Category Archives: trade unions
Niren Tolsi, Sarah Evans, New Marikana footage points finger at police
Carol Paton, What kind of federation will emerge from the Vavi fracas?
Nomboniso Gasa, The sting is in Vavi’s choice of words
John Capel: State fails Marikana workers by not paying lawyers
The focus of some on the fees of Dali Mpofu (much lower than the evidence leaders and others) detracts from the broader duty of the state Continue reading
Government statement on why miners cannot have legal representation funded. Evidence leaders can represent their interests
Raymond Suttner: Government and tripartite alliance ‘no pitch’ at Marikana memorial
From the first days after the Marikana massacre Continue reading
Sisonke Msimang, Dear corruption watch. What about the victim?
This article by Sisonke Msimang asks why Corruption Watch did no more than ‘censure’ Zwelinzima Vavi Continue reading
Nomboniso Gasa on patriarchy in history and SA today
Raymond Suttner, Power and sexual encounters in the work place
The recent rape allegations against Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretaty of COSATU has led to a range of arguments, which obscure the character of the sexual encounter, Continue reading
Sisonke Msimang, Who killed Pinky Mosiane?
This article demonstrates how the regulations stipulating that women be employed underground in the mines, is not supported by measures to protect them from sexual abuse. The murder of Pinky Mosiane has not been properly investigated nor has Anglo American or the National Union of Mineworkers taken firm steps to see that justice is done. While women working underground are especially vulnerable it is part of an overall situation where most women report sexual harassment at the workplace in South Africa
http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2013-08-01-who-killed-pinky-mosiane/#.UfniGY03ByU
Greg Marinovich on Farlam commission: obstacles in the way of arriving at truth on Marikana massacre
NUM and LONMIN work in concert towards undoing AMCU gains
Lonmin, government and ANC alliance appear intent on inflaming situation on platinum mines through failure to recognise AMCU’s majority support
Government and Alliance partners are unwilling to take proper steps to acknowledge status of AMCU
Government and Alliance partners are unwilling to take proper steps to acknowledge status of AMCU
Since the Marikana massacre it has become clear that ANC allied National Union of Mineworkers has been fast losing ground to AMCU. Government and alliance responses have been reckless, treating the displacement of NUM as quasi-criminal activity, notoriously describing AMCU as a vigilante union. This is no way to seek peace in the industry
Mail &and Guardian editorial on labour turmoil and government partisanship to ANC-allied unions
Peacekeeping force likely to be used for partisan purposes
Political turmoil in North-West province
Political turmoil in North-West province
Political violence is now a conventional pattern of ANC politics, as people fight for positions, tenders and other resources amongst the ANC itself or against emerging rivals. Some of the government, ANC and SACP statements about AMCU and the ANC’s right to be the dominant force in the platinum belt, do not augur well for peaceful resolution of disputes and competition. The report indicates a growing crisis of legitimacy as well as a crisis of governance, with unsolved killings and threats of more, apart from (not reported here) continued high levels of dissatisfaction over subhuman living conditions.
NUM and AMCU battle in Rustenburg
The article by Greg Marinovich describes the continued violence in the Rustenburg platinum belt, particularly in Marikana. What is significant also is how the ANC and government do not distinguish their partisan political interests in relating to AMCU, who are in ‘ANC territory’ and attempting to reverse the gains of the revolution, as the Minister-of Mines says more or less. This is not only a failure to distinguish what belongs to whom -party and state, but it may well exacerbate an already volatile situation. That a peacekeeping force is being sent in, is claimed to be requested by all sides, but if government has such a partisan attitude can one be sure that the peacekeepers will simply keep the peace?
Raymond Suttner 