COSATU+opposes+threats+of+violence



=COSATU opposes threats of violence=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted the report in the Independent on Saturday, on 30 July, that Cosatu’s first Deputy President, Joe Nkosi, incited striking workers in Durban to "raze the homes of scabs to the ground" and to switch off the water supply and waste water and sewerage treatment plants “so that the whole city will stink”.

We are checking with the Deputy President himself, our Provincial Office and the SA Municipal Workers Union to confirm whether he did in fact make such statements. We hope that he did not, but if he did, then COSATU dissociates itself from these remarks.

They contradict a principle that COSATU has fought for since its inception - that workers have the democratic and constitutional right to associate freely, to strike and to protest, within the law. But this also means the right not to participate. We dissociate ourselves from anyone, including a COSATU office bearer, who seeks to deny people that right and try to coerce people to join an action through threats of violence.

COSATU has always insisted that its strikes and demonstrations be peaceful and disciplined and have maintained that principle even when workers come under extreme provocation. We condemn all violence and intimidation against anyone and will continue to wage our disputes armed only with the support our members and the strength of our arguments.

Congress of South African Trade Unions 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets Braamfontein, 2017
 * Paul Notyhawa (Spokesperson)

P.O.Box 1019 Johannesburg, 2000 South Africa

Cell: 082 491 1591 Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24 Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940 E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**