The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns the proposed dismissal of 460 soldiers who took part in protest action in Pretoria last week (see report).

COSATU has a proud tradition of organising militant but disciplined and non-violent protests, and has consistently opposed the use of violence either by demonstrators, or by the police against demonstrators. 

Every South African has the constitutional right, under Clause 23 (2), to join a trade union and, under Clause 17, to demonstrate lawfully and peacefully. SANDF workers have legitimate grievances and have the right to pursue their demands. The challenge is to find ways to resolve these issues through an orderly and peaceful process. Mass dismissals will solve nothing. As in any dispute, the way forward must be to sit round a table and negotiate over the unions' grievances and reach an agreement acceptable to both sides.

COSATU remains ready to meet with the minister and to facilitate such a meeting with the unions in order to find a solution to the problem as quickly as possible, and repeats its call for the SANDF unions to be allowed to affiliate to a federation like COSATU and for the withdrawal of the dismissals.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, Congress of South African Trade Unions national spokesperson, September 1 2009

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