COSATU LIMPOPO POST PEC MEDIA STATEMENT

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Limpopo held its ordinary Provincial Executive Committee meeting on 23 July, in the month during which we celebrate the birth of our stalwart and the 11^th President of the African National Congress, Cde Nelson Mandela. The Provincial Executive Committee meeting came after a gruelling period in which there were significant activities that impacted on the Organizational, Socio-Economic and Political life of our Federation and the Alliance, at a the provincial, national and international level. It is a period in which we had a highly contested general election; our ally the ANC being was contested in every platform of society, resulting in a 73% victory at the polls in Limpopo. However, our fate at a national level dipped to a 40% of the vote by South Africans. The PEC applauded the legions of members, shop stewards and leaders who volunteered to be the true Elijah Barayi volunteer brigade and traversed the length and breadth of the province to secure the overwhelming victory in the province. The PEC held extensive discussions and came to the following observations and conclusions:

Organisational Matters

We resolved to continue building strong engines of the Federation by ensuring that all structures are functioning optimally, accelerate shop steward and membership training, and embark on campaigns to consolidate, deepen and advance the gains made by workers and the entire working class over the past 30 years. We identified these focus areas for the ensuing period:

• A recruitment program to build a strong trade union Federation as the power of workers depends on the numbers they have.

§ Dealing with issues confronting workers in vulnerable sectors of the economy to ensure that their workplace issues are advanced their gains are not reversed.

§ Fight off Sec 189A, as the PEC is observing the ease with which employers resort to this provision in the Labour Relations Act, to the detriment of workers, and to attend to any massive dismissals affiliates are facing.

§ As we move towards the 2026 local government elections PEC members should participate in all forthcoming by-elections to ensure that our ally, the ANC retains, the wards it holds and gains wards that are held by the other forces.

§ Accelerate the establishment of Health and Safety committees in workplaces to ensure workers are safe at work.

§ To start build-up programs towards October 7, in pursuit of the long-held resolution to campaign for decent work

Socio-Economic Matters

The PEC lauded the signing into law of the National Health Insurance Act and resolved to monitor the implementation of this policy as it provides a groundbreaking transformation of our healthcare system by providing universal health care to all citizens. It cautiously warned against the plans of some investors in the private health care industry, who have made it their intention to undermine NHI to protect their business interests.

Another positive development is the Two-pot retirement system that has now been signed into law. This will enable workers to remain employed, while they access a portion of their retirement savings, and still have savings when they retire. However, there are elements that seek to put a damper on this very important achievement in the history of workers' savings in the country. They threaten workers not to access this relief, with the intention of keeping workers indebted to the predatory capitalist banks and loan sharks. The Federation and affiliates should embark on a concerted education campaign on the system and to allay the fears that have been created by capital, for their own parochial interests.

Crime and Corruption

The PEC vowed to continue to fight against all forms of crime in society as the scourge of crime is devastating to society in its entirety. In the same vein, to advance our long-standing resolution to fight corruption, the PEC welcomed the arrest and conviction of those involved in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank. The PEC calls for more prosecutions to ensue for those who are involved in the large-scale corruption and subsequent collapse of the bank, aided by those who invested municipal money in the bank despite the law not allowing it. We call for the monies lost by depositors and investors in the collapse of the bank to be returned to its rightful owners.

Political Developments

The results of the elections at national level and the resultant government of national unity (GNU) have thrown COSATU into unchartered waters. The Federation in Limpopo will strongly oppose anything that seeks to water down the gains workers have made over the years since the advent of democracy in our country. This calls for COSATU members and leaders to work harder than ever to ensure the gains of workers and the working class are not eroded.

As democrats, we welcome the results of the elections as the true reflection of the electoral expression of the people. The results reflect the waning support of the people's movement, the ANC. We wish to thank our people in Limpopo for the support shown to the ANC and the electoral percentage the ANC gained. The PEC also warned that we should be concerned with the needs of the people if we are to stave off declining support. COSATU will continue to hold the ANC accountable, while working closely with all the allies to rebuild voter confidence and ensure the ANC reemerges as a majority party.

International Solidarity

The PEC noted that the situation in Palestine continues unabated, despite the International Court of Justice findings against the apartheid government of Israel. This calls for concerted effort by governments and international bodies to stop this genocidal bloodbath. The PEC will continue to support all the efforts to ensure there is ceasefire in Palestine and the Palestinian people have their self-determination.

The PEC further analysed the struggles waged by the working class of Kenya against anti-people and anti-working-class laws and policies enacted by the Kenyan government to please Bretton Woods institutions at the expense and to the detriment of the working class. The PEC pledged its support to the noble cause waged by the working class of Kenya to defend themselves against a rapacious anti-people government.

On Leadership in the Province

Our outgoing Provincial Chairperson Cde Esther Mokoele has been elected as a Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. She has since been sworn in. The PEC held elections to fill her vacancy. The former Deputy Provincial Chairperson Cde Lesiba Monyaki was elected in her place. NEHAWU Deputy Provincial Chairperson, Cde Linda Nthulane is now the new Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the Federation. The structure of the COSATU Office-Bearers in Limpopo Province is now as indicated below:

Provincial Chairperson-Cde Lesiba Monyaki

Deputy Provincial Chairperson-Cde Linda Nthulane

Provincial Treasurer-Cde Mike Manganye

Provincial Secretary-Cde Hangwani Mashao

Issued by COSATU

For further comment please contact:

Hangwani Mashao, COSATU Limpopo Provincial Secretary

Mobile: 067 413 0165

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