Trade Union Federation, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has appealed to its affiliates in the North West to prepare for a mass industrial action against the increase in Value Added Tax and petrol hike.
The federation’s first deputy president, James Tyotyo, has appealed to the provincial elective conference in Mahikeng to unite. The conference is a build-up to the labour federation’s national elective congress later this year.
Civic Organisation, Sanco, in the province was represented by its provincial secretary, Pakete Seaketso. In his message of support, Seaketso reiterated his organisation’s position on the call for the dissolution of the African National Congress provincial executive committee, and the immediate reshuffle of the provincial cabinet by the new premier.
“We will exercise more pressure on the leadership of the ANC national to disband this provincial executive committee of the ANC without fear or favour. The reshuffle is also important as well as the disbandment it should have happened last week.”
SACP Provincial Secretary, Madoda Sambatha has called on for unity within all Cosatu affiliates.
“Workers main interest must be to unite each other, this congress must be pre occupied with how do we break those who left. So the pre-occupation of congress must be to bring everybody; because necessarily workers are more stronger when they are many and that they are more stronger if affiliates are united internally.”
Tyotyo also emphasised the importance of unity within the federation.
“Most of our own unions are going though turbulent times we have a membership that is going down and therefore what is key to us as this glorious federation is to ensure unity at all time. We must preserve what we have and also attract more members.”
Tyotyo has further appealed to all affiliates to prepare themselves as there are plans to embark on a mass action in protest against VAT and petrol increases.
“Our movement or our parliament introduced or increased the value added tax which is causing more burden the workers and the poor in this country. Over and above the increase in VAT we see now the increase in petrol all those increases comrades they are transferred to you workers and the poor. We need to go out there and ensure that we pull yet another massive action against these increases.”
The new provincial leadership is expected to formally be announced on Thursday.
