Taking COSATU Today Forward, 4 June 2024
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY |
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
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
‘Building a strong and united COSATU in mobilizing for the ANC electoral victory”
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize or Starve!
Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- All-systems go for 10th POPCRU Provincial Congresses
o South Africa
- Media Alert: COSATU Appointment of National Spokesperson: Ms. Zanele Sabela
- COSATU welcomes President Ramaphosa's assenting to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Solidarity with Palestinian workers
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
All-systems go for 10th POPCRU Provincial Congresses
Richard Mamabolo, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 3 June 2024
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) provincial structures will be holding their respective provincial congresses over the period between the 6th of June and 1 August 2024. This is in line with Clause (14) of the union’s constitution, which among others, gives effect to the implementation to decisions of the National Congress (NC), the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Under the theme “Building a sustainable organisation in defence of collective bargaining” which is in line with the 10th POPCRU National Congress, the upcoming provincial congresses are expected to carry out the aims and objectives of the union with regard to the organisation of workers in their respective provinces. This is an important task, especially after the many challenges faced by public servants in the past few years, and at a time when we are expecting a composite 7th government administration.
These congresses will serve as a platform to discuss the 10th POPCRU National
Congress outcomes, and towards strengthening our ideological and organisational work for the advancement of an improved, informed and capacitated framework which will be utilised as a guiding path towards the attainment of a more effective criminal justice system in our country.
They will be taking place as follows;
1. Gauteng: 6-7 June 2024, Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre
2. North West: 18- 19 June 2024, Hedgehog Nest, Rustenburg
3. Free State: 3-4 July 2024, Woodlands Lodge, Parys
4. Limpopo: 8-9 July 2024, TBC
5. Mpumalanga: 11-12 July2024, Forever Resort, Badplaas
6. Northern Cape: 15-16 July 2024, Desert Palace Hotel, Upington
7. Eastern Cape: 18-19 July 2024, TBC
8. Western Cape: 23-24 July 2024, Lagoon Beach and Conference Centre
9. Kwa Zulu-Natal: 31 July- 1 August 2024, Bergville
The media fraternity is therefore invited to cover these provincial congresses.
Issued by POPCRU
South Africa
Media Alert: COSATU Appointment of National Spokesperson: Ms. Zanele Sabela
Matthew Parks, COSATU Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator, 4 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new National Spokesperson, comrade Zanele Sabela from today, 04 June 2024.
Ms. Sabela, is a seasoned communicator and carries a wealth of experience. We look forward to this exciting new chapter in her life and the valuable contributions she will make to the Federation.
She can be reached at zan...@cosatu.org.za and 079 287 5788.
Issued by COSATU
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COSATU welcomes President Ramaphosa's assenting to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill
Matthew Parks, COSATU Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator, 28 May 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s assenting to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill into law. This is a welcome step forward to decriminalise cannabis for private purposes as required by the Constitutional Court judgment finding the existing criminalisation of personal use to be unconstitutional.
COSATU supports the Act as it:
- Provides a rational legal framework for the use of cannabis for private purposes.
- Will end the obligation to needlessly arrest and imprison persons using cannabis for personal use in the privacy of their homes whilst serious crimes run unabated.
- Establishes clear legal provisions for the use of cannabis for medical purposes, providing relief for thousands of persons with serious illnesses.
- Recognises the need to provide legal space for religious institutions, e.g. Rastafarians whose religious practises include the use of cannabis.
- Finds the right balance between complying with the Constitutional Court judgement, decriminalising cannabis and regulating the development of the medical and commercial sectors.
- Decriminalisation will help remove the industry from the control of criminal and often violent syndicates, create badly needed jobs and provide useful medical, commercial and industrial goods for the economy.
Cannabis and hemp in particular, have a variety of commercial products that can be used for medicine, clothing, construction, manufacturing and other legitimate commercial uses. The Act provides a positive boost for this emerging and jobs rich sector as well as the Hemp Master Plan being developed by government, business and labour. This will have a particularly positive impact in traditional farming communities, such as the Eastern Cape boosting the local economy and creating jobs and economic value chains.
This is yet another affirmation that under the African National Congress, rural communities and the marginalized will be brought into the mainstream economy and obstacles to growing the economy are being systematically tackled with every greater speed.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
Solidarity with Palestinian workers
29 June 2024
The ITUC and Global Union Federations have reconfirmed their solidarity with Palestinian workers during a mission to the West Bank this week.
ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said “We express our solidarity with the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and their members in these difficult times. We are deeply concerned by the grave humanitarian crisis facing the people of Gaza.
“Reaffirming our long-standing policy for a two-state solution, we call for a just and durable peace through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. This entails ending the occupation of the West Bank, dismantling all settlements, and recognising the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
“As stated by the ITUC, immediate priorities must include establishing a ceasefire, securing the release of all hostages and all those detained without due legal process, and enabling the safe return of all workers trapped by the conflict. Decades of occupation have left the Palestinian people desperate and created fertile ground for the atrocities of October 7. The killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians since then, including so many innocent children, women and men, is completely unacceptable and cannot be justified. We also urge governments to recommence or continue funding UNRWA. UNRWA’s role is vital in providing essential services and supporting Palestinians at a time when they are in dire need.”
Following meetings with the ITUC-affiliated PGFTU and other union representatives, high-level Palestinian Authority officials and UN Agencies, the Global Union organisations released a joint statement.
“Trade unions are part of the global peace movement. We stand for peace alongside such important values as democracy and humanity. That’s why we are here. The ITUC will also meet leaders of the Israeli trade unions and society early in July 2024 in Tel Aviv. Trade unions are important contributors to a peaceful and long-lasting solution.”
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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