Cosatu NW PEC Statement 06-03-08

 

COSATU NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESS STATEMENT

The Congress of South African Trade Unions' North West Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) met on 6 March 2008.

The PEC received a report from the last Central Executive committee (CEC) meeting. It accepted the report and the decisions from CEC and condemned those who are working against the ruling on the matter of the removal of the former president of COSATU, Comrade Willy Madisha.

The PEC also condemned racism in the country, in particular at the Free State University, in Swartruggens and Skielik. It also condemned the increasing in fees at North West University and the killings at Skielik.

The poor service delivery to the people of Skielik must be a focus for both provincial government and national. The PEC confirmed that since the mass funeral of the people, nothing has happened to assist the families who lost their loved ones and those who are injured. Therefore the PEC calls on the provincial and national governments to intervene on the matter.

The PEC also rejected the argument of Johan Nel that he was sick during his action of killing poor people. He knew very well what he was doing and what he did before was on clear instructions from those who have been supporting him in his killing our poor people. Therefore there is no madness in his mind. He must be sentenced to spend his whole life in jail.

The PEC also reflected strongly on the conduct of some individual police officers during our demonstrations and marches and the shooting of students at North West University. It demanded that the national Department of Education intervene immediately.

Once again COSATU will be picketing on 13 March 2008 at Swartruggens court when Johan Nel appears for the fourth time in the local magistrates court.

Jobs and Poverty

The PEC analysed and critiqued the statement presented by the North West Premier in her opening of the legislature on 15 February 2008. It indicated that the unemployment rate is reduced, jobs are being created, and poverty is being reduced. The PEC totally rejected the statement, which was further explained in Setswana (Batho ba ba sa direng ke motlapa), that people who are not working are lazy. We think the statement is a sign of disrespect to the poor people who have been looking for jobs for five to ten years.

Jobs that are created in this province are for family friends and the rest of those people who are close to those who are in power, as politicians, bureaucrats and the bourgeoisie. Tenders are awarded to people on a one-month contract basis. Casualisation leads to very bad working conditions, e.g. paying R50.00 per day. That's real exploitation.

Therefore we are calling a public apology to the people of the North West. The PEC also reaffirmed its position to the alliance and the government geographic board to re-name hospitals after their heroes and heroines, as per our national congress resolution that recognised that workers of this country have always been in the forefront of the liberation struggle, but many who sacrificed enormously have not been sufficiently profiled as heroes and heroines of our struggle. Therefore as workers we call for support to rename the following:

Bophelong hospital in Mafikeng to be Dorothy Makgalo hospital
Klerksdorp Tshepong complex to be Elijah Barayi hospital
Rustenburg hospital to be Mama Ruth Mompati hospital
Mafikeng Airport to be JB Marks Airport

We call for government of the North West to agree with the poor working class to remember the stalwarts who were based in our province and their role in liberating this country, whiles the poor working class are still faced with challenges of jobs and poverty, land issues and racism.

Our national May Day celebration in 2008 will be focusing on the gains that, as workers, we have achieved since 1994 till today, fighting the unemployment which is increasing almost everyday, fighting against poor health & safety in all workplaces in the country including the North West where workers continue to be killed by machines and lions.

COSATU North West will be hosting the national May Day celebration at James Motlatsi Stadium, formerly known as the Oppenheimer Stadium, at Orkney, under the theme "Defend democratic gains; fight unemployment; crush poverty and inequalities; create decent work now"

We are calling the people of North West, churches, civil society, political parties and the unemployed people to support our campaign against electricity and food price increases and the protection of farm workers against racism which is booming in this province.

The bias of the justice department, which is always on the side of the perpetrators of killing the poor people, must be condemned.

For more information feel free to call Solly N. Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, on 082 304 4055