Vote+ANC+on+Wednesday,+says+COSATU



=“Vote ANC on Wednesday!” says COSATU=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is making a final appeal to all its members, to all workers and to the people as a whole, to vote for the African National Congress tomorrow, 1 March, and to give them the biggest possible majority in every locality.

An ANC victory tomorrow is crucial if we are to achieve our goals of slashing unemployment and poverty and transforming the lives of the majority. Getting ANC councillors elected in record numbers is the next important step in taking forward our national democratic revolution, and completing the transformation of South Africa.

After the elections we shall then work closely with the ANC and all levels of government to make sure that the manifesto promises for a better life for all are translated into real improvements on the ground, with faster and better delivery of services.

COSATU is however concerned at the number of reports we are receiving of employers denying workers their basic constitutional right to vote by forcing them to work. Farm, domestic and shop workers in various parts of the country have been intimidated by threats that they will lose their jobs if they do not put in a full day’s work. Even the police union, POPCRU, has had to apply to the court to compel their management to guarantee that every officer has the chance to vote.

For many workers whose workplace is far from their local polling station, it will be impossible to travel to vote after a full day’s work, and they will be effectively disenfranchised.

This is totally unacceptable. The right to vote is one of the greatest achievements of our democratic breakthrough. Polling days have been declared public holidays precisely to ensure that no-one should lose their precious constitutional right to vote. No employer has the right to force their workers to work on a public holiday. Any negotiated agreements must include a clause that guarantees workers the right for adequate time off to get to the polling station in good time.

In future the government should insist that polling days are non-trading public holidays, on which every citizen can freely enjoy their constitutional right to vote.


 * Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * South Africa**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**