Taking COSATU Today Forward, 20 June 2024
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #COSATU ordinary Central Executive Committee scheduled to wrap its business today #ClassStruggle |
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
Thursday, 20 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!
- Department of Employment and Labour embarks on a three day community outreach campaign in Maluti- A-Phofung Municipality
o South Africa
- COSATU congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his second term
Ø Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of the Presidential Inauguration
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- C190: Fifth anniversary of the convention to tackle violence and harassment in the world of work
- Breaking down barriers for women miners in Africa
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Department of Employment and Labour embarks on a three day community outreach campaign in Maluti- A-Phofung Municipality
19 June 2024
Department of Employment and Labour today kick starts a three-day Community Outreach campaign.
Led by the Public Employment Services branch the campaign is hosted with the aim of capacitating work seekers and the youth in Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality with vital information with regards to job-hunting.
During the three-day campaign, aspirant work seekers will be capacitated by the department's skilled Career Counsellors with information that will enhance their career insights and boost their employability through a range of job-hunting skills programs. Also on offer is the registration service on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) database for possible future employment.
Additional services to be provided include processing of Unemployment Insurance Fund applications, claims assessment, resolving UIF enquiries, processing of Occupational Injuries and Diseases claims and inquiries, and Inspection and Enforcement Services.
Members of the public that wish to be assisted with the above-mentioned services are encouraged to bring along the following documents:
- Unemployed youth should bring along a detailed CV to be registered on the ESSA Database
- ID Documents/Valid Passport
The details of the campaign are as follows:
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DATE: |
VENUE: |
TIME: |
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19 June 2024 |
Monotsha Tribal Office , Phuthaditjhaba |
09h00 -15h00 |
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20 June 2024
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Environmental Centre Hall , Phuthaditjhaba |
09h00 -15h00 |
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21 June 2024 |
Bluegumbosch Sports Ground, Phuthaditjhaba
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09h00 -15h00 |
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms Cebisa Siyobi
Provincial Communication Officer: Free State
072 427 6034
-END-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa
COSATU congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his second term
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 19 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his inauguration for a second term as head of state of South Africa.
Admittedly, this was a difficult election for our Alliance Partners, the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and ourselves, however, we are grateful that millions of ordinary South Africans have entrusted the ANC to be leader of government nationally and across provinces.
COSATU derives great pleasure from seeing one of our own ascend to the Presidency. President Ramaphosa is the former General Secretary of our affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers. We are certain that the negotiation skills he perfected as a member of the labour movement will stand him in good stead, as he steers the country forward from this historic moment.
Thirty years into democracy, South Africa finds itself in unfamiliar territory with the installation of a government of national unity (GNU). As the President prepares to name his Cabinet, we call on him to keep the concerns of workers and working-class communities close to his heart by appointing Ministers that understand this mission. We expect him to safeguard the labour laws and gains that workers fought tooth and nail for over many decades.
Once announced, we expect the new Cabinet to roll up its sleeves and start the work to grow an inclusive economy, create decent jobs, tackle poverty and inequality. Despite the inclusion of the right-wing Democratic Alliance in the GNU, we expect government to be biased towards the working class, coherent, stable and anchored on the ANC manifesto.
We further expect government to diligently pursue the transformation agenda, lay the foundation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance, action a Universal Basic Income Grant and comprehensive social security, intensify the war on crime and corruption, and accelerate the renewal campaign.
The GNU must also invest in a well-resourced and capacitated developmental state, support the African agenda and pledge solidarity with struggling nations across the world, including the Palestinian and Cuban people.
COSATU will be engaging its Alliance partners, the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party on the reconfiguration of the Cabinet that will deliver a Better Life for All.
Issued by COSATU
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Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa
on the occasion of the Presidential Inauguration
19 JUNE 2024, UNION BUILDINGS, TSHWANE
Your Majesties, Kings and Queens,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Former President Thabo Mbeki and Mrs Mbeki,
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe and Mrs Motlanthe,
All former Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished representatives of respective countries and of international organisations,
Speaker of the National Assembly,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces,
The Chief Justice of the Republic,
Premiers, MECs and Mayors,
Members of Parliament,
Leaders of political parties,
Religious and traditional leaders,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Veterans of our struggle,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans,
Today, we gather under this vast Highveld sky to witness a fundamental rite of our democracy.
In our brilliant diversity, we gather to affirm our solemn conviction that this country belongs to all who live in it, as articulated by the Freedom Charter almost seventy years ago.
We gather here, as people born of the same soil, determined that by our deeds we shall heal the divisions of our past, and overcome the ongoing inequalities and hardships of the present.
We declare for all to know that neither discord nor dissent shall cause us to cast aside that which calls us together – our shared aspiration and mission to build a united, free, just, equal and prosperous nation.
On this day, we assert by solemn oath the will of the people of this land.
We affirm our unwavering fidelity to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which is based on the enduring vision and values of the Freedom Charter.
We affirm that as the leadership of this diverse nation, we have a sacred duty to unite the people of South Africa.
We affirm that history has placed on our shoulders the heavy responsibility to transform our country into a non-racial and non-sexist society.
We affirm our determination to build a more equal and caring society.
We affirm our resolute quest to build a growing and inclusive economy that offers opportunities and livelihoods to all people.
We rededicate ourselves to the task of democratic renewal and social and economic transformation so that no one is left behind.
And so, as we enter another era in the life of our nation, the resilience of our democracy has once more been tested and the people have spoken loudly that they choose peace and democracy over violent, undemocratic and unconstitutional methods.
In their multitude, in voices that are many and diverse, the people of South Africa have voted and made known their wishes, their concerns and their expectations.
They did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone.
They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations.
They have expressed their appreciation of the progress in many areas of their lives over the past 30 years of democracy.
They have also been unequivocal in expressing their disappointment and disapproval of our performance in some of the areas in which we have failed them.
They want a transformed, growing and inclusive economy that creates jobs for millions of job seekers and offer business opportunities to all entrepreneurs in our nation – women and men, young and old.
The people have been clear about what they want.
They want a land in which all may find shelter in our democratic Constitution and may find protection in our courts.
They have described a land in which all may rise above the circumstances of their birth, nurtured by loving families, aided by a caring state and empowered by initiative, will and hard work.
They have described communities made safe and lives made whole.
Through their votes they have made clear that they want the basic necessities of a life that is comfortable, happy, healthy and secure.
Through their votes they asserted that they want enough food to eat. Water that is clean. Affordable electricity that is available at all times.
They want decent homes that keep out the wind, the rain and the cold.
They want well-maintained roads and street lights that work.
The people of South Africa have asked no more than to be properly cared for when sick, for the young to be taught well, for the elderly to be cared for, and for those without work to be provided for.
The people of South Africa have spoken about the land they want to farm, about the businesses they want to run, about the work they want to do, about the skills they want to learn.
They have spoken of their desire to be safe in their homes, on the street, in their cities, in their villages and on their farms.
The people have demanded an end to the theft of public funds and the capture of the state.
Above all, the people of South Africa have stressed that they are impatient with political bickering and the endless blame game among politicians and political parties.
They want us to put their needs and aspirations first and they want us to work together for the sake of our country.
Today I stand before you as your humble servant to say we have heard you.
As the President of the Republic, I will work with everyone to reach out and work with every political party and sector that is willing to contribute to finding solutions to the challenges our country faces as we transition to a new decade of freedom.
Thirty years have passed since we turned our back on racial tyranny and embraced an open and democratic society.
We have made great strides in building a new society that is founded on strong democratic institutions and universal freedoms.
We have built a transformed public service, an independent judiciary, a competitive electoral system, a sophisticated economy, a vibrant and free media, and a robust civil society.
And yet despite this progress, our society remains deeply unequal and highly polarised. There are toxic cleavages and an incipient social fragmentation that can easily turn into instability.
The lines drawn by our history, between black and white, between man and woman, between suburbs and townships, between urban and rural, between the wealthy and the poor, remain etched in our landscape.
In places, these lines may have faded, but they have not disappeared.
We are citizens of one country and yet we occupy different worlds, separated by high walls and great distances.
We are divided between those who have jobs and those who do not work; between those who have the means to build and enjoy a comfortable life and those who do not.
And so today is no ordinary day.
It is a moment of fundamental consequence in the life of our nation.
It is a moment when we must choose to either move forward together or risk losing all we have built.
In this moment we must choose to move forward;
to close the distances between South Africans and to build a more equal society;
to translate the promise of our Constitution and the vision of the Freedom Charter into a reality for all.
This moment requires extraordinary courage and leadership.
It requires a common mission to safeguard national unity, peace, stability, inclusive economic growth, non-racialism and non-sexism.
Through the ballots that they have cast, the people of South Africa have made plain their expectation that the leaders of our country should work together.
They have directed their representatives to put aside animosity and dissent, to abandon narrow interests, and to pursue together only that which benefits the nation.
As leaders, as political parties, we are called upon to work in partnership towards a growing economy, better jobs, safer communities and a government that works for its people.
From across the political spectrum, parties have answered that call.
Understanding that no party can govern alone and make laws alone, these parties have agreed to work in partnership, to employ their talents for the good of the country and the progress of its people.
Together, they have resolved to establish a government of national unity to pursue a common programme of fundamental and lasting change.
The formation of a government of national unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era.
As the leaders of this country came together in a government of national unity 30 years ago to forge a common future and build a united nation, the parties in the government of national unity of today have agreed to work together to address the most pressing challenges before our nation.
The parties have adopted a Statement of Intent, in which they have committed to pursue rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth;
to create a more just society by tackling poverty;
to safeguard the rights of workers;
to stabilise government and to build state capacity.
The parties have made a commitment to invest in South Africa’s people through quality education and health care;
to address crime and corruption;
to strengthen social cohesion and build a united nation; and,
to pursue a foreign policy based on human rights, solidarity and peace.
As South Africans, we must each do what we can to achieve this mission.
We will invite all parties, civil society, labour, business and other formations to a National Dialogue on the critical challenges facing the nation.
We will seek, as we have done at so many important moments in our history, to forge a social compact to realise the aspirations of our National Development Plan.
As individuals, as families, as communities and in our many formations, let us draw on our every strength to turn our dream for a better South African into reality.
Even as we are united in our diversity, we are a people of deep and abiding faith.
We pray for our nation, for our spirits to be lifted, and for our fortunes to be restored.
We owe this noble mission our courage.
We must be brave and we must be bold.
We must reject every attempt to divide or distract us, to sow doubt or cynicism, or to turn us against one another.
Those who seek to stand in our way, those who seek to inflame tensions, will not succeed, because South Africans are resolute.
Those who seek to undermine our institutions will fail, because democracy lives in the hearts of our people and never be dislodged.
Nothing will distract us from serving the people and advancing their interests.
Now is the time to move forward. Together, we will do more and better.
Now is the time to assemble all our capabilities and to direct all our energies to answer the call of the people of South Africa.
We dare not linger, we dare not rest, until we have created jobs for those who need them;
until there is enough food on every table;
until every person in every town, city, village and farm receives the basic services they need for a decent life.
We dare not rest until the women of South Africa are free from the social, cultural and economic constraints that hold back their progress.
We cannot rest until criminals are off our streets and the drugs are out of our communities;
until men no longer perpetrate violence against women and children;
until those who steal from the people are held to account.
We dare not rest while our communities are ravaged by flood, fire and drought.
Together, we will confront the threat of a rapidly warming planet.
We will accept our responsibility to respond to climate change in a manner that is ambitious, just and inclusive.
We do this for the sake of this generation and all those that will follow.
We will build a government that is capable and honest.
Together, we will work to promote multilateralism for a fairer, more equal, more just and more compassionate world, founded on solidarity and universal human rights.
We will join hands with our brothers and sisters across our beloved continent Africa to find peace, to achieve stability, to advance development.
Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, through the construction of roads, and rail lines, factories and power stations, Africa will embark on a new age of production and commerce.
Today, I make a solemn commitment to be a President for all South Africans;
to defend our Constitution and protect our democracy;
to work with all those who share the dream of a better life for all;
to care for the poor and the vulnerable, and to support all those who are in need;
and to make our country stronger, more resilient, more equal and united.
This is the dream that the poet Sandile Dikeni describes in his work ‘Love Poem for my Country’:
My country is for health and wealth
See the blue of the sea
And beneath the jewels of fish
Deep under the bowels of soil
Hear the golden voice of a miner’s praise for my country
My country is for unity
Feel the millions
See their passion
Their hands are joined together
And there is hope in their eyes
On this day, our hands are joined together. We are united. We are full of hope.
May God bless South Africa and protect its people.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.
Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika.
Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika.
Hosi katekisa Afrika.
I thank you.
International-Solidarity
C190: Fifth anniversary of the convention to tackle violence and harassment in the world of work
18 June 2024
On 21 June, we mark the adoption in 2019 of ILO Convention no. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work and Recommendation no. 206. This year, the ITUC calls upon trade unions, employers and governments to be galvanised by these key, democratic workplace rights.
These landmark legal instruments represent a historic moment in the global effort to ensure safe, dignified and respectful working conditions for all working people.
C190 is the first international treaty to recognise the right of every person to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. It underscores the crucial role of a safe working environment in achieving equality, dignity and opportunities for all workers, regardless of their status or the sector they work in.
An end to violence and harassment in the world of work is also central to ITUC’s campaign For Democracy in the workplace, at both national and global levels.
Over the past five years, there has been significant progress towards the implementation of C190. Many countries have taken steps to ratify and align their national laws and policies with the convention’s provisions, reflecting a growing recognition of the need to protect workers from violence and harassment.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining have been key in bringing the provisions of C190 to workplaces. This ITUC report features examples of trade unions that have mobilised in extraordinary ways by campaigning, advocating and lobbying for the ratification and implementation of these ground-breaking standards.
Using the provisions of C190 and R206, they have negotiated policies and collective bargaining agreements, resulting in tangible improvements towards eradicating violence and harassment in the world of work.
However, there is much work to be done. Violence and harassment at work persist and affect millions of workers worldwide, particularly women, migrants, and those in precarious employment. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, highlighting the urgent need for robust protections and comprehensive enforcement mechanisms.
ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “The ITUC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the full realisation of the principles enshrined in C190. We call upon all governments to ratify and implement the Convention without delay.
“We urge employers to adopt zero-tolerance policies towards violence and harassment and to foster a culture of respect and dignity in the workplace. The role of independent trade unions is indispensable in this. They must be empowered by democratic, trade unions rights in the workplace, to allow them to advocate for working environments that are safe, respectful and equitable.
“We honour the courage and resilience of workers, particularly women workers, who have endured and continue to face violence and harassment. Their experiences and voices have been instrumental in bringing about this convention and its implementation on the ground. Let us continue to work together – governments, employers, workers, and trade unions – to build a future of work where every individual can thrive in an environment free from violence, and harassment.”
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Breaking down barriers for women miners in Africa
13 June, 2024
Women miners in Sub-Saharan Africa are seeing the adoption of newer technologies as a game changer in the sector. With artificial intelligence and big data having an impact on mining, there are huge benefits that are expected to accrue for women in mining.
This was one of the key threads running through discussions of the women in mining conference in Accra Ghana on 7 June. The conference theme was: Women in mining, changing
perspectives and changing lives.
The panel discussions were on sustainable mining that considered environmental, labour, and community issues, and supporting women in leadership roles. Some of the key issues discussed included reversing the male domination of the mining industry through pushing
for the women’s agenda on skills and capacity development. Further, mining policies should be inclusive of women to eliminate gender bias and improve access to training. Building knowledge, skills, expertise, and visibility for women miners were identified
as pivotal by the delegates.
The conference emphasized that women miners should enjoy maternity protection as per national laws and International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 138 on maternity
protection. Daycare centres for children should also be introduced by mining companies at the mines.
Breaking down barriers that impeded women’s advancement in the mining industries was identified as crucial by the participants. These barriers include gender inequality, gender-based violence and harassment, the gender pay gap, gender biases, and the absence
of work-life balance. These barriers have been well illustrated in the Intergovernmental Forum (IGF) report on women and the
mine of the future that identifies, in 12 countries including Ghana, Zambia and South Africa, the main data gaps and challenges that need to be addressed to enable evidence-based policy-making and open opportunities for women to participate in the future of
mining.
IndustriALL Global Union was represented by affiliates from Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The conference was organized by Women in
Mining Ghana (WiM Ghana) with support from various corporations. WiM Ghana, aims to improve and retain the employment of women in the mining industry and its supply chains including in artisanal and
small-scale mining, has stakeholders that include trade unions, civil society organizations, and large and small-scale enterprises. WiM Ghana also supports the inclusion of women miners in the attainment of sustainable development goals to end poverty and
promote gender equality as well as workers’ rights and decent working conditions.
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, who also participated at the conference said:
“The mining sector is technical and highly skilled, but that does not mean that women cannot thrive as mineworkers. Women must be allowed into the artificial intelligence space and be provided with equal opportunities. This can only happen when the labour market becomes gender sensitive through the removal of discrimination and harmful cultural and religious practices and stereotypes.”
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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