Joint Statement by COSATU Free State and SACP Free State on their bilateral meeting

9 July 2013

COSATU and the SACP held their bilateral meeting at the provincial offices in Bloemfontein today 9 July 2013. The meeting was attended by the office bearers of both COSATU and the SACP. The meeting discussed the programs of both these organisations, the challenges facing the alliance at provincial level and the 2014 general elections.

The meeting started its discussions by wishing our hero and icon Utata Nelson Mandela a speedy recovery.

1. On the 2013 programs of action both these organisations agreed to work together on the following key programmatic issues:
1. To intensify the recruitment campaign of COSATU and the SACP
2. To work together in fighting racism that still raises its ugly face around the province particularly at different workplaces where COSATU affiliates are organising.
3. Intensify the campaign against corruption and ensure that all perpetrators are brought to book
4. To intensify the campaign against labour broking
5. Work together in strengthening the alliance in the province by ensuring that alliance meetings are sitting including at lower level and are functioning.

The meeting also congratulated the provincial government of the Free State for in-sourcing all the cleaners in hospitals and make them full-time employees of government. This is the step on the right direction. The meeting further called on government to now focus on in-sourcing of catering workers and security workers too.

6. Also agree to embark on political education of members of the federation and the Party in the province and would also encourage alliance partners to have alliance summit which will focus broadly of challenges facing the alliance politically and economically
7. To strengthen the campaign of going down to members at workplaces and branches of the Party to listen to their challenges and assist them in dealing with those challenges.
8. The meeting congratulated former NEHAWU Provincial Secretary and SACP Provincial Secretary in the Free State Cde Bereng Soke who has been recently elected as the Deputy General Secretary of NEHAWU at their June national congress which was held in Gauteng and wished him success in her new position.
9. Both organisations agreed to work together in honouring Utata Nelson Mandela on the 18 July 2013 where the focus is on education and schools both rural and urban
10. To support the federation campaign to ensure service to members is improved.
2. On the elections the meeting agreed to strengthen the election campaign in the province and will ensure that COSATU structures, SACP Branches and workers across the province will be mobilised to vote for the ANC in the elections in 2014. It further agreed also that the two organisations will improve their participation in the election structures of the ANC across the province to ensure that the movement wins the 2014 general elections decisively.

Statement made by

Sam Mashinini	and	Ntandazo Siqwala
On behalf of COSATU		on Behalf of the SACP
0825636954		0824836923