COSATU Today, Thursday 26 November 2009
Patrick Craven
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Published by the Congress of South African Trade Unions
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COSATU’s Spokesperson is: Patrick Craven
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Our side of the story
Thursday 26 November 2009
Contents
1.1 Statement of the COSATU Central Executive Committee meeting held on 23-24 November 20093
1.2 Memorial service of Harriet Bolton
1.4 COSATU concern about racism and exploitation at Sun City
1.5 SACCAWU appalled by racism at Sun City
1.6 SADTU pays tribute to Chris Dlamini
1.7 Taung embarks on mass action
1.8 SAMWU’s take on xenophobic violence in the Western Cape
2.1 DENOSA encouraged by plan to revamp health facilities
2.2 NEHAWU welcomes the establishment of the health watchdog
2.3 SAMWU supports 16 Days of Activism campaign
2.4 Let’s declare war on women and child abuse
2.5 ANC YL welcomes Jeremy Cronin’s latest input on nationalisation of mines
2.6 NEHAWU supports investigation of senior managers in the Department of Communications
2.7 SOS welcomes government guarantees for SABC.
3.1 COSATU supports hosting 2011 World Social Forum in Africa
4.1 I am badly affected by the labour broking practice
4.3 New economic trajectory is necessary
1. Workers
1.1 Statement of the COSATU Central Executive Committee meeting held on 23-24 November 2009
Patrick Craven, COSATU’s National Spokesperson, 25 November 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Unions held a scheduled meeting of its Central Executive Committee on 23-24 November 2009, attended by the COSATU National Office Bearers, provincial leaders and representatives of the 21 affiliated unions.
The CEC passed its deepest condolences to the family of one the stalwarts of the trade union movement, the founding 1st Deputy President, Chris Dlamini, who passed away last week.
The meeting was addressed by three cabinet ministers, all of whom spoke very frankly about the problems they are facing, in the new spirit of open debate which has characterised the new government and the alliance in recent months.
Transformation of health
In the face of the worsening health challenges - demonstrated by the fact that South Africa now is amongst the 10 countries in the world who have worsening infant mortality rate as well increasing number of people who die as a result of HIV/AIDS and TB - we invited the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to have a conversation with him on the challenges of transforming South African healthcare.
We are saddened by the statistics presented by the Minister that demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that we are losing the battle against HIV/AIDS and TB. This reality includes the following:
1. The average antenatal prevalence is 29.3%
2. Four districts recorded HIV prevalence above 40%
3. HIV/AIDS prevalence continues to be worse for young women aged 25 – 29 years, at 32.7%
4. In 2006, 59.3% of deaths (6 out 10) were deaths of those younger than 50 years
5. 57% of deaths of children under the age of 5 during 2007 were as a result of HIV
6. The Independent Electoral Commission reports that between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009 a staggering 396 336 people were removed from the voters roll.
7. Home affairs death registrations figures also show a similar trend of deaths
8. 22 071 people died of TB in 1997 in 2005 that number reached a staggering 73 903
9. The estimated number of South Africans with TB in 2007 is 481 584, which is 1%. 28% of all people who have TB in the world live in South Africa and yet South Africa population is only 0.7% of the world population
COSATU calls on its 2 million members and society at large to fully participate in the 16 days of activism against children and women abuse. We are aware of the embryonic relationship between violence and abuse of women and children and HIV/AIDS epidemic.
We reiterate our call that the only effective way of stopping this carnage is prevention. We need a massive change in behaviour and attitudes, especially the youth. We need unprecedented voluntary counselling and testing. We call on our members to follow our example. During the CEC most of the CEC members voluntarily tested not only for HIV but also for a range of other diseases.
We share the Minister of Health’s concern that our challenges of healthcare go beyond the funding problems. Yes certainly funding must be increased, in particular as we move forward to a National Health Insurance scheme. Yet South Africa spends more of its resources on health than many other poor countries who spend much more, yet have better health outcomes than South Africa. Quite clearly the South African health challenge includes ensuring that every cent spent on health makes a contribution to building a healthy nation.
We are fully in support of government’s ten-point plan for transformation of the healthcare system. In the coming months we shall work much more closely with the Ministry of Health to take forward the ten-point-plan, which we fully endorsed.
1. Provision of strategic leadership and creation of a social compact for better health outcomes
2. Implementation of National Health Insurance
3. Improving the quality of health services
ü Cleanliness
ü Changing attitudes
ü Safety of patients
ü Eliminating long queues for admission
ü Infection control
4. Overhauling the healthcare system and improving its management. This will help to ensure that primary healthcare facilities such as clinics are revitalised
5. Improving human resources for better planning development and improved management
6. Revitalisation of infrastructure
7. Accelerating implementation of the HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections national strategic plan 2007-2011 and increasing focus on TB and other communicable diseases.
8. Mass mobilisation for better health care for the population
9. A review of drug policy in order to have access to cheaper medicines
10. Strengthening research and development.
We fully endorse the theme for this year World AIDS Day on 1 December 2009, which states:
I am responsible
We are responsible
South Africa is taking responsibility
Engaging with the new Migration policy
In the wake of the wave of community service-delivery protests, which are about specific local grievances but are also related to the structural problems in the economy, the CEC invited the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Zuma, to share with the CEC her thoughts about how we respond to the new challenges we face at the migration policy level.
The community service-delivery protests are a sign that the patience of increasing numbers of poor working class communities is running thin. They are facing a huge squeeze in the former black-only residential areas. It is massive unemployment and grinding and humiliating poverty when they can see across the road that the grass is green.
There are an estimated 3 million Zimbabweans who are equal victims of mismanagement of the economy and political system competing and with better education sidelining and regrettably dragging the basic protections of workers’ rights down. They combined with thousands from everywhere else in the world who had come under a mistaken belief that South Africa was a land of milk and honey.
The CEC has in the past discussed the reasons behind the continuing xenophobic attacks on foreign national in particular those of African and Asian origin. COSATU has repeatedly condemned these attacks as barbaric and a source of untold embarrassment to one of our founding principles – the principle of international worker solidarity.
Minister of Home Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, spoke on the major problems facing her department. One is the continued issue of illegal IDs and passports, which has raised fears in other countries that South Africa is a weak link in the fight against terrorism. This seriously blemishes our country’s reputation and could have serious repercussions.
Another huge problem is corruption in Home Affairs, in both front and back offices, often facilitated by ‘agents’ who are paid to bribe staff to issue bogus documents. There is a generally poor level of service, with a lack of a culture of work and service, and managers who cannot manage. She gave examples of lazy and disrespectful staff even when she herself made unannounced visits to offices.
There is also still a problem of people who have no birth certificates and whose names are not on the population register. The department is campaigning for all over-16s to apply now for birth certificates and IDs, but aims, as soon as possible, to have all citizens registered at birth.
The Minister made it clear that turning round Home Affairs is a task for the whole nation, of which COSATU is a very large part, and she urged the unions to support her.
The Minister’s biggest problem is the large and growing number of undocumented immigrants, who continue to flood into the country. They include people claiming to be asylum seekers, though in reality hardly any of them qualify as such, but are economic refugees seeking work in South Africa.
A particular problem is the exploitation of illegal immigrants by unscrupulous employers, particularly in the farm, construction and hospitality sectors, where employers cut wages and worsen working conditions.
Employers blame South African workers for not accepting the terms they are offering, but South African workers have every right to refuse to work for low wages or in bad conditions. The unions cannot be expected to agree to a worsening of the already low level of wages.
At worst, this competition for scarce jobs and resources can lead to violent conflict with local workers who are competing for the same jobs, as recently in De Doorns.
The CEC shared the Minister’s concerns and agreed that poor service cannot be tolerated. Home Affairs can help by resolving long-outstanding wage disputes and reducing the wage gap within the service, so that pay reflects responsibility.
The meeting agreed that we have to continue to fight xenophobia, which the Federation has always strongly opposed, especially given the number of union members who have for decades come from neighbouring countries, including many of our most senior leaders. We must counter the false arguments that unemployment and lack of services are the fault of immigrant workers.
South Africa can never survive as an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty. The solution has to include developing all Southern African economies. The developmental policies for strong industrially based economies that we are demanding for South Africa must be implemented across the continent, so that migrants no longer need to flee to South Africa.
The CEC agreed to discuss the matter further and hold a workshop with the department to seek solutions.
Transformation of the economy and trade and industry policy
We noted that the Stats SA Labour Force Survey revealed that the number of the employed people fell by a staggering 484,000 in the third quarter of 2009. This increased the country’s official unemployment rate from 23.6% in the second quarter to 24.5% in the third.
These are official figures that do not count those who have given up looking for a job. When we count the real unemployment, it climbed from 32.5% to 34.4%. But of particular concern is that the manufacturing sector, which should be an engine of growth and job creation, shed 150,000 jobs, equivalent to 8% of total jobs for the industry. Wholesale and retail trade lost 110,000 jobs.
A staggering 4.192 million South Africans are now without work. And that rises to 4.702 million if you add the 510 000 who have given up even looking for a job or have opted out of the labour force completely.
The worst mistake we can make is to continue only blaming the international economic crisis for our woes. Yes it is true that failure to regulate the financial institutions and the massive inequities worldwide is largely responsible for the crisis. But in South Africa we have been in any case sitting on a ticking bomb since the 1994 democratic breakthrough.
We inherited a disastrous growth path from the apartheid era – a commodity-based economy, which is anchored on capital-intensive sectors of the economy. We have done little to tamper with this apartheid growth path and economy. This phenomenon of inheriting colonial growth path, based on the extraction of mineral resources to build industrial power in the north countries, is one of the most fundamental mistakes most of the so-called ‘free’ Africa has made.
To add salt to the injury we adopted inappropriate macroeconomic policies. The underlying cause of the crisis now ravaging the working class communities is the mistaken policies between 1996 and 2004, of cutting tariffs and privatising basic services, conservative fiscal and monetary policies pursued in those years, centred on the pursuit of the misguided belief in inflation-targeting and appeasing narrow interests of financial markets in particular.
COSATU tirelessly pointed out that this would simply worsen our already critical unemployment, poverty and massive inequalities. These warnings in the past fell on deaf ears. The chickens are now coming home to roost.
We invited the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, to share his plans for turning the economy around and embarking on a new growth path.
The CEC noted new data on GDP released by Statistics SA for the third quarter of 2009, showing that the SA economy has grown by 0.9% on a quarter-to-quarter basis, but nevertheless continues to be declining at a rate of 1.8% on a year-on-year basis.
Whilst many interpret these results with an air of optimism, the CEC cautioned that this release coincides with the data revisions that such statistics are subjected to once every five years. It therefore remains to be seen whether such a quarter-to-quarter growth is a statistical artefact, reflecting the rebasing of data from 2000 to 2005, or whether it reflects the underlying turning point in the volume of production.
Even if the 0.9% growth rate reflects the underlying turning point in the volume of production, the CEC notes that the large declines of 6.4% in the first quarter and 2.8% in the second quarter are yet to be reversed so that we can declare that we are back out of a recession. The economy has yet to regain the levels of production that would have materialised had the crisis not occurred before we can truly say we are out of the crisis.
We have lost 959 000 jobs in nine months. This 0.9% growth rate will not cancel that. The likelihood is that we will see more than 1 million job losses this year. Even when the economy grew by nearly 6% we never witnessed unemployment declining below 23%. This is what we call a structural unemployment crisis. More of the same medicine will not solve this crisis. We need a complete overhaul of the economy.
The CEC further noted that government has been slow to respond to the recession particularly to implement the Framework Agreement as SA’s response t the global financial crisis. Because of the long-standing nature of the vulnerabilities we face, the CEC has resolved that in the course of the recovery, policies must be in place to ensure that the composition of growth, employment, and the allocation of credit are altered and that our economy must be oriented towards the promotion of regional African economic development.
The CEC welcomed the efforts that are currently underway to formulate a concrete industrial strategy supported by an appropriate trade policy, and noted that these efforts should be undertaken in an integrated manner, so that all policies are articulated coherently to produce outcomes of an equitable growth and development path oriented towards decent employment creation.
The CEC intends to engage vigorously in policy discussions. Specific mention must be made of the need for a clearly articulated growth and development strategy. We shall formulate a framework document outlining the key features that should define the new growth path.
This framework document will also articulate key policy shifts to support such a growth path. In particular, the framework document will outline policy positions on exchange rate management, interest rate policy and inflation control. The CEC welcomed the undertakings by the Finance Minister Cde Pravin Gordhan and the new Reserve Bank Governor Cde Gill Marcus, to open the discussion on macro-economic policy.
The framework document will also articulate the Federation’s position on the spatial development strategy, the centrality of the link between agriculture and industry, the key policy levers that can be deployed to achieve the objectives outlined in the document, amongst other issues.
The central message of the CEC is that the overall recovery of the economy cannot occur in the context of old policies that have failed to deliver sustainable livelihoods and industrial structure. The current crisis represents an opportunity to engineer a new growth trajectory and to shift policy. A recovery without appropriate policies to promote decent work will place us on the same apartheid growth path that has generated widespread vulnerabilities.
Media alert
COSATU invite the media to another press conference to hear a statement on the current political situation. The details are:
DATE: Monday 30 November 2009
TIME: 14h00
VENUE: COSATU House, 1 Leyds Street, cnr Biccard, Braamfontein
1.2 Memorial service of Harriet Bolton
It is with much sorrow that
the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) hosts a memorial service for
MRS HARRIET BOLTON
(15 January 1927 - 22 November 2009)
Mrs Bolton was a previous General Secretary of one of SACTWU's founding trade unions, the Garment Workers' Industrial Union (GWIU).
She passed away on 22nd November 2009 at the age of 82 years.
The memorial service will be held at the following venue:
1st Floor
Bolton Hall
Magwaza Maphalala Street (previously Gale Street)
Durban
On Thursday 26 November 2009 at 13h00 hours.
If further information is required kindly contact any of the following SACTWU staff members on phone number 031 3011351:
Lully Govender
Kogie Govender
Lizzy Chetty
1.3 OSD to be paid in full
Nomusa Cembi, SADTU’s Media Officer, 25 November 2009
Patience, consistency and collective leadership in the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) have finally paid off; OSD will be implemented in full before Christmas.
After months of waiting, teachers will finally receive their Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD), not partially, but in full. SADTU leadership collectively, did not rest but continued to fight in order to secure the full amount in the current financial year as opposed to the initial proposal of 1st April 2010.
In October 2009, the Department of Education (DoE) offered to make a R2, 3billion partial payment of OSD for Recognition of Experience and a once-off cash bonus for Senior and Master teachers by 30 October 2009.
However, the payment was not made due to pressure on the payment system (PERSAL) to implement the annual salary increase. The employer promised to pay at the end of the salary increase run in November but could not commit to a specific date.
In order to try to get further commitment on the date of payment, yesterday (24 November) SADTU sent letters of demand to the DoE and DPSA for a written undertaking.
In response, the department announced it would pay for the full agreement in the current financial year. This would therefore mean that the partial payment would not be implemented by the end of November.
PERSAL would be loaded on 14 December 2009 for payment on 18 December2009 for the Recognition of experience, pay progression(3%) backdated to 1st July 2009 and once-off 3% bonus for the senior and master teachers. The supplementary payment for the upgrade of teachers (those with REQV10 -12) would occur on 24 December 2009.
Describing the latest offer, SADTU general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said it was a vindication to other opportunistic organisations who tried to claim easy victories on the processes that led to the signing of the OSD agreement by spreading lies and didn’t append their signatures to the agreement.
“We are aware, our members nearly lost patience in the process but we want to assure them that in the end, SADTU has come out victorious,” Maluleke said.
We would like to thank our members who remained committed to the union by supporting the leadership in our endeavour to close this chapter on OSD.
1.4 COSATU concern about racism and exploitation at Sun City
Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 25 November 2009
COSATU is worried about the continuation of racism and exploitation of workers at Sun City (Sun International Hotel or Resort). The government and business in the province is leading the increase of racism and exploitation of workers on a daily basis.
The recent cases of racism and discrimination are against the poor African black women who are accused of stealing as little as R40.00. Those women were literally stripped of their clothes by security officers, some of whom are government officials who are shareholders of the 247 security company, led by mostly white racist, discriminating people.
Members of the communities have had enough of the racists who are leading almost all companies, in the farms, resorts, factories and some of mining industries around Bojanala District. We are sick and tired of some whites and some African black managers who are black outside but inside are real opportunist, capitalist, oppressors, assisting white managers to destroy our economy so they can be rich for life at the expense of the poor people.
COSATU calls Sun International to respond on all charges of racism, exploitation and discrimination against the members.
Why were only African Black women subjected to being stripped naked on 21 November 2009 when they were accused for stealing R40. 00. What happens to those whites who are also employees of Sun City, working in the same rooms?
Sun City and Sun International agreed that one worker was accused of theft and subjected to the polygraph test and nothing was found. The poor worker was locked in the room with snakes. This is a clear picture of racism and discrimination led by racist security companies, Sun City and Sun International.
Falcon Security, 247 Security and all labour brokers must go. All workers who were dismissed by the security company a month ago must be re-instated with immediate effect.
COSATU will be back at Sun City on the 3rd December 2009 demanding implementation of the memorandum submitted to Sun International of 31 October 2009. Sun City will be blacklisted as a racist hotel in the province
COSATU calls on all community members, workers, churches, students and alliance partners to support our actions against racism, exploitation and discrimination.
1.5 SACCAWU appalled by racism at Sun City
SACCAWU secretariat, 26 November 2009
SACCAWU is appalled by the recent spate of racist attacks on its members and workers in general at Sun City Resorts.
Such attacks, initiated and carried out by members of management employed by Sun City as well as those employed by companies associated or doing business with Sun City, have taken various forms at different times. SACCAWU wishes to record that the barbaric acts of racism do not belong in our fledging democracy and those who practice such tendencies should not only be exposed and condemned but should face the full might of the law. All racist should know that their conduct provokes
anger of the progressive civil society!
We are shocked by the recent incident in which a male worker and a few female workers were made to strip naked as they were allegedly being searched and questioned for an allegedly missing R40.00 (forty rands). In the mind of the racists who carried out the disgusting and humiliating proceedings, a mere R40.00 which was allegedly missing can be equated to the dignity of a couple of black workers, thus they assumed there is nothing wrong to humiliate them in public.
One of the female workers reported that the female workers in this incident were made to strip naked and the white racist woman directed them to spread their legs in order to check if they did not hide the money in there! Such conduct is the worst of its kind and SACCAWU is prepared to fight all the way to make sure that the
criminal charges instituted by the workers are pursued to their logical conclusion with the racist culprit/s also being dismissed forthwith!
The Union takes serious exception to the fact that this incident occurs in the midst of engagements arising from a COSATU-led action which culminated in a march against racism as recently as the end of October 2009 as well as the in the month of a campaign against women and child abuse.
SACCAWU is even more shocked that Sun City management refused to comment when confronted by the Media. The fact that these dastardly acts have been carried out in their premises, should at worst have ignited a general condemnation of racism and an undertaking to investigate and deal with the perpetrators. We are equally dismayed by the deafening silence of the Human Rights Commission but rather appalled by what is alleged to be their view on this matter; albeit its loud condemnation of allegations of racism or hate speech when same was attributed to the COSATU General Secretary and ANCYL President in the not-so-distant past. The same goes for DA, COPE and Afri-Forum. We will not look away from this naked and raw exploitation and harassment of workers!
We therefore challenge Sun City Management to:
1. Publicly distance themselves from the recent acts of racism and condemn perpetrators thereof.
2. Directly support (financially, legally or otherwise) to workers in the criminal case they have launched as well as assist them to file for compensation/sue for humiliation suffered.
3. Initiate and finance counselling for the workers, who are obviously traumatised by the experience.
4. Ensure that the perpetrators of the above acts of exploitation and humiliation driven by racist agenda are dismissed.
5. Stop the utilisation of Labour Brokerage that is clearly unaccountable to anyone and are a law unto themselves, as is the case in this racism saga.
Failure to do the above will be the same as confirming that Sun City management are either instigators of or willful participants in such acts. We will therefore be left with no option but mount a serious campaign that may include calling for boycott of Sun City Resorts!
1.6 SADTU pays tribute to Chris Dlamini
SADTU Secretariat, 25 November 2009
SADTU has expressed its sincerest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of the late COSATU stalwart, comrade Chris Ndodebandla Dlamini.
Dlamini was elected the 1st Deputy President of COSATU at its founding conference in 1985. A position he held until the historic 1994 elections when he was deployed to serve in South Africa’s first democratic parliament as an ANC whip.
He dedicated his life to the struggle for worker’s rights and liberation. His first involvement in the struggle was at the tender age 12 when he heard Mandela and Sisulu address people in his township. He was already feeling the injustices of the apartheid system which refused to recognize his parent’s marriage because they had been married in Swaziland.
This caused the family to live apart with his father having to live in a hostel and being subjected to arrests and fines whenever he visited him and his mother.
In 1973, Comrade Dlamini became the founder member and treasurer of the Engineering and Allied Workers Union. He later worked for Kellogg’s in Springs and joined the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) and became a shop steward in 1979 until 1994. Among the positions he held in the inions included: FAWU President from 1979 to 1993, FOSATU president from 1981 to 1985. He was part of negotiations that led to the formation of COSATU in 1985.
After his stint in Parliament in 1994 where he served until 1997, he became a diplomat in North Korea, China and Mongolia.
In 2001, Comrade Chris came back to COSATU to run its investment wing until 2006.
SADTU commits itself to picking up Comrade Dlamini’s fallen spear and serve the organization with same commitment and dedication he displayed.
Lala Kahle Qhawe!
1.7 Taung embarks on mass action
COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, Solly Phetoe, 26 November 2009
COSATU, with the support of traditional leaders in Taung, embarked on a march to the municipality against planned closure of Taung Agricultural college, corruption in the Department of Agriculture and illegal mining in the area which is benefiting councillors, some MECs and some senior officials of government.
Our march will be starting from Taung Sport ground to the municipality from 11h30-14h00 on 26 November 2009.
We call workers around Taung, member of the communities to support our campaign against corruption.
1.8 SAMWU’s take on xenophobic violence in the Western Cape
Tahir Sema, SAMWU’s National Media and Publicity officer, 25 November 2009
Last year when xenophobic violence erupted, resulting in the deaths of more than 70 innocent people, the resolve of all parties was captured in the phrase ‘Never Again’. In the meantime, not a single conviction has taken place despite police witnesses, film footage, and the evidence of those who personally witnessed the carnage.
This month in De Doorns, an area of the Western Cape almost entirely dependent on casualised farm labour, the monster of xenophobia reared its ugly head. At least 3,000 chronically poor people, mostly from poverty stricken Zimbabwe, who have been living in informal settlements, have been forced to abandon what little they had in the face of a rising tide of resentment from ‘local’ residents.
The displaced have taken refuge in a small municipal building, and are completely dependent on the goodwill and charity of others. We are pleased to report that SAMWU members have been especially cooperative in trying to ease the situation there.
Despite all the promises that were made about ‘Never Again’ how has this situation been allowed to develop?
First however, we must unambiguously condemn the actions of those who have sought to attack and blame Zimbabwean migrant workers and refugees for the poverty they face. Victimising another section of the oppressed is not the way to build class unity. It simply plays into the hands of those who profit from exploitation, and in this case the farmers who pay barely more than starvation wages, and the labour brokers they deploy to do their dirty work for them.
Second, we must unambiguously demand that there are concerted and verifiable efforts by government at all levels to ensure that the very poor are no longer ignored and marginalised. Next year this country is hosting a spectacular festival of football in stadiums and infrastructure that have cost billions. Deadlines that once seemed impossible have been met. If only a fraction of this level of resources and commitment had been put into poor communities to give hope against a catalogue of despair, the attacks we witnessed in De Doorns may have been averted. It is now time to say, if it can be done for profit, it can be done for people! Government must accelerate poverty eradication as a priority.
Third, we demand that Government at all levels aligns itself with the victims of xenophobia, and takes urgent measures to ensure that they are properly cared for, with respect and dignity. We urge Government not to see the victims as a problem that they hope will simply disappear, but as a human rights challenge demanding fair treatment, and to lead by example in making sure that safe and appropriate accommodation is found for them.
Fourth, we demand that Government take immediate action to engage with poor communities in the way that President JZ and others have been indicating. To show poor communities that there is hope, that services will be delivered, that incompetent and corrupt leaders will not be tolerated, and that work is underway to create employment and decent standards of living. Down with empty promises!
Fifth, that an extensive pro-active media and education campaign be launched and supported by the Alliance and all other progressive forces to encourage community unity, to empower communities to put their legitimate demands on local and provincial government, and to expect positive results. A campaign that exposes the fallacies of the xenophobes and all those who seek to exploit despair, including those who ruthlessly tender for detention facilities and profit from the misery they cause.
Sixth, we call upon our friends in the trade union movement in particular to join hands with all workers, regardless of their country of origin, and make a concerted effort to show our solidarity for their plight, and demand for example an immediate end to the divisive and deadly practices of the labour brokers and those who deploy them.
Seventh, we call upon all migrant workers and all those who have come to be with us here in South Africa to try and support their families, to be one with us. Join a union like so many migrant workers have already, seek out union membership, build organisation in your community, use the law where you can, but also refuse to be cowed by the bullies in our communities. We can make a difference, but we have to work together.
Finally, we call upon all those who want to see a humane South Africa to add their voice to the campaign to end xenophobic violence. Support those like Bishop Paul Verrayn of the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg who continue to show compassion in the face of complacency, and all those countless others who stand with, and not against those who are our sisters and brothers.
2. South Africa
2.1 DENOSA encouraged by plan to revamp health facilities
Asanda Fongqo, DENOSA Communications Officer, 25 November 2009
DENOSA has noted the launch of a plan by the Department of Health to revamp public and private facilities by the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo yesterday.
The union further notes that this initiative arises from a very progressive 10-point plan that government has tabled to improve the health system on our country.
We are also encouraged that government is engaging with managers in the health sector to better understand the current conditions and come out with strategies to address challenges that exist.
A meeting of this nature between the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi with Hospital CEO’s, Nurse Managers and Clinical managers was recently held in Durban.
DENOSA appreciates efforts by government to overhaul the current health system that is in a crisis. The organization has been and continues to advocate for quality patients care, in particular in state institutions that are predominately used by the poor majority.
2.2 NEHAWU welcomes the establishment of the health watchdog
Sizwe Pamla NEHAWU’s Media Liaison Officer, 25 November 2009
NEHAWU welcomes the announcement by the Department of Health for the establishment of the health watchdog body that would set national standards for both public and private health facilities. The union believes that this will go a long way to improve the service standards in our clinics and hospitals and this bodes well for the goal of turning around the ailing health sector and the introduction of the National Health Insurance system.
This process will only be helpful if the department could address the challenges that face our hospitals first because if those are not addressed this will become another grand useless idea. The reality is that we are faced with hospitals that are understaffed, poorly equipped, under resourced and overburdened.
This combined with poor remuneration creates disillusionment and depression of some health practitioners which then results in cases of neglect and all other identified problems.
We therefore call for the department to stop outsourcing in the health sector and also fill all the vacancies that exists nationwide. The department also has to address the shortage of experienced managers and a lack of adequate management systems.
There has to be greater investment in the sector in order to boost its capacity to deliver quality service. It is well known fact that huge workloads and work related stress in health facilities is a major cause for resignations, abseentism and late coming which results in poor service delivery.
NEHAWU commits to working with the department to improve service standards in the health sector and through our service delivery campaign we are instilling a culture of service to our members. We call on all our members and the public servants in general to adopt the spirit of service and serve the people with dignity, integrity and respect in line with our commitment to Batho Pele.
2.3 SAMWU supports 16 Days of Activism campaign
Tahir Sema,SAMWU’s National Media and Publicity officer, 25 November 2009
This Union unreservedly aligns itself with the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Children Campaign that is due to be launched on November 25th until December 10th.
We do however recognise that there is a danger that such an initiative, coming round as it does on an annual basis could become institutionalised and lose its meaning if there appears to be no tangible benefits emerging from the campaign.
Sadly, the violence that is reported daily in the media, that scars the development of many of our children, that results in women being traumatised and hospitalised, that creates a climate of fear for many of our citizens means that we cannot allow this campaign to become simply a date in our calendars, to be observed like a faded anniversary.
In line with this campaign, we would like to give voice to just three ‘ordinary’ people who agreed to share their experiences and provide food for thought about the society we live in.
Ayanda* Aged 15 ‘When I was nine I watched my mother’s new partner beat her up. I was hiding under the bed with my baby half-sister. My mother and new step father had been celebrating a friend’s birthday party, and he accused her of paying too much attention to another man. This man was a very old friend of my mothers. I could hear my mother screaming that this man was like a brother to her, and that they had known each other all their lives. My step father stamped on her hands and face and said, ‘You will not humiliate me in this way again’. After a while he stormed out, and I helped my mother to clean up her face and hands. In the morning her face was swollen and bruised. Before I left for school she said to me “It was just a misunderstanding. I made a mistake. I should not have made your step father angry. Forget it” But I have never forgotten it.
Susan* Aged 24 ‘This was my first ‘proper’ job since leaving college. It was a one year contract, but everyone said it could be extended. I was so happy and proud. I hadn’t realised how unemployment had undermined my confidence. But then it started. First he started making comments like ‘Have you got a boyfriend?’ and things like, ‘I bet the boys are chasing you all over the place’ I didn’t like it, and I didn’t expect it from a man who was my father’s age, but he was my manager, and I tried to be polite. Then it got worse, and he started commenting on my clothes and then my body, and saying how he liked to stare at me when I was not looking. I tried to ignore him, and I even started wearing different clothes to work, but it made no difference. Then he started standing very close to me, and when we had to pass, he would press himself against me, and sometimes stroke me. It made me feel sick, but still I kept quiet. I needed this job. Finally, he came into the stock room and closed the door, and told me that he loved me, and wanted to have a relationship. I tried to get past him but he grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I screamed and ran outside. I was shaking when an older women worker came and sat next to me and said ‘Don’t be too upset, it happened to all of us. Just get used to it. He will soon tire of you when another young women comes to work here’ I looked at her and said ‘Is that what you tell your daughter?’ And she looked away from me. Then I asked myself, what will I tell my own daughter?’
Tebogo* Aged 50 ‘All my life I have been following the orders of men. My father, the priest, my head teacher, my husband, my father’s father, my boss, and now my union leader, and I am tired of it. I don’t want to follow orders anymore. I want to be consulted. I want to be asked what I think. I want to be treated like a human being, an equal human being. When I talk to young women workers, they say ‘Aren’t you afraid of challenging men?’ And I tell them, I was afraid almost all of my life, and where did it get me? And then they say ‘Where did you find the courage?’ And then I tell them about the time when I was riding in the taxi home from work when I was young, and at the police road block they made us get out to be searched, and a big policeman with a boozy breath started being aggressive, and actually slapped me across the back of the head. No one said anything until an old women spoke up. ‘What sort of man are you to hit a young woman? Who do you think you are? Does your mother know that you are hitting young defenceless women? You should be ashamed of yourself’. I thought she was probably mad. In those days you didn’t speak to the police like that. But then other passengers started talking too. The old man who had been sitting next to the old women said ‘If I was your father, I would be ashamed of you’ and others joined in. After a few minutes, he walked off, and shouted over his shoulder that we should leave immediately. When I thanked the old woman she said ‘You have to learn to stand up for yourself and for others. It’s the only way we will be able to change anything.’ I thought that was good advice.
The struggle against violence against women and children in our society cannot be taken out of the violent context we are in. President Zuma recently broke through a veil of silence and denial when he acknowledged openly that we do indeed live in a violent society. Acknowledging our challenges is a step in the right direction, but we have to go further. We have to empower women, and we all have to stand up, enlighten man and women and stop the abuse of power by men.
For SAMWU, this means that on the one hand we must accelerate and deepen our campaign for a more equal and caring society, in fact a socialist society. On the other hand, we must try and build it now by challenging gender stereotypes, and arguing for gender equality and an end to all discrimination.
The 16 Days Campaign provides an opportunity to find ways of stopping the destructive violence that takes place in our homes and communities, of ending sexual harassment, bullying and abuse at work and perhaps more importantly, of sending a very clear message to the powerless and to the powerful, that gender based violence and democracy do not mix!
We urge all those who want to transform our society to support the Campaign.
2.4 Let’s declare war on women and child abuse
Sizwe Pamla NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 25 November 2009
NEHAWU has called on all its members and the broader South African society to join hands in marking the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children Abuse by naming and shaming all those who abuse women and children.
Women and children in this country and around the world are still vulnerable and suffer abuse and exploitation at the hands of governments, criminal elements and individuals. NEHAWU appreciates the role that women play in our society and also believes that children are the future, so we call on all citizens, companies and organizations to commit themselves to fighting all forms of abuse at home, workplace and in our society.
NEHAWU calls on our government to analyze our legislative framework in order to ensure that all those who abuse women and children pay harshly for their actions. The protection of domestic workers, farm workers and other vulnerable women workers against exploitation should be given necessary attention by the Department of Labour and we call on our police officers and judges to declare war against the abuse of women and children.
The union is encouraged by President Jacob Zuma’s decision to create the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities under the Leadership of Minister Noluthando Mayende Sibiya who has over the years played an active role in championing the rights of women and children.
The public service union calls on all South Africans to work with the Ministry and government to fight the scourge of abuse because most of the heinous crimes we hear about happen in our families and societies and we all have a responsibility to speak out and act against these crimes.
NEHAWU makes a pledge to all the women and children to mobilize and be at the forefront of the fight against all forms of abuse in this country and also champion the development of programmes aimed at enhancing the status and welfare of women and children without fail.
2.5 ANC YL welcomes Jeremy Cronin’s latest input on
nationalisation of mines
Floyd Shivambu, ANC YL Spokesperson, 24 November 2009
The African National Congress Youth League welcomes the input by Comrade Jeremy Cronin posted in the South African Communist Party’s website. We are particularly relieved that Comrade Cronin engages with the Youth League’s call for nationalisation after re-reading the conceptual framework we released in July 2009.
The ANC YL also accepts the apology from the Deputy Secretary General of the SACP, Jeremy Cronin who has risen above narrow squabbles and accepts on areas he erred. The Youth League holds Comrade Jeremy Cronin in high regard and appreciates the fact that he is one of the best intellectuals produced by the revolutionary movement in South Africa.
Jeremy’s latest intervention proves that the debate on Nationalisation is a complex question, not meant for those who entered the discussion only trough insults, such as the YCL, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga SACP. Those who lack substance entered the discussion through hurling insults at the ANC Youth League President without comprehending the context and content of what the ANC Youth League says on nationalisation. We call on all structures of the Mass Democratic Movement and activists to always interact with official positions of the Youth League before they engage with us. We are forever open to constructive engagement and appreciate all interventions that will enhance the programme towards Nationalisation of Mines, even on areas where Comrade Jeremy says our conceptual framework in not clear.
The ANC YL will moving forward, be engaging with all Progressive forces to consolidate the most coherent, developmental and helpful model of Nationalisation of Mines, which will benefit all people. We are also ready to meet and engage with the leadership of the SACP anytime before June next year.
2.6 NEHAWU supports investigation of senior managers in the Department of Communications
Sizwe Pamla NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 25 November 2009
NEHAWU has welcomed and the decision by the Department of Communications to investigate the Chief Director HRM, Basani Baloyi, and the implication of former DG Luyndall Shope-Mafole in potential misappropriation of government funds.
The union wants to put it on record that we support the actions taken by the new leadership to take measures to root out all manner of inappropriate conduct in the department. NEHAWU for a long time has been calling for the investigations into the allegations of corruption, mismanagement and nepotism in the department. These issues were brought to the attention of the previous administration of the late Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri and Lyndall Shope-Mafole by the union but were ignored and in some cases, treated with contempt.
NEHAWU is happy that its engagement with the new leadership has resulted in action being taken to sort out the leadership, operational and management challenges facing the department.
The chaotic management of the department resulted in a culture of fear within the department because of victimization and intimidation of our members. The union has over the years witnessed factionalism, discrimination, corruption and union bashing in the department that caused poor morale for the staff.
We support the efforts of the new leadership and condemn the report by the City Press this weekend that sought to paint the Chief Director of HR as a martyr who is being persecuted for doing her job. This is the kind of unashamed one-sided reporting that does not serve the public who want to see a transparent and clean public sector.
We are also concerned that while the journalist saw fit to quote the union no attempt was made to contact NEHAWU’s national office to verify or authenticate any of the quotes attributed to us.
We then call for the review of the department’s HR policies, including the Performance Management policy, the Recruitment Policy and the Grievance and Disciplinary policies, with a view to aligning them with the Labour Relations Act and the Public Service Regulations.
We also call for the investigation of all procurement decisions of the last three years, including tenders and contracts awarded in the period.
We condemn the statements attributed to the former Director-General, who insistently states that there is no conflict of interest in awarding millions of rands contracts to an organization headed by her partner. The union commits itself to work with the management of the department to stop the abuses of policies and inculcate back faith in the management of the department.
2.7 SOS welcomes government guarantees for SABC
Kate Skinner – SOS Coordinator, 25 November 2009
The SOS Coalition, representing trade unions, media NGOs, independent producers, academics and freedom of expression activists welcomes the fact that the SABC has been given government guarantees. The SABC is suffering from serious liquidity problems, and the guarantees should enable the Corporation to borrow money more easily and cheaply. The easing of liquidity problems should create the space for the SABC to be stabilised and restored to a sound financial footing. One of the key tasks of the interim Board was to ensure this stabilization. It appears that significant progress has been made in this direction.
Going forward it is important to ensure that any public money drawn down is well spent. Again SOS is supportive of the fact that the initial R1 billion will be made available immediately but that the remaining R473m will be dependent on the development of a detailed project plan that commits the SABC to explicit revenue targets and cost cutting measures. This is important – the SABC needs to be held to account.
However, SOS believes that the SABC is not an ordinary state owned enterprise. It has special position in our society as an institution committed to the deepening of democracy through the expression of a rich diversity of views, voices and political perspectives. It is thus important that the shareholder compact – that will be signed between the new SABC board and the Minister of Communications - is focused on ensuring the effective and efficient spending of this public money. The compact should not dictate the vision of the SABC – or influence issues of editorial independence. From a good governance and democratic perspective, this compact should be made public to ensure adequate transparency. Further, going forward, we believe that government should move to de-corporatising the SABC. We have put forward proposals calling for it to be transformed into constitutionally protected Chapter 9 institution such as the Human Rights Commission. In future then it would be unnecessary for the SABC to sign a shareholder compact with the Minister of the government of the day.
We believe rather that it is essential that key oversight structures are strengthened including Parliament and ICASA. We believe the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications needs to strengthen its rigour and oversight role as regards the scrutinizing of the SABC’s corporate plans, annual reports and financials. Further it is essential that ICASA holds the SABC to account in terms of its Charter and license conditions. As SOS we believe this clarity of roles coupled with the strengthening of governance and oversight structures is absolutely critical to the SABC’s good health going forward.
3. International
3.1 COSATU supports hosting 2011 World Social Forum in Africa
Bongani Masuku, COSATU’s International Relations Secretary, 26 November 2009
The hosting of the World Social Forum for the second time on African soil, underlines the importance of the continent, as the worst victim of imperialist globalisation and its profound struggles for genuine alternatives to the crisis of the system.
The African Social Forum’s strategic role in co-ordinating the effective participation of the continent’s popular forces is central in what has become popularly known as ‘Dakar 2011’, as a result of it being hosted in Dakar, Senegal.
Dakar 2011 presents the continent with a platform to influence and set the pace of the global working class agenda to confront the persisting conditions of underdevelopment, dehumanising poverty, terrifying levels of unemployment and climate change.
COSATU continues to actively participate in the on-going discussions and important processes leading to Dakar 2011, including at the level of the International Council and Liaison Group. In this, we seek to strengthen our working relationship with the rest of the continent, particularly the progressive working class movement and organisations of the poor and militant masses.
Issues that require aggressive and consistent focus in the build up to the historic gathering, include the need for:
- A democratic, just and transformed global economic and political system to replace the current undemocratic system, dominated by a ruling global oligarchy led by the US and its client states in the western world
- A decisive plan to confront global poverty, underpinned by the conviction that capitalism produces and reproduces chronic poverty and underdevelopment. It is in the interests of the rich western elites and their corrupt local elites to maintain Africa as a source of raw materials and supplier of cheap labour. Hence the deliberate efforts to maintain it as a global museum of underdevelopment and charity. This guarantees that their pursuit of profit maximisation in conditions of unfair trade, cheap labour and dumping of finished goods remains.
- Urgently building a progressive movement on the continent to fight against neo-liberal imperialism, systemic corruption, undemocratic regimes and ruthless exploitation by multinational corporations
- Defence and popular control of our natural resources and putting an end to the wars of plunder that only benefit western elites, multinational companies and corrupt local elites
This momentum presents an opportunity for the further strengthening of our progressive structures on the continent and the deepening of popular mobilisation. We must combat the ‘marketisation’ of our democracy to the highest bidder and the use of the space opened by the genuine struggles for democracy to expand the frontiers of the free market and roll back the state in the economy and social governance in general.
The Southern African Social Forum and its Africa Forum must be strengthened to play an active role in the mobilisation of our people against neo-liberalism and poverty.
4.Letters
4.1 I am badly affected by the labour broking practice
Blue Ribbon worker in Temba, 25 November 2009
You probably don’t get mails like this one but I heard on radio and seen on TV that COSATU is on opposition with regard to labour brokering but I haven’t heard of any follow up towards that issue.
I am raising this issue because I am one of millions who are badly affected by this type of day light robbery working experience. I am a young man with a very bleak future caused by labor brokering and the worst part is that I am working for a gigantic food company in S.A but I am earning R700 per fortnight with no provident fund and no medical and with no trade union practice because whenever we join a particular union, some folks get axed when our contracts are due.
When COSATU raised this issue, were they trying to put smiles on our faces for the couple of days or are they for real? These type of work experiences, will they ever end? My apologies to you Sir if I am asking some green light from a wrong person but, desperate situations require desperate measures.
4.2 Labour brokers exploit us
Ulrich du Plessis, worker, 25 November 2009
First of all I would just like to say that I am truly grateful for the fight against the labour brokers.
I am an am employee that is being affected and can relate to what you guys are fighting for and I hope that you guys win. These brokers are really exploiting us
4.3 New economic trajectory is necessary
Pierre Louis Lemercier, coordinator of the Renewable Energy Centre in Port Elizabeth, 25 November 2009
Dear Mr Vavi
We do agree with you when you state that the present economic system does not help reducing poverty nor inequalities.
We would like to suggest to you to inquire about the "Climate Justice Now" on the net. It is a grassroots network, which believes that the present fossil fuel growth paradigms is the cause of poverty and inequalities besides killing our planet and subsistence foundation.
We therefore concur with you that a new economic paradigms is necessary. We would add that the latter should be based on a low carbon (not any more fossil fuel) development.
COSATU could therefore champion a low carbon future because this would create millions of real sustainable employments (not merely depending on public work), hence fighting for the reduction of poverty and inequalities. This is also necessary for saving the planet and for initiating our adaptation towards a low carbon future.
We have challenged officially the government 's argument that moving towards low carbon would jeopardize the government “fight” against poverty. This is a lie. The fact is that powerful vested interests linked to fossil fuel want to keep the status quo, which endanger our planet and worsen poverty/inequality.
This could become your call Mr. Vavi.
Hoping to engage further on the subject.
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
