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The Congress of South African Trade Unions congratulates US President Barack Obama, and the people of the United States of America, on their historic victory on Sunday 21 March 2010 when the House of Representatives passed the Healthcare Reform Bill by 219 votes to 212.

COSATU agrees with Jim Clyburn, a leading African-American Representative, that "This is the civil rights act of the 21st century". We hope that the South African Government will take heart from this victory - won coincidentally on our Human Rights Day - and press ahead with its equivalent legislation to introduce a national Health insurance system.

The federation urges Obama to resist the anticipated moves by right-wing Republicans to thwart the will of the people in further manoeuvres in the Senate and the Courts, and urges the South African Government to be equally firm in defeating the campaign by right-wing opposition parties and vested interests in the healthcare sector to defeat the equally popular South African proposal to bring healthcare within reach of every citizen.