The South African Trade Union Association (COSATU) joined millions of South Africans in honour of the memories of protesters who were mercilessly shot by the apartheid regime in Sharpville in 1960.
When we celebrate Human Rights Day, Kosathu urges South Africans not to take for granted the freedom we enjoy today. We must never forget the prices our ancestors paid in blood in the fight against apartheid. A powerful unarmed crowd of 5,000 gathered in front of the police station, and that fateful morning protested to allow police to pass the law before they could fire. Today, crowds of magnitude in protests are rare sights, and yet the battle for freedom is not over.
Certainly, we have a constitution that is counted among the best laws in the world that are consistent, but when it comes to implementation, we tend to be short when ensuring that legislation is translated into the living experiences of the vast majority of South Africans. This is more important than ever, as 31 years after the democratic breakthrough, those still enjoying the loot of apartheid have been encouraged, crying wolves and presenting themselves as victims of land confiscation, with only 24% of the land being black, Indian and coloured hands.
When we actually affirm all native languages and assure the rights and dignity of all learners, we must protect those who must make us believe that the Bella Law aims to exclude Africans and African cultures.
We must fight against the deliberately misleading narrative that the introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) has lost thousands of jobs. In fact, NMW has freed 6 million farms, domestic, security, construction and hospitality workers from poverty. The current struggle is to ensure that all employers comply with NMW laws and pay employees R28.79 or more per hour.
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Freedom-loving South Africans must stand firm to oppose lawsuits against national health insurance from various quarters and support universal health care coverage. The current state of two health systems in one country where poor people are excluded from access to proper health care is treated with services like hotels in private hospitals, but should not be allowed to continue.
As a nation, we must oppose the tragedy of gender-based violence and protect women, children and vulnerable people. Cosatu has expressed support for the sex offender registry, making it publicly available to vulnerable predators to protect known predators who are placed in a position to prey on vulnerable people. Sexual harassment in the workplace should not be tolerated.
Most importantly, we need to ensure that we have an economy that provides appropriate permanent work for all, and a recognized nation to provide public services that rely on the working class and economy.
Cosatu is looking for South Africans to be unsatisfied, and is ready to remain vigilant and defend this hard-working democracy in which our ancestors sacrificed their lives. Don’t rewrite history. We must never forget.
