17 May 2009
The SACP would like to join COSATU in expressing outrage at the most scandalous act of the selling off of Telkom shares in Vodacom to Vodafone.
The SACP supports the move taken by COSATU to apply for an urgent interdict to stop this deal. We further wish to pledge our full support to the call made by COSATU for a full boycott of VODACOM should the listing go ahead. to this end we will mobilize all our members and generally the workers and the poor of our country to change their subscription from Vodacom to other networks. It is in the interest of salvaging our state owned enterprises from the capitalist greed that our people must stand in their number and oppose this deal. Gone are the days when narrow transactions would be undertaken in the interest of the parasitic bourgeoisie. We have entered an era where it must be people first.
We welcome the move by ICASA to hold public hearings on the deal. We however find it strange that when ICASA has in the past taken positions against government, nobody ever raised an eyebrow. However, when the regulator takes a principled stance against private capital it is being accused of succumbing to political pressure. This is double standards of the worst kind.
We are also more worried as the SACP at the manner in which this deal and the proceeds thereof are seemingly geared to finance COPE.
In addition to the ICASA hearing we are calling on the incoming administration (especially the Minister of Communication) to investigate to investigate the circumstances under which this deal was concluded and who the real beneficiaries are. This deal goes against the spirit of the call made by our President in his inaugural address where he calls for more public participation.
Issued by the SACP
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802