[Debate] CCS Bulletin 27 August 2011
John Devenish
Devenishj at ukzn.ac.za
Sat Aug 27 15:35:43 BST 2011
Select material from the CCS Website.
To view the full articles click on the more links
or visit our website http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27
Editorial Analysis
Student protests in Chile
Fatal repression marks general strike and massive protests
Celso Calfullan, Socialismo Revolucionario (CWI in Chile) and Danny
Byrne, CWI 27 August 2011
After 20 years of a relatively low level of struggle in post-Pinochet
Chile, the last months have seen an eruption of social and workers’
struggles which has shaken the country. 20 years of government by the
‘Concertacion’ alliance of ‘left’ and ‘democratic’ forces brought
nothing but empty promises, and a continuation of the neo-liberal
policies of the dictatorship, exasperating the long-held hopes of the
masses and alienating the young generation. The subsequent election of
Sebastian Pinera’s right-wing government, and its more nakedly
anti-worker policies proved to be the “whip of counter-revolution”,
which has shattered Chile’s period of relative “social peace”. Pinera’s
attempts to bask himself in glory over the rescue of the 33 miners and
the earthquake relief effort, provided him with only the briefest of
honeymoons. His approval rating, over 60% at the time of the miners’
rescue, is now below 30%.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2451 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2451 )
The Whys of Famine
Esther Vivas 26 August 2011
We live in a world of plenty. There is food. So why is one of every
seven people in the world going hungry?
The food emergency that affects over 10 million people in the Horn of
Africa brings to light a disaster that has nothing natural about it.
Droughts, floods, and wars serve to exacerbate a situation of extreme
food vulnerability, but they are not the only factors that explain it.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2450 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2450 )
Turkey escalates attacks on the PKK
Attempts to form a new left umbrella party
Nihat Boyraz, SAV (CWI Germany), and Jan Kowalski, CWI26 August 2011
In an offensive during the last seven days, the Turkish army claims
that around 100 fighters of the PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party), the
Kurdish guerrilla group in Turkey, were killed and another 80 were
wounded. Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, Turkey’s Prime Minister, used an attack
on a military convoy by the PKK in the south-east of Turkey on 17
August, in which eight soldiers and one member of the pro-government
Kurdish militia died, to launch a huge military campaign. It included
air strikes on bases of the PKK in Northern Iraq and coordinated action
with the Iranian regime, as a reported phone call with President
Ahmadinejad indicates. The Iranian regime itself started an offensive on
16 July against Kurdish fighters. This was reported by the Kurdistan
National Congress, who warned Turkey not to resort to a ‘Tamil solution’
of the Kurdish question – a further slaughter of Kurdish people. There
is speculation in the Turkish media that, after Ramadan ends on 30
August, the government could start a ground offensive in the region.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2449 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2449 )
BDS: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights
Glen Pine 23 August 2011
Roughly four million Palestinians live under a brutal and illegal
US‑backed Israeli occupation. Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians
live inside Israel, where, although they face less dire circumstances
than those in the occupied territories, they nevertheless endure
substantial and increasingly vicious racial oppression. And according
to the UN, five million Palestinians worldwide are "registered"
refugees whom Israel denies the right of return; roughly one third of
them live in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the occupied
Palestinian territories. Given this appalling situation, those
concerned with social justice have sought to aid the Palestinian
cause, producing many contending views of how best to proceed. Omar
Barghouti's book contributes to this discussion.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2446 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2446 )
Are the Rich Starting to Get Scared?
Jérôme E. Roos 23 August 2011
It was a week of opposites. As stock markets around the world continued
to nosedive into financial meltdown, the world’s third wealthiest man
told US Congress to stop coddling the super-rich; Forbes, the ultimate
magazine of the rich and famous, warned about the “coming global class
war“; and Nouriel Roubini, one of the world’s leading economists, told
the Wall Street Journal that Karl Marx was actually right in saying that
capitalism is doomed.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2445 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2445 )
After the fall of Tripoli
The way forward for the Libyan Revolution
Alan Woods 22 August 2011
The end came suddenly and without warning. In the moment of truth the
Gaddafi regime fell like a house of cards.
Last night the streets of Tripoli were filled with wild rejoicing as
rebel forces occupied Green Square in Tripoli. Libyan rebels waved
opposition flags and fired shots into the air in jubilation after
reaching the central square of the capital in the early hours of Monday.
Until now the vast square was reserved for carefully orchestrated
rallies praising Moammar Gaddafi. Now it erupted in celebration after
rebel troops pushed into the centre of the Libyan capital.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2444 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2444 )
Sell, Not Tell
“Monetizing” Electoral Politics: TV Networks Are Out To Sell, Not Tell
Danny Schechter 22 August 2011
Already the projections are in—not for who is going to win the election
in 2012---but for how much it is likely to cost.
Public Radio International concludes: “Campaign spending in the 2012 US
election could reach $6 or 7 billion dollars as outside groups pay for
electoral influence.” Here we are in the middle of a deep recession
that’s getting deeper by the day, with austerity the unofficial
slogan du jour while Republicans scheme up new ways to trim, cut and
decimate government spending, and parties are spending billions on
political horse races.
They decry government spending but they don’t talk much about their own
spending, do they?
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2443 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2443 )
India: Bangalore garment workers woes and challenges ahead
The life of half a million garment workers in Bangalore is nothing but
a hellish existence.
Deepa Girish, women garment worker and activist, Bangalore, India;
first published in Dudiyora Horaata, paper of New Socialist Alternative
(CWI India) 20 August 2011
This industry which predominantly employs women, is rampant with all
known forms of exploitation. Extreme work pressures, lack of secure job
, absence of basic facilities, extended working hours without adequate
Over Time allowance , denial of leave, bonus, gratuity, PF ( Provident
Fund), ESI (Employee State Insurance), which have all added to the
miserable existence of these women in the city.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2442 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2442 )
Daylight Robbery, Meet Nighttime Robbery
Naomi Klein 19 August 2011
I keep hearing comparisons between the London riots and riots in other
European cities - window smashing in Athens, or car bonfires in Paris.
And there are parallels, to be sure: a spark set by police violence, a
generation that feels forgotten.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2441 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2441 )
And Still Verizon Wants More
Brian Tierney 18 August 2011
THE FIRST big strike in the new age of austerity has hit the United
States.
When the clock struck 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, August 7, 45,000 Verizon
landline workers from Massachusetts to Virginia struck the
telecommunications giant--and nation's largest wireless carrier.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2440 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2440 )
The Syrian Common: The Uprising of the Working Society
Yassin Al Haj Saleh 18 August 2011
The ongoing Syrian uprising has paradoxical effects on Syrian society.
On the one hand, it is an unparalleled opportunity for political
education and for gaining a better understanding of the country’s
affairs in general. On the other, it raises the human cost of the
political transformation that an increasing percentage of Syrians yearn
for and has the potential to lead to an internal conflict as well as
major threats to the national entity.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2439 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2439 )
No Option but to Adapt to a Changing Climate
Marianne Pretorius 17 August 2011
Extreme weather conditions predicted because of climate change in
Namibia are likely to have a tremendous effect on the 70 percent of the
country's people who live in rural areas and depend heavily on
agriculture.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2438 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2438 )
The Importance of Research in a University
Mahmood Mamdani 16 August 2011
In a keynote address at Makerere University Research and Innovations
Dissemination Conference, Mahmood Mamdani argues that African
postgraduate education is being suffocated by a market-driven model and
consultancy culture.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2437 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,40,5,2437 )
General News
Fukushima may be off-limits for decades
IOL News 27 August 2011
A TEPCO worker in protective gear pointing to a cracked concrete pit
near the Number 2 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
in Japan.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2390 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2390 )
Dash for profit in post‑war Libya carve‑up
Jerome Taylor, Kevin Rawlinson, Laurie Martin and Charlotte Allen
(Independent.co.uk) 26 August 2011
British businesses are scrambling to return to Libya in anticipation of
the end to the country's civil war, but they are concerned that European
and North American rivals are already stealing a march as a new race to
turn a profit out of the war‑torn nation begins.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2389 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2389 )
China: Thousands protest against pollution
Second major protest against pollution in one week
Chinaworker 24 August 2011
Residents of Lianhua County in the southeastern province of Jiangxi
staged a large demonstration against a polluting chemical plant on 16
August. Their protest came just two days after more then 12,000 took the
streets of Dalian, in the northeast, forcing the city authorities to
close a petrochemical plant. Read our report on the Dalian protests here
( http://www.chinaworker.info/en/content/news/1542/ ).
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2387 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2387 )
Exploited and abused in the Western Cape
Mail & Guardian 23 August 2011
A report into the working conditions of farmworkers in the Western Cape
fruit and wine industries released on Tuesday has revealed shocking
details of human rights abuses in the sector.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2386 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2386 )
Abuses by All Sides Fueling Crisis in Somalia
Democracy now 20 August 2011
A new report by Human Rights Watch accuses all sides in the Somali
conflict of committing war crimes. The report, "'You Don't Know Who to
Blame’: War Crimes in Somalia," calls on all sides to immediately end
abuses against civilians, hold those responsible to account, and ensure
access to aid and free movement of people fleeing conflict and drought.
The report is highly critical of the Islamist group al-Shabab, as well
as the U.S.-backed Somali Transitional Federal Government and the
African Union peacekeeping forces. Human Rights Watch is calling on the
United States and other international donors to withhold financial and
military aid to the Somali transitional government, unless the
government sets clear benchmarks for the respect of international
humanitarian and human rights law and accountability for serious abuses.
We look at the connection between the conflict and the devastating
famine with Rona Peligal, deputy director of the Africa Division for
Human Rights Watch. [includes rush transcript]
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2382 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2382 )
Graffiti artists: Walled in
Mail & Guardian 19 August 2011
While painting a wall they believed they had permission to work on,
seven graffiti artists were arrested in Durban this week in what they
say was a clear case of police harassment. We take a look at the works
of some of these artists and others.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2380 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2380 )
Anti-pope protesters, police clash
IOL News 18 August 2011
Madrid - Spanish police say eight demonstrators were arrested and 11
people injured in clashes between riot police and protesters opposed to
a visit by Pope Benedict XVI.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2379 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2379 )
Billionaire funds libertarian islands
Yahoo News 17 August 2011
Pay Pal founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel has given $1.25
million to an initiative to create floating libertarian countries in
international waters, according to a profile of the billionaire in
Details magazine.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2378 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2378 )
Horrors municipal workers face
Stuart Graham 16 August 2011
Rats jumping in their faces, dead babies in bins and infections that
spread through their fingers are some of the horrors municipal workers
face every day, a rubbish collector said in Cape Town on Monday.
More ( http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2376 ) (
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2376 )
South Africa Protest News
21 held for protests
IOL News 24 August 2011
Police arrested 15 pupils and six other people during protests in
Maokeng in Kroonstad on Wednesday, police said.
Spokesman Maselela Langa said protesters had been burning tyres and
blockading roads in the Maokeng township since Tuesday.
Fifteen pupils were arrested for public violence after they raided high
schools in the area forcing other pupils to join the protest, Langa
said.
Classes were interrupted at the Bodibeng Secondary School after
protesters pulled pupils from the school.
“Nobody was hurt in the process, but it was total chaos. We had to
release the pupils before things got out of hand;” said a school teacher
who did not want to be named.
Langa said protesters were angry about electricity cuts in the area.
Six other protesters were arrested for malicious damage to property.
Police were monitoring the situation. – Sapa
(
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/21-held-for-protests-1.1124269 )
Protesters nabbed in Kwa-Thema
IOl News 25 August 2011
Police arrested eight people during protests in Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni,
Gauteng police said on Thursday.
Captain Johannes Ramphora said the eight protesters were arrested for
alleged public violence on Wednesday evening.
He said protesters gathered at the Kwa-Thema civic centre where they
burnt tyres and blockaded main roads with rocks and dustbins.
Police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd who were demanding to
buy electricity directly from Eskom.
Ramphora said police were also deployed at councillors' houses in
Kwa-Thema after they received threats from protesters saying they would
burn down the houses.
He said there were no protests on Thursday, but police were monitoring
the area in case the protesters decide to gather again in afternoon.
Three protesters were arrested for public violence on Monday. – Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Residents torch Pretoria flats
IOL News 26 August 2011
Protesting residents of Schubart Park flats, in Pretoria, set fire to
refuse in the stairwells on Friday morning, Tshwane emergency services
said.
“There has been some tension there… because there was apparently no
water or electricity in the block of flats,” said spokesman Johan
Pieterse.
A flat on the 15th floor was completely gutted by the blaze, and
rubbish accumulated on the stairs was set alight.
Two people were treated for smoke inhalation, Pieterse said.
In July 2008, four adults and a toddler burnt to death when
neighbouring Kruger Park flats were set alight in protest against
evictions from Schubart Park by a private security company.
In November 2008, the municipality announced it would renovate the
block of flats, as they were seen as a health and safety hazard.
That year on Christmas day, 50 people were arrested when protests –
also over water and electricity cuts – turned violent at the building. –
Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Ex-gangster made to dig own grave
Zara Nicholson 25 August 2011
A former gangster was rescued from being buried alive in a 3m-deep
grave on a local beach by a group of men he says wrongfully accused him
of stealing a vehicle.
The Delft man, who would only be identified as “Arab”, 35, said he was
at home cooking when a group of men stormed into his flat asking about a
stolen Quantum taxi.
www.iol.co.za
Cosatu on the offensive
Jabulani Sikhakhane (IOL News ) 26 August 2011
Cosatu will embark on a major campaign in the last four months of this
year in support of its demand for a living wage and the banning of
labour brokers, and to oppose the electronic tolling of roads, Walmart’s
takeover of Massmart and the relaxation of labour laws.
The trade union federation said on Thursday it would on Friday also
kick off a campaign in Polokwane, Limpopo, against corruption by
marching to the offices of the premier, the SAPS, the SA Revenue Service
and the SA Local Government Association.
The statement was issued after a three-day meeting of the federation’s
central executive committee.
On the Walmart issue, Cosatu said the proposed retrenchment by Pick n
Pay of 3 137 workers was “clearly an attempt to anticipate the arrival
of Walmart in South Africa”.
The federation said the retailer had compounded its problems by
spending R110 million on rebranding itself, an amount that Cosatu
described as exorbitant.
“Yet they blame their increased costs on the high number of workers.”
Cosatu said its affiliate, the SA Commercial Catering and Allied
Workers Union (Saccawu), had confirmed that Pick n Pay was in talks with
Tesco, a UK retail group, “about ‘efficiencies’ they would expect from
Pick n Pay”.
Pick n Pay spokeswoman Tamra Veley said Tesco executives had visited
the local retail group five months ago to look at its new-generation
store at the corner of William Nicol and Republic roads in Hurlingham,
Joburg.
“They are not talking to Pick n Pay,” Veley said.
Cosatu said it would consider Saccawu’s call for a national boycott of
Pick n Pay and a march to the house of founder Raymond Ackerman.
The federation is planning a mass strike on October 5 if business, the
government, labour and civil society representatives at Nedlac fail to
reach agreement on the banning of labour brokers.
On initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change, Cosatu said
the transition to a low-carbon economy must not be at the expense of
workers or developing countries.
The federation called on industrialised countries to pay for the damage
their development had done to Earth’s atmosphere.
“A just transition provides the opportunity for deeper transformation
that includes the redistribution of power and resources towards a more
just and equitable social order.
“The central executive committee emphasised the importance of creating
new ‘green jobs’ before we can accept cuts in existing jobs,” Cosatu
said. - The Star
www.iol.co.za
COSATU KZN STATEMENT ON THE MARCH BY CLOTHING AND TEXTILE WORKERS IN
NEWCASTLE
Cosatu 26 August 2011
COSATU KZN fully supports the march in Newcastle tomorrow by SACTWU
members in the Clothing and Textile Industry. It is common knowledge
that Newcastle is the seedbed of super exploitation of workers in the
Clothing and Textile Industry.
COSATU in KZN has always maintained that no labour laws will ever
function properly if nothing is done about those employers in Newcastle.
To them nothing is of importance except super-exploitation and the
advancement of maximum profit accumulation.
Clearly they are capable of defying any and every labour law under the
pretence that there is labour surplus in abundance. They continue to
undermine bargaining council decisions and settlements and subject
workers to the worst of conditions. It is the same employers who broke
the record by going on strike against government and the industry’s
bargaining council. It is the same employers who locked in an employee
who was highly pregnant and was forced to deliver at the workplace.
Clearly as long as there are employers like those in Newcastle the
country will continue to lead the world in poverty, income inequalities
and unemployment. As COSATU KZN, we will be represented by the
Provincial Secretary, Zet Luzipo at the march and will be demanding full
compliance with all decision of the bargaining council, an end to labour
brokers and better Occupational Health and Safety.
CONTACT: ZET LUZIPO (COSATU KZN PROVINCIAL SECRETARY)
CELL: 072 884 3456/079 514 8887
Strike makes towns’ water cuts worse
Sharika Regchand *(The Mercury) 23 August 2011
WATER cuts, which have been exacerbated since municipal workers’ downed
tools last week, are threatening to cripple Underberg and Himeville, two
villages dependent on tourism.
In the past 21 days, the Drakensberg villages have been without water
for six days. Residents and business people blamed the ongoing problem
on “bad management” at the Sisonke district municipality, which supplies
the water.
However, the recent escalation in water cuts was said to be a result of
the nationwide municipal workers’ strike. There were allegations that
aggrieved workers had sabotaged the water supply.
However, the chairman of the local ratepayers’ association, John
Jackson, said the water problems had been going on for years.
“The problem has been on and off due to water pumps breaking down,” he
said.
Businessman Sam Knox expressed similar views, adding that the water
cuts had an “enormous” impact on tourists.
Another businessman, Dave Adam, said that the “tourist destination is
being held to ransom by Sisonke”.
Sisonke’s head of water services, Ben Ngcobo, said that work had begun
over eight months ago to upgrade the water treatment plant. The main
pipe from the pumping station was also being upgraded.
He added that the old reservoirs had been demolished and a new one,
which was triple the size, had been erected. However, it would only be
commissioned in about two months.
“In essence, when there is construction taking place there has to be
disturbances here and there,” he said.
Residents save water and exercise patience because the system is being
upgraded,” he said.
Sisonke municipal manager Nhlanhla Mabaso was unaware of allegations
that striking municipal workers had sabotaged the water supply, but said
he would investigate the claims.
www.iol.co.za
Residents up in arms over stench
Lungelo Mkamba and Gugu Mbonambi 24 August 2011
WHILE armed metro police accompany and protect private companies
cleaning up streets in Durban’s CBD at night, a Chatsworth community is
watching as a dump grows on its doorstep.
Residents complained bitterly yesterday of the stench from their local
dump.
Because the Welbedacht landfill site is full, owing to it not having
been cleared since the municipal strike began, residents taking rubbish
to the dump have been unable to enter and have simply dropped their
refuse outside the gates.
The buildup of refuse is now spreading along the sides of Florence
Nightingale Drive, which leads to the dump.
Durban Solid Waste’s head of strategic new development, Robert Abbu
said: “We have allowed residents to dump the waste at the site. It is
better that they don’t keep it at their residences. We are discussing
these issues, but we can’t control the smell. Once the strike is over,
it will be sorted out. It is not only Chatsworth with the problem. We
don’t have resources because of the strike.”
Abbu would not name the other areas.
Florist Veni Padayachee said her customers had been deterred from
visiting her shop by the smell at the dump, while Kuben Govender, who
sells fruit and vegetables near the site, described the situation as a
“health hazard”.
He, too, was feeling the effect of the smell on sales.
There are houses and the Westcliffe High School a stone’s throw from
the dump.
Asked if the situation posed health risks, Priah Dass of the eThekwini
communications unit said she could not comment until she had inspected
the area.
Metro police spokesman Eugene Msomi confirmed that officers were
protecting companies cleaning up the mess left behind by striking
municipal workers.
Municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said the municipality had put in
action a contingency plan with private contractors.
He said 2 628 employees failed to go to work yesterday, while 977 were
on leave.
“The municipality had plans to deal with the collection of refuse.
However, residents were urged to only place refuse on the pavements on
collection days and if it was not collected by the end of the day, to
take it back inside until the next collection date. They should also
call the Durban Solid Waste call centre at 031 311 8804 for assistance.”
Meanwhile, the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu)
would march through Durban today.
Spokesman Simon Riekert said union members would be disciplined during
the march.
Police spokesman Vincent Mdunge said police arrested 43 people in
Richards Bay yesterday for intimidation and public violence, 13 in
Pinetown for malicious damage to property and two in Durban on similar
charges.
www.iol.co.za
NEHAWU VICTORIOUS AS THE CEO OF MTPA, MR CHALES NDABENI RESIGNS UNDER
PRESSURE FROM THE UNION
NEHAWU 24 August 2011
NEHAWU welcomes the announced departure of Mr Charles Ndabeni as Chief
Executive Officer of MTPA and we feel vindicated by these developments
as we have repeatedly asserted that unless an intervention is made, the
public entity under his leadership as CEO will collapse. The union has
noted with a great sense of satisfaction the statement by the MEC for
Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr Norman Mokoena on the
resignations at Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.
The recent industrial action and the subsequent march by NEHAWU members
on the 5th August 2011 were as a result of his poor management style and
failure to engage meaningfully with stakeholders and consequently deal
properly with issues.
COSATU NW supports SAMWU marches
Cosatu 24 August 2011
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West supports
the municipal workers’ protest actions for better wages in the
province.
COSATU calls on the municipal workers to intensify their action in
order to put pressure on SALGA to adhere to their demands.
COSATU will also demand an investigation on the irregular spending of
the councils during the inauguration of the mayors in the province in
particular in Madibeng and Moses Kotane.
COSATU will also demand that the council of Madibeng must remove from
its agenda the item of reinstating the former municipal manager, who is
facing charges of corruption and fraud, and also that basic services
like water should be provided to the people of Letlhabile Maboloka and
other areas in the municipality
COSATU will also lead all the three marches in the province and the
marches are scheduled as follows:
Date
Time
Venue
24 August 2011
10H00
Rustenburg
24 August 2011
10H00
Klerksdorp
24 August 2011
10H00
Mafikeng
26 August 2011
10H00
Klerksdorp
All members of COSATU are requested to join these marches in support of
SAMWU members
For more information call COSATU NW provincial secretary Solly Phetoe
0823044055.
Municipal Workers Strike Update (Durban)
EThekwini Municipality 24 August 2011
Approximately 11.3% of eThekwini Municipalitys workforce was reported
to be absent without permission today, as the Municipal workers
strike entered its second week.
Sporadic incidents of intimidation, assault and vandalism were
reported at various Municipal depots and offices around the City,
resulting in 15 participants being arrested and charged with various
counts.
EThekwini Municipality is also preparing for the march tomorrow,
24/08/11, by members of Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union
(Imatu). Residents and business owners are urged to avoid the march
route, which will start from King Dinizulu Park and proceed down Dr
Prixley KaSeme Street to the City Hall.
For more information contact the Municipal Spokesman, Mr Thabo
Mofokeng, on 031 311 4820 or 082 731 7456 or e-mail
mofokengthabo at durban.gov.za. gwalav at durban.gov.za
NEHAWU MARCH AGAINST PRIVATISATION IN THE MALUTI REGION IN QWAQWA TODAY
NEHAWU 24 August 2011
Members of NEHAWU in Maluti Region {Qwaqwa}, Free State Province
supported by the progressive organisations and community members will be
marching against outsourcing and privatisation. The Premier has in the
past two years consistently promised to stem the tide privatisation and
take steps to reverse most of the outsourced and privatised functions
back to government.
So far all provincial departments are silent about their plans of
in-sourcing and continue to renew contracts of private service
providers. Our union is therefore making a stand and saying enough is
enough. We will be marching and handing over a memorandum of demands to
the powers that be with the hope that sanity will prevail. If we do not
get any satisfaction we will be forced to escalate our action to the
next level.
The details of the planned march today are as follows:
Maluti region: One march
Date : 24th August 2011.
Time : 11H00
Departure point : Freedom Square in QwaQwa
Handing memorandum : Manapo Hospital
Issued by NEHAWU Communications Department
For further information, please contact Free State Provincial
Chairperson-Montseng Tsiu @ 082 971 6433 or Sizwe Pamla (NEHAWU Media
Liaison Officer) at 011 833 2902 or email: sizwep at nehawu.org.za
Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za
Bapong ‘under control’
IOL News 26 August 2011
The situation in Bapong was “tense but under control” on Friday, five
days after community protests started, said North West police.
“The situation is tense because… (on Thursday) protesters banged down a
Somali tuckshop,” said Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa.
No one had been arrested for the damage yet, she said.
The protests started on Sunday when residents blockaded the road
between Sun City and Pretoria with burning tyres.
Bapong residents have accused Lonmin mine of neglecting its social
responsibility to develop the area.
They have demanded that the platinum mining company employ 2 500 locals
and offer bursaries to school children.
Protesters damaged vehicles belonging to the police, the mine and
civilians during the week. A number of foreign-owned businesses were
also looted.
The Sowetan reported that the Bapo-ba-Mogale tribal authorities
threatened that they would not renew a lease agreement with the mine –
which expires at the end of the month – if their demands were not met by
Friday.
Lonmin CEO Ian Farmer told the newspaper that the company spent R40
million a year on community development projects.
“We split the money into (education and health services), but greater
emphasis is on education because we believe educating more people will
ultimately deal with issues such as high unemployment and poverty,” he
said. – Sapa
(
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/bapong-under-control-1.1125835 )
19 held in North West
IOL News 23 August 2011
Nineteen people were arrested for public violence in Bapong in North
West province following protests against a local mine, provincial police
said on Tuesday.
The arrests were made on Monday evening, when a number of vehicles,
including police cars, were damaged, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
“We will not be taking police cars into the area again, we will rather
use armoured riot vehicles,” he said.
Thirteen people were arrested at the weekend after blocking the road
between Pretoria and Sun City. Residents began protesting on Sunday
night against Lonmin employment policies at its Marikana mine.
The community wanted the company to employ local workers and help
develop the town. Protesters barricaded roads and threw stones at police
cars.
The SABC reported that Lonmin disputed allegations that the mine was
abdicating its social responsibilities. It said community
representatives were currently in talks with mine management. – Sapa
www.iol.co.za
‘SlutWalk’ comes to Cape Town
Schalk Van Zuydam 20 August 2011
About 2 000 provocatively dressed protesters marched through Cape Town
on Saturday, bringing an international campaign against the notion that
a woman's appearance can excuse attacks to a country where rape is seen
as a national crisis.
Men wore miniskirts and women draped sexy lingerie over their street
clothes as they walked a route where fans partied during last year's
football World Cup. Some protesters pushed their children in strollers
and carried signs declaring, “Rapists rape people, not outfits,” and
“Weak men rape.”
“SlutWalks” originated in Toronto, Canada, where they were sparked by a
police officer's remark that women could avoid being raped by not
dressing like “sluts.”
“It's very important that women should understand that their dignity
should not be taken away from them,” said Tayla Orgill, who was among
the Cape Town walkers.
According to the most recent police statistics, more than 55 000 cases
of rape and indecent assault were reported in South Africa from 2009 to
2010. The number of sexual offenses against women climbed nearly 20
percent from the previous year, according to police. - Sapa-AP
www.iol.co.za
'It's a dress, not a yes!'
Mail & Guardian 23 August 2011
Hundreds took to the streets of Cape Town in South Africa's first
Slutwalk at the weekend, to protest against the idea that to stay safe
from rapists, "women should avoid dressing like sluts".
mg.co.za
Striking cleaning workers march to Prestige Cleaning Services
Satawu 23 August 2011
The South African Transport & Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) members in
the cleaning sector went out on a two-weeks old strike over wage
dispute. Today’s(Tuesday) over 4 000 cleaning workers will hand over
memorandum of demands to Mr Paul Roux one of Prestige Cleaning Services
negotiators.
Satawu’s determination to resolve the strike is marked by frantic
efforts in our part and current engagements in bilateral meetings with
the Employer’s Associations. Our approach to current negotiations is
that management should engage in good faith as our demands in the
cleaning industry are not unreasonable if consideration is given to
excessive profits creamed off by the employers.
The march will take place as follows
Date: Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Time: 10H00 Venue : Karsene Depo- Heidelberg Road & Piet Street, City
Deep, Johannesburg.
Handover of memorandum of demands to Mr Paul Roux : 12H00
We hope cleaning industry Employer’s Associations will come to their
senses and we assure them our preparedness to reciprocate this with
sanity and smartness as 10% wage increase and other related conditions
of employment demands are justifiable.
Issued by: Mamokgethi Reagoikanya Molopyane
National Spokesperson -082 395 0907
SATAWU
Enquiries: Gauteng Provincial Secretary
Chris Nkosi - 078 625 9229
UNISWA STUDENTS TO MARCH TO PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST
Uiswsa SRC 22 August 2011
Today (22 August, 2011) about 200 UNISWA students petitioned the UNISWA
administration to open the university. They started their protest action
in the morning, around 0900hrs. However, they could not get inside the
university premises since the university is still not opened owing to
the economic crisis in Swaziland.
The students, after delivering the petition through their SRC, then
marched on the Kwaluseni road in Matsapha, from the UNISWA Kwaluseni
campus all the way to Eteni (on the way to Manzini). Eteni is about
three kilometres away from UNISWA Kwaluseni campus.
When the students turned, with an intention to go back to the UNISWA
gate, they were joined by a police casper which tried to intimidate
them. The ever defiant students, however, were not intimidated. They
said they would not go back to UNISWA until and unless the police
vehicle turned away. Instead they decided to defiantly sit on the road.
They sat there until about 1500hrs when the SRC brought back the
response from the UNISWA administration.
THE RESPONSE OF UNISWA ADMINISTRATION ON NON-OPENING OF THE UNIVERSITY
The UNISWA administration simply said they will not open the university
because the Mswati-led government still has not, and is not willing, to
pay about R80 million. The administration further stated that there is
no money to run anything at the university.
Students then decided that on Wednesday, 24 August, 2011, they will
march to Parliament in Lobamba.
Contact: Sibusiso Nhlabatsi
SRC Vice-President
+268 7622 0323
Lucky Lukhele- SSN spokesperson
Tell:011 339 3621
Fax: 0866135762
Mobile: 072 502 4141
Email: lucky.lukhele at gmail.com
NEHAWU MARCH AGAINST PRIVATISATION IN THE KOPANO REGION IN WELKOM
TOMMORROW 23 AUGUST 2011
NEHAWU 23 August 2011
Members of NEHAWU in Kopano Region, Free State Province supported by
the progressive organisations and community members will present to the
honourable Premier of the Free State province, Cde Ace Magashule a
memorandum of demands on behalf of all those workers whose labour power
has been mostly exploited through the utilization of private companies
in government departments. In public hospitals workers are forced to
work extra hours due to chronic staff shortages in the name of
Performance Management Development System benefits.
The Premier has in the past two years consistently mentioned in his
State of the Province Address that the government is going to in-source
all outsourced services back to the public service. But unfortunately
during the same period none of the departments which had outsourced
their functions over the years had in their budget speeches and planning
made provisions for in-sourcing.
If the departments are silent about their plans of in-sourcing and
continue to renew contracts, this promise as contained in the Premier’s
State of the Province Address is reduced into nothing else but a public
stunt with neither outcomes nor programs for implementation.
Our members who work for these private companies are subjected to
cruel, brutal and exploitative working conditions in the public service
with meagre salaries. This happens while the owners of companies get
millions from government and continue to immorally and obscenely enrich
themselves at the expense of the poor workers. They make huge profits
for doing absolutely nothing.
Our union is therefore making a stand and saying enough is enough. We
will be marching and handing over a memorandum of demands to the powers
that be with the hope that sanity will prevail. If we do not get any
satisfaction we will be forced to escalate our action to the next
level.
The details of the planned march tomorrow are as follows:
Kopano region: Welkom
DATE : 23rd August 2011
TIME : 9H00
DEPARTURE POINT : Mannis Taxi Rank
HANDING OVER OF MEMORANDUM : Department of Home Affairs
Strikers promise worse chaos
IOL News 20 August 2011
Striking municipal workers in eThekwini threatened to “intensify” their
actions from today, including plunging Durban into darkness, leaving the
city without water and “causing casualties”. If this happens, eThekwini
will end up in a similar state to areas in eShowe and Underberg where
residents have been left without water.
South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) secretary general
Nhlanhla Nyandeni said last night their strike would continue until
their wage demands were met.
Samwu downed tools earlier this week for an 18 percent increase, or R2
000, whichever was the greater. The South African Local Government
Association (Salga) has offered 6.8 percent. Nyandeni said if there was
no positive feedback from Salga, the union was willing to “intensify”
their strike action from today.
“All the depots, Durban Solid Waste, water, electricity and other
essential services will come to a standstill,” said Nyandeni. He said
even the Metro Police departments would be affected.
“If there’s no response by Monday, the struggle will intensify, the
whole city will be in darkness, there will be no water, there will be
casualties as well,” said Nyandeni.
He said the union was opposed to the city employing “scab” labourers to
collect refuse, saying those workers would be “stopped”.
The interdict secured by eThekwini municipality was “null and void” he
said, as the union had legally opposed it.
“We led arguments in court yesterday, and as such the existing
interdict is not applicable,” said Nyandeni.
Yesterday, about 350 workers picketed outside the Florence Mkhize
building on Anton Lembede (Smith) Street.
“The city lost a lot in revenue because people couldn’t make payments,”
said Nyandeni.
Meanwhile, Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu)
regional manager Dave Rogers said their strike had begun yesterday but
he was unable to say how many of their members had opted to down tools.
“We have a lot of essential service workers who will probably continue
to work,” he said.
Imatu has about 12 000 members in eThekwini and Rogers expects about
half of those to march in the Durban city centre on Wednesday. Samwu
held their march on Wednesday, during which some members burnt rubbish
bins.
eThekwini municipality spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said there had been
sporadic acts of violence yesterday.
“There were breaches in terms of the rules of picketing, but the city
is engaging with the unions on this,” said Mofokeng, adding that
residents should keep their refuse bags inside their properties and
place them on the pavement only on refuse collection days.
Striking municipal workers on the rampage in the Eshowe area caused
serious damage to a number of water meters, leading to massive water
losses, as well as smashing the windows at the uMlalazi Municipal
offices and overturning rubbish bins on to the street.
Yesterday, Danie Lubbe, acting municipal manager for uThungulu District
Municipality, under which uMlalazi Municipality falls, said reservoir
levels were getting dangerously low.
At uMhlathuze Municipality, in Richards Bay, workers set tyres alight
and stormed the municipal buildings earlier this week to hand over a
memorandum of grievances.
In the Kwasani municipality, in the Underberg area, charges of sabotage
were expected to be laid by the local councillors against striking
municipal staff. DA councillor Dave Adam said water valves were
selectively shut down, depriving local homes, businesses and tourist
destinations in the area of water supplies.
Pietermaritzburg, spokesman Brian Zuma said there had been no violent
incidents there yesterday.
“Striking workers, however, have been served with a court interdict
which says that essential service workers have to return to work,” said
Zuma.
Salga could not be reached for comment yesterday. - Independent on
Saturday
www.iol.co.za
Municipal workers start Joburg march
Business Report 19 August 2011
“There's no bread for the poor. We all buy the same bread for the same
price. Even executives pay the same price we pay,” SA Municipal Workers'
Union (Samwu) provincial chairman Koena Ramotlou told protesters before
the march started around noon.
He said the 18 percent they were demanding would improve their lives.
The SA Local Government Association (Salga) has offered six percent.
“The employer could afford the 18 percent without increasing rates and
taxes, check what the executives are taking home,” said Ramotlou.
The Samwu members were marching to Salga's offices in Braamfontein, but
there was little sign of Samwu's claim that 60
percent of workers would participate.
Only about 500 workers arrived, and the march started two hours late.
Union officials have denied claims that disgruntled members are
boycotting the national strike because of corruption within its
provincial leadership.
Johannesburg metro spokeswoman Edna Molewa said on Friday that at least
15 roads would be closed for the duration of the march, while Metrobus
spokeswoman Esther Dreyer warned commuters that no buses would run in
the city centre.
“We will be withdrawing buses from the city centre from 9am to 2pm in
view of the Samwu march... to safeguard passengers and protect our
property,” she said.
On Thursday, City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said
most municipal departments had shown full attendance despite the strike
that started on Monday.
“Work is continuing, none of our services have been affected.”
The SABC reported on Monday that 85 percent of Samwu members in Gauteng
were not taking part in the strike.
Elsewhere in the country this week, municipal workers trashed several
cities, including Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Nelspruit.
According to a report in Beeld newspaper on Friday, police ordered the
Nelspruit marchers to clean up their mess before allowing them to
proceed with their march.
It took them so long to clean up that they were three hours late for
the handing over of their memorandum, by which time municipal officials
had already left. - Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Rubber bullets fired at protesters
The Mercury 19 August 2011
Rubber bullets were fired at protesters in Tembisa, near Kempton Park,
on Friday, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
“They were stoning (metro) police vehicles. We asked them nicely to
stop, but they didn't so we had no further option but to shoot them with
rubber bullets,” said Inspector Mveli Nhlapo.
Earlier, he said protesters were being allowed to proceed to the
Mehlareng Stadium even though their march was illegal.
“The protesters have said they going to the stadium to speak to their
leaders and then they will disperse. So we are giving them the go ahead.”
Residents were apparently protesting about the high cost of
electricity.
They had burnt tyres and blocked roads in the area and were
intimidating people into staying away from work said Nhlapo.
Four schools had been closed as a result of the protest. “Children were
told not to go school and the residents did not want the schools opened,”
he said. - Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Seven held during Thembisa protests
IOL News 19 August 2011
Seven people were arrested during protests in Tembisa, near Kempton
Park, on Friday, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
They faced charges of public violence and malicious damage to property,
said Inspector Mveli Nhlapo.
Earlier, metro police fired rubber bullets at protesters who were
stoning their vehicles.
“We asked them nicely to stop, but they didn't so we had no further
option but to shoot them with rubber bullets,” Nhlapo said.
The seven people arrested had been involved in the stoning.
The situation had since quietened down and protesters were starting to
disperse, he said.
Residents were apparently protesting about the high cost of
electricity.
They had burnt tyres and blocked roads in the area and were
intimidating people into staying away from work, said Nhlapo.
Four schools had been closed as a result of the protest. “Children were
told not to go school and the residents did not want the schools opened,”
he said. - Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Striking Cleaning Workers led by SATAWU Gauteng to hand over a
memorandum
SATAWU PRESS STATEMENT 19 August 2011
Striking cleaning workers will hand over a memorandum of demands to a
representative from the Department of Labour in Tshwane today . “Our
members have turned out in numbers to support their striking cleaning
colleagues.” Said Chris Nkosi –Gauteng Provincial Secretary. We expect
about 3000 workers to be gathered Church Square- Tshwane at 10h00am
Friday, 19 August 2011. Then march to the Department of Labour in
Schoeman Street to hand over a memorandum of demands at 12h00.
In the memorandum, workers are asking that all issues be resolved, of
which the critical one is the minimum wage of R4200 across the board.
This is the Women’s Month (August), the sector is obviously dominated by
women as per the statistics, We want Minister Oliphant to speak on
behalf of her fellow women who are abused by capital and greedy small
and medium companies in the pretext of BEEE.
Issued by; Mamokgethi Reagoikanya Molopyane, Satawu Spokesperson
082 395 0907/011 333 6127
rea at satawu.org.za
twitter: @Reagoikanya
SAMWU Gauteng provincial march tomorrow
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT 18 August 2011
Media, both print and visual, are hereby invited to the Provincial
March of the SAMWU Gauteng Province. The March would be held as
follows:
DATE: 19th August 2011
TIME: 09H00
VENUE: Peter Rose Park (Braamfontein) Corner of Victoria Street &
Empire Road
The march will move from Peter Rose Park towards Hooft Street
(Parktown) via Empire Road – Victoria Street – Joubert Extension and
onto Hooft Street, where SALGA’s offices are.
We will be marching to the Premier’s Office thereafter, which is on
Simmonds Street, Central Johannesburg.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact the following
people:
Koena Ramotlou: Provincial Chairperson at 073 254 9394
Ntsikelelo Klaas: Provincial Secretary at 071 3631 843
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity Officer.
tahir.sema at samwu.org.za
Office: 011-331 0333.
Fax: 0866186479.
Cell: 0829403403.
SAMWU CONDEMNS USE OF POLICE TO PREVENT UNION STRIKE ACTION
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT 18 August 2011
“We find the use of state machinery to undermine workers’ rights
deplorable.” Said SAMWU Provincial Secretary, Andre Adams this morning.
This statement comes after a number of workers were arrested for
participating in lawful pickets, in the City of Cape Town, authorised by
the Union in order to achieve our wage demands.
This alarming trend of the use of police to intervene on behalf of
employers, in a labour dispute, is worrying and is a stark reminder of
the role the police played in the hey days of apartheid.
The Union has sent formal communication to the Commissioner of Police
in the Western Cape, to instruct his officers to refrain from harassing
our members who are exercising their lawful right to picket outside
municipal premises.
“If the commissioner fails to instruct his officers to refrain from
harassing workers in exercising their lawful right to picket, we will
not hesitate to go to court to seek an order to restrain the police in
this regard.” Said Adams.
We are awaiting a response from the commissioner and depending on his
response, will instruct our attorneys accordingly.
For comment contact SAMWU’s Provincial Secretary, Andre Adams on 074
177 2344 or SAMWU’s Provincial Chairperson Jonathan Krakri on 083 559
2427
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity Officer.
tahir.sema at samwu.org.za
Office: 011-331 0333.
Fax: 0866186479.
Cell: 0829403403.
SATAWU Eastern Cape members will be marching to the Provincial
Department of Labour
SATAWU PRESS STATEMENT 18 August 2011
About 8000 workers in the Eastern Cape will be marching to the
provincial Department of Labour on Friday, 19 August 2011, in support of
the on-going National Cleaning strike. They will hand over a memorandum
of demands to the National Contract Cleaners' Association (NCCA) at
13h30pm.
The march will take place in three areas:
· Umtata – from Satawu offices to the Department of Labour
· Port Elizabeth – from Nongoloza Njebe to the Department of Labour
· East London – from North Ed Stadium to the Department of Labour
“Nothing will stop us from achieving our demands as they are just and
intended to improve the living conditions of our members. We are
prepared to fight as long as selfish employers refuse to ensure that
workers are entitled to better living wages,” said Eastern Cape
Secretary Honest Sinama.
· All Unions in the strike are demanding 10% increase across the board
· 40 working hours a week
· 7% equal contribution to the Provident Fund
The employers are currently offering 8% across the board but have kept
mum on the working hours.
Issued by SATAWU Eastern Cape
Contact: Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary- Honest Sinama- 072 610
6775
Students protest Jansen's crackdown on UFS politics
Mail & Guardian 17 August 2011
A group of students were on Wednesday protesting in front of the main
building of the University of Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein campus.
Provincial South African Student Congress (Sasco) chairperson Manyene
Lesapo said they want the removal of UFS rector Jonathan Jansen.
"He has burned political structures on campus."
Lesapo said they were unhappy with the upcoming Student Representative
Council (SRC) election that was due to take place at the end of the
month. He said there was no political activity allowed on campus.
This year candidates for the SRC will go through a selection process
and they would stand alone for a position on the SRC. These candidates
are allowed no backing from political formations.
The UFS posted details of the illegal march on its Facebook page,
saying the protest was by people mainly from outside the campus.
Students gathered in front of the main building and emptied rubbish
bins.
The protest was watched by policemen. -- Sapa
mg.co.za/
Thousands march in the Free State to demand safety
NUM 17 August 2011
Thousands of mineworkers will tomorrow march from the Orange Circle in
Dorn, Welkom in the Free State to the Town Hall to demand that the
mining industry, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department
of Labour take seriously their demand for their safety. This is part of
the build-up towards the national day of mourning which will be held on
the 4th of October 2011 where mineworkers will down tools in pursuit of
their demand to be safe.
A memorandum will be delivered to representatives of the mining
industry, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of
Labour. The details of the march are as follows:
Time: 14H00
Venue: Gather at the Orange Circle in Dorn
The march in the Free State will be followed by another in Limpopo next
week, the 27th August. The National Union of Mineworkers is committed to
pressure the mining industry to ensure that workers do not die at work
as well as to force the government departments to act decisively when
workers loose their lives at work. To date, a total of 79 miners lost
their lives in the country and the figure is rising. The target in terms
of fatalities is zero and the mining industry remains defiant when it
comes to compliance.
Patrick Mira (Regional Health and Safety Chairperson)- 073 392 0019
Lesiba Seshoka- (NUM National Spokesman)- 082 803 6719
Workers in Limpopo come out in their numbers
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT. 17 August 2011.
Workers in the Limpopo province have come out in their numbers today
and yesterday, demanding a double digit annual wage increase. Contrary
to what the employer body SALGA has been saying.
The Union vehemently rejects the lies and propaganda being spread, by
the employer, that workers in Limpopo have not been participating in the
Unions National Strike Action. The momentum in the province is building
rapidly and workers protests are on Thursday to culminate into a massive
Provincial march.
Services will be halted at all municipalities in the province. Marches
have attracted thousands this morning. 85% of the workforce in the
province is participating in the National Strike action.
SAMWU has embarked on a national strike action which begun on the 15th
of August 2011. A series of strike activities are currently underway
throughout the country.
As indicated in previous communiqués, we rejected the paltry offer of
6% made to workers by the employer body, SALGA. We are demanding 18% or
R2000, whichever is greater.
For comment contact SAMWU’s Provincial Secretary Alfred Sithole on 072
159 6495.
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity Officer.
tahir.sema at samwu.org.za
Office: 011-331 0333.
Fax: 0866186479.
Cell: 0829403403.
Strikers wreak havoc across the country
IOL News 17 August 2011
In Pretoria the heavy presence of Tshwane Metro Police and SAPS
officers did not deter the workers from overturning dustbins on city
streets.
The workers, mostly from the waste management and electricity
divisions, sang songs insulting Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and
his executive for “refusing to give us our money”.
They marched to the city’s finance offices in Pretorius Street, where
they were addressed by SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) regional
secretary Zebulon Monkoe and chairman Sonnyboy Moloto.
Monkoe told workers that Samwu found it unacceptable that the
newly-appointed city manager Jason Ngobeni stood to earn an annual
package of R2.7 million yet workers’ demand for an 18 percent pay hike
was being rejected.
“Comrades, we cannot accept these contradictions while we are
struggling to maintain our livelihoods. We also reject the lies being
spread that we are not united in our actions. The workers are united in
this strike and it will go on until our demands are met,” he told
workers.
Moloto said they were due to march again on Wednesday and enforce “a
total shutdown” of all municipal services, by ensuring that all
Samwu-affiliated members take part in the strike.
The workers eventually dispersed after a warning from the SAPS and the
metro police that they had exhausted their allocated time to march on
the streets.
In Cape Town, striking workers looted vendor stalls, set plastic bins
on fire and smashed the windows of vehicles as they protested in the
city centre.
Shortly after 2pm the city’s main shopping avenue, Adderley Street, was
covered with litter and burnt-out bins. Shops on the street locked their
doors as the workers, who smashed windows of vehicles, approached.
Parliament, near the top end of Adderley Street, was cordoned off by
police.
Thirteen protesters were arrested and would be charged with public
violence, police said.
Samwu spokesman Tahir Sema said on Tuesday the union did not condone
any form of trashing. “This detracts the attention from what the workers
are fighting for,” said Sema.
Striking workers might have decided to trash the streets because they
wanted to send a message, he said. “We understand what workers are
doing; they want their voices to be heard by the employers.”
Sema said the strike, which started on Monday, was intensifying and
that it would culminate in protest marches in the different provinces
within the next few days.
The union had not received any revised wage offer from the employer
body, the South African Local Government Association (Salga), he said.
According to Sema, Samwu would like to see the strike action ending as
soon as possible. “We are waiting for the employer to come to the
negotiating table,” said Sema.
Salga spokeswoman Melisa Kentane said their doors were still open for
negotiations. “We are still waiting for the unions to come back to us,”
said Kentane, adding that the 18 percent demanded by the unions was
unaffordable.
Striking municipal workers also littered the streets of central
Pietermaritzburg and forced several roads to be closed.
Police officers cordoned off the area around Commercial and
Langalibalele streets, while attempts were made to clear roads and
sidewalks.
Msunduzi municipality spokesman Brian Zuma acknowledged the strike was
affecting services.
Traffic in the CBD was disrupted when traffic lights went out on Albert
Luthuli Street, one of the city's busiest. He denied suggestions foul
play was behind the outages.
“We have established that one of the transformers had problems and this
resulted in the outages in some parts of the city,” Zuma said.
The municipality would use independent contractors to attend to water
and electricity-related problems.
Meanwhile the DA in KwaZulu-Natal called on Samwu to call its members
to order. With the strike on its second day, DA leader Sizwe Mchunu
expressed concern at the amount of filth in the city.
“We call on Samwu to immediately rein in its members. While strikers
have a right to declare their grievances, this has to be done in a
peaceful and non-destructive manner.”
Tshwane Metro Council spokesman Pieter de Necker said the strike had
not had any huge impact on the municipality’s ability to render
services. He said the municipality’s bus service was operational, with
all shifts running throughout Tshwane.
The municipality’s political leadership had expressed their
disappointment with Samwu members who took to the streets in Pretoria’s
CBD on Tuesday, he said.
“No permission was granted by the Tshwane Metro Police Division for any
marches in the city. It is estimated that about 120 people took part in
the illegal march.
“Although dustbins were emptied on the streets, no reports of violence
were received.”
De Necker said the metro police had made it clear that CCTV footage
would be used as evidence to discipline employees for littering and
public disturbance.
“The leadership is humbled by the fact that many city employees
reported for work today (Tuesday).
“The expectation is that our residents will be serviced and complaints
will be attended to,” he said.
De Necker said some departments reported that some employees did
report, but were on a “go slow”, and not working. “The city will not
tolerate such behaviour and strong action will be taken,” he said. -
Pretoria News, Sapa
www.iol.co.za
Uproar over Hillary housing
Nondumiso Mbuyazi 16 August 2011
Tenants of a Hillary housing complex have managed to obtain an urgent
court order preventing 93 families from being evicted.
Angry tenants burnt tyres, brandished sticks and stones and danced in
the pouring rain outside the Valley View complex on Charles Winser Drive
yesterday.
The feud between the tenants and Sohco – a company which develops and
manages affordable rental flats for families with a monthly household
income of between R2 400 and R7 800 – had begun early last year when a
small group of tenants had encouraged others to stop paying rent, said
the company’s CEO, Heather Maxwell.
She said eviction orders had been granted for 93 tenants, after both
the High and Supreme courts ruled in favour of Sohco. The complex has
157 units.
The tenants subsequently lodged an urgent application at the Durban
High Court on Sunday, seeking permission to file an appeal with the
Constitutional Court.
Representatives from the sheriff’s office, accompanied by the police
and private security guards, were about to evict the tenants yesterday
morning when the tenants received the court order preventing the
evictions from going ahead until the matter was resolved at the
Constitutional Court.
“A large number of tenants have continued to pay rent in terms of their
agreement with Sohco, despite active intimidation from non-paying
tenants,” said Maxwell.
Sohco is partly funded by government housing subsidy programmes and
partly by bank loans taken out by the company.
Maxwell said the company was left with no option but to institute
eviction proceedings against non-paying tenants through the courts after
exhausting all other avenues.
A letter served to the tenants on Friday from the sheriff for Durban
Central, Richie Maree, stated that the tenants were to be evicted
yesterday.
“I am giving you the opportunity to avoid this humiliating experience
for you and your family. Particularly for your children. I have decided
to give you the opportunity to remove yourself from the premises in a
dignified manner, over the weekend,” reads the letter.
Sohco had no choice but to postpone the evictions, said Maxwell.
Bearing placards with messages such as “We are not going anywhere”,
“These are our flats” and “Go to hell”, the disgruntled tenants
accused the company of several discrepancies. They allege that the
company is charging them exorbitant rental fees, which were not agreed
on when they moved in the complex in 2008.
The tenants also allege that they were promised full ownership of the
flats after renting for four years but the company had since gone back
on its word.
Troy Morrow, the complex chairman, said that prior to the tenants
moving in, they had been told the rent would range from R850 to R1 500.
The new rent, he said, now ranged from R850 to R2 850. “We can’t afford
this amount,” said Morrow.
Maxwell rejected as totally baseless claims that the tenants had been
misled about how much rent they would pay.
She also denied the full ownership claims.
“During a comprehensive application process, it was made clear that the
units are available only on a rental basis,” she said.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said no one had been arrested
and no cases had been opened.
nondumiso.mbuyazi at inl.co.za
www.iol.co.za
SATAWU North West cleaners to march to the provincial office of the
Department of Labour
SATAWU PRESS STATEMENT 16 August 2011
SATAWU North West will be marching in support of our striking cleaning
members. The march will start at 12h00 today from the bus rank to Game
centre in Rustenburg North West. We are expecting more than 800 cleaning
workers. We are expecting COSATU , SACP and ANC in the province for
solidarity support. Fighting together we can achieve more for our
workers!
The workers in this industry are vulnerable and amongst the most
exploited by employers. SATAWU North West is calling on the Department
of Labour to fast-track the process of establishing wage policy
framework that will impose a minimum wage to the employers.
The memorandum will be handed to the Provincial Manager of Department
of labour to forward it to the employers representatives, workers won’t
rest until the demands are met. They want a living wage not peanuts.
Our demands are:
1. R4200 basic salary
2. 13th Cheque
3. 7% contribution to Provident Fund
4. Establishment of bargaining council.
Issued by SATAWU North West
Contact: North West Provincial Secretary- Job Dliso- 082 463 1840/
071489 1384
Strikes continue in mining, municipal sectors
Mail & Guardian 16 August 2011
More than 200 000 municipal workers walked off the job on Monday, a
trade union said, in a strike which intensifies labour strife that has
rocked Africa's biggest economy.
However, the South African Broadcast Corporation reported that more
than 85% of workers from the South African Municipal Workers Union
(Samwu) had boycotted the strike because of corruption within the
"dysfunctional" provincial leadership.
Their employer, the South African Local Government Association (Salga),
said it was pleasantly surprised by the number of union members who
arrived for work.
"We somehow expected it. We had put contingencies in place if the
eventuality arose where we were overwhelmed ... but there was not too
much buy-in in Gauteng at least," said operations chief Lance Joel.
He said if Gauteng did not attract strikers, it would be difficult to
do so in any other province.
Samwu general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo said he could not comment on
participation until he had received feedback from provinces.
Double-digits only
Samwu has formally asked for a wage increase of 18%, well above the 5%
inflation rate, and have said they will not settle for less than a
double-digit increase. Employers have offered 6%.
"In all likelihood, municipal workers will not get 18%," Samwu
spokesperson Tahir Sema told Reuters. "We do have a bottom line position
of 10%. We are not willing to compromise or settle for anything less
than 10%."
No talks are planned with the employers.
Samwu said 145 000 of its members joined the strike along with more
than 55 000 from other unions. Its previous rallies have been punctuated
by members parading through urban centres, overturning rubbish bins and
spreading litter on streets.
Most of the disputes in the current, annual mid-year bargaining
session, known locally as "strike season", have been settled with deals
for 7% to 10% wage increases.
Economists have said settlements well above inflation make the country
less competitive by pushing up the cost for a workforce already more
expensive and less efficient than its emerging market rivals.
Employers have responded by cutting jobs in a country where
unemployment is already running at 25%.
The ruling African National Congress, in a governing alliance with
organised labour, does not want to antagonise a group that has supplied
it with millions of votes by pushing workers to accept more modest pay
hikes.
Platinum and electricity
In other wage disputes, platinum miners and union members of state
utility Eskom have been in talks with employers, who are trying to head
off strikes in the two vital sectors.
Talks are expected this week between the powerful National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) and the world's top two platinum producers, Anglo
American Platinum and Impala Platinum (Implats).
Since South Africa is the biggest producer of the precious metal used
in jewellery and catalytic converters for cars, any strike would
probably have an impact on global platinum prices.
The NUM said on Saturday that Implats had improved its pay rise offer
to between 8% and 10%, but the labour group wants bigger, double-digit,
increases.
NUM members at Eskom and two other unions plan a meeting on Tuesday on
whether to accept a 7% offer from the utility that supplies nearly all
of the country's power. The unions, which won hefty wage hikes last
year, have been seeking 13% this year.
Any significant pay rises would affect the utility's strained balance
sheet and could lead to further steep rises in electricity tariffs.
Exxaro
Meanwhile, the NUM on Monday rejected the latest pay rise offer from
Exxaro Coal.
The union said in July it was demanding a 14% rise in wages from Exxaro
operations not represented by the chamber of mines.
On Monday the union said the company had offered wage increases of
between 8% and 10% depending on worker's category. The offer was for two
years, it said.
"The NUM has rejected these offers ... The NUM will approach the
Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration for
conciliation," the union said in a statement. -- Reuters, Sapa
://mg.co.za (
http://mg.co.za/article/2011-08-16-strikes-continue-through-mining-municipal-sectors
)
‘Samwu strike boycotted by most’
Business Report 15 August 2011
Over 85 percent of SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) members
boycotted a strike over wage increases in Gauteng on Monday, the SABC
reported.
Workers told the broadcaster they did not take part because of
corruption within the “dysfunctional” provincial leadership.
Their employer, the SA Local Government Association (Salga), said it
was pleasantly surprised by the number of union members who arrived for
work.
“We somehow expected it. We had put contingencies in place if the
eventuality arose where we were overwhelmed... but there was not too
much buy-in in Gauteng at least,” operations chief Lance Joel told Sapa.
He said if Gauteng did not attract strikers, it would be difficult to
do so in any other province.
Samwu general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo said he could not comment on
participation until he had received feedback from provinces.
Workers around the country took to the streets on Monday for an 18
percent wage increase.
In Cape Town workers banged on bins and made fires out of trash outside
the city's offices. Workers marched peacefully to the Bram Fischer
building in Bloemfontein.
City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said all essential
services were running, despite the strike.
In Tshwane, only 17 percent workers failed to report for duty. In
KwaZulu-Natal strikers stayed home as chilly weather gripped the
province.
Samwu members wanted an 18 percent pay hike or R2000, whichever was
greater.
Members rejected a six percent increase made to workers. Salga
spokeswoman Milisa Kentane said their offer stood at 6.08 percent.
“Our doors remain open (for talks). But 18 percent is just not an
option. Our municipalities will be unable to carry that.” - Sapa
www.iol.co.za
COSATU at Rustenburg court
Cosatu 15 august 2011
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West will stage
a picket at the Rustenburg magisterial court on 16 August 2011.
The picket will be in demand of the arrest of all the other suspects
who are implicated in the murder of comrade Moss Phakoe and that the
arrested suspect must not be granted bail until he tells the police who
his masters are.
We also demand that the current speaker of Rustenburg municipality and
the mayor be removed, because the suspect was the bodyguard of the
former mayor who is the speaker today and the current mayor appointed
the same suspect in his office as a bodyguard and driver.
COSATU believes that the death of comrade Moss was political and he was
killed for exposing corruption.
COSATU once more congratulates the current investigating team for the
progress made thus far.
We call all our members and all communities around Bojanala to support
our demonstrations.
The picket will start at 09H00 at the Rustenburg magistrate court.
For more information contact Solly Phetoe COSATU North West Provincial
secretary at 082 304 4055
Two killed in mob justice
IOL News 15 August 2011
Two men were killed in mob justice incidents in the Eastern Cape,
police said on Monday.
Brigadier Marinda Mills said Lusanda Kongolo was beaten up after he was
accused of attempting to rape an elderly woman on Sunday. He was also
accused of the rape and murder of an elderly woman in July this year.
Kongolo died in hospital due to the injuries he suffered. Four men have
been arrested in connection with the assault.
In another incident also on Sunday, in Pola Park, Mthatha, 28-year-old
Banda Maphelo was beaten to death after it was alleged that he had
broken into several houses.
“He was allegedly caught in the act on Sunday,” said Mills.
A woman and two men were arrested in connection with his murder.
Three people arrested in Pola Park were expected to appear in the
Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Tuesday and four arrested in Indwe would
appear in the Indwe Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. – Sapa
www.iol.co.za
‘Municipal workers intimidating colleagues’
IOL News 15 August 2011
Municipal workers in Cape Town have been intimidating their colleagues
into taking part in a country wide wage strike, the City of Cape Town
said on Monday.
“The city has noticed a concerning trend whereby union members are
coming into work and trying to intimidate their colleagues into
participating in the strike and hindering the delivery of municipal
services,” a statement from the city said.
“Incidents of intimidation related to the strike have already been
reported throughout Cape Town.”
The city said it had to temporarily close the Khayelitsha Fire Station,
the Masiphumelele and Fish Hoek clinics and the driving licence testing
centres at Khayelitsha and Fish Hoek after staff were intimidated.
“We respect the right of workers to strike, but strongly condemn
striking workers resorting to violence and intimidation,” said the
city’s mayoral committee member for corporate services, Demetri
Qually.
The SA Municipal Workers Union launched the strike for an 18 percent
increase on Monday.
The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has said that it
cannot afford to meet the increase and has offered the workers 6,08
percent.
Members of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) are
due to join the strike on August 19.
“The wage demands are completely unrealistic,” Qually said.
“For each percentile demanded, the city would have to increase its wage
budget by R67 million.
“The City cannot reprioritise its budget in this way, because amongst
other things vacancies could not be filled, possibly even having to
reduce staffing levels.
“Service delivery would be negatively affected.”
Qually said the principle of “no work no remuneration” would apply to
all municipal staff on strike.
The strike is expected to affect solid waste services, refuse removal
in formal and informal areas, street sweeping, emptying of public bins,
the removal of illegal dumping and services to businesses and
industries. - Sapa
www.iol.co.za
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