemn misrepresentation by International Media in doubting South Africa to deliver an Africa World Cup, countries that continue to undermine Human Rights should not be allowed to be part of the security plan.

POPCRU is confident that the LOC general security plans are sound and our members obviously stand to benefit through the legacy of hosting this magnanimous soccer extravagance within our shores.

2.6 COSATU condemns attitude of Moses Kotane mayor

Solly Phetoe COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 17 March 2010

COSATU has condemned the attitude of the mayor, speaker and the chief whip of the Moses Kotane municipality who decided to postpone the special council meeting which had been agreed to take place to address issues that have been raised by workers since 2009.

This is the type of leaders who tell us that we must follow the law, the constitution and the rest of the policies, while they undermine the workers and the public that elected them to power. Those who are in the pocket of the councillors who do not care about service delivery, who do not care about workers’ rights, workers’ life and misusing public funds must now tell the workers what to do with this type of attitude which represents a faction of a few individuals.

Moses Kotane municipality is under fire, led by the real opportunists who think that they are small gods. This will not happen with COSATU members; it can only happen to those who are in the pocket of opportunists who think that if you are a councillor, you are above the community and the workers.

Moses Kotane municipal workers were on strike for the past six days with no one listening to them. Only when workers took a decision for a sit-in with five directors and the municipal manager demanding that all their issues raised in the MOU signed in 2009 must be implemented. The special EXCO resolved that a special council meeting must sit to resolve on implementing those issues that were agreed last year by the union, employer and the council.

Now the workers are back on the street due to the attitude of the mayor who woke up in the morning and cancelled the council sitting. We are calling on those who condemned us this morning by backing the exploiters against workers to speak now and tell us again that we were wrong by taking that action against the municipality which is led by corrupt people.

We want to remind the people of the North West that we are not representing our jackets; we are not representing a faction; we represent the interest of our members who are exploited on a daily basis by those who call them leaders by default. COSATU calls on the people to understand the political situation that workers find them, in pursuing their rights against political opportunists.

2.7 Struggle songs are our heritage-CWU

Matankana Mothapo, CWU National Spokesperson, 16 March 2010

The CWU is disturbed by the ongoing opportunism and grandstanding by the irritant group - AfriForum and certain reactionary white elements as a result of a revolutionary song sung by African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, during a student Rally at the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein campus.

The equation of the song Dubula amaBhunu into hate speech or incitation of racial violence is the worse form of political blackmail. For us struggle songs form part of our heritage and tell a tale of what our kitchen mothers and garden boy fathers went through under apartheid. Revolutionary songs continue to keep the fire going in the community struggles of Balfour, Diepsloot and students in lecture halls fighting for free education and abolishment of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at University of Free State.

Liberation songs continue to be sung and inspire our people in the many ongoing class struggles to deepen our struggle for a better life for all, radical and faster delivery of services, and are sung in many of our commemorative and celebratory occasions in honour of our struggle heroes and those who paid the supreme price for us to be free.

These songs like Uthi sixolele kanjani, amaBhunu abulala uChris Hani, uMshin Wam, Ilenja uBotha, kanye nalenja uMalan, are part of the collective memory of our struggle, part of the collective culture of that struggle, and they continue to play an important mobilisational tool role in the ongoing worker and community struggles. Those who are opposed to the song should be reminded of the profound statement by the late President of the ANC Cde Oliver Tambo a country that forgets its history is doomed to repeat it.

CWU calls on AfriForum and other like-minded disgruntled individuals to drop their hate speech charge on the song by ANC YL President Malema. The focus and debate should be centred on whether Die Stem is still relevant to be part of our National Anthem given its originality and the role it played for allegiance during the apartheid days.

2.8 DENOSA welcomes Presidents visit to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital but cautions against PPP’s

Asanda Fongqo, DENOSA Communications Manager, 16 March 2010

DENOSA has welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital yesterday. This indeed underlines the decisions by government to prioritise health.

DENOSA also acknowledges the shift in thinking by the management of Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital to tackle issues head on without compromising processes of governance. We however note with caution that President Zuma was strategically taken to the Public-Private ward (s), an end- product of PPP’s. We want to place it on record that President Zuma was not taken to the Labour ward- which has a gross shortage of beds and staff.

DENOSA therefore reiterates its position that government should review these PPP’s as we are not convinced that it is an ideal route to take.

Whilst we are encouraged by the intention to improve our public health system we utterly dismiss the notion of a public facility being managed by the private sector. Management of public health facilities should remain in the public sector.

It is our view that hospitals like Chris Hani Baragwanath and others that have predominantly been servicing the poor can offer more to the society if the funding model is reviewed. Such facilities should enjoy the same budget allocation as those that have historically serviced the elite.

2.9 POPCRU re-affirms its rejection of the re-militarization of the Police Services

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 17 March 2010

POPCRU has noted the arbitral imposition of re-militarization of the Police Service. We recall the then Apartheid regime was using the police and armed forces to suppress political freedom and, further negation of the universal right on our citizenry to freedom of association.

It was through those struggles when selective and immoral brutality was meted against Africans in particular that POPCRU was born and led more importantly to the unionization of the workers in the Justice Cluster. We reject the negative development that the Ministry is dictating that will in our view; reverse the gains of our struggle. We are content that if left unchallenged it may lead to disjunction in the role civilians need to play as communities through Community Policing Model. Currently through the policing charters, our communities are expected to dictate how they are supposed to be policed and that will be curtailed.

We have in the past few years developed Bathopele Principles as yardsticks to measure service levels in the public service and such attempt obviously will erode the in-roads we were making to synergies the call for a new public service cadre We maintain further that the usage of the word “service” was relevant to de-stigmatize the brutality associated with militarization of the police; and a departure from that obviously suggest that we will have “South African Police Force” as titles that goes along with militarization always across all countries dictates as such.

Our Constitution on Section 205;subsection (3) states that “the objects of the police services are to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants and their property, and uphold and enforce the law” which we content our police officers are doing currently. Therefore the rank system is not even near these undertakings in our constitution.

What the rank system will bring to the fore is pure usage of maximum force against the people and our contention is the manner in which this matter is imposed in the current conjuncture; with zero consultation with the citizenry but a few bureaucratic decisions taken on behalf of the millions of our population. Any model that is characterized with maximum force will undermine the Human Rights culture heritage and tenacity that our country emulates within Africa and Globally.

POPCRU believes the reasons advanced for such changes does not dwell on addressing issues perhaps of low-morale, under-staffing, under-resourced service points and lack of discipline in the police services. More importantly is does not reside on improving the economic status of our members against the hardships of high interests rates, global and local recession, high electricity tariffs and expensive housing access in the country.

POPCRU argues that our communities should have been consulted on these matters and further indicate that;

The ranking system will have more members on top positions with limited human resources on the ground to enhance visible policing;
The Ministry must understand that management have to be approached scientifically by acknowledging that exploration of strategies to build internal capacity for quality performance and realization of operational objectives;
The ability to re-train the members and analyze the relevancy of the current training interventions offered at all training colleges; and
The development of sound and workable operational plans to jerk-up discipline among the members within the employ of the police services, to control and apply disciplinary measures to enhance a code of conduct.

We adjure our members not to be misled that the ranking system will bring money in their pockets, but it is an attempt to put an agenda of the working class in disarray in terms of de-unionizing workers in this sector. POPCRU stands to challenge this state of affairs.

2.10 Statement on Financial Aid Scheme by Higher Education and Training Minister

In June 2009, I appointed a Ministerial Committee led by Professor Marcus Balintulo to review the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The review was prompted by several challenges related to the important goals of access and affordability. The review focused on a specific set of terms of reference which included a focus on the administrative capacity of NSFAS which had not kept pace with growth in terms of the size of the state’s investment in financial aid. It represented a tenfold increase in the NSFAS budget between 1999 and 2010.

In addition, there were several areas ranging from concerns regarding the growing number of blacklisted borrowers, the urgent need to assess short, medium and long term growth requirements of the fund to increase access, particularly of poor students and in addition there was the imperative to review the distribution and allocation policies and mechanisms of the fund. This report by the Committee is now complete and has now been submitted to the DHET for consideration.

The scope of the review mandated the Committee to assess the strengths and shortcomings of the current scheme and to advise the Minister on the short, medium and long term needs for student financial aid to promote the twin goals of equity of access and providing free undergraduate education to students from working class and poor communities who cannot afford further or higher education.

The terms of reference requested the Committee to:

§ Assess the strengths and shortcomings of the current NSFAS.

§ Conduct a needs analysis of students who will require financial aid in the short, medium and long terms, taking into account the government's commitment to providing free undergraduate education to students from poor families who would otherwise not be able to pursue further or higher education.

§ Undertake a review of the means test and provide guidelines to determine the criteria for eligible students.

§ Make recommendations on appropriate mechanisms for raising and administering the required funds, including the parameters of the recapitalisation of NSFAS and for the possible establishment of a student loan bank.

§ Investigate the feasibility of student financial aid being linked to priority fields of study and levels of academic performance.

§ Assess the viability of extending financial aid to students in not-for-profit private higher education institutions (HEIs).

§ Assess the nature and extent of former and current students blacklisted by NSFAS and universities and recommend appropriate action to be taken to deal with the problem.

§ Recommend changes to the policy, regulations and operational framework of the NSFAS, including the distribution formula for the allocation of financial aid to institutions, the means test, the respective roles and the responsibilities of the institutional financial aid bureaus and the NSFAS.

§ Recommend changes to the governance, management, operational capacity and systems of the NSFAS to meet the needs of the new policy framework

The report focuses on aspects related to the governance, administration and management of the NSFAS and more critically, on the policies, systems, structures and regulations that govern the scheme. The recommendations pertain to both the higher education sector and the further education sector. Some of the committee’s key findings show that the amount of NSFAS funding available falls far short of demand and that there are significant gaps between the NSFAS award and the full cost of study for many students. This underfunding is a contributing factor to the high attrition rate in our university system. The report highlights the need for the DHET to revisit the access and success debate and makes several proposals in this regard. In addition, there are many families who cannot afford higher education but whose income is above the threshold of R122 000. This is referred to by the Committee as the ‘missing middle’. There furthermore is a definite need to strengthen the capacity of loan administration at NSFAS but also in financial aid offices.

The Committee made a number of recommendations, which include:

· the development of a comprehensive policy framework to articulate the detail of the national policy imperative of progressively providing free higher and further education to the poor.

· the strengthening of governance and administration of NSFAS

· simplifying the means test as well as the institutional allocation formula

· reviewing the NSFAS loan recovery practices

· a review of funding of higher education and the link to the rising cost of study at institutions

· the inter-relationship between access, affordability and success

· an audit of the NSFAS loan book

· practices of loan recovery to be compliant with legislation and the Constitution and;

· finding a solution for the “missing middle”.

The full list of recommendations can be found on page 124 in Chapter 10 of the report.

I wish to acknowledge the difficult task of the Board of NSFAS over the years, particularly as members do this on a voluntary basis. I thank them for their work. It is my fervent hope that the recommendations of the committee leads to the strengthening and improved functioning of the Board.

The Review Committee has now completed its work and I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Professor Balintulo and his team for the intensive work they undertook during the review, including an extensive consultation process with stakeholders as well as the commissioning of several research pieces which have informed the study. I believe that the comprehensive report they produced will serve as a valuable reference point as we pursue our mission to ensure that no poor, academically deserving student is denied access to higher education, and that the operations of the fund are efficient and effective.

There is considerable public interest in this review as there are many thousands of young people in our country who are dependent on financial aid to access higher education. We value the voices of all these people as well as our stakeholders. The process that will be followed now that the report has been received is that we release it today for public comment and invite all interested parties to engage on the findings and recommendations. This process of engagement and consultation will assist us as we study and prepare our response to the report.

We have presented the summary of findings and recommendations of the committee to Cabinet last month and I will report on our final response, including recommendations and an implementation plan, to Cabinet once we have concluded the period of public consultation. Our intention is to take the matter before Cabinet by the end of August.

There are, however, some matters which arising from the recommendations requires our immediate attention. These include simplifying the means test to uniformly be applied at all institutions; revisiting the institutional allocation model, reviewing the funding formula and framework for universities; commissioning research into the inter-relationship between affordability, access and success; and the appointment of a task team to look into several recommendations by the Committee on loan recovery by the South African Revenue Service and solutions for the ‘missing middle’. These issues will be acted on urgently.

This is the first step taken by government to realise the commitment of the ruling party to “progressively introduce free education for the poor until undergraduate level”. The review of the NSFAS was undertaken in fulfilment of the resolution of the governing party to “encourage students from working class and poor communities to go to tertiary institutions by reviewing and improving the National Student Financial Aid Scheme”.

Electronic copies can be viewed and downloaded from the Department of Higher Education and Training’s web site from tomorrow, 17 March 2010. To access this, go to www.education.gov.za on the homepage under “What's New”. All interested persons and organisations are invited to comment on the Committee Report in writing and to direct their comments to:

The Director-General; Private Bag X895; Pretoria; 0001 – for attention: J Cedras, Tel 012 312 5207; email cedr...@doe.gov.za; or fax 012 323 7532.

Comments must reach the Director-General on or before 30 April 2010.

3. International

3.1 COSATU Mpumalanga holds summit on Swaziland

Fidel Mlombo the Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, 16 March 2010

On 12 April 1973, King Sobhuza II issued the infamous King’s Decree which repealed the Independence constitution, banned political parties and related rights and freedoms, assuming absolute power over the legislative, judicial and executive arms of control.

¨ Since then the people of Swaziland were subjected to live under a State of Emergency where political parties remain outlawed, individual or groups seen to hold dissenting political opinion are subjected to all manner and form of persecution, frivolous prosecution, harassment and repression.

¨ For the past ten years or so, COSATU have provided consistent solidarity with the people of Swaziland in different forms including the blocking of the Swaziland borders on each and every 12^th April of each year.

In September 2009 the Mswati regime succumbed to the COSATU pressure and released the President of PUDEMO Cde Mario Masuku from prison.

It is against this background upon which COSATU in Mpumalanga will host a Provincial Summit on Swaziland whose objectives are to

¨ To prepare for the blockade of Swaziland borders by COSATU members on the 12 April 2010 in solidarity with the people of Swaziland in their struggle for democracy and freedom in that country.

¨ Galvanise the Alliance in the province to participate and support the solidarity actions in support of the people of Swaziland.

¨ Form a Provincial broad front for peace and democracy in Swaziland.

¨ Synergise all Alliance and the boarder Mass Democratic Movement programmes. In support of the people of Swaziland.

The Provincial Summit will be held as follows:-

Date : 20 March 2010

Time : 10h00

Venue: Valencia Hall Nelspruit

The Summit will be attended by leaders from the ANC, SACP, SANCO, YCL, ANCYL, SASCO, COSAS and COSATU Head Office delegations.

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