5
COSATU Media Monitor
<http://groups.google.com/group/COSATU-Daily-News/web/cosatu-media-monit
or>
and
"COSATU Daily News <http://groups.google.com/group/COSATU-Daily-News> "
Published by the Congress of South African Trade Unions
<http://www.cosatu.org.za/>
1 Leyds Street, Braamfontein
Tel. 011 339 4911
Fax. 086 603 9667
patr...@cosatu.org.za <mailto:patr...@cosatu.org.za>
COSATU Media Monitor
Friday 6 November 2009
Contents
1 Workplace
1.1 Broker supplies own firm
1.2 Cosatu rejects Falcon solution
2 COSATU
2.1 Mantashe hits back at restive Cosatu, ANCYL; Accuses both of
'negative roles'
2.2 Mantashe flays public sector unions
2.3 Does Vavi's salary reflect Cosatu's values?
3 South Africa
3.1 Eskom Crisis Should Be Resolved by State, Union Says
3.2 ANC Won't Pledge 'Hollow Support' on Nationalization of Mines
3.3 Nationalisation confuses all and sundry inside labour
3.4 Union blasts spending on Zuma's huge cabinet
3.5 ANC lauds struggle stalwart
4 Comment
4.1 Sex, lies and videotapes
4.2 Time for a break from a tough year
1 Workplace
1.1 Broker supplies own firm
Iafrica.com, 6 November 2009
Around 500 dismissed workers belonging to the Chemical, Energy, Paper,
Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) will take their case
to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration next week.
In a statement on Thursday, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu)
said it had given its full support to the workers.
The workers were dismissed following a strike in August.
"They were working at a company called Express Payroll in
Olifantsfontein, Midrand, but were actually employed by a labour broker
called Payroll Miniload.
"But the two companies are in fact owned by the same family." Cosatu
said.
The workers were in wage negotiations in August and when the company
rejected their demands they embarked on a protected strike.
The employer then obtained a court interdict, which the union did not
immediately contest, and when they did, they lost the case, Cosatu said.
"The company has forced the strikers to stay 1.2km from the factory, and
they have had to meet under a tree on open ground, with no toilets or
running water.
"Seven workers have been arrested but four have already had their cases
dismissed."
Cosatu said the company was employing scab labour, also through a labour
broker, and one of the scab workers had told the strikers that
conditions at the company were even worse than before.
"This case demonstrates graphically the reasons why labour broking
should be banned.
"It leaves workers in a highly vulnerable situation and undermines their
legal and constitutional rights to be treated fairly," Cosatu said.
In response to Sapa's questions, Express Payroll's Leigh van Rooyen
replied: "I don't want to have this conversation."
http://business.iafrica.com/news/2035601.htm
<http://business.iafrica.com/news/2035601.htm>
<http://www.thetimes.co.za/Business/BusinessTimes/Article1.aspx?id=89232
0> 1.2 Cosatu rejects Falcon solution
Harriet Mclea, Times, 6 November 2009
But Cosatu said yesterday that Ben Burger's resignation was "not enough
of an apology", claiming that Burger would benefit from the company
because he was a major shareholder.
Burger, the CEO and a director of Falcon Security, was arrested
following the incident, in which a racist version of the national anthem
was played at a company fun day last month. Burger was released but he
then fired his employee, Francois Robberts, who was alleged to have
played the CD.
The security company has been contracted to Sun City for 14 years.
Cosatu rejected the company's apologies and last Saturday nearly shut
down Sun City by striking. Most restaurants in the resort were closed as
employees handed over a memorandum of their demands to the resort's
management.
Burger said yesterday: "It has become clear to me that, particularly
from the labour union's side, I am regarded to be part of the problem."
North West Cosatu spokesman Solly Phetoe said the federation "would only
be happy" if the company's Sun City contract was terminated.
Phetoe said that Falcon Security was run by "people who do not respect
human dignity".
"If he [Burger] resigns he's going to run the company [from] outside,"
said Phetoe. "Mr Burger [has] got 75% of the shares".
Falcon Security said yesterday "the incident has caused the company
immeasurable damage".
Sun International had not responded to queries by The Times at the time
of going to press.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article182190.ece
2 COSATU
<http://www.thetimes.co.za/Business/BusinessTimes/Article1.aspx?id=89232
0> 2.1 Mantashe hits back at restive Cosatu, ANCYL; Accuses both of
'negative roles'
Dominic Mahlangu, Times, 5 November 2009
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has taken on Cosatu affiliates and
the party's youth league in what might be a sign of the ruling party's
growing impatience with continued internal bickering.
In a hard-hitting speech at the national congress of the SA Municipal
Workers' Union, in Limpopo yesterday, Mantashe accused the union and
other Cosatu affiliates of "failing" to "prove that they are part" of
the ANC-led alliance.
"Cosatu unions in the public sector have failed thus far to prove they
are part of a revolutionary movement. Engagement with the democratic
state is based on demands and offers. It is members of these progressive
unions who deliver shoddy services to communities, and political
deployees absorb the pain," said Mantashe.
His attack comes ahead of a meeting between the ANC and Cosatu about
policy differences that have emerged since President Jacob Zuma took
office.
Cosatu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told the congress on Tuesday
that his federation was not happy with the pace at which Zuma's
administration was implementing the policy changes agreed to before the
elections. Of particular concern to Cosatu is its belief that its
representatives in Zuma's cabinet are being sidelined in favour of
"right-wing" leaders, such as National Planning Commission Minister
Trevor Manuel.
But yesterday it was the turn of the ANC to complain about Cosatu and
its affiliates.
Mantashe stopped short of accusing the ANC's allies of crippling the
state, but said: "There is no commitment to serve, but demand for more.
When Samwu is proud of getting a 13% increase in cash-strapped
municipalities, is it equally engaging in a discussion about serving our
people better?"
Mantashe said members of the SA Communist Party and Cosatu "play a
negative role" whenever there is conflict at local government level.
"Infighting within ANC structures and among alliance partners is
emerging as a major contributing factor wherein comrades are positioning
themselves for the 2011 local-government elections," he said.
Mantashe made it clear that the ANC leadership will not be intimidated
by the party's youth league into changing its stance on the
nationalisation of mines. This follows threats by youth league president
Julius Malema that the league will not support the re-election of any
ANC leader who opposes the nationalisation of the mines.
ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa this week came under fire from the
Young Communist League for telling UK investors that nationalisation was
not ANC policy. The league said his comments contradicted the Freedom
Charter.
Mantashe yesterday said the ANC was "the only surviving organisation"
from when the Freedom Charter was adopted and "no [other] organisation
can claim ownership" of it.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article182153.ece
<http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/article182153.ece>
<http://www.businessday.co.za/News/Home.aspx> 2.2 Mantashe flays
public sector unions
Karima Brown, Business Day, 6 November 2009
AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
yesterday attacked public sector unions for their shoddy work and
demands for double-digit salary increases.
This strong criticism of a union by a senior ANC leader is likely to
heighten tensions in the ruling tripartite alliance. The ANC and its
leftist allies will hold an alliance summit next week in an effort to
iron out major differences over economic policy and how best to deliver
on the government's five key priority areas - the creation of decent
jobs, health, education, rural development and fighting crime.
Mantashe's comments are likely to resonate with some ANC leaders who
have called for a paradigm shift in relations between the developmental
state and public sector unions affiliated with the Congress of South
African Trade Unions.
Mantashe, addressing a gathering of the South African Municipal Workers'
Union (Samwu) in Bela- Bela in Limpopo, said that unions engaged the
state on the basis of "demands and offers" and that they failed in their
obligations to serve the people.
"It is members of these progressive unions that deliver shoddy services
to the communities, and political deployees absorb the pain. There is no
commitment to serve but (they) demand for more.
"When Samwu is proud of getting a 13% increase in cash- strapped
municipalities, is it equally engaging in a discussion about serving our
people better?" Mantashe said.
He said these demands led to an increase in budget deficits, which was
not desirable, especially considering the recession and the global
financial crisis .
"The increases are not a major issue if and when the services given to
our people are of superior quality. They become an issue when the
communities feel the decline in the quality of services they receive."
The ANC has come under pressure in several communities across SA as
angry residents take to the streets to protest tardy service delivery
and corruption .
Mantashe's attack on public sector unions is likely to be supported in
many ANC provincial structures given that the ANC in Gauteng has also
put the blame for sub-standard services at the door of public sector
workers.
David Makhura, the ANC provincial secretary in Gauteng , recently called
for a "fundamental" debate that required a "paradigm shift" on the part
of public sector unions.
But Cosatu is likely to contest the ANC's passing the buck to the
unions. The labour federation has blamed poor service delivery on a
range of policy choices, including privatisation of basic services, as
the key driver of slack delivery and under-performance.
Next week's alliance summit is likely to come up with resolutions that
will try and bind the allies, including labour, into helping the
administration of President Jacob Zuma to turn around service delivery,
especially at municipal level.
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=86189
<http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=86189>
2.3 Does Vavi's salary reflect Cosatu's values?
Editorial, Daily Dispatch, 5 November 2009
One can understand to a certain degree that Cosatu general secretary
Zwelinzima Vavi's salary had to go up. As Vavi himself explains: "My
salary doubled because we were losing all the policy capacity in the
federation.
The economists and accountants were all gone because, if you keep the
salary at R250000, it means the economists can't make those sacrifices
for years and years. They lose out."
So Vavi's salary went up to R500000 a year (R42000 a month). No doubt
many of the perks that come with the job are not reflected, but R500000
is still relatively little league when compared against the salaries of
the business leaders that Vavi deals with daily. But Vavi is not a
businessman. He is a unionist so one must compare his income and
lifestyle, not with those at the top of the money pile, but with those
whose banner he carries.
Perhaps more than in any other ethos, commitment to socialism or
communism is measured by how its advocates walk the talk. The entire
country is still no doubt musing over how red SACP leader Blade
Nzimande's blood really is after he, as Minister of Higher Education,
bought a car worth over R1million. And how ironic it is that Vavi was
one of his most vociferous critics.
Seen against mounting criticism that the Left "long ago abandoned
socialist policies and that for at least the last 10 years Cosatu has
not articulated a radical left-wing programme", Cosatu's leaders should
be doing everything possible to underscore their relevance.
But this need not start with ill-informed diatribe about nationalising
mines or the assets of businessmen like Human Settlements Minister Tokyo
Sexwale.
If they were really serious a radical start would be to take a leaf from
Mohandas Gandhi's book. He brought lasting change to India and threw off
the shackles of British domination by organising protests of peasants,
farmers and urban labourers and leading nationwide campaigns to ease
poverty and increase economic self-reliance - and he did so while
personifying the most humble of lifestyles.
When it comes to salaries there are different ways of handling
increments if one is truly serious about one's convictions. Rhodes
University Vice-Chancellor Saleem Badat, for example, when offered the
job, decided that his new salary was too high and allocated a portion of
it to a bursary fund for disadvantaged students. Imagine the statement
Vavi would make were he to chose to provide such an example.
Arguing for a new Left recently, former SACP Gauteng secretary Viswas
Satgar recently said "the SACP was no longer a communist party but a
faction of the ANC" and the Left had lost its way.
Well, the long walk back should start from home.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/article182544.ece
<http://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/article182544.ece>
3 South Africa
<http://www.bloomberg.com/?b=0> 3.1 3.1 Eskom Crisis Should Be
Resolved by State, Union Says
Ron Derby, Bloomberg, 9 November 2009
South Africa's government should act to resolve a management dispute at
Eskom Holdings Ltd., the state-owned power utility, the country's
largest labor union said.
Johannesburg-based Business Day on Oct. 30 reported that the board has
asked Chief Executive Officer Jacob Maroga
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Jacob+Maroga&site=wnews&client=wne
ws&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&ge
tfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> to resign, citing unidentified people
at the company. Yesterday the opposition Democratic Alliance said he had
resigned, citing a memo sent to Eskom staff. Eskom canceled a planned
press conference and declined to comment.
"We don't have all the facts, so therefore the shareholder is better
informed at this stage and should be able to resolve it," Frans Baleni
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Frans+Baleni&site=wnews&client=wne
ws&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&ge
tfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , general secretary of the National
Union of Mineworkers <http://www.num.org.za> , which has members at
Eskom, said in a telephone interview today.
South Africa
<http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/africa/southafrica/SouthAfrica.
gif> has been short of power under Maroga's tenure, with most mines and
smelters shutting for five days in January 2008 when the electricity
system neared collapse. The utility, supplier of about 95 percent of
South Africa's power, posted a record loss of 9.7 billion rand ($1.3
billion) last fiscal year and has proposed tripling tariffs over three
years.
Five-Year Expansion
The company is in the midst of a five-year, 385 billion rand expansion.
The government prevented Eskom from making decisions on new plants until
2004 as it tried unsuccessfully to attract private investment into the
power industry. That resulted in the current shortage of generation
capacity.
"We can't blame the current crisis on Maroga; it started before him,"
Baleni said.
Barbara Hogan
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Barbara+Hogan&site=wnews&client=wn
ews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&g
etfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , South Africa's minister of public
enterprises, referred queries to the board when called on her mobile
phone today.
A scheduled appearance by Eskom's board in front of the South African
parliament's portfolio committee on public enterprises to explain the
management dispute today has been postponed, according to a
parliamentary portfolio committee agenda.
The dispute may dent confidence in the country, the South African Press
Association said, citing Vytjie Mentor
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Vytjie+Mentor&site=wnews&client=wn
ews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&g
etfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , the chairwoman of the committee.
Mentor spoke in an interview with SAFM, a state-owned radio station,
Sapa said.
Bobby Godsell
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Bobby+Godsell&site=wnews&client=wn
ews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&g
etfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , the chairman of Eskom, questioned the
ability of the company's management to react to challenges, the
Johannesburg Mail & Guardian said, citing a note sent by Godsell to the
company's board. Godsell didn't immediately respond to voice and text
messages left on his mobile phone.
The youth league of the ruling African National Congress
<http://www.anc.org.za> said yesterday that Maroga has not resigned and
said an alleged attempt to force him out is racist. The Black Management
Forum also criticized the dispute, Johannesburg's Star newspaper
reported today.
Maroga, 49, took over as CEO from Thulani Gcabashe
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Thulani+Gcabashe&site=wnews&client
=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=
p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , whose contract expired in December
2007.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aDEkcR24.lJ4
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aDEkcR24.lJ4>
<http://www.bloomberg.com/?b=0> 3.2 ANC Won't Pledge 'Hollow Support'
on Nationalization of Mines
Antony Sguazzin, Bloomberg, 6 November 2009
South Africa's ruling African National Congress <http://www.anc.org.za>
party said it won't support calls for the nationalization of the
country's mines by groups including its own youth league and the
Congress of South African Trade Unions <http://www.cosatu.org.za> .
The government has reactivated a dormant state-owned mining company and
is pushing ahead with plans to charge royalties to miners, Gwede
Mantashe
<http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Gwede+Mantashe&site=wnews&client=w
news&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&
getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1> , the secretary general of the ANC,
said in an e-mailed copy of a speech made yesterday to members of the
South African Municipal Workers Union in Bela Bela, north of
Johannesburg.
The ANC, which has requested "concrete ideas" for the industry, is not
going to "just pledge hollow support for the nationalization of mines,"
Mantashe said.
South Africa is the world's biggest producer of platinum, chrome,
vanadium and manganese, the third-largest gold miner and the largest
source of coal for European power plants. Anglo American Plc
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=AAL%3ALN> , BHP Billiton
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=BHP%3AAU> Ltd. and Xstrata
Plc <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=XTA%3ALN> are among
companies that own assets in the country.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=a5GE2ToVaOc4
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=a5GE2ToVaOc4>
3.3 Nationalisation confuses all and sundry inside labour
Terry Bell, Business Report, 6 November 2009
There is an obvious need to make some sense out of the confusing
statements that have emerged this week about nationalisation. This is
because they are all part of an ongoing debate about possible political,
economic and social alternatives to the present crisis-wracked system
and who may lead any transformation.
Alternatives are being argued about and sought by a variety of groups
within and outside the labour movement, with concepts of race and
ethnicity further clouding the issue.
There are also political groups, including the SA Communist Party
(SACP), that consider they have most of the answers, yet are also often
riddled with contradictions and factions.
Various fragments of the non-SACP Left (although including a few SACP
members) have also, for example, called for a "conference of the
democratic Left" for March next year. Although proposed as an open forum
for discussion and decision making that might lead to a "Left" political
alternative, jockeying for control of the process is already under way.
All of this makes for an often confusing mix and the media, for the most
part, has tended to add to the confusion, with the current furore about
the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) call for wealth
nationalisation being a case in point.
Contrary to most reports, Numsa did not, on Monday, demand the
nationalisation of the personal wealth of mining magnate Patrice Motsepe
and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale: this missed the point.
In its call for "nationalisation and socialisation" of major
enterprises, the union mentioned "the massive and privately owned wealth
in the hands of the Motsepes, Sexwales, Macozomas, Nhlekos, Mittals and
Oppenheimers of this world", something Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim
later described as the state taking charge of "the commanding heights of
the economy". This is a position long debated, argued for, and supported
within the labour movement, both here and abroad.
Along with the ANC Youth League and others, Numsa bases its
nationalisation call on an interpretation of the fourth clause of the
ANC's 1955 Freedom Charter, headed: "The people shall share in the
country's wealth!"
Although this clause notes that "the banks and monopoly industry shall
be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole", it goes on to
state: "All people shall have equal rights to trade... to manufacture
and to enter all trades, crafts and professions."
This apparent contradiction has led to differing interpretations. ANC
secretary-general and SACP chairman Gwede Mantashe, for example, does
not see this as advocating nationalisation.
This week, however, the issue was confused by media reports
personalising the nationalisation call. Reacting to these reports,
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi denied that the Numsa position
was shared by Cosatu, prompting allegations that he was protecting
Motsepe because of the funding he provided for the Cosatu congress.
Jim yesterday rallied to Vavi's defence. Such allegations, he
maintained, were "silly and mischievous".
"South Africa is a capitalist society and real money is in the hands of
capitalists of all colours. Anyone wishing to hold a large event like a
congress of trade unions will either have to rob a bank or beg from the
capitalist. There is nothing hypocritical about this," he said.
Motsepe, listed in the latest Who owns Whom survey as the country's
richest man, has distributed largesse in a number of areas and has been
dubbed a "comrade capitalist" by some union cynics.
Jim also denied that the Numsa attack on big capital was in any way an
attempt to deflect attention from "lesser gravy train riding" within the
government, especially by Higher Education Minister and SACP general
secretary Blade Nzimande - who caused a stir recently with his purchase
of a R1.1 million official car.
The truth, Jim says, is that in South Africa there is "a filthy rich,
extremely selfish, mainly white, capitalist class (that) continues to
refuse to part with a significant portion of its wealth to meet the huge
development challenge confronting the country".
The "real enemy" of workers and the poor is, therefore, the "capitalist
class, which is largely white". About this there seems little
disagreement within the labour movement.
But although he says there is "no blueprint" for the way forward, Jim
and the Numsa executive again publicly pinned their colours to the SACP
as "the vanguard" of the working class.
This was also the message from Vavi when he addressed the SA Municipal
Workers' Union congress in Bela Bela, Limpopo, on Tuesday, where he
called for the transformation of the economy.
He also slated "black economic empowerment tycoons" who joined "the race
to accumulate wealth by any means possible" and saw the answer to the
economic crisis in "fostering a mass socialist movement, true to Marxist
principles and built around the SACP".
Unionists taking a cynical view see this as an attempt to establish the
SACP as an existing alternative.
However, a probable majority within the labour movement has no clear
strategy or tactics in mind and certainly no hard and fast ideological
position. Their attitude is summed up by Federation of Unions of SA
general secretary Dennis George: "The current system is failing and some
sort of alternative is needed. That's what it comes down to - that is
what we have to debate."
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=553&fArticleId=5233416
<http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=553&fArticleId=5233416>
3.4 Union blasts spending on Zuma's huge cabinet
Christelle Terreblanche, Daily News, 5 November 2009
South Africa's largest public sector trade union federation has slammed
the high cost of expanding President Jacob Zuma's cabinet as an exercise
in appeasing political factions and a setback for the poor.
Addressing Parliament's finance and appropriations committees on
Wednesday, Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) deputy general
secretary Gretchen Humphries said that the half a billion rand spent on
the new structures and homes and offices for the eight new ministries
could have been better spent on homes for the poor.
"The establishment of new government departments and the appointment of
additional ministers and deputy ministers and departmental staff can be
seen as a political exercise to appease the various factions within the
ANC with the perks and privileges of executive office," Humphries said
of last week's mini-budget.
"Whether these new ministries will be able to have an equivalent impact
is difficult to measure, but if precedent is any indication, they will
not. Taking into consideration that the country is facing a recession of
note, do we really need this?"
'... do we really need this'
Humphries was among a range of business and labour leaders giving
feedback on Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium-term budget policy
statement last week.
She was scathing about the R150 million allocated through the Public
Works Department for offices and residences for new members of the
executive, included in the R562.1-million in "unforeseen expenses"
Gordhan announced for the new national government structure.
The amount included more than R200m for the new Rural Development and
Land Affairs Ministry's pilot schemes and about R90m for Zuma's office,
including setting up two new ministers in the Presidency.
Humphries said the state could have built more than 10 000 RDP houses
with the money - something that would have a "real and tangible impact
on the lives of thousands of ordinary South Africans".
Fedusa did, however, welcome the finance minister's firm stance against
corruption and wasteful expenditure.
"Fedusa has seen how the poor have become poorer, while national figures
have enjoyed extravagant luxuries such as expensive hotel rooms and
flights when attending meetings," Humphries said.
"However, we are pleased to hear that Minister Gordhan has made it a key
priority to eliminate these unnecessary practices as well as corruption
that is a burden to the taxpayers of our country."
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3102&art_id=vn200911051
037
<http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3102&art_id=vn20091105
1037>
23330C333052
<http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php> 3.5 ANC lauds struggle stalwart
Star, 6 November 2009
The ANC has paid tribute to struggle hero Ronnie Press, who was buried
in London yesterday.
"At this hour of need, our condolences go to his family and friends. The
ANC lowers its banner for this gigantic cadre and leader of our
movement," the party said.
Press was a member of the Congress of Democrats in 1953 and played an
active role in the South African Congress of Trade Unions, the ANC and
its armed wing, and the SACP.
His contribution to the struggle against apartheid has been quite
immense. A trained chemical engineer, comrade Ronnie provided the
movement with technical expertise," the ANC said.
Press was convicted in the 1956 Treason Trial. - Sapa
http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5233708
<http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5233708>
4 Comment
4.1 Sex, lies and videotapes
The Point, iafrica.com, 6 November 2009
The events of the past week have forced The Point to ponder the
uncomfortable topic of personal wealth. Or, to put it more succinctly,
the lack thereof.
On the downside, the grand-total of all my worldly possessions and
investments is roughly equal to Zwelinzima Vavi's (new) monthly salary.
On the upside, I am not likely to rank high on the list of those whose
personal wealth must be nationalised when South Africa, in a moment of
delusional populist panic, adopts communist policies.
Yip, folks, if you nationalised The Point's wealth, you would be able to
give every person in South Africa 0.1 cents. I'm not even sure if we
still produce one cent pieces. Or five cent pieces for that matter.
And the cynics among you question the viability of a system that has
seen... well... pretty much every country that has brandished the sickle
in a sea of red, crash and burn.
_____
SILLY SEASON
Castro Ngobese doesn't. It may be because he was blessed with the name
Castro (it may also be attributed to a myriad of other reasons involving
IQ and history books), but the spokesperson for Numsa reckons that it is
a good idea to 'nationalise' the personal wealth of, well, rich guys.
"As Numsa, we are calling for the nationalisation, and eventually the
socialisation of the massive and privately-owned wealth in the hands of
Motsepes, Sexwales, Macozomas, Nhlekos, Mittals and Oppenheimers of this
world."
The word 'nationalise' in this particular sentence can probably be quite
comfortably replaced with the easier-to-understand word 'theft'.
Tokyo Sexwale - yes, he whose wealth could be divided up amongst the
people in R20-notes - shrugged off Castro's suggestion. He can do this;
he is personally worth R1-billion.
"The silly season starts in the middle of next month; I do not know why
they bring it forward so early. I think we should not distract from
problems that we have. These are people that have earned wealth
genuinely."
He was backed up by the ANC's secretary general Gwede Mantashe: "It's
talking to the resentment we have among ourselves as black people. If
anybody progresses we feel very jealous and we resent their success. We
should deal with that and not beat about the bush as if it's a
nationalisation debate."
I suspect Gwede would fall quite comfortably into the category of those
who have 'progressed'.
_____
DO AS I SAY...
But what about trade unionist Zwelinzima Vavi? Surely (surely!) the
secretary general of a trade union federation understands the dynamics
of pay structures marked by vast discrepancies?
Perhaps he does, but the explanation he gave for the recent doubling of
his salary made very little sense.
"My salary doubled because we were losing all the policy capacity in the
federation," said Vavi. "The economists and accountants were all gone,
because if you keep the salary at R250 000, it means the economists
can't make those sacrifices for years and years. They lose out."
So... let me see if I understand this. It is okay for some individuals
to earn vastly more than others. It is also okay for some (privileged)
individuals to get obscene salary increases. Furthermore, if qualified
individuals get increases, those higher in the pay-chain must, by
default, also get increases.
Well, that would go a long way in explaining why all Cosatu members seem
to do is strike.
http://news.iafrica.com/features/2035360.htm
<http://news.iafrica.com/features/2035360.htm>
<http://www.businessday.co.za/News/Home.aspx> 4.2 Time for a break
from a tough year
Dr Lucas Ntyintyane, Cape Town, Business Day, 6 November 2009
I am the first to admit it has been a long and tough year. Most people
are tired. It explains some scandalous statements in this silly season.
It is all noise and no quality on offer.
Please excuse the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) bigwigs
for thinking trashing the streets is leadership. I love the Yiddish term
- "80-90" - to describe such stupidity.
Have mercy on the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa)
hierarchy! They lost the plot. It is tough being a black millionaire.
Personally, I will offer a reward of R10 to anyone who can make the
ministerial handbook disappear. I hate this bible of the Union
Buildings.
Spare a thought for our stressed cops. The best cure for itching fingers
is not pumping bullets - but chilling out (I know the place).
Can anyone tell me, what became of Allan Boesak? From struggle hero to
party hopper. Last winter he was an African National Congress (ANC)
member. In summer he was Congress of the People, and then a short detour
to God 's party.
Lastly, I have all sympathy for Minister Barbara Hogan . Finally, she
understood what toeing the party line means. After the Dalai Lama
episode, it is time to make the party smile. Comrades must be defended
at all cost irrespective of their shortcomings. Good for you minister.
Since this is a holiday season, I have good chill-out suggestions for
our stressed out political leaders. For Samwu, a picnic in Kirstenbosch
Gardens will do wonders for their creativity. Numsa will benefit from a
walk on the majestic Hogsback Mountains. Diepsloot for the South African
Communist Party. The Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal has the
tranquility Rev Boesak requires. The ANC Youth League can dance their
demons away in the Bunker Parukarka in Prague.
Baghdad is the destination of choice for our Cabinet. It will make them
appreciate SA and not mess it up. What about our cops? Gen Bheki Cele
should organise some time out, away from guns.
Honestly, we all need a serious break from the recession, stupidity and
bullets. For me, it's Cape Town.
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=86205
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