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Address by COSATU President, Willie Madisha,Introductory remarks at a launch Policy File- Cape Town31 October, 2002 |
Members of Parliament, leaders of the Trade Unions and civil society, Diplomats, Comrades and FriendsIt is my pleasure and honour on behalf of the COSATU Central Executive Committee to welcome you to the launch of the COSATU Policy File and CD- Rom which catalogue the policy submissions COSATU has made between 1994 and 2001.
We meet at a time of unprecedented fluidity in the international and local situation. A time of hope, and a time of fear. On the side of hope is the overwhelming victory of a worker leader in one of the largest countries in the world- I refer to the victory of Cde Lula, a former metal worker, who is now the President of Brazil.
We also see hope in the fact that a social democratic party, with all its limitations was able to defeat the conservatives in Germany. We see hope in the success of the WSSD, and its defeat of the unilateral agenda of the USA, and other powers attempting to undermine the UN system.
Locally we see hope in the continued determination of our people to see meaningful transformation in our country, and to ensure a better life for all its people. We also draw inspiration from many of the progressive decisions of the ANC Policy Conference, and hope that these will be implemented. The ANC remains a party of the left!
Unfortunately however, the world is also plagued by fear. Fear resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, and the war of terror being waged there. Fear arising from the aggressive and irresponsible agenda of the Bush regime, which threatens to plunge whole regions of our world into conflict.
On the local front, we are also confronting ongoing tensions and problems which threaten to undermine many of the gains we have made over long years of struggle.
However, we are a resilient and mature people. There is no problem which is too complex for us to solve, if we use our heads and collective wisdom.
One of the great strengths of the trade union movement is its ability to engage with problems, find solutions, seek compromises, and move forward. This is what tonight is about.
This File which we are launching is a witness to the hundreds of engagements which COSATU has embarked on since 1994 in an attempt to move our democracy forward. It is a tribute to many of our cadres and our allies in Parliament and civil society that so much has been achieved by so few.
As if we have not done this before, I want again to take this opportunity on behalf of the Central Executive Committee and the entire membership of the federation and workers and working class in general to thank the current and former staff members who without their sacrifices, dedication and professional standards this occasion would not have happened. I want to thank in particular the head of the unit Neil Coleman and each and every one of the staff members for their unequalled and immense contributions to the struggle to build a better life for workers and the majority of South Africans. I want to commend Joan Africa for her work in putting together this file.
Last but not least I want to thank the funders, the FES, for funding the file and CD ROM as well as the launch. This is an invaluable resource which will serve not only the trade union leadership, and MPS, but all those, including academics and NGOs with an interest in the policy debates so necessary for our country’s transformation.
Willie Madisha, COSATU president
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© COSATU