Alliance between ANC and workers union treacherous: Amcu

Association for Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa addresses the crowd during the fourth anniversary of the Marikana labour-related unrest, which left 44 people dead in August 2012. PHOTO: Jonisayi Maromo

Association for Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa addresses the crowd during the fourth anniversary of the Marikana labour-related unrest, which left 44 people dead in August 2012. PHOTO: Jonisayi Maromo

Published Aug 16, 2016

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Marikana – An alliance between the government and a workers’ trade union is detrimental and compromises the position of both the governing party and the workers organisation, Association for Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa said on Tuesday.

“We’re here today to say aluta continua. I think the lesson (from the Marikana events) is that once a political party is in an alliance with a union, and they form an alliance, that is dangerous. We are standing here today because of the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers),” Mathunjwa told thousands of people at the fourth anniversary of the Marikana massacre hosted near the koppie where the 2012 incident happened.

“The NUM (a member of trade union federations Congress of SA Trade Unions), the ruling party, the ANC and the SA Communist Party became an alliance and as a result today we’re mourning our comrades. So I’m warning any political party which suggests to form a union that they will compromise their position at the end of the day.”

Mathunjwa said it was critical in a democracy to have a firm line between the governing party and workers representatives.

“History must teach us that we need to have this separation of powers. As Amcu, we made sure that our members are free to join and to vote for any political party of their choice. There is therefore no need for a political party to form a trade union,” Mathunjwa emphasised.

“If political parties move to form a trade union, Amcu will move to the next step — to form a labour party where we consolidate everything under the Amcu banner. That will be a disaster to many political parties. We therefore support all progressive political parties.”

Mathunjwa had another message for the government: “They must say to this noble, mighty organisation called the African National Congress, pursue the State President (Jacob Zuma) to apologise to the nation and to compensate the workers and the families of those who were killed and injured at Marikana”.

“Furthermore, they must declare this day (August 16) to be a public holiday. If all those things are done, it will close the chapter. Then we will see that we have a caring government which listens to the electorate.”

Mathunjwa made the remarks at the fourth anniversary of the Marikana labour-related unrest, which left 44 people dead in August 2012.

Members of the South African Police Service gunned down 34 mineworkers on August 16, 2012, during the violent wage strike at the Lonmin mine operations in Marikana near Rustenburg in North West.

Ten other people including two Lonmin security guards and two policemen were killed a week earlier. The policemen and security guards were hacked to death by the striking mineworkers.

Amcu has since formed a trust fund, to cater for the families of the deceased. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Tuesday pledged R1 million towards that Marikana Massacre AMCU Trust Fund at the commemorations.

Amcu has already pledged to donate R2 million into the trust fund. Nudged to donate by Mathunjwa, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa donated R50 000 each. Lonmin CEO Ben Magara pledged R100 000 into the fund.

Earlier, Malema on Tuesday saluted Marikana residents for removing the ANC in ward 26 of the Madibeng local municipality, which includes the Nkaneng informal settlement and the koppie.

“We’re here to say thank you for voting for the EFF, and we’re going to make sure that our people in this ward get houses, water and electricity. We’re going to make sure that the Rustenburg municipality builds roads for our people,” Malema told thousands of people,” said Malema.

“I hear people saying Jerusalem has arrived in Port Elizabeth. Jesus has also arrived in Rustenburg. This municipality, no matter what happens, will not fall in the hands of the ANC. We are eating this elephant called the ANC piece by piece.”

Maimane said there would never be freedom in South Africa until Zuma comes to apologise to the people of Marikana.

“Long live the struggle of Marikana, long live. We need a government that will put roads in this place so that the lives of Africans who live in this place will be restored. Until that time, none of us are free. We will continue to fight,” said Maimane.

“The ANC will forget this day, but we will not forget. Until Jacob Zuma comes here to apologise to the people, and pay back the money, there can be no freedom in South Africa. We are saying compensation (for Marikana murders) must come from the government.”

Holomisa said the government must make sure that Lonmin is held responsible for the development of proper facilities for its employers.

The leaders of different political parties were warmly received by the thousands of people at the Marikana commemorations.

Programme director Amcu national treasurer Jimmy Gama introduced Maimane, Malema, Holomisa and Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota to the lively crowd. The widows of the deceased miners were also on the stage.

African News Agency

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