A response to DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille's newsletter
After much thought about how to respond to the newsletter that the DA sent out last week, I have decided to respond publicly. I will however not respond to allegations that the farmworkers strikes were ANC initiatives, I will leave that to the numerous NGOs, CBOs and unions that were involved and whose relentless efforts organizing workers and various strike actions are being ignored. I will focus on where I am mentioned by Premier Helen Zille, where PASSOP is mentioned and when she spoke about immigrants:
I will start with the personal, I am disappointed that the Premier has decided to bring my family into her newsletter, when describing me, something I think is neither here nor there. My relationship to a political leader does not define me politically or in any other way. That said I have never, and will never, deny my relationship with my uncle Derek as I am very proud of him; I am proud of him because he is an honest and good man, not because he is a minister.
If the DA want media or the public to know what my political views are and what informs them, I hereby respond. My political views are defined by my experience and not my surname. It is my belief that it is not only a right, but a responsibility for active citizens to join political parties of their choice in order to promote and defend democracy.
I also believe that this is even more applicable to me, as I am an activist working to protect a vulnerable group of people who are not permitted the right to vote, therefore it should not surprise people that I am active politically. I chose to be an active member of the African National Congress, and have done this because I believe in the ANC's values, ones I believe are outlined in the Freedom Charter. I am proud to be a member, and I am sure many citizens are equally proud to be politically active in their various political formations.
I was also disappointed that Helen Zille chose to label the organisation I work at as 'my organisation', this is not correct as we have many staff and different faces with varying political views, PASSOP does not "belong" to me. There may be a day when someone more capable than me is willing and able to take over as director, in fact I believe that such a person already exists in PASSOP. If I choose to move on (or the organisation wants me to move on), it will continue without me.
Making reference to PASSOP as being "my organisation", shortly after identifying me as being related to a minister is unnecessary, misleading and possibly mischievous. PASSOP is a human rights organisation and will always fearlessly speak out against injustice regardless of what political party is in charge of this or that government structure. PASSOP is not politically aligned and it is proud to have a non-political identity.
We have indeed issued press statements, held vocal protests and even taken government to court to highlight injustices committed by various national departments, including the police and the department of home affairs, on several occasions. Equally we are outspoken about the City of Cape Town's municipal bylaws that threaten the right of an estimated 70% of spazas to operate. In short own "political views" are separate from the organisation, which is a non-political structure.
As an organisation, PASSOP will continue to operate without fear or favour, regardless of which political leader is responsible for what and regardless of what any political party writes about us in a newsletter.
Regarding my role in unionising workers, I fully and openly support the right of workers to unionise. I have, and will continue to, encourage workers to join unions. I support COSATU and its affiliate, FAWU, as an established, democratic union that carries much clout. The fact that FAWU and COSATU have been so outspoken in defending immigrant rights also encourages me to support them. I am very happy to have been involved and will continue to be involved in the unionisation of workers.
PASSOP also supports unionisation of workers, as unions provide an inclusive structure in which workers from various backgrounds and nationalities can debate and raise issues related to wages, working conditions as well as any tensions that can arise between different groups. The possibility that immigrant workers could be seen as scab labour would lead to violence very easily, we have therefore worked very hard to ensure that workers are united and unions provide the necessary space.
Responding to her claim that alleged tension between certain nationalities was the cause of strike action, PASSOP has previously warned Premier Zille that not only do such comments fuel xenophobia, but they are incorrect. Regarding the documentation of immigrants, PASSOP has vocally critised the department of home affairs for failing to provide adequate documentation to immigrant workers on farms and the reckless immigration raids that threatened stability between local and immigrant workers. In that regard PASSOP has and continues to make the call for the minister of home affairs to provide an amnesty, special documentation for Basotho and assistance in providing documentation to the undocumented.
In Helen Zille's newsletter she writes about the relationship between PASSOP, unions, politicians and a political party, like the relationship PASSOP has with the Premier, such relationships have their ups and downs. Even when there have been disagreements, there has been no violence, only rigorous debate between workers, politicians and unionists. In fact there has never been any violence between any of the unions or politicians she mentioned. The only regrettable violence between workers and politicians was in fact the unfortunate stoning that Premier Helen Zille experienced in De Doorns. PASSOP has been vocal against violence and has not participated in a single violent protest action, during the De Doorns strikes or ever before.
PASSOP recognises the rights of workers to organise and unionise, as one which is essential in order for workers to obtain basic human rights at the work place.
PASSOP and myself do however agree with the Premier that the farms should receive a higher percent of the end price of their produce.
Braam Hanekom is the Director of PASSOP.
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