COSATU Today, 10 March 2010

COSATU and its affiliates organised in the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture reject strongly the decision to terminate the employment of 200 employment workers who have worked for more than nine years.

COSATU was informed by its members, through the affiliates, that the acting HOD has issued a letter instructing all 200 workers who are currently employed that their service is being terminated at the end of 31^st March 2010.

It is reported that the acting deputy Director General is terminating their jobs to create jobs for his faction that will elect him to be the ANC provincial secretary. Yet the ANC manifesto speaks about creating decent quality jobs. The NW Premier in her provincial address also talked about the creation of decent quality jobs for the people of this province. The ANC manifesto and the Premier have never said the jobs must be created by terminating other jobs and creating jobs for certain individuals in a faction who want to be elected at the coming ANC provincial conference.

COSATU has been very patient with the Department of Social Development, in particular in Taung, employing people from the faction led by some former disbanded ANC PEC members, including officials who are corrupt. Now it is a faction in the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, led by an official who wants to be elected as the ANC provincial secretary in the next conference.

200 workers who have been permanently employed for the past nine to ten years are going nowhere. If you terminate you must follow the LRA.

COSATU is fighting for jobs not for termination. All those 200 workers are members of SASAWU and NEHAWU. Therefore we will fight for their jobs, at the Labour Court if needs be.

COSATU demands that the MEC of Sports, Arts and Culture intervene on the matter and that the MEC of Social Development responds to its letter demanding her to call off her political agenda of employing the faction that represent her views towards the ANC provincial conference which is due in June 2010.

People must be employed in line with the government policies and the BCEA, not by a faction policy.

2. South Africa

2.1 Minister Patel’s ideas on pension fund refreshing

Castro Ngobese, NUMSA’s National Spokesperson, 9 March 2010

NUMSA has noted the comments attributed to the Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel in relation to pension funds being directed into development projects, and also that a portion of the funds under the control of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) be leveraged for the public good.

These comments are refreshing coming from the high echelons of power in the midst of massive challenges of unemployment, service delivery backlogs, underdevelopment and poverty that are engulfing the vast majority of the workers and the poor. Numsa looks forward to engagements that will include our colleagues from UASA and other trade unions, in the light of billions of workers’ monies that were lost in the recent global financial crisis.

The union calls on Minister Patel to initiate a structured public engagement with all the relevant stakeholders, particularly trade union-appointed and employer-appointed trustees for consensus and implementation. Numsa is interested in such a discussion informed by ANC’s Elections Manifesto, numerous Alliance Summit discussions as well as long-standing Numsa and Cosatu resolutions. We believe that these retirement funds can play a key role in reversing the colonial character of our economy and spatial apartheid development.

2.2 ANCYL President’s statements littered with malice-CWU

Matankana Mothapo, CWU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

The CWU has noted with utter disgust the utterances attributed to the President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Julius Malema in relation to the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Cde Zwelinzima Vavi.

ANCYL President Malema insinuates that Vavi, once he stood down as Cosatu’s General Secretary, would automatically find a political home among ANCs top brass. “He (Vavi) must go to the branch. You must first have a branch. He thought he is going to the National Executive Committee of the ANC, which is an uncultured way of addressing issues in the ANC. You don't say you are going to the NEC, you must say you are going to the branch, but because he doesn't understand the ANC very well he starts from the top."

These utterances by ANCYL President Malema are littered with malice and can only serve an agenda which seeks to isolate Vavi from his core constituency and base - the workers and the poor. It is also a reflection that Malema is part of those participating in an agenda which seeks to alienate Alliance leaders and dent the image of the working class formations, particularly the SACP and Cosatu.

As CWU we do not doubt the leadership credibility and capability of our General Secretary Vavi. Vavi's leadership qualities and future roles do not rest with the ANCYL President. Julius should be reminded that Vavi enjoys support amongst the rank and file membership of the ANC apart from the support he is enjoying from about 2 million of the workers whom some are ANC members too.

We call on the ANC leadership to discipline the ANCYL President for his insults to senior Alliance leaders and not be cajoled (by threats of no re-election in 2012) into seemingly populist calls designed to advance narrow Sectoral interests.

The call for a lifestyle audit for all public servants and political leaders are not a personal attack to any leader including ANCYL President, but it is something that must done as part of fighting corruption in practicing the commitment we have made to our people through election manifesto and also dispelling any hint or allegation of positions being used on the basis of accumulation and lavish lifestyle.

2.3 POPCRU condemns selling of RDP houses

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

POPCRU has acknowledged government’s efforts of building houses for the homeless.

However, in some instances the beneficiaries are confronted with sub-standard housing due to in-experienced contractors who milk the government for their own selfish motives This is also part of the “tenderpreneur syndrome” and crass materialism that continues to manifests itself.

When the former minister of Housing, Joe Slovo led the building of these houses the country achieved a restoration of dignity of our people. POPCRU condemns all officials who continue to undermine the intelligence of the people they are supposed to be serving by selling illegally the RDP Houses.

POPCRU adjures law enforcement agencies to dig deep on any information that will make these improper acts to stop. In the words of the late SACP General Secretary, Chris Hani, POPCRU believes that “Socialism is about a home for the homeless, land for the landless”, and that should not be compromised. All citizens must and should remember that 2010 is a year of action on all fronts of the struggle to accelerate service delivery to the masses.

2.4 COSATU North West holds Socialist Forum

Solly Phetoe COSATU North West Provincial Secretary comrade

COSATU will be holding its 2^nd Socialist Forum at the Mmabana Cultural Centre, Taung. This is part of our provincial political programme to ensure that all COSATU members are in line with the congress resolutions.

One of the congress resolutions is to swell the ranks of the ANC and SACP building strong COSATU structures in the workplace, building the ANC at community and ward level, building a strong SACP at the workplace, and building SANCO to respond to all challenges of service delivery at all levels.

The COSATU Socialist Forum is to focus on the implementation of the ANC manifesto, in particular on the key issues that affect the poor working class and the workers. Key priorities are:

Ø Decent quality jobs

Ø Health care facilities

Ø Education for all

Ø Rural development land and food production

Ø Fight against crime and corruption

Our theme for the Socialist Forum is: “swelling the rank of the ANC and SACP in defence of our movement in memory of our 1^st President Elijah Barayi” and our late 2^nd Deputy President Violet Seboni. The late comrade Elijah Barayi and late comrade Violet Seboni died at time when the ANC and its Alliance were leading campaigns for the ANC to lead our country.

The Socialist Forum in Taung will be held as follows:

Date : 11 March 2010

Time : 13H00 – 16H30

Venue : Mmabana Cultural Centre

The main speaker will be SADTU President Thobile Ntola.

All COSATU members, members of the communities and traditional leaders are invited to the political discussions including mobilizing workers to fight against corruption both in government municipalities and private sectors.

2.5 POPCRU worried over late coming of learners in schools

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

POPCRU has noted the unfortunate incidences of late coming in our institutions of learning across the country.

The union is discontent that if left unattended; it will escalate into young people doing it deliberate to involve themselves in improper acts such as involvement in substance abuse, being lured into sex work and criminal acts on the basis that they are left idling outside the school gates.

Whilst the locking of gates at these institutions serve as a deterrent, but if abused can lead young people to use it as a disguise to justify their excuses.

Currently there is an understanding that we are experiencing learner absentee rate of 8% to 10% as per study done in Western Cape and that cuts across all Provinces especially in rural areas where there is no transport for learners to school. POPCRU’s view is that we should inculcate a culture of a respect to start tasks on time which is a key imperative to accelerate service delivery in our government as public servants.

Unless we address this problem, we will have young people of school going age overcrowding prisons and increasing child offenders statistics in the country.

POPCRU calls upon school governing bodies, like-minded organizations and progressive Trade Unions to take corrective steps to uproot these tendencies as they impact on the outcomes of results in the development of our young people. It is indeed worrying for any parent to find learners loitering on the streets during contact sessions.

2.6 SADTU Eastern Cape PEC meets

Fezeka Loliwe, SADTU Provincial Secretary, 10 march 2010

The Provincial Executive Committee of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the Eastern Cape met on 05 March 2010. The PEC resolved as follows:

Master Plan

The PEC noted the following:

v The Master Plan an assessment tool introduced by Eastern Cape MEC for Education, has increased the administrative work and the amount of time spent by teachers writing reports to be submitted fortnightly as part of the Plan.

v The Master Plan defeats the whole exercise behind the review of the curriculum – to reduce the amount of time teachers spend on paperwork and increase time spent in class teaching.

v As the SADTU in the Eastern Cape Province, we have called for and participated in a series of engagements such as the recently held Education Summit, LAIS Conference, which have produced concrete measures to turn the situation around in our province for the better.

v We view the MEC’s unilateral proclamation of a Master Plan as an attempt to short-circuit what otherwise should have been a detailed, well thought-out overarching intervention strategy with clear implementation steps and deliverables.

v The PEC therefore resolved that all our members should focus on teaching and use assessment tools that are in place as per policy and not follow the master plan. Following the Master Plan may lead to teachers failing to complete the syllabus in this short soccer world cup year.

Post Provisioning

v The PEC agreed with the new proposed distribution of the 69 390 posts as declared by Education MEC. The PEC had a lengthy debate on the issue, scrutinizing and dissecting the impact the MEC declaration would have in our endeavors to turn our situation for the better.

v Our view is that though the MEC has fallen far too short judging the figure declared against the classroom curricular demands, it nevertheless signaled a positive shift from the previous years’ post declaration.

However, we want to indicate the following:

v As a rural province we need to develop our own model and table it in all structures for endorsement.

v Contextual factors of geographic spread should be taken into consideration when declaring posts e.g rural, urban and semi urban spread of our schools.

v Weighting of learners should be done per post and per learning area.

v Authorities should visit the schools that lose teachers in big numbers in order to establish the cause of this exodus.

v SADTU should be given samples of the new staff establishments which will be issued to schools reflecting a departure from the initial position of rural schools being hit most by the loss of teachers.

v A workshop on the tool/ guidelines to be used in implementing the post distribution should be conducted involving both labour and the department.

v The management plan should not be implemented until all these have been addressed.

Attitude of some managers in the ECDoE

The PEC expressed its concern on how some departmental managers handle our principals. We want to send a clear message - Hands off our principals -. SADTU wants to assure our principals that no one would bullying them around. Their protection by the union is guaranteed.

Abolishment of posts

The ECDoE has a strategy of abolishing posts using an unfamiliar term where they say schools have 05 posts. We want to send a clear message that no post should die with the death of a teacher occupying that post. In this province no declaration was made for the past three years excluding the agreed upon declaration of 2009 which has not yet been implemented, so there are no additional posts in our schools. These 05 posts have left some schools without even mathematics educators.

Implementation of Collective Agreement no 4 of 2009.

We have noted that there are still educators who have not been paid their benefits as per Collective Agreement no 4 of 2009. We are appealing to all affected educators to bring this to the attention of their branches so that we can make a follow-up on the matter.

All educators deemed to have been over paid by the department should not be victimized, where they have to face deductions of up to R8000 – 00 per month because the ECDoE is determined to recover their money through a once off deduction. Arrangements should be made with the affected educators after convincing them that they were in essence over paid.

PILLIR Cases

Our schools are suffering through the outsourcing by the ECDoE. Retirement through sick pension processes are handled through PILIR and that disadvantages our schools as these processes can take as long as three years to finalise and sometimes with PILIR rejecting the exit. The ECDoE should find ways to handle this better than it is now.

Mud – structures

The recently tabled budget by the MEC for finance has given education more money. We are concerned that this will not bring about any change in the spending patterns of the department because already the ECDoE is deep in debt under the guise of building a few “model” schools that are so expensive.

The “extra” allocation in education will not address our call to eradicate the 422 mud structures nor will it be able to buy our schools furniture.

Conditions of service of ABET and ECD Educators

It is high time that our ABET and ECD educators are given the respect they deserve through improving their conditions of service. We are aware that the ECDoE has promised them benefits through the 37% allowance as per Resolution 1 of 2007 but the ECDoE has not honoured its promise. SADTU says “pay” those educators if you value education.

On Educators in the PFET Colleges

Educators who opted to transfer to Further Education Colleges experience exploitation of the highest order. Some signed contracts that now seek to change their conditions of service. The ECDoE should deal with this challenge at the earliest convenience. We therefore call for the payment of the 4% interim relief for these educators agreed upon at ELRC in 2009, by no later than 31/03/10.

10.School Nutrition Programme (SNP)

We call upon the Premier’s office to release the SNP investigation report which was done during the era of former Education MEC Matomela as our observation indicates there is no clear management of this programme. The recent changes of managers attest to this.

11.Attack by the DA

We have noted with dismay the attack on SADTU by the DA in the recent media articles. Our view is that the DA is just making a publicity stunt. Our “crime” as SADTU in the eyes of the DA, is to publicly declare our support for the ANC. Our understanding is that no teacher union is neutral. We are also concerned that in the Port Elizabeth area, the DA has gone all out to roll out a programme on education for two weeks going to an extent of giving some schools food parcels. Why don’t they organize sponsors for addressing the imbalances in education? Why are their members resisting to go and teach in the most rural schools? We know their so called concerns are not honest but have everything to do with a political agenda.

The PEC reaffirmed SADTU’s commitment to quality teaching and learning.

2.7 Friends of Cuba Society hold NEC meeting

Che Matlhako, General-Secretary FOCUS-SA, 10 March 2010

The National Executive of the Friends Of Cuba Society (FOCU-SA) – a volunteer solidarity organization of ordinary South Africa, held a national executive meeting on Saturday, 6 March 2010 at the Elijah Barayi Traing Centre in Yeoville, Johannesburg as part if its regular executive meetings to consider and plot a programme of action for 2010 and beyond, amongst others.

The meeting was attended by presentatives of the following provincial chapters of Limpopo, North West, KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

The meeting considered, amongst others the following;

- 51^st anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution

Observed that this year (2010) marked 51-years since the triumphant rugged Rebel Army marched into Havana and commenced a profound transformatory process which has marked significant socio-political historic event in the last century. Cuba has since become a beacon of hope and continues to inspire millions across the world - not least in the region of Latin America, where significant socio-political changes have occurred in the past years.

That, Cuba continues to suffer from an unjust economic blockade and embargo from the USA, the continued incarceration of the Five Cuban patriots – whose only sin was to attempt to fight terrorism committed against Cuba from the safe haven of the Miami-base of the Cuban Mafia.

In this context, we call for increased efforts of all progressive SA to ensure the Five Cuban compatriots unjustly imprisoned in various jails in the US on spurious charges are released immediately and that their wives are also afforded the right of visit, which contained in the statute of the US constitution.

We will embark on a concerted programme and mobilization of the SA society to support this struggle, which will amongst others also include inviting to SA the legal representatives of the Five, Mr. Leonard Weinglas on a speaking tour of SA – working with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL).

We will also embark on a programme to ensure that SA parliament passes a special motion in support of the Five; and enlist the support of the progressive mass democratic movement behind a campaign to ensure that the two of the wives of the Five finally get visas to visit their (right of family visits) husbands in the US – Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez have been consistently denied visas for the past 11 years to visit their husbands in US jails - its been 11 years since they last embraced!

- Visit to SA of Aleida and Camilo Guevara March (children of Che Guevara)

We also evaluated the visit and speaking tour to SA of Aledia Guevara March and brother Camilo in October last year. This visit was indeed a resounding success and was able to ensure we pitch Cuban solidarity at the centre of the international work of progressive forces in SA.

Aleida and Camilo – being children of world revolutionary icon, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara de la Serna, were able to relay the message of the innate ideas and core values of Cuba’s revolution. The messages were well received as demonstrated by the capacity audiences of students and others at varsity halls wherever they turned-up to speak. We were also able to ensure that they engage various government role-players such as parliament, the ANC standing committee of education, ministers, premiers and local municipalities, including the universities of the North West and Limpopo.

We agreed to annualize the speaking tour and invite to SA various people and comrades, who will spread the message about the Cuban Revolution and its achievements. This we believe will ensure that the exchanges of ideas and enrich the discourse around the important aspects of the transformation in SA.

- Relations with the MDM and progressive forces in SA

Agreed t o enhance these ties and relations in order to ensure optimization of the shared perspectives and shape the Cuban solidarity movement in SA along the progressive values bestowed on us by such people like former president Nelson Mandela and further expand these to include joint-work on programmes and campaigns.

- Relations with the South Africa government

That, the Friends of Cuba Society (FOCUS-SA), has over the years maintained very important relations with various government departments and their political leaderships, because of our shared perspectives in respect of solidarity with Cuba and the Cuban Revolution,

And these relationships and ties are aimed at optimizing efforts of both the government and the progressive majority of our people in support of the Cuban people and Revolution;

And, we’ve agreed to further develop and cultivate these for purposes of deepening our shared perspectives in respect of Cuban Revolution and the further elaboration of complementary efforts and steps to tangibly demonstrate our support moving forward.

Finally,

- We shall invite ordinary progressive SA to join us in our annual Alex la Guma Brigade to Cuba in December 2010. This brigade, which is named after the first ANC representative in Havana, Cuba, cde Alex la Guma – marks an important consolidation of ties which goes to early years of the Cuban Revolution, when Cuba opened its embrace an invited the banned liberation movement to send students and cadres for educational training in Cuba in the early 1960s.

- We shall also be celebrating July 26 Moncada and Cespedes attacks in all the major centres of SA together with Cuban professionals in SA as a mark of appreciation of the both the work they as internationalists are doing in SA, but also and more importantly for Cuba to be an ally of democratizing SA.

2.8 POPCRU rejects “empire building” in the name of the ANC

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

POPCRU has noted the response by the ANC on COSATU CEC Outcomes.

The union reaffirms its support on what COSATU General Secretary, Vavi Zwelinzima said; And our support is premised on the ANC Manifesto undertakings of working together to bring about change for the working class in general. But what we have witnessed is the continuing benefit of few people in the name of the ANC. It is surprising that the ANC said COSATU cannot understand how the ANC works and the notion that COSATU is “divisive” and talk’s “nonsense” is unfortunate and misleading.

POPCRU support lifestyle on all Government leaders in all spheres of governance and to any person(s) who becomes super rich above their income.

We will continue to call upon government to enhance its investigation in scandals and other corruption related cases in the Ministry of Correctional Services in the country in which officials continue to undermine supply chain policies and other regulations to build their own empire against serious challenges of poor service delivery.

3. International

3.1 Magazine, and editor taken to court for criminal contempt

Reagan Malumo, MISA Programme Officer, 10 March 2010

The privately-owned Nation Magazine and its Editor, Bheki Makhubu, have been taken to court by the Attorney General (AG) for criminal contempt of court following an article published by the magazine in November 2009 criticizing judges of the Supreme Court. However the magazine has told MISA-Swaziland that they will defend the case.

In his papers filed at the High Court of Swaziland, the Attorney General alleges that the article, titled “Will the judiciary come to the party?” not only scandalizes the judiciary but also seeks to prejudice and influence the judiciary to adopt a particular attitude in their (future) dealing with fundamental rights cases.

“In this respect the article impugns the honour, dignity, authority, independence and impartiality of the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court by ‘poisoning the fountain of justice before it begins to flow’. The article is as such contemptuous of the courts,” the AG stated.

He called on the Nation and Makhubu to show cause why they should not be committed and punished for criminal contempt as a result of the article.

The case appeared briefly before High Court Judge, Justice Maphalala on 9 March 2010 who ordered that the respondents appear before the court on 21 April 2010 to show cause why they should not be committed and punished for criminal contempt of court as a result of the said article. The parties to the case were further ordered to submit their heads of argument on or before 15 April 2010.

Background

The Nation article criticized the Supreme Court judges following their judgement in a case in which pro-democracy organizations approached the Supreme Court early in 2009 to ask for the judges’ opinion on whether the Swaziland constitution allowed for political parties. The judges, in the majority decision, were dismissive of the question. Only one judge dissented.

On 21 December 2009, the AG wrote to the Nation demanding an apology on behalf of the judges. The AG, in his letter, demanded that the magazine should prepare a suitable statement of apology to be approved by the Chief Justice before it is published prominently in the magazine.

He warned that in the event the Nation failed to comply he would be at liberty to take them to court for criminal contempt.

3.2 POPCRU congratulates Mario Masuku

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

POPCRU has noted the presentation of a democracy award to the President of PUDEMO, Mario Masuku from Denmark.

We are elated for the revolutionary confidence that International allies continue to have in the leadership of Mario Masuku, an embodiment of a struggle for democracy in Swaziland.

Just like former and first President of a democratic South Africa, Dr Nelson Mandela who received a Nobel Peace Prize after he was declared a terrorist, same allegations have been leveled against Masuku on the basis of his believe to fight for political freedom and multi-party democracy.

POPCRU is calling all like-minded and progressive organizations to accelerate their support for the Democracy Campaign for a Free Swaziland and adjure the Swazis to continue to reject the tax imposed on the poor and downtrodden citizenry to maintain the lifestyle of the Swaziland dynastic regime.

POPCRU believes the freedom of the Swazi’s will unlock the masses and in particular the workers who are denied the freedom of association and political rights.

3.3 Statement by the African Movement of Solidarity with the Saharawi People

A meeting of the Popular African Movement of Solidarity with the Saharawi People was held on the eve of the 34^th anniversary of the proclamation of SADR (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic), in Algiers, on the 26^th of February 2010. It grouped civil and political movements from South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria. An important delegation from the SADR was present at this meeting.

The delegates included representatives of Movements of National Liberation, parliamentarians and political figures, Trade Unionists, representatives from different associations dealing with Women, Peasants, Youth and Students, Lawyers, Sports and Culture. In keeping with their commitment and convictions, and faithfulness to their history, they resolved to support the Sahrawi people, and their sole legitimate representative, the POLISARIO Front and its state, the SADR, a founder member of the African Union.

On this joyous occasion, the gathering formed a single, common delegation to take part in the official celebration of the 34^th anniversary of the proclamation of the RASD on the 27^th February 2010 in Bir Lehlu (a Liberated Territory of the SADR).

The South African delegation participated with a unique and common position to pay homage to the on-going struggle for independence, carried out for over three decades by the Sahrawi People under the leadership of the POLISARIO Front against the illegal occupation of their country by Morocco. A special tribute is paid to the heroic and peaceful resistance of Sahrawi militants in the remaining Occupied Territories of Western Sahara.

It is the responsibility of this Africa-wide popular movement to strive for the settlement of this conflict in accordance with international law, by enabling the Saharawis to exercise their right to self-determination. It is a fundamental and unavoidable parameter for a peaceful decolonisation of this last colony in Africa.

Morocco has unfortunately, continued to be insensitive to international calls for the decolonization of Western Sahara according to International Law. It has consistently ignored its commitments. This has been exemplified in the last West Chester talks, in New York (under the auspices of the United Nations, 10-11 February 2010), where.... Moreover, Morocco continues with its pillage of Sahrawi resources and with its systematic and inhumane repression of Saharawis in total violation of the rules and principles of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian law. It refuses to free political prisoners and does not respect liberties in the Occupied Territories. All these, are in total conflict with the terms of the cease-fire between the POLISARIO and Morocco.

In view of these grave violations of human rights and international law, this Popular African Movement of Solidarity with the SADR is more determined to organise itself as a network that could be enlarged to a wider African citizen participation, which will meet in a constitutive general assembly on Africa’s Day on May 25^th 2010. This assembly will formally set up this network which will be multifaceted and action-oriented, for the benefit of the Sahrawi cause.

The participants to the Algiers meetings decided on the following:

To write, in all responsibility, to the following:

· The General Secretary of the United Nations

· Members of the Security Council

· President of the European Commission

· President of the European Union

· President of the European Parliament

· President of the African Union

· The Special Envoy of the General Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Ross Christopher, to request the following:

2. To act according to the principle of establishing the Right of Peoples to Self- Determination in accordance with Resolution UNGA 1514(XV), which will be celebrated in December 2010, at its 50^th anniversary.

Morocco must cease its campaign of terror and intimidation against the defenceless Saharawi civilians, especially the human rights activists. The occupying state must also protect people and their properties and allow the free access of independent observers and the media to the Occupied Territories. The United Nations should also establish an instrument of surveillance in the territory.
Morocco should stop immediately the illegal pillage of natural resources of Western Sahara.
To actively participate, as popular African petitioners, to the proceedings of the 4^th Commission of the United Nations on decolonisation
We call on all African states to play their historical role in completing the process of decolonization of the African continent by giving full and unconditional support to the independence of the Sahrawi people in their own state in accordance with the functions referential text of the OAU and the African Union.
To massively participate, as African representatives to the EUCOCO international conference to be held in France in October 2010.
To support all the actions undertaken by the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) and encourage the twinning of cities from Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and the RASD and enlarging the scheme to other African cities.
To organise a high level meeting of Red Cross and Red Crescent associations of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa, in order to intensify humanitarian actions for the Saharawis in the refugee camps.
In view of the great importance that such meetings (between the representatives of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa) have, we aim to multiply them and hold them on a regular basis and by alternating the venues. The next meeting will be held in South Africa in the second semester of 2010.
Denounce the Moroccan authorities actions against the human rights activists who visit their families in the Saharawi refugee camps. A group of them is currently on a visit to the refugee camps and their detention is expected after returning to the Occupied territories of Western Sahara.

4. Announcements

Invitation to a Discussion on the Future of the WTO

4.1 Invitation to a Discussion on the Future of the WTO

Invitation to a Discussion on the Future of the WTO

Logofin-map(2)

Economic Justice Network of FOCCISA

Join us for a Discussion on 11 March 2010

THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION’S (WTO) 7^TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE:

POST- MORTEM AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Organised by the Trade Strategy Group

The WTO’s 7^th Ministerial Conference, which took place from 30 November to 2 December 2009 in Geneva, confirmed that the role of the WTO as an engine for “growth” through trade liberalization and the various attempts to conclude the Doha Round is on a tenuous road.

After nearly nine years of negotiations, are we witnessing the end of the multilateral trading system as the world knows it? A system that embodies liberalisation, deregulation, privatisation and commodification of social goods and services, permanent tariff reduction on industrial goods and restrictions on access to technology. The consequences for the majority of the world’s poor communities, workers, women, children, and indigenous people have been devastating with increasing unemployment, loss of livelihoods, and social and environment degradation.

Global trade flows have declined under the current economic ‘slow down’ and new forms of non-tariff trade barriers are emerging, such as the imposition of “green” tariffs on goods from emerging economies. The WTO as one of the most powerful multilateral institutions could be on its way to disintegrating, given the proliferation of bilateral agreements and unilateral trade rules imposed by developed countries on their poorer trading partners.

The South African government has recently released its industrial policy and has emphasised strategic policy in trade. Are opportunities emerging for a different developmental paradigm?

Speakers are:

Xavier Carim, Deputy Director-General, Department of Trade and Industry
Dot Keet, Political Economy Analyst and Researcher, Trade Strategy Group
Rudi Dicks, Director, National Labour and Economic Development Institute (NALEDI)
Michelle Pressend, Coordinator, Trade Strategy Group

Chair: Brendan Vickers, Director, Global Economy and Development, Institute for Global for Dialogue

When: 11 March, 10:30am to 1:00pm

Where: Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), Thornhill Office Park, Block 12, Bekker Street, Midrand

Please RSVP to Phindi Siwela on ad...@ejn.org.za or 021 424 9563 OR Penelope Masenamela on pene...@igd.org.za or 011 3151299 by Monday, the 8 March 2010.

A light lunch will be served

4.2 Social enterprises and their role on job creation

To All Media

You are cordially invited

to attend the launch ceremony of the JCT Creative Design Company

and

Panel Discussion – Social Enterprises and its Role in Job Creation and Economic Growth

Guest Speaker – Mr E Patel Minister of Economic Development (Invited)

Date: 15th March 2010

Time: 17h00 for 17h30 – 20h00

Venue: Presentation Room - Old Mutual Business School – Pinelands

Cocktail dinner will be served

Panelists: Mr. E Patel Minister of Economic Development(invited), Mr. T Ehrenreich (Cosatu)(invited),

Mr. T Fox (Centre for Social Enterprise, ILO) Herbert Mkhize (Nedlac)

RSVP: Thaabid Adams on (011) 312 9480 tad...@ljct.org.za

This event proudly sponsored by Old Mutual

Labour takes the initiative in the clothing industry:
Job Creation Trust (JCT) unveils a brand new design house and saves and estimated 800 jobs

On 15 March Labour’s, Job Creation Trust (JCT) will announce the establishment of The Creative Design Company (CDC), a design house cluster model that targets the local South African retailers. After months of planning, it has already secured the buy-in for its initial niche lines from groups such as Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay clothing with others in the pipeline. The niche lines include baby ware, boys ware, girls ware, children’s under ware ladies under ware, ladies sleep ware, home ware and replenishment items. Involving both design and manufacture in the supply chain, the initial assumption was that CDC will sustain employment for about 298 employees essentially in the Western Cape, but an estimated 800 jobs were retained and sustained.

Sharmiela Garnie

Executive Director

ScreenHunter_01 Feb

5. Letters

5.1 What we are faced with in this country

Thobile Maso, 10 March 2010

We are a country that is engulfed by corruption, it’s either we surrender or we fight it.

We welcome the stance that COSATU has taken and it has also brought the enthusiastic response and the mood from the various sections of our society in general and in particular the poor and the working class.

This is an issue people are talking about and it is appreciated and welcomed the stance COSATU Has taken and the right cord definitely has been struck and at same time. Some people are starting to tremble and this has shaken certain people wherever they are. Now they are starting to throw blackmails, talking of disunity, I’m not sure what disunity they are talking about.

Lenin would say to these rogue riders,“ before we can unite, and in order that we may unite, we must first of all draw firm and definite lines of demarcation”. We say no to false unity. We say no to sectarian unity. We say no to dogmatic unity and certainly we say no to corrupt unity.

Where I’m standing and the way I see things, the guilty is afraid to face the reality and the guilty has difficulties to rationalise the objective reality that our country has been engulfed with this corruption from the day one and the kind of systems that we have inherited have contributed a lot in destruction of some of the sons and daughters of our country.

Now they are moneyholics, tenderholics and they are brutal when it comes to the money, they can plot and even kill any person who stands on their way. When this corruption is up rooted, surely it is going to bleed, some people are starting to kick and scream, but we have a choice here, it’s either we let the corrupters to feast and destroy this country and its future citizens and let them to corrupt the marrow societal fibre and surely this country will die and it will die a slow death or it’s either people also like COSATU did, throw the gauntlet and recue this country again.

The other issue we need to discuss thoroughly as a country is the issue of how the country treats manual labour power versus mental labour power. Mental labour power is treated in this country as a demi – god over the manual labour power, particularly when it comes to salaries or wages and I know that this will be very difficult to close the gap, ratio instead is widened.

We cannot be in the animal farm, ‘ pigs because of they use their brains’ (as if manual labour power is not using brain )must get more than unnecessary in the name of some are more equal than the others because of the mental labour power and I’m aware that capitalist societies encourage this now and then and is always breed greedy corrupt people and use them as buffers against human progress.

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