Volume 9, No.5 - December 2000

15 Years of heroic struggle

Remain United

MOLOTO MOTHAPO and YOLANDE MOKHANTSO interviewed Mbhazima Shilowa, Premier of Gauteng Province and General Secretary of COSATU from 1994 to 1999

As the former General Secretary of this federation and having spent many years with COSATU, What are you memorable experiences, bad or good, that could best summarise COSATU's 15 years?

The merging of 33 trade unions to form 17, in one united federation, based on "One Industry, One Union", is the achievement of this giant labour movement that I still remember.

Immediately after the unbanning of the ANC, COSATU managed to increase its membership. It has risen from a half a million to 1.8 million members. This has facilitated the development of leadership capacity and the influence of the federation on the government. COSATU has also contributed a lot in the consolidation of functioning of the Tripartite Alliance.

With regard to the difficult moments, I would concentrate on the repression during the apartheid years. One of those low moments that I can still remember well was when 40000SARWU and 20000 POTWA members lost their jobs. These were the same workers who had been sacrificing their jobs and at times working without payment as well.

The killings in Kwa Zulu Natal were also moments creating setbacks to the political transformation in this country, just at the time when we thought we were there. I was also saddened by the time when the National Union of Mineworkers members were trekking to places such as Lesotho and Mozambique.

Do you believe the labour movement should be consulted in the government's decision making, especially regarding labour related issues such as the amendments to the LRA?

I believe that the federation, as a member of the Alliance, should not only be consulted but be involved in the formulation of a policy framework. I would not say that the Alliance is not working. That is not true. The Alliance is working; the problem lies with coordinators. Issues such that should be dealt with are usually not tackled but are only dealt with when it becomes a crisis.

The COSATU CEC, SACP's CC and the NEC of the ANC should actually set aside four to five days to discuss a broad framework agreement. At present, Zwelinzima Vavi speaks on behalf of COSATU, Kgalema Motlante for the ANC and Blade Ndzimande for the SACP and there is no time for a discussion and debate.

We need more time to challenge and debate issues. The important question here should be: What can be done by the Alliance to take things forward?

What do you think is the role of the ANC as the leader within the Alliance and South Africa?

The ANC does not want a weak COSATU or a weak SACP. The main aim of the ANC is to benefit the poor. For example a housing programme has been set up to benefit the poorly paid people in the country, people who earn R3 500 or less month. A health programme and a child support grant has also been set up. These are to benefit those people disadvantaged by the apartheid regime.

Also, about one billion has been set aside this year for putting resources into infrastructure. For example, a new road has been built in the Vaal, which will employ many workers from the local area. The government has also set aside another 1,2 billion for the next three years which, foe example, will help in the area such as creating a museum and the renovation of the Constitutional Court in the fort in Braamfontein and the establishment of the Solomon Mahlangu Information Technology Academy in Pretoria, to benefit working class people.

A one stop centre to provide pensions, welfare grants, etc. has been built in the Vaal and another nine are planned, so that people do not have to come into town for such things. And we have plans to improve the public transport system, with a fast train service between Johannesburg, Midrand, Centurion and Pretoria. We are not talking here of a bullet train, but a train that will ferry people from places like Johannesburg to Pretoria, and also via the airport in 30 - 35 minuets. The ANC is also dealing with corrupt office bearers among its own members.

We however, believe that COSATU must assist in this regard as some of its leaders within the ANC are from the COSATU unions. What is your comment on GEAR? GEAR has been brought in for a specific purpose - to achieve macro-economic stability. However, not everything that it set out to achieve has been done. We have not achieved jobs and foreign investment. Perhaps the debate to move this forward could have worked better. The ANC now says the macro-economic stability on its own is not enough. We also need a skilled workforce.

What should be done about a typical workers, which is one of the challenges that face COSATU at the moment?

This is not only a challenge facing the federation, it is also a challenge that the ANC is faced with. The fact is, the nature of work globally is changing rapidly, with the growth of casualisation and contract working.

What challenges do we face, as the federation as it enters its 15th year?

I think having been successful over the years in the fight for workers rights. The new challenges we face are HIV, racism and gender equality. COSATU should take the HIV campaign to the employers, insurance companies and medical aids. It is obvious that people are reluctant to declare their HIV status because insurance companies refuse to pay out to people if the are suffering from Aids.

Racism is also a problem. It is COSATU's challenge to come up with satisfactory mechanism to combat racism in all its manifestations and to end gender inequality.

Your message to COSATU on this anniversary?

People should remain united and workers must hold leaders accountable for decisions. COSATU must also ensure that ANC wins the local government elections with a decisive majority. It should put weight, not just 50% behind the campaign, but going into the factories and workplaces to ensure that the ANC is elected.