The Congress of South African Trade Unions joins millions of South Africans, and democrats all over the world in celebrating one of the most important milestones in the country's march to freedom and democracy - the release from prison of our struggle icon, Nelson Mandela. No-one who was alive on 11 February 1990 will ever forget the drama of that day which transformed our lives.
In his maiden speech after his release, Mandela was full of praise of the working class for the struggle it waged against apartheid. He told the masses who attended his first rally in Cape Town that "COSATU's organised strength is the pride of our movement. You remain the most dependable force in the struggle to end exploitation and oppression."
He showered the working class with praises, acutely aware that COSATU had called a series of national general strikes, which helped to destabilize the apartheid government and forced it to unban the ANC. The founding Secretary General of COSATU, Jay Naidoo, puts this point succinctly in one of his interviews as to how COSATU's two-pronged strategy contributed to this historic day. "We fought for the rights of workers on the factory floor but we simultaneously made sure that the struggle for political freedom was also on our agenda."
Madiba's words on 11 February 1990 were a fitting tribute to the massive contribution that the working class made to end the oppressive regime of the National Party and the crime against humanity that was apartheid. He inspired and encouraged the working class to redouble its efforts in the fight against the eradication of all the unjust apartheid era laws which made conditions on the factory floor oppressive.
COSATU later returned Madiba's compliment. When the Central Executive Committee of COSATU decided to inaugurated the Elijah Barayi Award for outstanding leadership and service - the most important award ever to be presented to any human being by COSATU - there was no lengthy debate as to who should be its first recipient. There was only one candidate: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
As COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, said, on presenting the award, on COSATU's 15th anniversary, "Comrade Madiba, the workers of South Africa wish to bestow this award on you in recognition of the outstanding leadership and service you have rendered to themselves and their country, and to reflect the love and appreciation which we feel for the huge sacrifice and contribution you have made to South Africa as a whole, and to working people in particular.
"You have been a constant inspiration to us from the days of the Congress of the People, through the armed struggle, the dark days in prison and exile, the mass uprisings of the eighties, to the period of negotiations, and finally the days of liberation and reconstruction.
"You have always first and foremost been the leader of the people's movement. Whether you were the young lion fighting to radicalise the ANC, the leader of the defiance campaign, the ‘black pimpernel' avoiding the clutches of the security police, the MK commander-in-chief seeking weapons and funding in Africa, and unifier and leader on Robben Island, or the negotiator, a statesman and first President of a democratic South Africa, you never lost sight of your role as the leader and servant of the liberation movement. You have taught us all these lessons through your commitment, your dedication, your humility, your selflessness, your loyalty and your discipline - that to be a true leader is to be a servant of your people. For this we salute you."
These words merit repetition on this historic anniversary.
The events of 11 February 1990 set in motion an unstoppable revolutionary movement. It led to the triumphant democratic elections of 27 April 1994, the exemplary constitution of 1996 and progressive labour laws such as the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and a host of other laws that sought to emancipate workers politically.
Whilst tremendous progress has been made on the political front, however, workers have not been emancipated economically. The alarming rate of unemployment leaves millions of South Africans in grinding poverty. Workers are still being retrenched in droves. Casualisation is still the order of the day in many workplaces. The war for decent wages still rages on. Despite all these challenges, COSATU will continue to support the ANC because it has the track record to be able to deliver a better life. The union federation will also continue, as Mandela said, to be the dependable force in the struggle to end exploitation and oppression, and will always be inspired by the leadership he gave us throughout his long life.
Statement issued by Patrick Craven national spokesperson of COSATU, February 10 2010
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