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The Congress of the People calls upon Cosatu to refrain from its habitual infuriating-custom following the recent upheaval between the Anglo Platinum workers and Cosatu members in Rustenburg over weekend.

It has become quite popular for Cosatu to interrupt public protests meanwhile violating the worker’s right to freedom of association and freedom of expression.   Cosatu must remember that the system of democracy we have adopted in South Africa disapproves of any violent action against other affiliations, unions or organisations as this is infringement of basic labour and constitutional rights.

In the same spirit we would like to propose that the police force be equipped and given correct procedure of controlling events of similar nature. This will in many ways assist in avoiding dreadful occasions like Marikana’s recent saga.

COPE therefore appeals to Cosatu to change its system of despotism and respect every citizen’s constitutional and labour rights. We also call upon the police force to act evenhandedly in handling labour strikes in future.