COSATU North West’s Provincial Executive Committee meeting statement
27 October 2015
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province convened its last PEC meeting for the year 2015 ,which was the last PEC before the national congress ,to be held in November 2015. The PEC meeting received the report on the state of the federation and the state of affairs of the entire province. We looked at Organisational , political and socio-economic issues.
Organisational
The meeting received a report assessing the federation’s national day of action and we believe that the action was a success, but the province could have done better and will continue to do better.
The PEC did a thorough assessment of the work of the federation and its affiliates, and agreed that there is a need to consolidate and strengthen the work in the province.
The meeting was happy with the work done on campaigns, especially on the campaign against racism; the recruitment campaign and the campaign against the Swartruggens toll gate. Going forward the meeting resolved to intensify the campaign against job losses and racism.
The PEC welcomed the report from the provincial gender council. The federation committed itself to supporting the gender struggles and that going forward this work should receive the necessary support also from the affiliates. The 2016 year planner and the provincial program of action were adopted by the meeting. There was consensus on the decision to decentralise next year’s May Day celebrations that will also be used to campaign for the 2016 local government elections.
Political
The PEC expressed concern about the state of the alliance in the province. We have noted the disdain with which workers have been treated by the provincial government following the 07th October 2015 march. We are yet to receive a response to our memorandum.
The arrogance and the cavalier attitude of the provincial government is worrying and its something that needs to be addressed soon. The state of the municipalities is not improving with most of them experiencing serious challenges.
We are worried by the continued violence in the ANC meetings and activities and by the fact that no work seems to be taking place to prepare for the next year’s ANC January 8th celebration to be hosted by the province.
The PEC resolved to:
-Call on the alliance political council and the convening of the alliance summit to deal with the political situation in the province and economic challenges facing the province.
-Engage the ANC led government to respond to COSATU memorandum.
-Condemned the violence and the fights which have been taking place in ANC meetings.
-Engage the ANC with regard to the preparation for the January 8th celebration in 2016.
-Support the action by the students in the higher education sector but condemn the attempt to direct all the challenges ,regarding study fees in universities to a single minister in cabinet.
-We also denounce any attempts to hijack the genuine demands of the students for narrow political gains.
Socio Economy
The PEC received a report on the state of our economy in the NW, and expressed concern that we continue shedding jobs in almost all sectors,in particular the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. We are concerned by the spate of corruption in the municipalities and the provincial government.
We condemn the unclear attempts to outsource tourism facilities, in particular the game reserves, allegedly, as a way of improving our economy such as in Dirapeng, Mafikeng and many other areas.
The PEC took the following decisions:
-Condemned the continued acts of vandalism during the protests
-Called for proper intervention by the national government on the ailing state of the municipalities in the province
-Condemned corruption and called for decisive action against those, who are implicated in corruption activities.
-Will support SAMWU in opening the case of illegal selling of animals worth over 40milion by the municipality of Tsawing
-Committed to continuing with the fight against the expensive toll gates and will also fight for the improvement of our roads.
-Will fight to protect jobs especially in the mining sector.
-We reject annual assessments that are being pushed by the ANC government. We will support SADTU in its campaign to intensify the campaign against the ANA’s.
-We support SAMWU in fighting corruption in all the municipalities.
-We call the provincial government to release the report on their outcome of investigation on the so called 36 000 ghost employees.
-We call the provincial government to be transparent in appointing the boards of provincial parastatals.
The PEC resolved to continue to unite COSATU and its affiliates in the province. We will continue to work together in fighting against the mushrooming of new unions within the federation and intensify our campaign to improve service to membership.
Statement issued by Sizwe Pamla, National Spokesperson, Congress of South African Trade Unions, 27 October 2015
