SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande has called for unity among the Congress of SA Trade Unions federation and its alliances.
Addressing the delegates at Cosatu’s 12th National Congress in Midrand‚ Johannesburg‚ Nzimande said unity within the federation was paramount.
“And you can never build a single South African nation unless the foundation is a united African people in this country. That is the call that will actually unite us and we must not make a mistake of abandoning this question.
“In fact one of the biggest achievements of the African National Congress was to unite the African people‚” he said.
Nzimande‚ who is also the minister of higher education and training‚ urged delegates to reflect on the direction of liberation movements once they have authority on the ground.
“We need to ask ourselves what happens to liberation movements or former liberation movements once they ascend to power… including in instances where those liberation movements have been in alliance with the trade union movement and communism.
“I think it is important to reopen this debate even through political education and reflect on this… because if we don’t do that‚ we are running the risk of repeating these mistakes without being aware of what has happened in other countries. It’s very crucial that we reopen this debate.
Nzimande made references to scenes of incumbency‚ saying when you have been occupying a particular position for a long time‚ you tend to relax. Even the ANC government 21 years into power begins developing some complacency‚ claimed Nzimande.
“But it is not only the ANC‚ most of the Cosatu unions here‚ you are a huge majority in the sector which you are organising. So there’s a danger of a Sadtu beginning to be complacent as the major teachers’ trade union‚ or Nehawu in the sectors in which it is organising‚ or Saccawu‚ or Sasco because it has been the dominant student organisation.
“We do need comrades to fight and watch this complacency‚” he added.
Nzimande urged Cosatu to be vigilant about forces that pretend they love the trade unions when in fact they want to sell it to the highest imperialist bidder.
Addressing the crowd in his opening address‚ Sdumo Dlamini‚ Cosatu’s uncontested president‚ said agents provocateurs from abroad working with individuals within Cosatu are campaigning to destabilise the federation and divide the ruling alliance.
Blade warns of complacency in Cosatu‚ ANC
Addressing the delegates at Cosatu’s 12th National Congress in Midrand‚ Johannesburg‚ Nzimande said unity within the federation was paramount.
“And you can never build a single South African nation unless the foundation is a united African people in this country. That is the call that will actually unite us and we must not make a mistake of abandoning this question.
“In fact one of the biggest achievements of the African National Congress was to unite the African people‚” he said.
Nzimande‚ who is also the minister of higher education and training‚ urged delegates to reflect on the direction of liberation movements once they have authority on the ground.
“We need to ask ourselves what happens to liberation movements or former liberation movements once they ascend to power… including in instances where those liberation movements have been in alliance with the trade union movement and communism.
“I think it is important to reopen this debate even through political education and reflect on this… because if we don’t do that‚ we are running the risk of repeating these mistakes without being aware of what has happened in other countries. It’s very crucial that we reopen this debate.
Nzimande made references to scenes of incumbency‚ saying when you have been occupying a particular position for a long time‚ you tend to relax. Even the ANC government 21 years into power begins developing some complacency‚ claimed Nzimande.
“But it is not only the ANC‚ most of the Cosatu unions here‚ you are a huge majority in the sector which you are organising. So there’s a danger of a Sadtu beginning to be complacent as the major teachers’ trade union‚ or Nehawu in the sectors in which it is organising‚ or Saccawu‚ or Sasco because it has been the dominant student organisation.
“We do need comrades to fight and watch this complacency‚” he added.
Nzimande urged Cosatu to be vigilant about forces that pretend they love the trade unions when in fact they want to sell it to the highest imperialist bidder.
Addressing the crowd in his opening address‚ Sdumo Dlamini‚ Cosatu’s uncontested president‚ said agents provocateurs from abroad working with individuals within Cosatu are campaigning to destabilise the federation and divide the ruling alliance.
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