COSATU Today, 11 March 2010

COSATU has warmly welcomed President Zuma’s submission to the Cabinet Secretary of a declaration of a list of interests, in line with the Executive Members' Ethics Code, and reiterates the federation’s call for a lifestyle audit of public and political representatives.

1.2 COSATU slams Eskom tariff discounts to the rich

Patrick Craven, COSATU National Spokesperson, 10 March 2010

COSATU has expressed shock and disgust at the revelation in the Cape Times on 10 March 2010 that “Eskom has secret deals with 138 big companies that pay dirt-cheap prices for electricity”.

The average cut-price for these companies, which use about 40% of South Africa's electricity, is around 17c per kilowatt hour (kWh). But for some the tariff could be as low as 9c/kWh. This compares to the + 80c/kWh that households and small businesses will have to pay once Eskom's price hikes are implemented.

Eskom has even confirmed that about 10 of these 138 big customers, which had negotiated deals with Eskom in the apartheid era, were not subject to any tariff escalations at all!

Even more scandalous is the admission that “the special deals are considered by Eskom to be so secret that they were not revealed to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) in the utility's recent application for tariff increases”.

This confirms COSATU’s belief that the NERSA decision was a rubber stamp which the regulator made without hearing from Eskom the full extent of their existing or proposed tariff policy!

In addition neither the parliamentary committees on energy and public enterprises, nor the Department of Energy are privy to the details of Eskom’s deals. The director-general of the Department of Energy, Neliswe Magubane, when asked in parliament what percentage of electricity was sold to industry at a price of between 6c and 9c/kWh, and whether these agreements would be revised, she replied that the cut-price electricity was a contractual arrangement between Eskom and the companies and that Eskom had told the department it could not reveal the prices because of "commercial sensitivity".

This news will make COSATU more determined than ever to mobilise its members and the broader civil society on to the streets in protest at the Eskom tariff hikes. It is absolutely outrageous that a publicly owned utility can hide such important information behind the cover of “commercial sensitivity”.

Nationalised public services must not be run on the same corrupt and secretive way that the private sector operates. The government must demand that all Eskom’s tariffs be made public and if necessary legislate to compel the board to come clean.

This shocking news has also totally vindicated the federation’s view that tariffs are a grossly retrogressive way of raising the money that Eskom need for new generating capacity. It proves that the additional money should come from a tax on the rich, so that the poor are protected from the crippling burden which Eskom wants to impose on them.

1.3 COSATU Northern Cape disappointed at Malema’s behaviour

Anele Gxoyiya, Northern Cape Provincial Secretary, 11 March 2010

COSATU in the Northern Cape is seriously disappointed at the behaviour of the President of the ANCYL. We wish to state it categorically clear that as workers we will not tolerate personal attacks on any of our leaders by any individual whoever that may be.

In the first place we need to state the fact that Comrade Zwelinzima Vavi was elected unanimously in a congress that was not marked by in fights and controversies. His leadership cannot be questioned as he was not endorsed by another structure through the mouth of a Secretary General.

Those who have selective amnesia and choose to forget operations of the democratic structures need to be brought to their senses. The views and decisions of COSATU will always be communicated by Comrade Vavi as our mouthpiece and we will always stand by him.

There is a vast difference between militancy and rudeness. It is therefore very rude for Julius Malema to attack the person of Comrade Vavi instead of addressing the issues that COSATU is raising through the mouth of Comrade Vavi. So far we can confidently say that the General Secretary of COSATU was the right choice by the workers as he continues to convey the message from us in a very clear and consistent manner.

COSATU has always been (and continues to be) the independent voice of the working class. We are proud of our leaders as they have never stood in public platforms and attacked the personalities of other leaders in a mischievous and populist manner.

As COSATU in the Northern Cape we are proud of our leaders more so that they have not stooped so low and hurled insults on individual leaders and no one must question their bona fides. We know where we come from with them.
Our leaders must continue to steer this vehicle towards the right direction and never allows themselves to be defocused by the barking dogs on the road side. When you are doing the right thing there will always be those that want to label and taint your image.

As COSATU in the Northern Cape we are more than convinced that we have the right leadership of the working class.

1.4 Urgent Ministerial intervention in Atlantis

Tony Ehrenreich, Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 11 March 2010

The Minister of Economic Development, the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Labour, as well as the agencies and social partners have started turning around the fortunes of the ailing Atlantistown as well as setting in place the start of a coherent Industrial Development plan for the Industries affected.

In addition to the above there will be persons representing the Labour leadership across all the manufacturing Unions as well as the Business leadership from the W Cape associations.

The meeting is born out of the need to ensure a more efficient response from all the Institutions tasked with helping companies through this economic down turn. It is also designed to promote the use of the various measures that Government has in place to ameliorate the economic crisis, including the Training Lay Off- Scheme. The need for coherence across the economy as required from the Industrial Policy Action Plan is reflected in the development in Atlantis.

The most obvious example is the decision by Tedelex to close the company at their board meeting on Friday, 4 March. This is in spite of various support measures from Government, including the recent adjustments to the Rebate scheme by ITAC, which should have supported local television production. The Digital migration programme from government would require millions of set top boxes being build to facilitate this. The factory at Tedelex is ideally suited to manufacture these set top boxes and continued TV set manufacturing, this closure would lose important manufacturing capacity. It is nearly criminal to see these companies close down on the verge of the economic upswing, that could secure the Manufacturing capacity for SA as well as the jobs and economic opportunities for an area like Atlantis

The press is welcome to attend what could be the first in number of interventions by the Ministries to promote economic growth and Industrial Development across the manufacturing sectors, and geographic areas.

POPCRU Logo

1.5 POPCRU appeals for on the drag race case

Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 11 March 2010

POPCRU has deplored the growing disrespect and lawlessness on roads with the latest outrageous killing and gruesome injury to young people in Protea North, Soweto.

POPCRU wishes to condemn such acts of improper conducts amongst drivers and further wishes to outline that these are pointers to the underlying erosion of community values along with the growing bling culture.

The union wishes to make a clarion call to all parents, learners and all affected people for discipline and calmness and allow the law to take its course. POPCRU has confidence in the justice system to handle such cases. The union also adjures all learners to go back to school to resume with their studies.

POPCRU extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the affected learners and their school mates and may their soul rest in peace.

1.6 ANC concern over spate of protests

Dumisa Ntuli, ANC Gauteng Spokesperson, 11 March 2010

The ANC Gauteng Province has expressed concern over the intensified spate of protest actions taking place in many areas of Gauteng.

It seems there is a systematic pattern and that the protests are coordinated with a clear objective to destabilize government. The ANC calls for communities not to be used by people who have ulterior motives. We appeal to communities to remain calm, exercise patience and tolerance. The ANC will send a team of leaders to speak to the people about their concerns and determine appropriate measures to resolve the problems. The team will also investigate the cause of the protest action. We further call on all branches of the ANC to be in the forefront to address issues of protests.

We have always believed that genuine and legitimate concern of communities should be addressed. We have also acknowledged that government needs to move with great speed to deal with community concerns. Even if protestors have genuine and well-founded grounds for protests but they are not allowed to vandalize property. Peaceful protests are guaranteed human rights in our constitutional dispensation. Protestors must desist from vandalizing property and stoning vehicles of citizens. In the same breadth, illegal protest actions will not be tolerated.

The ANC will never run-away from communities. The ANC will not neglect the masses. We know that many communities demand progress with regard to development in their areas and acceleration of service delivery. The ANC would not tolerate where protestors use violence and illegal means to force government to accede to their demands. The ANC is prepared to listen and to engage to find appropriate solutions to the challenges raised by communities. Hence, we request people to exercise patience and optimism. The protests do not mean that people are disillusioned with the ANC government but are raising issues for government to speed up change and succeed.

1.7 ANC condemns senseless and reckless driving that killed four kids

Dumisa Ntuli, ANC Gauteng Spokesperson, 11 March 2010

The ANC has condemned the Monday accident of reckless driving by the rapper and his friend which killed four teenagers and injured pedestrians.

The racing in an approximate 60 kilometer area was unjustified, in all earnest, it was senseless driving. This is a typical case where justice must be done. The ANC calls for government to apply strict punitive measurers to street racing and at the time it happen, communities must report it to the law enforcement agencies. It is not the first time that street racing has created problems in communities.

Communities need to be cautious and vigilant of such activities because they bring disrespect to society. Street racing is unbearable and immoral because most of those who are engaged in this activity use illegal substances to boost their drive to a higher speed. It is not an honest activity.

1.8 Equal Education Campaign for School Libraries Update – Exciting Developments!

1. Watch the Campaign Video Now!

Click here to watch a great short video about the Campaign for School Libraries in action.

2. Call to Endorse EE Memorandum on School Libraries – See Attached!

All organs of civil society (organizations, schools, universities, student societies, youth movements, newspapers, and clubs) are invited to endorse this memorandum and Equal Education’s Campaign for School Libraries.*

International organizations can also endorse.

This memorandum will be handed over to government at marches in:

- Cape Town - 21 March 2010 071 118 4662

- Pretoria-Tshwane - 26 March 2010 083 407 6047

- Polokwane - 30 March 2010 072 293 8201

Here, for example, is the endorsement received today from the SRC of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University:

“As the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Student Representative Council [we] would like to Endorse the campaign which we feel is very Progressive in ensuring that it tries to bridge the gap between the schools that are disadvantages and those that are advantaged. This we feel should be a role of every responsible citizen of our country to endorse such a positive campaign. It is our understanding that the early the child learns to read and write the better the chances of that particular child in succeeding in passing their matrics and succeeding in institutions of Higher Learning. As the NMMU, SRC we are therefore committing ourselves to assist where we are needed in ensuring that such campaigns become successful.”

Mziyanda Danster, Dep. President (NMMU SRC - 2010)

The Director General: Basic Education, Mr Bobby Soobrayan is confirmed to receive the Memorandum at Parliament on 21 March 2010. The Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga is expected to receive the Memorandum at the Union Buildings, 26 March 2010.

3. Twenty-Four Hour Read-In a Success

EE held a 24 Hour Read-In from 10am Saturday 6 March until 10 Sunday 7 March. Throughout that time EE activists and members of the public read books at the EE Bookery in Roeland Street Cape Town. Please donate your best children’s books. Contact Rich on 076 593 9310.

4. Massive Mobilisation Effort Countrywide

Over a quarter million pamphlets have been distributed, by hand, in the past month. Well over 50,000 people have signed the petition, by hand. EE activists in Cape Town have been awake before dawn for the past weeks, at train stations engaging with people. Well over 1000 schools have been contacted and provided with information. Major campaign events are planned in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. Work is happening also in Northwest, Free State and KZN.

5. Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) to play at EE pre-march concert on 21 March

South Africa’s biggest hip-hop band HHP will be in full force on 21 March 2010 at Thibault Square, Cape Town for the pre-march concert. HHP are playing for free in support of the cause! Be there by 11:30am. Afrika Ablaze will also be performing. More acts to be announced soon.

6. Research and Policy Work Continues

· EE recently made a significant submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. The subject of our submission was school infrastructure, with a particular focus on libraries. To read the full submission click here.

· EE recently wrote to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) using the Provision of Access to Information Act (PAIA). This is because the WCED is illegally withholding vital literacy and numeracy data from the public. To read more click here.

We need your help!

Write a letter to your newspaper editor:

· Demand a National Policy on School Libraries

· Grade 1 learners from homes without books are not able to learn to read without books in their hands

· Build a culture of reading.

Please Support Equal Education today! Click here now!

2. International

2.1 PUDEMO condemns act of harassment

Zakhele Mabuza PUDEMO’s Head of Publicity and Information, 10 March 2010

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PUDEMO in its recent sitting has learnt with deep regret the developments that took place during the honourable and revolutionary launch of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign in Johannesburg recently. In particular, we refer to the reported harassment, purpotedly by a member PUDEMO of one of the participants who came under the banner of the African United Democratic Party (AUDP) of Swaziland, purportedly by a member of PUDEMO.

We therefore, wish to state emphatically that as a principled and cultured organization, strongly condemn this act. PUDEMO is a respected liberation movement both at home and internationally and therefore we expect all our cadres to uphold and exhibit the highest levels of discipline at all times in line with our strategic objective which is to unite the people of Swaziland in the fight to fundamentally transform Swaziland into a truly democratic society.

PUDEMO wishes to sincerely express our deep regret to all concerned by this uncalled for embarrassing act. We further assure everyone that as an organization, we have initiated processes with the objective of addressing this unfortunate development.

3. Letters

3.1 Terrible working conditions at Vhembe District

Department of Health employee, 11 March 2010

I am an employee at Department of Health in Limpopo (Vhembe district). What should we do if the working conditions are not good in the institution.

Our managers don't care about us even the service delivery.

We are experiencing a lot of problems in our institution. OPD clerks are not paid overtimes. Managers do not consult workers on decisions affecting workers. We work long shift even during public holidays. When we try to express our concerns to the management they just deduct money from our salaries.

We are really tired about this situation and unions have been raising this matter without any success.

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