30 April 2013
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Linda Jabane District (Greater Johannesburg) and the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Johannesburg cluster, held a bilateral meeting on Monday, 29 April 2013 in Johannesburg to discuss issues of mutual interest.
The meeting noted that it was taking place on the eve of May Day – a significant day in the historic struggles of the workers of the world against capitalist exploitation, safe working conditions and general dignity of the workers.
Chief on the agenda of the bilateral meeting was:
The state of the Alliance in Greater Johannesburg
While both COSATU and the SACP are still committed and believe that the revolutionary Alliance, under the leadership of the ANC, remains the only vehicle to drive social transformation in our endeavor to address the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality, we are deeply dismayed at the failure of the ANC Regional leadership to convene alliance meetings.
The meeting further noted that since the Regional Alliance Summit which took place in April 2012, at the Wanderers Hotel, not even a single attempt has been made to convene the Alliance.
The meeting also noted with concern the new tendency within the Region of failing to invite all Alliance structures in strategic gatherings.
Both COSATU and the SACP further committed themselves to the principles of the revolutionary Alliance as espoused in the 2012 Summit declarations. These, inter alia, include the convening of the Regional Alliance Secretariat on monthly basis, quarterly Alliance meetings, and on-going engagement with the broader Alliance.
The meeting welcomed the overtures by the ANC to brief Alliance partners on May Day on the upcoming State of the City Address, as part of the City`s "extensive process of consultation".
The meeting also noted with the concern the ongoing attack and brutalization of the workers in the City of Johannesburg.
Further noting the plight of the working class and poor communities in Greater Johannesburg, the meeting resolved to urge our government in the City of Johannesburg to speedily attend to all the legitimate demands of the people Motsoaledi, Lawley, Slovo, Freedom Park, Lenasia, Thembelihle, Kliptown and many other areas with similar concerns on service delivery. We are hopeful that, unlike the memorandum of a service delivery march led by the SACP together with COSATU and SANCO, which was completely ignored by the City, this time the City will listen to these legitimate demands.
The meeting also discussed the reports surround the audit findings in the City and was alarmed by some of the adverse findings which have opened the City to attacks and ridicule from the liberal quarters including being referred to as the "City of fraudsters". We don`t think the City can be proud that it has received three qualified audits from the Auditor General for three consecutive years. The meeting therefore, resolved to raise this as one of the critical matters to be discussed in a proper Alliance forum.
Both Parties were bemused by the city`s decision to appoint an independent ombudsman to deal with a range of public complaints as part of its commitment to providing quality and efficient service to residents and customers. This is more baffling in a context of countless memorandums from poor working class communities that have gone unanswered by the City. Nevertheless, the meeting again resolved that this is one of those issues that should be discussed thoroughly in an appropriate Alliance forum.
Joint Program of Action
In an endeavor to intensify the advancement of a working class biased National Democratic Revolution, the meeting resolved to embark on the following joint programs:
1. Intensify the fight against labour brokers, especially in the City;
2. Launching of SACP workplace forums
3. On-going recruitment drive and political education for both COSATU and SACP
4. Deeping our work in communities in preparation for an overwhelming victory for the ANC in 2014 national and provincial elections.
Issued on behalf of the SACP and COSATU in Greater Johannesburg.
For more information contact:
Afrika Masoa, SACP Linda Jabane District Chairperson on 071 918 5114
Or
Sizwe Mdluli, Cosatu Johannesburg Cluster Chairperson on 083 9693700