COSATU National Office Bearers' statement
The National Office Bearers of the Congress of South African Trade Unions wish to inform COSATU members, members of the Allied formations, friends in the civil society, all South Africans and indeed our sister Federations across the globe that we, the six National Office Bearers of the Federation, have been holding crucial discussions amongst ourselves since Monday 10 November 2014.
This followed the momentous occurrences in the federation, which included the COSATU Special Central Executive Committee held on 7 November, the press conference held on 11 November 2014 and the statement by the General Secretary to the NOBs and affiliated unions, as well as letter we received from certain affiliates announcing the suspension of their participation to the CEC.
We are happy to inform you that these frank and robust debates amongst ourselves, whilst they have not resolved all issues, have created possibilities for similar discussions to take place between us and the affiliates of COSATU. History has given us a special responsibility, as the leadership of the federation, to spare no energy in ensuring the integrity of workers' unity within COSATU.
In this context we shall on our own, and also through the assistance of the ANC Task Team and the former COSATU National Office Bearers, embark on a process to confront all issues that have led to the federation finding itself in these uncharted waters.
We have agreed that this discussion should not be based on untouchable holy cows and that none of us should put stumbling blocks and place preconditions to what can only succeed if it is inclusive.
We are now calling on all affiliates and all our provincial and local structures to help create an environment that will assist all of us to be able to reach out to one another. We call on all individuals and affiliates who have launched a public onslaught against other comrades and others affiliates to forthwith stop these attacks.
We are in particular concerned about, and accordingly unequivocally condemn, the insults and the personalisation of organisational decisions. We call on everyone to step back from trading insults and instead take their own initiative, as we have done, to reach out to one another for the sake of workers future.
Statement issued by the COSATU National Office Bearers, November 14 2014
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