COSATU Free State has noted with serious concern that the situation in and around Qwaqwa is worsening due the ongoing protests by community members. We have noted that the economic activities and other important services have also come to a standstill, as workers cannot go to work and learners cannot go to school.

Our concern however is that our own community members are the ones that are seriously and negatively affected by the continuing protest action. We have also not heard any report about the engagements between the leaders of the protest and our authorities to seek a lasting solution to the issues that the community is raising.

We find it quite disturbing that neither the Free State Provincial Government nor the African National Congress have spoken out on this matter. This is a failure of leadership.

We call on both the Free State Provincial Government as well as Provincial Task Team of the African National Congress to intervene in this matter and find a lasting solution to the crisis. We remain adamant that dialogue is the only effective tool to find a lasting solution to any problem.

As the African proverb says that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers most and in this instance, the grass would be the residents.We urge both parties to engage in meaningful discussions to find a solution to the situation for the benefit of our people in the area.

Issued by COSATU Free State

Enquiries Provincial Secretary Monyatso oa Mahlatsi @ 010 219 1373 or 076 115 9923