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EDITORIAL:
Moyo just an arrogant, immature politician…
COSATU rejects with contempt the ill-informed and politically immature
comments by Zimbabwean information minister Jonathan Moyo (Zimbabwean
Herald, 5 July 2001).It is shocking for a government minister to go
to such an extent to protect his government's human rights violating
and thuggish behaviour by uttering such emotionally and arrogant allegations.
Zimbabwean Information Minister Moyo said among other things, that
By supporting the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU), COSATU demonstrates beyond doubt that its rhetoric about the
need to respect and uphold the rule of law is hollow, opportunistic
and unAfrican, as it is supporting an illegal action.
Zimbabwean workers toiled and suffered in support
of the anti-apartheid struggle but COSATU has buried its head in the
sand like an ungrateful ostrich ignoring the embarrassing fact that
the current trade surplus between Zimbabwe and South Africa which
is benefiting the likes of Anglo-American is over 30-billion Zim dollars
in favour of SA - "Where is the solidarity with the Zim workers? COSATU is Anglo-American-influenced and is in the alliance with the
MDC and Democratic Alliance.
COSATU will in no way withdraw its support for the action by the Zimbabwean
Congress of Trade Unions because of such blackmailing comments.The new
law declares the strikes illegal if they are held for political rather
than economic reasons. It is therefore beyond our interpretation why
the minister is saying we are supporting an illegal strike.
We reiterate again to the government of Zimbabwe that they must ensure
that it accelerates the return of the rule of law, curtail thugs masquerading
as war veterans and create conditions for a free and fair democratic
presidential election next year.
Our interpretation of unAfricanism is the govt that has no regard for
human rights and the rule of law by among others, terrorising its fellow
African citizens.
The lies and distortion of COSATU's policies in a crude attempt to
play with the emotions of ordinary working-class Zimbabweans is an indictment
of the minister. He does not deserve to be taken seriously.
BIG news for the poor!
In an effort to alleviate the poverty facing millions of South Africans
living in both rural and urban areas, COSATU, civil society organisations
and national non-governmental organisations have on Tuesday this week
came together to launch the Basic Income Grant (BIG).
The parties said BIG is a national initiative aimed at ensuring that
no South African is allowed to sink into total destitution or poverty
and also it is aimed at providing a bridge allowing the poor to "engage
in meaningful economic activity."
They said that the R100, introduced as a monthly Basic Income Grant
to poor households, is expected to close the poverty gap by more than
80 percent.
"Wealthier South Africans would cross-subsidise the grant through
a solidarity tax," said the parties. However, they emphasized that
the BIG would not act as an incentive not to work.
The parties' delegation also met with the Chairperson of the Committee
of Inquiry into Social Security, Professor Vivienne Taylor, to urge
her to take their BIG proposals on board. The Committee will soon table
the proposals to the Minister of Social Development.
The Basic Income Grant is expected to have major social and economic
benefits in areas such as enhancement response to HIV/Aids, improved
social investment, job creation and contribution to reparations and
reconciliation.
"The parties will embark on an intensive process of discussion
and consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and institutions,
inside and outside government, to put forward these views on why we
believe the BIG should be introduced as an urgent necessity," they
said.
In order to consolidate the BIG, the parties will interact with government
and civil society institutions such as the Minister of Social Development,
Human Rights Commission, and Gender Commission.
"We will also develop links with like-minded international organisations
and coalitions campaigning for the basic income measures," they
said, further calling on all South Africans to join the campaign by
adding their endorsement to the platform.
Two-day Zim stayaway gets backing from COSATU…
COSATU earlier this week said that it supported the decision for a
two-day stayaway by the Zimbabwean Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) against
the government's 13 June decision to raise fuel prices by an average
of 70 percent in the country.
Thousands of workers downed tools on Tuesday and Wednesday in the capital
city Harare and surrounding areas demanding that the government revoke
the increase. Some demonstrators were injured and others killed in an
action that the Mugabe government declared "illegal".
COSATU said Zimbabwe has suffered chronic fuel shortages for the past
18 months and prices have tripled over the same period and have sent
soaring prices on the mini buses used by most urban workers to commute.
"This has hit hard at the already over-burdened majority of the
poor people in the country.
The federation further rejected government claims that the strike is
illegal saying that under the new law a strike can only be declared
illegal if it is for political reasons. It said the declaration is only
meant to suppress trade union rights.
"We support the ZCTU against the continued level of threats and
intimidation against trade unionists and workers, especially by state
officials, and renew our call for the restoration of full democratic
rights to the people of Zimbabwe," said COSATU.
It further expressed its disappointment with the role of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) on the country's impasse. "While
it is clear that Zimbabwe is a sovereign state, it is inexcusable that
the governments of SADC have left the government to terrorise both the
economy and ordinary citizens...causing chaos in the economies of SADC,"
said the federation.
COSATU made a call to the Zimbabwean government to ensure that it accelerates
the return of the law, "to curtail the thugs that masquerade as
war veterans", and to create conditions for a free and fair Presidential
election.
SACP concerned with "inhumane and undignified"
service for the elderly
The South African Communist Party (SACP) recently raised a concern
at the "undignified and inhumane" manner in which the old
people, especially those receiving monthly state welfare grants, are
treated.
Sowetan newspaper on Wednesday reported that more than 400 000 pensioners
countrywide were on Tuesday left stranded and penniless after discovering
there was no money for them in the banks.
The pensioners did not even receive any explanation why their welfare
grants were not deposited in their bank accounts - an issue the Department
of Social Development later confirmed.
SACP said the incident confirmed the endemic inefficiencies in the
outsourced pension payout system, which denied millions of pensioners
throughout the country timely payments. It said this constitutes disrespect
to the pensioners as the majority of them still have to wake up early
to stand in long, unsheltered and unsafe queues in order to get their
pensions.
The organisation added that the problem is caused by exorbitant interests
charges that make banks inaccessible to the majority of the pensioners
in the country. "For this reason, the SACP calls on the government
to ensure that all recipients of state welfare grants are exempt from
all bank charges," it said.
It further called for a complete overhaul of the state pension payout
system which must, among other things, include a review of the outsourced
pension payout to private companies with the intention to consolidate
the state-owned Postbank as the main pay-point for the state pensions.
200 to lose jobs as company relocates…
More than 200 workers at the Uitenhage plant of Bosal, a car component
manufacturer, will find themselves jobless after the company this week
decided to relocate to Pretoria. Bosal said that failure to secure long-term
contracts from car making plants in the area has led to its closure.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) disputed this.
NUMSA said the reason is not true as the company is currently on a
three-year contract with car manufacturing companies in the area, adding
that its productivity and viability is under no threat. "There
is evidence that suggests that it (Bosal) has been making profit,"
the union said.
NUMSA said the company's closure will destroy good jobs in the economically
depressed area of the region where unemployment is estimated at 60 percent.
It further accused the company of unreasonably running from its economic
and social responsibilities in the region.
'The union is attempting very hard to force the company to hold back
all its plants to relocate...to date, the company has maintained its
intransigent stance and perfidious approach to the relocation plans,"
said NUMSA.
The union said it will get the MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs
in the area to intervene in a bit to force the company to halt its intention.
"His intervention will be crucial because the plant closure will
destabilise the economic performance of the region and aggravate the
unemployment rate," it said.
Amnesty International lashes at Swaziland Decree…
Amnesty International in London has come as the latest critic of the
recently issued Decree by the Swaziland monarch, King Mswathi III.
The Decree No.2, which was slammed widely by many formations including
COSATU as a threat to human rights in the Kingdom, lays down harsh penalties
for any person who disobeys any law made by the King or offences against
the dignity of the office of the king.
The application of harsh penalties has, among others, resulted in the
banning of two national newspapers in the country.
Amnesty International said on Wednesday that the Decree comes as a culmination
of recent trends marked by the government's tendency to swiftly issue
'legal notices' in order to overrule or nullify legal actions.
"This decree represents an attack on the independence of the judiciary
and removes the right to legally challenge actions of the Executive
," said Mary Rayner, researcher for Southern African Team of Amnesty
International.
Rayner said another blow to the judicial rulings is that the Decree
reinstates and extends the 1993 Non-Bailable offences order that the
court of law recently found to be a "draconian law". The court
further found it to be "inconsistent with the presumption of innocence
and an invasion of the liberty of the subject."
Ryner said non-bailable offences order has increased fears that government
critics will be subject to arbitrary detention or politically motivated
prosecutions solely on the ground of peacefully held political believes.
"The impact of these provisions combined with the unchecked powers
of the government to ban publications can only contribute to a culture
of silence and fear," said Rayner
COSATU last week said the practices by King Mswathi III and his lackeys
have stooped so low that they should be stopped in their tracks.
"While the regime is using dirty tactics and repression to undermine
efforts for democratisation...our experience is that these tactics are
bound to backfire very soon," said the federation.
The policy-making organ of the United Nations, the General Assembly,
called on all states, including Swaziland, to uphold their basic principles
on the role of the judiciary and "to respect and observe the independence
of the judiciary."
660 down tools against unilateral
and unbalanced wage increase…
About 660 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Alexkor
Mining Company downed tools this week against the company's unilateral
implementation of the highly contested eight percent wage increase.
The union members went on strike on Tuesday demanding that the mine's
wage increase should also address racial wage imbalances at the workplace.
NUM said the eight percent increase amounts to about R170 00 for black
employees as compared to about R800 000 of their white counterparts.
It said this is a classical case of a race driven management that is
bent on advancing outdated racial policies and practices.
"Alexkor is committed to employing union-bashing tactics and is
not interested in creating a harmonious industrial relations climate,"
said NUM head of publicity and information, Moferefere Lekorotsoana.
He called on to the mine's management to operate in a manner that facilitates
and enhances a good working relationship between itself and the union.
Failure to do so, he said, will only increase tensions and hamper any
possible progress.
Proudly South African Campaign members announced…
National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) this week
announced the appointments of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairperson
and board members of its Proudly South African Campaign, ahead of its
formal launch later this year.
Well-known radio journalist Tim Modise was appointed chairperson, former
advertising agency chairman, Martin Feinstein, was appointed the CEO.
Members of the board include COSATU president Willie Madisha, secretary
general of the SA Youth Council, Khulu Mbongo, and CEO of SA Chamber
of Business, Kevin Wakeford. Board membership is made up of representatives
from Business, Community, Labour and government.
Proudly South African campaign, which emanates from the Presidential
Jobs Summit Agreement in 1998, is aimed at promoting local products,
stimulating growth and creating jobs.
Announcing the appointments, Executive Director of Nedlac, Phillip
Dexter, said that it was important that the CEO had extensive marketing
experience.
"Proudly South African will include a massive public awareness
campaign, competitions in schools, promotions in retail chains and many
other activities," said Feinstein He further expressed his excitement
at his new job as it will make a "real" change to the economy.
Campaign chairman, Tim Modise, said the campaign is about patriotism
and a believe in local products - something that has been happening
in this country.
He gave an example that out of 60 cars manufactured at the Mercedes
Benz Company locally, only 30 are sold in this country whereas the rest
are exported. He said this shows a demand and trust in SA goods internationally.
Youth leader and board member, Khulu Mbongo, assured the campaign leadership
of huge support but emphasized that there are still big challenges ahead.
"The campaign should make sure that South Africans benefit socially,
politically and economically," said Mbongo.
Both government and the private sector are expected to raise a whopping
R60-million to boost the launch of the campaign. The campaign's official
logo will be available later this year.
Letters
COSATU Weekly believes that there are a variety
of weekly developments that need to be discussed or raised to the
attention of the readers and workers at large. If you have any compliments,
queries or comments on the current issues, send us your brief letter
to The Editor or fax it
to (011) 339-7788. The newsletter can only publish a few letters a
week.
Launch of online COSATU Weekly
Dear Editor
Hello, I want to congratulate you with the launch of the weekly newsletter.
Over here in the Netherlands we can stay well informed about the S.A.
trade unions.
Hans Moorenchair,
ABVAKABO South African Support Group
Netherlands
By -email.
Dear Sir,
This (COSATU Weekly) is very informative and is the best medium to
outline the roles of COSATU (which are of cause very important given the economic state of our country) better to the students across the country.
Congratulations!
Kind regards,
Mr. Ranti M.
Chairman: Wits Students' Economic Society
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