17 April 2008, Braamfontein
1. We the members of the SACP fully supported by COSATU and its members, have noted the following:
1.1. The astronomical rise in the price of food, including basic foodstuffs like bread and mealie-meal.
1.2. The collusion amongst food producers to fix prices, which essentially amounts to the rich robbing the poor!
1.3. The lack of improvements in the conditions of workers in this sector, be it in retail, in farms and at other levels of the food production chain.
2. Believing that:
2.1. These high prices are already worsening hunger in our poor urban and rural communities.
2.2. The millions that CEOs of companies in the food and retail industry have been paid are immoral given the paltry wages paid to workers
3. We hereby demand:
3.1. A moratorium on increases of food prices.
3.2. Stiffer penalties for those guilty of price fixing and even criminal charges being pursued against them.
3.3. For business and government to work together to fast track the expropriation of land, especially agricultural land, so that the majority of our people can be producers of their own food.
3.4. A full transformation process of the food production industry with the view of empowering co-operatives and opening up markets for small farmers.
3.5. That business responds to our demands within the next seven days.
Signed on behalf of the SACP:
Dr B Nzimande
Signed on behalf of Pick `n Pay and the whole industry
Issued by the SACP.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson - 082 226 1802