JOHANNESBURG - The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union have paid tribute to South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu ) general secretary Koena Ramotlou, who died on Saturday.
Nehawu has learnt with shock about the untimely death of its sister union's general secretary, Nehawu said in a statement.
Workers of this country, especially municipal workers, had "certainly lost a tireless leader and a trade unionist of great integrity". Ramotlou was at the forefront of leading the rebuilding of Samwu, including waging a relentless war against “employers and the National Treasury, who are currently leading an onslaught against workers", the union said.
At the time of his death, Ramotlou was leading the implementation of the 12th national congress resolutions which included uniting all municipal workers under the banner of Samwu and undertaking a massive recruitment campaign.
"He will forever be remember for his sharp analytical skills as a Marxist-Leninist. He struggled for the attainment of socialism and fought against the exploitation of workers by the capitalist class. In his honour, Nehawu recommits itself to aggressively pursue the national democratic revolution (NDR) which is a direct route to socialism.
"The national union is deeply saddened by his death and conveys its deep and heartfelt condolences to his family, municipal workers, comrades, and friends. May his soul forever rest in perfect peace," the Nehawu statement said.
In an earlier statement issued on Twitter, Sactwu said it regarded Ramotlou's death as a great loss to public sector workers, in particular at local government level, "whom he was determined to serve well".
"His many years of hard work in the labour movement is testimony of his unwavering commitment to workers in general, and he will never be forgotten.
"We extend our sincere condolences to Samwu members, to his immediate and extended family, and to all in our federation Cosatu [Congress of South African Trade Unions]," the Sactwu statement said.
ANA