COSATU+NW+response+re+flats+privatisation,+Mafikeng+and+Rustenburg

COSATU Media Release, Fri 2006/12/15 04:17 PM
=COSATU NW statement in response to the Department of Local Government and Housing to privatise and outsource flats in Mafikeng and Rustenburg=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) North West condemns the move by the North West Department of Local Government and Housing to sell, or privatise and outsource, flats in the Mafikeng and Rustenburg areas.

It is our view that the management of the Housing Corporation is unable to manage the administration of the project and therefore it has failed the people of North West.

The Department of Housing in this province is clearly aware of challenges it faces, including the entire accommodation issue in the country and this province; therefore it is their responsibility to defend the people of North West, in particular the poor people who cannot access a subsidy for housing.

COSATU is against outsourcing and privatisation because it continues to make the rich richer and leave poor communities and the rest of the workers poorer.

We are therefore calling the MEC of Local Government to take action against the entire Senior Housing Corporation management who have failed to provide leadership in that institution and that all workers and members of the communities or the flats’ tenants should not be affected by their poor management.

In our view the first preference should be given to the current owners of those flats and proper managing of that arrangement.

COSATU in the North West calls upon the MEC of Local Government to withdraw the privatisation and outsourcing, and give support to the people of North West in dealing with the opposing of the matter in court.

We cali upon all our members (in particular SAMWU members) to support the flats tenants) to own the flats for proper managing of Housing Co-operation so that our jobs are protected

We demand that there should be no increase to the current unemployment rate. Let us protect jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in this province.

Once again we call the people of North West to support COSATU to fight against the privatisation and outsourcing of the flats in the province by the Department of Local Government.


 * For more information feel free to call Solly Phetoe the Provincial Secretary of COSATU North West @ 082 304 4055**

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