COSATU President, Comrade Zingiswa Losi signed the agreement with CTC General Secretary, Comrade Ulises Guilarte De Nacimiento on the occasion of the 21st CTC national congress held in Havana, Cuba on the 20th to 24th April 2019. It is a comprehensive agreement which lays the basis for exchange programs across all sectors of the trade union movement. The agreement also paves the way for COSATU affiliates to increase direct links with their Cuban counterparts to advance cooperation, learning and exchange visits.
Comrade Losi was quoted recalling the brotherly relations between the heroic leadership of Mandela and Fidel as the foundation for strong ties between South Africans and the people of Cuba. The agreement is a sign of confidence South African workers have on Cuba including Cuban socialism as a model of development that prioritizes the social needs of the people.
In welcoming the agreement, the General Secretary of NEHAWU Comrade Zola Saphetha congratulated the two federations and said Cuba selflessly supported the liberation of South Africa against the apartheid system. It was ordinary Cuban working people who heroically shed blood by defeating the Pretoria regime in Cuito Cuanavale laying the basis for the liberation of Southern Africa.
We take this opportunity to reiterate our condemnation of the genocidal US imperialist blockade against Cuba. We call for the lifting of this blockade and for the return of Guantanamo territory to the Cubans. In this regard, is preparing its visit to Cuba to meet its counterpart to strengthen their relationship including educating its delegation on the ideological training as part of intensifying its internal capacity on ideological and political work and also on international working class solidarity.
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Khaya Xaba (NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer) at 082 455 2500 or email: khaya@nehawu.org.za Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za