Once again, the Metalworkers gathered at the Salt River Railway Hall on September 18 2010 to further the aims and objectives of the working class at their Regional Congress.
The regional chairperson, Thabang Tsiboli, opened the Regional Congress and welcomed all delegates present.
Amongst the dignitaries in attendance we had the Numsa General Secretary, Irvin Jim as well as the Provincial Secretary of Cosatu, comrade Tony Ehrenreich.
After going through the dynamics of holding a Regional Congress – Credentials, Apologies, correction of the minutes, ROB Report and matters arising from the ROB Report, our dignitaries made their speeches respectively.
Comrade General Secretary mentioned the fact that he is aware that our comrades from the motor sector are not 100% satisfied with the settlement reached between the parties after the strike in their sector.
He also mentioned that we should not lose focus on our course of building a strong organisation, he said that the “working class as a class will not obtain fundamental change through a favour mechanism” and that the capitalist’s restructuring mechanism – retrenchments, lay-offs and short time – is being done on the basis of competitiveness.
The first 16 years of the new dispensation has benefited the bourgeoise but the majority of workers are still living in extreme poverty.
He added that Numsa members in the Western Cape need to build the branches of the ANC, that change is not going to come down like manna out of heaven and that we need to be united and organised to conquer.
He added that the efforts deliver service must be double the effort of what it is at the regional and local levels.
Shopstewards need to be the source of inspiration at the factory floor.
We need to elect leadership that will respond to our needs as we can observe that many of our leaders are seduced by wealth was the opening statement of the Cosatu Provincial Secretary.
He added that “We will not win the battle unless we are together in the trenches,” and that “we need to work in solidarity and the private and public sectors need to amalgamate their struggles”.
He said that “the level of inequalities in our country is rising and that we are the most unequal society in the world”.
He elaborated further that it is necessary for us to know what we need to do, we need to change our society with a united strength.
The working class must take the lead within the ANC branches but with total discipline, as history will judge us harshly if we fail to do that.
The new Growth Path is needed to alleviate poverty in our country.
He then cautioned delegates to stop chasing lizards while the crocodiles are eating our people.
The Regional Congress ended with a call for a Special Regional Executive Committee in terms of our Constitution Chapter 9 (1) (c).
This Congress was both productive as well as educational.
Source
Numsa News No 3, October 2010