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COSATU in KZN passes its heartfelt condolences to the family of comrade Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, a cadre of the ANC who has served in several important portfolios in the Legislature and the movement, which includes, MEC of Agriculture, Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip of both the ANC and the Legislature. Comrade Mtholephi was a teacher/educator and a journalist before he became a Member of Parliament.

His journalism was different in that he promoted the struggle for democracy in very trying times of our liberation struggle, he also played a role in the building of trade unionism in the Communication Sector by converting conservative MWASA into a militant Trade Union of Communication workers, working closely with COSATU comrades in the Province of KwaZulu Natal.  We also pass our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mzobe and Nala in KwaMashu, two members of SATAWU, MKVA and the ANC who were gunned down at work. COSATU in the Province is very much saddened by such incidents.

The workplace is where workers spend their times and we expect it to be the safest place to be, in which workers should have no fear of not coming back home when they leave their places of work.  We call upon all workers to understand that our primary enemy is capitalism that exploits us and its surrogates. Based in this context we say people must not take the law into their own hands, but allow the law enforcement and assist it to urgently and adequately do its work without any disruptions. COSATU working closely with the Alliance and the Union structures in the Province will intervene to avoid the continuation of such occurrences. 

COSATU is also closely following the incident where a worker lost his life in the Izimbuthu Mine during the course of this week. We sympathize with his family. Again as COSATU we emphasize on the need for employers to make the workplace a conducive and safe environment for workers, who already suffer many different kinds of exploitation, to at least be able to go back home safe as bread winners of their families. We call on all institutions that are aimed at protecting workers such as Department of Labour, CCMA etc to do their work with commitment and dedication to ensure that employers who do not observe safety standards are held accountable. The families are mourning; we have to respect and show high level of organizational and revolutionary discipline as fundamental principles guiding our Alliance. -

Issued bu COSATU KZN