The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Mpumalanga held a very successful quarterly Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting whose objective was to monitor and evaluate the implementation of its adopted programs and campaigns, and evaluate the political, socio-economic and organisational state of the Federation. The meeting was attended by 10 affiliates and 15 COSATU locals.
The meeting was addressed by COSATU General Secretary Solly Phetoe, SACP Provincial Chairperson Bonakele Majuba and ANC PEC member Sam Masango.
Guided by the four pillars of the Federation the meeting resolved as follows:
On Political
On the outcomes of the 2024 National elections and GNU
The meeting reaffirmed the COSATU CEC decision to reject the current state of the neoliberal government of national unity (GNU) that includes the Democratic Alliance.
The Federation commits itself to confront the offensive and defend the democratic gains brought by the protracted years of struggle which ultimately led to the democratic breakthrough and heralded the most progressive labour laws including the Labour Relations Act, The Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Employment Equity Act.
The meeting further resolved that the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) remains the most relevant program for our social emancipation and to defend the hard-won gains of workers. The NDR must be protected for its advancement of our democratic dispensation. We further reiterate our call for a strategic goal of advancing better working conditions for all. This will be achieved through the following principles, i.e. strategic consistency and tactical flexibility when it comes to issues of state power and influencing policy discourse.
On Contestation of Elections and SACP Special National Congress
Considering all the above contradictions, the COSATU PEC in Mpumalanga reaffirms the decision of the Cosatu CEC to fight for and defend a state that will be biased towards the poor and the working class. COSATU commits itself to support any move that will ensure full protection of workers’ rights and policy bias towards the working class. The Federation will monitor with keen interest the outcomes of the SACP 5th Special National Congress to define its posture in the upcoming elections.
On Socio Economic Section
On the high cost of living and austerity measures
The PEC notes that our people have been subjected to an unbearably high cost of living due to government having adopted neo-liberal policies. The recently presented Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) exemplifies this policy of fiscal consolidation and austerity measures. The MTBPS literally fails to address the issues that affect workers and working-class communities.
The rise in prices of products such as petrol, basic household products, electricity and major services that ensure access to basic needs are a challenge to the advancement of better living conditions for our people. The masses of our people continue to sit on the periphery as spectators of their own economy. While the elite few continue to enjoy the ownership and control of the economy, others scramble for the crumbs.
The PEC condemns companies such as Seriti Mine who force workers into retrenchment and condemn them to massive starvation and poverty. The Federation can see through the facade via which they are ushering in casualisation through the backdoor, and we reject it with the utmost contempt.
On crime and criminality in our Health and Public institution
The meeting notes with gratitude the excellent campaign by our health sector affiliates, led by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in highlighting the scourge of criminality that has engulfed our public sector institutions. The PEC condemns with outmost disgust the attacks on our public sector institutions by criminals and demands swift measures be taken to eradicate this scourge.
On illegal mining and elicit trading
COSATU in the province calls for a clear program in the implementation of the small-scale mining for purposes of ensuring active participation of our communities. We call on our law enforcement agencies to ensure protection of both lives and our mineral resources from coordinated illegal mining cartels that have taken over our mining communities.
On Organisational Building
The meeting welcomed the progress reported on the building of our structures and support provided to our affiliates. The following points were made for further emphasis and attention.
On the revival of our COSATU Locals.
That the progress reported on revival of our COSATU Locals was welcomed by the CEC and the momentum of revival should be sustained towards the finalisation of the remaining locals by January 2025.
On the Back-to-Basics and Listening Campaign
The meeting further acknowledged with gratitude the hard work done by affiliates in implementing the Back-to-Basics campaign of the Federation through recruitment, membership service and retention. The meeting implores all other affiliates who do not comply with the implementation of the Back-to-Basics and Listening campaign to emulate their sister unions for the advancement of building a vibrant, fighting and strong Federation.
On giving support to affiliates
The meeting welcomed the report presented by the Federation’s POBs to give support to affiliates facing internal challenges and further called for such sterling work to be sustained in deepening the spirit of solidarity and the slogan of Cosatu which states, “An injury to one is an injury to all”.
The meeting further called for dedicated support to be given to SAMWU to counter the attempt to collapse the union by some within the ranks of the Congress movement, who are on the rampage to collapse the union by introducing managers who work to destroy SAMWU in support of rival unions in municipalities to do away with SAMWU.
On Mayday 2025 and Provincial Congress
The PEC welcomed with gratitude the CEC decision to afford the Mpumalanga province the opportunity to host the 2025 Mayday celebrations and fully commits to host a successful and historic celebration. The PEC reaffirmed the proposal by the POBs of the Federation to host and highlight the hardship of mineworkers and communities brought on by the closure of coal-fired power stations disguised as Just Energy Transition. The meeting rejected with contempt the current implementation of the Just Energy Transition in its current form which leads to massive job losses and poverty.
The meeting therefore rectified the recommendation by the POBs for the National Mayday to be organised as follows:
- That the Mayday 2025 will take form of a march to Hendrina Coal Power Staton – and call for the suspension of decommissions and closure of the power station and review the schedule thereof.
On preparations for Provincial and Gender Conferences
The PEC ratified the recommendation by the POBs and the CEC decision to conduct both activities from 18 to 20 March 2025 at the Emalahleni Civic Centre and that preparations for the hosting of successful congresses must start in earnest.
International Section
The PEC noted with disdained the continued atrocities which continue to bedevil the globe led by the West and its neoliberal forces In pledging solidarity with the international community the PEC pledges as follows:
The people of Palestine have not seen any sign of freedom since 1947. They are on daily basis subjected to brutal killings. Women and children live under the brutal hand of the Aparthied Israel. We call on the world to join forces in ensuring justice for the people of Palestine.
We call on the people of Mozambique to unite in defence of their democracy and reject opportunistic neoliberal agencies masquerading as opposition that seeks to undermine the hard-earned peace and stability of the country.
In Swaziland
The PEC calls for the unity of all progressive structures in Swaziland to fight against the brutal feudal regime of Mswati for their total emancipation.
Issued by COSATU MPUMALANGA
PROVINCIAL SECRETARY
CDE THABO MOKOENA
CONTACT: 0737502041