6. Mathews Phosa statement against COSATU misinformed

The Sunday times of Swaziland dated 09 July, 2006 carried a vicious attack on COSATU and the Swazi democratic movement’s border blockade by Cde Mathews Phosa, former Mphumalanga Premier, MK Commander, esteemed Lawyer, business person and NEC member of the ANC.

Interestingly, here is a man who was MK Commander leading the offensive against an unjust system, doing all within his power to bring down the system that degraded the humanity of blacks.

He was at the forefront of the ANC-led efforts to “render the country ungovernable and make apartheid unworkable”, suddenly changing the tune when it comes to the same cause for other people instead labelling genuine solidarity efforts as senseless acts of aggression against Swaziland.

We would not been so concerned about the statement if it was made by the discredited royal family regime of Swaziland, anyway who takes them seriously in the world, except the king’s choir of women and his many parasitic cronies.

However, what concerns us is that we have respect for Cde Phosa, his views and role in the liberation of South Africa and his views are taken very seriously by many people, including in Swaziland. We are worried that he may be one in a million who, in recent days have been trying hard to bring some legitimacy to the internationally discredited regime and its patrons.

Surely, we do believe that he never intended doing that, but was merely reflecting on the best possible tactics to advance the cause of democracy in Swaziland, but in doing so, he found himself out of the practical context and reality of Swaziland today.

Ideally, no one would simply jump to close the border of another country, but it takes a serious amount of sober consideration to do so, because it is the last resort. It is a desperate measure to save the country from degenerating to a full scale civil war, by supporting the only remaining peaceful attempts to restore sanity into the minds of the gun crazy royal war mongers at Lobamba.

COSATU stands firm in calling for meaningful change in Swaziland and support the legitimate struggles of the people of Swaziland, because the oppressed people of Swaziland themselves have invited it, not because it merely jumped into that painful decision for its sake. We offer no apology that we take full responsibility for the border blockade and we are in fact preparing for phase two, in which we will once again invite COSATU and other genuine international patriots to continue their support and refused to be cowed, either for narrow business interests or whatsoever, because that sacrifice the fundamental rights and dignity of the Swazi people.

In supporting the SSN-led blockade together with alliance partners, the people of South Africa were making a clear statement that tyranny can be tolerated no longer in Africa, a very brave statement by President Mbeki in the ANC TODAY dated, 07 July, 2006.

Cde Phosa even states that he lived in Msunduza during the days of exile due to apartheid terror, fortunately that is a location well known to some of us for its sustained resistance against the forces of royal brutality, even at the height of De Kock and the whole apartheid terror squad’s constant visit to Swaziland, it was a very fierce site of resistance, therefore a direct victim of apartheid aggression, in collaboration with the Swazi army forces.

It can’t suddenly be pacified as a place of pity with no history or tradition of militant struggle against the very oppressive Swazi royalist regime.

The mistake made by many people is the assumption that it was the Swazi tinkhundla regime that sacrificed for the liberation of South Africa, yet we know that it was the ordinary people of Swaziland, from whom emerged such forces as PUDEMO to lead an organised force in support of the liberation of South Africa, rather than all these accolades to Sobhuza and his family.

Why should we forget that it was Sobhuza, who signed a secret non-aggression pact in February, 1982 with the apartheid regime, which laid the basis for the ceaseless massacre of ANC cadres on Swazi soil in huge numbers. Ordinary families suffered due to joint Swazi army and apartheid forces’ continuous raids in their homes in search for “terrorists”.

COSATU is a member of the Swaziland Solidarity Network and it responds to any call for solidarity with the oppressed and struggling people of Swaziland. We as the SSN owe no one any apology for intensifying the battle against Mswati’s forces of terror. We support the recent resolution made by PUDEMO in its recent Conference (which was to prepare for Congress in October) that there can be no change in Swaziland unless the people of Swaziland intensify the struggle, on the other hand, the role of our international allies is to intensify support for the speedy resolution of the democratic question in this beloved country of ours. None can blame COSATU for not being academic to this important call. COSATU went beyond words in demonstrating their own convictions that South Africa will never be free until the Swazi people are free, an internationalist task of the highest order.

We however, must take note that some of the comrades who once occupied the frontline trenches in South Africa, have suddenly become advisors of a fraudulent political system, calling for settlement designed by Mswati to fool the world, when they refused such an insult in the form of the tricameral system here in South Africa.

Half-humane schemes are not fit for South Africans as they are for Swazis. They are not fit in the struggle against apartheid as they are in the struggle against tinkhundla. Therefore, it is the most noble task for all civilised and democracy-loving people all over the world to reject them, wherever they happen. No to democracy for the royalty and terror for the nation.

The fact that Cde Phosa was addressing a business forum in Swaziland, with business interest must not be used to justify wrong, ill-informed and outrightly opportunistic attacks against the intensifying struggle for democracy in Swaziland. We can only advise, do your business, but please respect the rights of the people to continue the struggle and our genuine international friends to support the cause, its legitimate!

We are confident that Cde Phosa’ s views do not necessarily reflect those of the ANC which from all Conference resolutions, including the last one in Stellenbosch spoke out in the affirmative for democracy in Swaziland. Surely, the ANC and the whole alliance partners are fully aware that the task of the national democratic revolution in South Africa can never be complete unless the whole region and continent is free and democratic. This was explicitly proclaimed by the Freedom charter as a cornerstone of the very ideals for which the South African liberation movement fought.

7.Contract cleaning workers to go on strike

An emotional memorial service for the murdered comrade Elias Mulaudzi was held on Wednesday at the Driefontein mine where he used to work.

Comrade Mulaudzi who was a chairperson of the NUM branch and a community leader in the area, was killed last week Monday evening while on his way home from work.

“According to the latest information we are told that since the incident, two other suspects are in custody. Furthermore, the assailant came from near the city of Joburg, Jeppestown - scene of recent bloody run-in between the police and gunmen. But other than that we still do not know much”, said Frans Baleni, NUM General Secretary.

NUM expressed their heartfelt loss and said:

In the next round of the Chamber of Mines negotiations we are without doubt that his absence will be felt. He was able to clarify and breathe life into issues being discussed within our caucuses. We are saddened that we sit here deprived of the sterling contribution of this leader and activist of our people. It’s almost unbelievable that his tiny, almost squeaky, voice shall never ring around Driefontein - whether marshalling a protest or interacting with his constituency. We, together with all those who called the NUM to share its grief and that of the family, convey condolences to the family of Mulaudzi in its entirety.

NUM salutes comrade Elias Mulaudzi and will definitely miss his activism. Mulaudzi was described as a leader who paid attention to the needs of his branch, who was also in touch with whatever was going on with members.

Robala ka kgotso! Lala ngoxolo!

The funeral service of comrade Elias Mulaudzi will be on Saturday 15 July in Tswika village - Venda, in the Machado area

8.Slain Driefontein NUM leader to be laid to rest

COSATU, with the support of the SA Council of Churches and the Palestine Solidarity Committee, held a press conference on Monday at the COSATU House to discuss the Gaza situation.

Key speakers at the conference included: President of COSATU Willie Madisha, General Secretary of the SACC Eddie Makue, Virginia Tilley an academic and author on political science, Palestinian Ambassador to South Africa Ali Halimeh and Doctor Abu Ála from Gaza University Teachers Association.

Comrade Willie Madisha said that Israel could be said to be an “apartheid state” and that it was important for the world to come together and save the people of Palestine before history repeats itself.

He said that South Africa went through a terrible time with apartheid but it was not as bad as what the Palestines are going through.

“People in Palestine are being attacked with machine guns and this is a serious act of war and genocide,” he said.

He said that it was necessary for punitive measures to be taken against Israel in order for them to stop their inhumane behaviour.

Comrade Madishe suggested that if necessary, measures such as sanctions on goods and intellectual interaction should be used against Israel.

He also appealed to workers of the world to not touch goods from Israel as they would be contributing to the buying of more weapons.

COSATU along with delegates of organisations and movements that were also present at the conference made the following call with regards to the atrocities taking place in Palestine:

9.COSATU challenges SA & World on attacks in Palestine

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has written to the Indian trade union movement with a message of solidarity and support after the deaths of nearly 200 rail commuters in Mumbai.

COSATU is appalled by this outrage and sends condolences to the families of all those killed and best wishes to the hundreds of injured.

There can be no possible justification for planting bombs where the only victims will be workers travelling home from work. This is a brutal and cowardly act against innocent people and we urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.

COSATU endorses the view of the International Transport Federation General Secetary, David Cockroft, that "this is another assault on common humanity that, as in Madrid and London, targets innocent people on their way to and from work. Transport workers and their unions will once again share the public's revulsion at this latest horror, and pledge ourselves to help in any way we can."