2005-11-03,+COSATUs+20th+Anniversary+Celebration

= COSATU’s 20th Anniversary Celebration =


 * //“20 years of heroic struggle for a better life for all”//**

1 December 2005 is COSATU’s 20th birthday. Inspired by our history of struggle to overcome the many challenges we have faced over those 20 years, we face our next 20 years confident and united, armed with //Consolidating Working Class Power for Quality Jobs – Towards 2015,// our programme, to carry us forward to our 30th anniversary in 2015.

The 20th anniversary will be used to reassert our unwavering commitment to our socialist principles. We will remember our debt to all the heroines and heroes of our struggle who laid COSATU’s foundations by sustaining and strengthening the federation they built through sweat, struggle and sacrifice. We have already paid tribute to some of the great figures of the trade union movement – Elijah Barayi, JB Marks and Moses Kotane – and will continue to honour others.

To celebrate the actual anniversary, taking place in Durban, where it all began in 1985, we shall be:


 * Holding a mass rally on Sunday 4 December in ABSA Stadium, King’s Park, Durban, to re-enact COSATU’s founding rally on 1 December 1985, with past and present leaders of the federation and leaders of our Alliance partners, including ANC Deputy president Jacob Zuma.**


 * Staging an exhibition to display our achievements, heritage and traditions.
 * Organising workers’ cultural activities, which will showcase workers’ often neglected talent as artists, musicians, poets and dancers.
 * Publishing a souvenir 20th anniversary special edition of the Shopsteward magazine and an historic illustrated commemorative book, Hlanganani Basebenzi.
 * Holding debates and discussion throughout KZN on important issues facing workers, as follows:


 * 5 November, Newcastle Seminar**

Topic : COSATU and its shop stewards “Then and Now”. COSATU shop stewards will debate the different and change roles of shops stewards through a panel discussion between the stewards of the 1970s and of today. Venue : Canon Conference Centre, Harding Street Date : 5th November 2005 Time : 10h00 – 15h00 Speaker: Gwede Mantashe (NUM General Secretary) Petrus Mashishi (SAMWU President), Joseph Moloeisani (Veteran SAMWU Shop Steward)

A rally to commemorate the life of Vuyisile Mini. He was the first unionist to be executed by the apartheid regime. This will take place in Great Centenary Hall in New Brighton, at 10:00, preceded by laying of wreath at his graveside at Emnopheli, New Brighton, at 09:00.
 * 6 November 2005, Port Elizabeth**:

Topic : “Labour law, then and now” Date : 19th November Time : 10h00- 15h00 Venue : University of Zululand Speakers : Professor Halton Cheadle (UCT), Roger Ronnie (SAMWU General Secretary), John Zikhali (SACTWU President)
 * 19 November, Richards Bay**

Topic : Seminar : Decent Work Venue : Winston Churchill Community Hall, Msunduzi Municipality Date : 24th November 2005 Time : 10h00 – 15h00 Speakers : Membathisi Mdladlana (Minister of Labour), Ebrahim Patel (SACTWU General Secretary), Tanya Goldman (CASE)
 * 24 November, Pietermartizburg**

Topic : Seminar: COSATU and Alliances Venue : To be confirmed Date : 26th November 2005 Time : 10h00 – 15h00 Speakers: Bheki Ntshalinshali (COSATU Deputy GS), Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele (ANC **Deputy Secretary General)****,** Jeremy Cronin SACP Deputy GS), Dot Keet (Senior Researcher at the Centre for Southern African Studies, UWC), Randall Howard (SATAWU General Secretary)
 * 26 November, Durban**

Topic : Seminar : Cosatu and Culture Venue : BAT Hall Date : 3 December 2005 Time : 10h00 – 15h00 Speakers : Professor Ari Sitas (poet, writer and sociologist), Nise Malange (Director of the BAT Centre), Mabutho (Kid) Sithole (PAWE President)
 * 3 December, Durban**

The media are very welcome to participate in all these events.

Paul Notyhawa (Spokesperson), Congress of South African Trade Unions 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets, Braamfontein, 2017 Cell: 082 4911 591 Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24 Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940 E-Mail: paul@cosatu.org.za