Taking COSATU Today Forward, 12 February 2025 #CosatuProvCongress #CosatuGenderConfer
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu Free State holds a Provincial Gender Conference/Congress #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
12 February 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU will donate school shoes and sanitary towels to the children of Ganyesa in the North West
- SADTU KZN Statement on the untimely passing of Cde Nkosingiphile Shabalala
- South Africa
- COSATU celebrates the 35th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Safety lapses persist at SN Corporation shipbreaking yard
- SACP tribute to Namibian liberation struggle stalwart, President Sam Nujoma
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NEHAWU calls on the government to defend our healthcare workers in the face of attacks on our sovereignty by the Trump Administration
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, February 11, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] calls on government to intervene in ensuring that vital HIV/AIDS and TB programmes are safeguarded and, that our brave healthcare workers and the critical services they render to our communities are protected in the face of the Trump Administration’s attack on our sovereignty.
Since assuming office, the Trump administration has led a relentless campaign of exerting pressure on our constitutionally elected government. The most recent act of imperialist bullying came in the form of signing an executive order, halting foreign aid and assistance through the United States Agency for International Development [USAID]. The executive order will see a ninety-day freeze on support and aid administered.
The decision to halt these vital funding programme will have broad implications for global health and in particular on the South African context. The freezing will impact essential HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) services, impact testing and treatment services, which will lead to an increase in undiagnosed cases, a rise in infections, the spread of drug resistance and an increase in mortality and an increase of TB.
However, this also provides an opportunity for governments across the world to develop self-reliance in funding their healthcare system and not being solely reliant on funding from USAID. As NEHAWU, we call on government to build this self-reliance and to commence fully financing HIV/AIDS programmes and to delink from our dangerous dependence on the USAID. We have, in recent years, noted how the USAID has always been used by the US government for as a subversive weapon for regime change, we must therefore ensure that we safeguard our national sovereignty.
The attitude of the US government with its aggressive posture towards South Africa is a manifestation of the consolidation of geopolitical right-wing politics. The right-wing Trump Administration wants to cruelly punish sovereign countries that do not toe its savage line.
It considers unacceptable that South Africa can exercise independent foreign policy positions and act outside of its hegemonic control for its national interests.
Indeed, the fact that our government instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) charging apartheid and genocidal Israel in contravention of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide [Genocide Convention] in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This is major issue for the Trump Administration due to its support for apartheid and genocidal Israel and the atrocities that are unfolding in Palestine. The Trump administration has been brazen in their support of the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine.
As NEHAWU, we reiterate our support for the government on the decision of approaching ICJ against Israel. We call on our government to remain resolute and unwavering in its principled position against Israel.
Equally, the signing of the National Health Insurance [NHI], Basic Education Laws Amendment [BELA] Act and Expropriation Act, have been a thorn in the administration of Trump and the racist grouping here at home such as Afriforum and Solidarity.
We support the government in signing those acts into law to address the transformation agenda of the country. The government must not be side-tracked by the misinformation being peddled by right-wingers and Trump administration.
Lastly, we call on government, National Treasury and the NDoH to develop emergency contingency plans to safeguard workers expected to be impacted by the funding freeze and to ensure that vital HIV/ AID and TB services are not halted. We reiterate our call for the government to defend our national sovereignty against the Trump Administration.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
COSATU celebrates the 35th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 11 February 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins millions of South Africans and the international community in commemorating the 35th anniversary of struggle icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s release from prison on the 11 February 1990. After spending a lengthy 27 years behind bars, his freedom would culminate into negotiations that would pave a way for the liberation of the country, giving birth to a democratic South Africa.
Nelson Mandela dedicated his entire life to the unshackling of the oppressed from the Apartheid regime, even in prison his commitment to the movement was unwavering. His release from prison marked a historical climax in South Africa.
To date, he remains a symbol of the country’s emancipation which came from the blood, sweat and tears of the countless activists in the movement.
In his first public speech on the Grand Parade at the Cape Town City Hall and later in his many addresses, Madiba expressed gratitude to the working class for its role towards a new political era. The African National Congress had been unbanned days before his release after decades of a collaborative mobilisation to end unjust laws of Apartheid.
As the country marks this historic day, it is important to reflect on the gains that emanated from this transition. The 1994 democratic elections ushered in the Constitution of 1996, a Bill of Rights recognising all citizens of South Africa, regardless of race or gender. It is the Constitution that ended powers of racism and discrimination. From the constitution, followed labour laws such as the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and a myriad of other laws that sought to emancipate workers.
These laws have been amended over the years, though the engagements of labour, organised business, civil society groups and government. Thirty-one years into democracy, these engagements have produced a meaningful and life changing impact to the lives of South Africans and the working class. Whilst enormous change is evident, the commitment to the liberation of workers from self- serving employers who push against progressive laws continues.
COSATU applauds government, labour, business and community organisations through platforms such as the National Economic Development and Labour Council(Nedlac) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission in addressing the country’s socio economic challenges. It is through these platforms that poverty is eradicated for millions of people battling to make ends meet, particularly farm, domestic, construction, retail, transport, hospitality, security, and cleaning workers.
The Federation hopes that the anniversary of Madiba’s release is an opportunity for all South Africans, from all walks of life to review not only his long walk to freedom, but also to the country’s long walk to the formation of the laws we now enjoy.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
Safety lapses persist at SN Corporation shipbreaking yard
11 February, 2025
On 3 February, a cutter man was injured in a fire at SN Corporation's shipbreaking yard in Chattogram, Bangladesh.
This is the second incident at SN Corporation in under five months. In
September, last year, a deadly explosion claimed the lives of seven workers and seriously injured over ten. Following this, Bangladesh’s ministry of industries had imposed a fine of 2.6 million BDT (US$ 21,096) on the company along with suspending all
operations at the yard for three months.
IndustriALL affiliates Bangladesh Metal Workers' Federation- BMF and Bangladesh Metal Chemical Garment and Tailors Workers' Federation- BMCGTWF indicated that the 3 February incident occurred on the same ship. A cutter named Sohel Rana, 32, was working when
a fire broke out, injuring his left ear. He was immediately rushed to the yard hospital. Later, he was taken to a diagnostic centre for further check-up as he continued experiencing sharp pain in his left ear and difficulty hearing.
While talking to the IndustriALL South Asia co-ordinator and local union leaders, he also shared about harsh working conditions on the yard, particularly since January. Issues he highlighted included intensification of workload, 12-hour workdays without any
overtime, no provisions for lunch or refreshments and workers have not yet received wages for January.
SN Corporation has a Hong Kong Convention (HKC) compliance certificate issued by ClassNK - Nippon Kaiji Kyokai. HKC compliant companies are required to report industrial
incidents, including a minor one, which occurs in their yards. On the contrary, not only did SN Corporation not report the incident but also publicly denied that any such incident occurred in its yard on 3 February or at any time recently.
Walton Pantland, IndustriALL director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking, says:
“The fact that another accident happened so soon after the company was given permission to reopen and that the company publicly denied the occurrence of the accident suggests that no lessons were learnt from the previous industrial homicide. Companies like SN Corporation undermine the whole industry and faith in the HKC as a mechanism for improvement. Government of Bangladesh needs to urgently improve its industrial safety inspectorate to ensure that shipyards are complying.”
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SACP tribute to Namibian liberation struggle stalwart, President Sam Nujoma
Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, SACP Central Committee Member National Spokesperson & Political Bureau Secretary for Policy and Research Tuesday, 11 February 2025
The South African Communist Party (SACP) dips its red flag and pays tribute to Namibian liberation struggle stalwart, President Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma.
The SACP conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to his family, particularly his wife Utoni Nujoma, the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) and the people of Namibia for the loss.
President Nujoma led the people of Namibia during the most difficult moments of their liberation struggle until the country’s liberation in 1990. By this time, our struggle, in close co-operation with SWAPO, forced the apartheid regime to concede to negotiations. Paving the way for this and the advanced march to the liberation of Southern Africa was the defeat of the apartheid regime in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola, where Cuba played a decisive role.
Nujoma worked tirelessly to unite the Namibian people as they faced the racist apartheid South African regime, establishing SWAPO’s military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, in 1962, and waging a relentless war for the liberation of the Namibian people until they triumphed.
SWAPO was part of the revolutionary forces that made an indelible contribution to the defeat of the apartheid regime, both in South Africa and Namibia, as well as fighting against apartheid influence across the southern African region, and continues to unite the Namibian people in their desire to build their country and eliminate the legacy of apartheid and colonialism.
For his contribution to the struggle for peoples’ liberation, President Sam Nujoma was acknowledged in various countries as well as national and international institutions, receiving multiple prestigious awards. These include the Soviet Union, where he was awarded the International Lenin Prize for Strengthening Peace Among Peoples in 1973; Vietnam, where he was honoured with the Ho Chi Minh Peace Prize in 1988; and the Order of José Martí, which he received in Cuba in 1991, among many others.
For his unwavering opposition to the government of apartheid South Africa, President Nujoma was honoured with the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo in South Africa.
In paying tribute to Comrade Sam Nujoma, the SACP reiterates its support for the Namibian people’s efforts to develop their country further, grounded in national sovereignty and self-determination. In this respect, the SACP will strengthen its ties with its historical ally, SWAPO.
The SACP calls for the unity of the African peoples in the fight against imperialism, for the right to self-determination. The masses of our people remain impoverished across the board, while a few, both national and foreign exploiters, are becoming richer out of the exploitation. The SACP reiterates its call for African continental unity to continue and deepen the struggle to advance the African Revolution in honour of the exceptional founders and leaders of our national liberation movements, of whom President Sam Nujoma was an indefatigable force.
Further, the SACP is committed to the rejuvenation of the African Left Networking Forum to unite the African people in the fight for social emancipation. This is crucial for our African struggle against imperialism. Building the African Left Networking Forum is urgently necessary. Africa is not fully independent yet, because of persisting imperialist domination and exploitation of its resources and people.
Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
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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