YCLSA statement on Vavi, Eskom and ‘Read to lead'
Saturday March 28, 2015
The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] has for some time been observing the conduct of the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU].
We had initially thought it was best to refrain on commenting on this issue, however, with the current material conditions and state of COSATU we have saw it fit to comment on the conduct of the comrade.
We had refrained from commenting to allow COSATU to solve its own internal matters but to also allow the ANC intervention as led by the Deputy President to try help the federation's leaders to find common ground.
Cde Vavi has for some time defined himself outside of the collective and behaved in a manner that does not inspire unity in the federation. His drama queen tendencies and insatiable demand of attention is the reason the federation is close to being in tatters.
Our view is that the General Secretary is at the centre of the crisis in federation and a source of the disunity that has engulfed COSATU for the past 2 years or so. The instability in the federation has the potential to split the organisation and rob more than 2.2 Million workers the champion of their interest and aspirations.
Unity in any organisation is paramount and we all hope for a united COSATU that is preoccupied with the interests and aspirations of workers. Currently that is impossible considering the behaviour of some leaders of the federation in particular Vavi and Irvin Jim.
Workers all over the country need a united and campaigning COSATU to ensure that we confront exploitation, labour brokers and unfair labour practises by employers. As the working class and the poor we cannot lose a giant like COSATU because of egoistical individuals who see themselves as above the constitution of the organisation and who behave as if the organization joined them and not the other way around.
The 2014 general elections taught us that workers still have faith in the ANC led government. Workers will not be fooled by still born organisations that are formed to dislodge their beloved ANC because certain leaders could not achieve their "succession" plans.
We are therefore calling for Vavi to decide whether he is with us or against us, as his role is further weakening and dividing the organization. If he is against us it is not the end of the journey, we will still achieve SOCIALISM in our lifetime with or without him and them.
On Eskom
On Eskom, we strongly condemn efforts by a 'hidden hand' to privatize Eskom for their own personal interests. The efforts to privatize Eskom by the 1996 class project are precisely what have led to challenges in the supply of electricity that Eskom is facing today. We remain convinced as the YCLSA that Eskom can never be privatized as the provision of electricity is a common good and not a private privilege.
Those who have benefited from the supply of diesel for premium prices at the expense of energy for the poor must be brought to book. The challenges of energy present an energy opportunity that cannot be left to select few white monopoly capitalists to benefit from. We also call on the relevant Ministers to look at that possibility of a 'workers take over' of Eskom rather that privatizing the entity.
‘Read to lead"
The YCLSA will be embarking on a, 'Read to Lead' Mass Literacy Campaign to be launched on the27th April 2015. The aim of this campaign is to improve the levels of reading and writing amongst youth. The YCLSA is concerned about the low levels of reading and writing amongst the youth. We will therefore before launching a campaign to ensure that every community space is transformed into a learning space. Through this campaign every young person should be able to read and write proficiently.
Statement issued by Khaya Xaba, YCLSA National Spokesperson, March 28 2015
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
