The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the support shown to the National Convention of the National Dialogue over the past weekend, with more than 1 000 delegates from 200 organisations attending. Whilst we appreciate the legitimate concerns outlined by the Legacy Foundations and others, these can and must be addressed and the Dialogue proceeds. If we wait for all issues, be it logistics, organisational or philosophical, to be resolved, time will simply run out.
COSATU will participate in the Dialogue as the many deep-seated socio-economic challenges facing the working class, the economy and the state require the mobilisation of the entirety of society, including business to resolve.
We will sharply raise the many crises affecting workers from a dangerously high unemployment rate of 42.9% and stubborn levels of poverty, crime and corruption, to stagnant economic growth, and struggling public and municipal services.
Attention must be paid to the still prevalent effects of apartheid and colonial induced inequalities, as well as the explosion of hate speech and racial incitement on social media and its effect our social fabric and our collective efforts to build a non-racial and non-sexist society that belongs to all who live in it, Black and White.
These threats to the many gains we have achieved since 1994, require bold and progressive solutions. Business as usual approaches, misguided notions of neo-liberalism and reckless austerity budget cuts, will not fix any of them, in fact they will exacerbate crises.
It is critical the Steering Committee, when formed, be mindful at all times that the state has limited resources and workers do not take kindly, to reports of large amounts of funding being sought for it whilst hospitals experience dire shortages of nurses, police stations lack working vehicles and Home Affairs experiences long queues due to aging infrastructure.
Whilst the Presidency is correct to push forward with the convening of the National Dialogue Convention, government will do well to hear the skepticisms of many, including workers, who correctly ask what the Dialogue will achieve and how will we ensure that it does not follow the same route of similar reviews and discussions previously held?
Most importantly society, especially the unemployed, the working and middle classes, expect to see concrete actions emanating and to see their daily lives improve.
The Federation will play its part in not only ventilating the lived realities of the working class, and crafting progressive and sober solutions, but also in holding government, business and other stakeholders accountable for their part in implementing the proposed action plans.
Ultimately the Dialogue must help put South Africa back firmly on the path to renewal, moral regeneration, inclusive economic growth and decent work, a capacitated developmental state, and a better life for all.
Issued by COSATU
Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
Mobile: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za
