Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 6 September 2021

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Norman Mampane

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Sep 6, 2021, 8:13:08 AM9/6/21
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COSATU TODAY

#COSATU holds Swaziland Global Week of Action

#Solidarity

#DemocracyNow

Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin

‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo

 

DSCN0489 cut.jpg

Our side of the story

Monday, 6 September 2021


Deepen the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’

Join COSATU Now

Fight against intransigence of employers who do not register workers with UIF at all workplaces!

Mobilize against #COVID19 infections Now!

We shall overcome!

Contents                      

o   Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!

  • Swaziland: Weeklong Global Week of Action programme

Ø  Employment and Labour on Butterworth Labour Centre relocates to new premises

  • SAMWU to oppose Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality’s appeal

o   South Africa

  • NUM in the Free State Region strongly condemns gender-based violence and sexual harassment of black women taking place at Phakisa Mine based on racial prejudice

o   International-Workers’ Solidarity!

  • Global Week of Action on Swaziland

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics

Swaziland: Weeklong Global Week of Action programme

Zanele Matebula, COSATU Deputy International Secretary, 6 September 2021

The week 06 - 10 September 2021 marks the Global Week of Action on Swaziland. The weeklong action is a continuation of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign for genuine social and political transformation initiated by COSATU and other progressive forces within and outside Eswatini.

The below constitute a series of activities aimed at uniting the democratic movements in Swaziland and mobilizing support across the world. Other meeting links will be send in due course.

COSATU International Seminar – 6 September 2021 ( 14h00-16h00)

THEME: Swaziland Independence Day For Who? – Talks about Justice, Human Rights, Despotic Rule, and Solidarity a Roadmap to Change

Moment of Silence for the Fallen Comrades

Each Speaker has 10 minutes

Discussions will be open for 20min

Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks 10 min

  1. Programme Director – COSATU
  2. Opening and Purpose of Seminar – Zanele Matebula
  3. Opening Address – COSATU NOB
  4. Quinton Dlamini – TUCOSWA President
  5. Political Party Rep
  6. Mass Democratic Movement Representative ( Multi-stakeholders Rep)
  7. United Eswatini Diaspora
  8. SACP\SSN – Solly Mapaila (TBC)
  9. Abner Mosase – ANC Sub Com on IR, Eswatini Emergency Response Team
  10. Bongani Masuku – COSATU Secretariat Coordinator
  11. Joel Akhator Odigie – ITUC Africa DGS
  12. Discussions
  13. Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks
  14. Closure

Join Zoom Meeting

https://nehawu-org-za.zoom.us/j/81080921378?pwd=ZmtXcHo5VjVDajNnc0RnRUlRZ292dz09

Meeting ID: 810 8092 1378

Passcode: 677801

_______________________________

Global Seminar Convened by Global Swazi Lives Matter - Diaspora – 6 September 2021 ( 17:30)

Global Lecture #53YearsASlave

Draft Programme

  1. Welcome remarks (SLMGSL Convenor Qhawekazi
  2. Opening Prayer for massacre victims and political prisoners (Pastor)
  3. Word of Solidarity from Diasporas
  • SA Chapter
  • Taiwan Diaspora
  • Europe Chapter
  • Swazi Canadian Diaspora Network
  • USA Diaspora
  1. Political Assembly Rep
  2. Message of Solidarity from Civil Society in SA and the world
  • Students
  • Women movements 
  1. Trade Union solidarity messages
  • TUCOSWA – Quinton Dlamini - President
  • COSATU – Bheki Ntshalintshali (TBC)
  • NUMSA
  • ITUC – Africa – Kwasi Adu Amankwah – General Secretary
  1. Stories from victims
  • Solidarity Fund
  1. Introduction of our main Speaker—Hleli Luhlanga (Canada)
  2. Main Speaker Beatrice Mtetwa
  3. Word of thanks—Saneliswa (USA Chapter)

_______________________________________

Young Workers International Seminar Programme - 7th September 2021 (14h00)

THEME: Swaziland Massacre, Police Brutality and Civil Unrest: What Does Independence Day Mean to Young People in Swaziland?

Chairperson: Cde Xolani Fakude (National Coordinator of COSATU Young Workers Forum)

Moment of Silence for the Fallen Comrades

  1. Purpose of the meeting and introduction of speakers: Xolani Fakude 14:00- 14:10
  2. Cde Siyabonga Nkotwana - KZN Young Workers Convener, Member of ANC

Subcommittee on International Relations. 14:10- 14:30

  1. Cde Sthembiso Simelane - Chairperson; TUCOSWA Youth Committee. 14:30- 14:50
  2. Cde Mduduzi /Sonke Dube - SWAYOCO. 14:50- 15:10
  3. Cde Rebone Tau - ANC IR member, Political Analyst. 15:10- 15:30
  4. Questions of Clarity 15:30- 15:45
  5. Discussions 15:45- 15:55
  6. Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks (Cde Xolani Fakude). 15:55 -16:00

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82887299920

Meeting ID: 828 8729 9920

Passcode: 172434

_______________________

Virtual Memorial Co Hosted with United Eswatini Diaspora 7 September ( 18h00-19h30)

Paying Tribute to the Victims of Repression and Police Brutality Under the Directive of the Despotic Regime of Mswati III

Program

  1. Welcome & Opening
  2. Prayer
  3. Short Video Testimony (Victim)
  4. Speaker from United Eswatini Diaspora
  5. Deceased Family members speak (3 families)
  6. Speaker from COSATU – Zanele Matebula – Deputy International Secretary
  7. Multi stakeholder Speaker
  8. Youth & Women Reps
  9. Song (Flighting of Names of Pictures of the Fallen-Martyrs)
  10. Vote of Thanks

South Africa

NUM in the Free State Region strongly condemns gender-based violence and sexual harassment of black women taking place at Phakisa Mine based on racial prejudice

Puleng Rothetsa, NUM Free State Women Structure Secretary, 06 September 2021

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Free State Region is dismayed and upset by the series of disheartening events which seems to take place year in and year out without ceasing at Phakisa Mine in the Free State Region. Phakisa Mine is an operation owned by Harmony Gold. These events are a clear demonstration of how specifically black women, in particular, are being handled and treated within the working environment at Phakisa mine.

"It is also upsetting to notice that the employer instead of combating and dealing decisively with this behaviour continues to watch while all these incidents are taking place. The perpetrators of such violence and sexual harassment are being treated like kings and given leeway even to justify their actions. The company is expected to provide a safe working environment for all its employees including black women free from all forms of racial discrimination," said Puleng Rothetsa, NUM Free State Women Structure Secretary.

It is disheartening to report that some of these events took place at a crucial time when the country was celebrating women’s month. The NUM is calling upon Harmony Gold to immediately introduce measures seeking to bring to an end all acts of violence and sexual harassment perpetrated against women at that mine.

There are series of events that took place for three consecutive years, during women’s month in 2019 a black woman was physically assaulted by a white male at Phakisa Mine and concurrently in the same year the company conveniently called in South African Police Services (SAPS) to perform humiliating and degrading body search to all underground employees. It is understood that during the body search SAPS personnel used their fingers to poke and fiddle with women's private parts without any guilt or shame whatsoever citing that they were instructed by the employer to perform such a search. The following year in 2020 a white male used a racist slur by calling a black woman a “Kaffir’’ within the workplace with impunity with no consequence for such conduct.

As if all this mistreatment of black women in the previous year’s weren’t enough during the year 2021, a black woman repeatedly pleaded with a white man who is an (onsetter) a person controlling a cage to go and change during her menstruation cycle and her pleadings fell on deaf ears because he demanded that she take off her clothes to prove that she was indeed going through her menstruation cycle.

The lady had to take off her clothes in full view of everyone who witnessed blood on her clothes. The incident was reported and subsequently, the white man was suspended and there was hope from the victim that justice ultimately was taking its course, unfortunately, her hopes were turned into a nightmare when the employer unilaterally decided to uplift his suspension unconditionally even before the investigations could be concluded.

As NUM in the Free State, we oppose all forms of violence and harassment perpetrated against black women in particular. We reiterate our position to Harmony to institute harsh disciplinary measures against anyone who perpetuates these inappropriate behaviours in the workplace and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of Gender-Based Violence.

The struggle towards woman empowerment and gender equality must be intensified across the colour bar where we organise.

International-Solidarity

Global Week of Action on Swaziland

Zanele Matebula, COSATU Deputy International Secretary, 6 September 2021

Dear Comrades,

You are invited to join the COSATU Global Week of Action activities planned for the week . The attached are the main virtual events planned by COSATU  in partnership with TUCOSWA and there are other virtual events planned in partnership with the Swazi Lives Matter Global Diaspora as well as the South African Chapter United Eswatini Diaspora.

Please see the links for the above activities.

For the International Seminar on the 6th

The zoom details are

Time: Sep 6, 2021, 02:00 PM Harare, Pretoria

Join Zoom Meeting

https://nehawu-org-za.zoom.us/j/81080921378?pwd=ZmtXcHo5VjVDajNnc0RnRUlRZ292dz09  

Meeting ID: 810 8092 1378

Passcode: 677801

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,81080921378#,,,,*677801# US (New York)

+16699009128,,81080921378#,,,,*677801# US (San Jose)

For the Youth Seminar on the 7th

Topic: Young Workers International Seminar

Time: Sep 7, 2021 02:00 PM Harare, Pretoria

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82887299920

Meeting ID: 828 8729 9920

Passcode: 172434

Please share with your networks and kindly join if you are free.

__________________________

Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017

P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348

 

                                             

 

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