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COSATU is celebrating its 17th anniversary. It was formed on 1 December 1985, during the state of emergency and a huge wave of resistance by the people in their historic struggle against apartheid, not least in the Eastern Cape Province, where the main anniversary celebrations are being held.

COSATU's members played a heroic role in that struggle and can claim its share of the credit for the triumph of democracy in 1994.

Since then it has mobilised its forces to take forward the struggle for social transformation. It has been a significant force in economic and social policy debates, campaigning for policies and strategies to eradicate the apartheid legacy of inequality and underdevelopment.

Very few organisations can, after just 17 years of existence, boast of such strengths as ours. Unlike many others that were weakened by the transition, COSATU has in fact gained more strength.
By adapting carefully to new challenges, we have steered the transition period, together with our alliance partners, largely in a progressive route. We have deepened the political hold on power, transformed the state and begun to change the lives of our people for the better.

Every South African today enjoys democracy - the rights to assembly, freedom of speech, to elect the representatives of their choice, to form and join organisations, to stand for the highest political office of the land.
For the first time, millions have access to adequate health care, water, electricity, education and land, and we are working to extend these and improve these rights.

Workers have scored many victories through the transformation of apartheid legislation - the right to strike, to form and join unions, to bargain and to union security agreements such the agency and closed shop.
These rights are all enshrined in the constitution. They are the victories of our revolution, which, as we celebrate COSATU's 17th anniversary, we equally celebrate.
COSATU will remain the conscience of our nation, speaking out not only for our immediate members but also for the broader working class.

As we celebrate our anniversary we are confident about our future. The giant that emerged in 1985 continues to grow from strength to strength. But to maintain our organisation intact, we must continue to be vigilant and keep our leadership accountable.
COSATU's source of strength is its nearly two million members. It is imperative that they participate in shaping COSATU policies and in holding the leadership accountable.

Viva ANC Viva!

COSATU also salutes the African National Congress, which will be celebrating its 91st anniversary in January 2003.
The formation of the ANC in 1912 opened a fresh chapter in the liberation struggle in South Africa. It galvanised the oppressed people into action through many campaigns, including the Defiance Campaign, the Congress of the People, which adopted the Freedom Charter, the armed struggle and mass mobilisation before and during the negotiation phase.

Its single biggest achievement, which we sometimes take for granted, is that it united Africans across narrow tribal lines and language differences and blacks (Africans, Indians and Coloureds) across the artificial differences.
This created a formidable force that defeated the colonial system of a special type. Since this historic victory, the ANC continues to lead the struggle to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist South Africa.

As the oldest liberation movement on the African continent and the most mature revolutionary movement, the ANC serves as an inspiration not only on the African continent but to the rest of the world.

The challenge facing the democratic movement is to begin the enormous task of economic transformation to address South Africa's pressing problems. The ANC and its allies have a historical duty to develop strategies to address South Africa's pressing problems of joblessness, poverty and inequality.

COSATU and the South African workers and their families are privileged to have such a valuable and reliable ally in the ANC.
Workers are the bedrock of the ANC and they join hands in congratulating the ANC on its 91st anniversary.[