Statement from COSATU KZN Provincial Executive Committee, 4-5 June 2013
06 June 2013
The Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of COSATU took place on the 4th - 5th June 2013, attended by the provincial office bearers of the federation, representatives of the affiliated unions and representatives of COSATU locals.
Background
The provincial executive committee took place at a time where the global economic crisis has shown that capitalism is inherently unstable, prone to failure and capable to destroy itself. It took place at a time where capitalism vividly shown that it cannot merely destroy financial wealth but can also destroy jobs, social security, real economy, productive assets and ecological wealth. Indeed, this crisis is beyond the capacity of capitalism to effectively resolve and reflect the system's growing instability and its ultimate unsustainability because capitalism represent a crisis for the system itself.
Today, there is a general hatred of capitalism even in the United States; polls reveal a widespread support for ‘socialism' over ‘capitalism'. Today, indeed, we are experiencing a different kind of global financial and economic crisis which began around 2007, on the scale similar to the crises of the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Panic of 1873. History teaches the working class that unless it casts down the bourgeoisie it will perish beneath the ruins of civilization; hence it must try to solve this task.
The provincial executive committee also took place at a time when the federation and the broader liberation movement has recognised the need for a fully centralised system of order that is capable to respond to the persistence of the legacy of apartheid colonialism which is now reflected in the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
1. Unemployment
The federation in the province of KwaZulu-Natal noted seriously the latest statistics on unemployment released by Statistic South Africa which reveals that the situation is rife and is a matter of concern. The report highlights that the expanded unemployment rate was 36,7% in the first quarter of 2013 which is the highest since 2008, discouraged work seekers increased by 73 000 adding up to 2,3 million and generally official unemployment rate has increased to 25.2% in the country.
2. Unity and Cohesion
The provincial executive committee strongly confirmed its cohesion and unity and the need to close ranks to defeat the intensified offensive campaign against the working class, against the trade union movement, against COSATU and its affiliates, and therefore against the whole Alliance and the struggles for the NDR and Socialism.
3. NDP (National Development Plan)
The PEC noted that the ANC believes that in dealing with challenges facing our country we must embrace vision 2030 and the National Development Plan as a platform for united action by all South Africans to eradicate poverty, create full employment and reduce inequality as critical building blocks towards a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.
In this regard, the PEC acknowledged that the federation has not adopted a position yet on the NDP; however it tasked the provincial office bearers to organizer a two day provincial workshop focusing on the 484 pages document - the National Development Plan - including developing its formal position on the provincial growth and development strategy and the plan. In the meantime, we are guided by the CEC discussion paper on the NDP.
4. 2014 General Elections
The PEC agreed that it is important to develop a paper or document on the overall assessment on the implementation of the 2009 ANC Elections Manifesto by the ANC led government including a discussion document capturing the balance of forces in the province and the character of the provincial ANC leadership and its biasness to the plight of the working class.
The two discussion documents/papers will be presented in a two day provincial workshop on general elections expected to be convened urgently by the leadership of the federation, while on the other hand the federation will facilitate a political discussion in the Political Council on the lessons learnt from the previous general and local government elections, including the nature of relations between COSATU Affiliates and ANC deployees in both the state and government.
The approach for the forthcoming general elections shall not be a blank cheque or support without a proper and robust discussion on the challenges and difficulties faced by workers and working class in general within the Alliance.
5. Campaign Against Rape and Social Ills
The federation in pursuit of its campaign against rape and social ills will mobilize communities, civil society organisations, youth formations, political parties, traditional leaders, NGOs responsible for old age homes and childcare facilities and government departments, particularly Community Safety and Liaison, Health, Education, Social Development, Correctional Service, Justice, Arts and Culture and COGTA including Municipalities for the support of its two prong strategies of this campaign namely: educational awareness and offensive reduction. Among others to be incorporated into the educational awareness will be the impact of Amnesia and Alzheimer particularly for elderly people within the broader campaign of the federation on non-communicable diseases including inherent cultural behaviour of our people.
6. Listening Campaign
The PEC unanimously adopted measures and guidelines for the listening and recruitment campaign as per the instruction of the National Bargaining, Organising and Campaigns Conference of COSATU, aimed at improving servicing members in order to deal with unhappiness and anxiety as a result of poor service and deteriorating conditions of employment, including high level of exploitation and non-compliance with progressive legislative frameworks regulating the relations between the employer and employee.
7. Anti-Indian Nostra
The PEC strongly condemns the Anti-Indian Nostra and further challenge those pursuing a campaign of chasing Indian communities out of the country into a proper discussion located to the hard fought struggles to liberate Africans in particular and Blacks in general as articulated by our revolutionary theory, the National Democratic Revolution - NDR. The view of the PEC is that if this campaign is not arrested, it will potentially reverse the hard won gains achieved through the sweat and toil including the sacrificed demonstrated by our people during the difficult days of our liberation struggle.
Indeed, this campaign is counter-revolutionary and works against the struggle to build a truly united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South African society. In this regard, the PEC, in its commitment to take full responsibility for the NDR (in terms of defending and pursuing till the ultimate logical conclusion), calls for an end of this campaign as it creates anxiety and anger amongst revolutionaries and Indian communities including political, social and economic instability in the province. This counter-revolutionary campaign completely lacks any class content and has no historical base. The enemy of the working class in monopoly capital and any debate or action undertaken must be informed by that.
8. Anti-Xenophobia Campaign
The PEC condemns the xenophobia attacks directed at our fellow African brothers and sisters. The only people who stand to benefit on this are those in control of the commanding heights of the economy.
As a progressive trade union federation, we cannot condone violence in whatever form, particularly when it's the working class against the working class. The boundaries we are fighting over were never created by us but rather by our former colonial masters.
As COSATU KZN, we have therefore committed ourselves that we will take the fight where it belongs, monopoly capital. The issue of cheap labour is a class issue, not one of race or boundaries. We further appeal to all progressive forces to ensure that organs of people's power are revived and strengthened, viz. street committees, community policing forums etc. In line with its programme, we will be tabling this matter in the Alliance Political Council for a comprehensive programme of the Alliance to ensure that our own structures below are at the centre of community service and demands. Lastly, we further appeal to our government to have tight control with regards the immigration laws as well as access to our borders.
9. State of Local Government
We are really worried and concerned about the current state of local government in this province. Already, three district municipalities are reported to be under provincial intervention because they have overspent their budget. We will be placing this matter for discussion in our Alliance Political Council. Surely there has and must consequences for people who put the organization into disrepute because some of these people occupy strategic positions in the organization.
We are quite unhappy also about the eThekwini's Manase report and we think there is more that has to be clarified. Until then, for now we cannot accept this report, including the actions said to be taken or reason advance or where no action taken.
10. Solidarity Work
As COSATU KZN PEC, we fully support the struggles waged by workers with affiliates in particular the following; SACTWU, NEHAWU, POPCRU, SAMWU and SACCAWU.
The primary task of any trade union is to defend and advance the interests of its members but also to fight for the advancement of the working class struggles.
Statement issued by Zet Luzipo, COSATU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, June 6 2013
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