27 April 2015
The South African Communist Party in Skenjana Roji District received with great sadness the news of the tragic death of four employees of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM), in an accident on their way to the meeting of the South African Municipal Workers` Union (SAMWU).
We wish to send our Party`s heartfelt condolences and sincere solidarity to their families, their loved ones, colleagues and SAMWU. May they find strength to go through this difficult the irrecoverable loss suffered. The SACP is grieving with the families for the loss. We wish all the injured comrades a speedy recovery.
It is painful to lose lose loved ones in a family, some of whom are bread winners, and workers in the struggle when we are marching towards the Workers Day and still have a lot of work towards achieving complete liberation and social emancipation.
The befitting tribute to the fallen comrades should be a more united, militant and victorious SAMWU in fighting for the rights and entitlements of workers, for decent work and in mobilising workers to provide cutting edge, high quality and effective service to communities.
The SACP says: "Let us pick up the spear and move forward with resilience".
Support for worker`s genuine demands
As the SACP, we fully support the workers of BCMM under the leadership of SAMWU in their genuine demands. It cannot be accepted that the BCMM was upgraded to the metro level, the councillors paid at the metro level but the employees, who are the ones offering service on the ground, are still paid at the local municipal level. That on its own is a serious violation of the provisions of the labour law. The SACP in the district will seek a bilateral meeting with SAMWU leadership to offer our unambiguous support.
Had the matter been resolved in the speedily the deaths and injuries suffered would not have happened. The workers lost their lives on the line of duty when they were demanding what is due to them. The arrogance and intransigence of selfish looters who are determined to collapse the municipality have contributed to the deaths.
The SACP salutes the workers for their contribution in the struggle, we count them amongst the heroes of our movement. Their names will counted in the heroes month.
Issued by SACP Skenjana Roji district
Contact:
Ludwe Mnweba - SACP District Spokesperson
Mobile: 073 256 3521
Email: ludsmnweba@gmail.com