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The Congress of South African Trade unions in the North West province have been informed that the Gupta family, who are staying in the Sun International-owned resort of Sun City in the North West, are getting what could be called preferential treatment by the state and that they continue with racism against our members.

COSATU has been informed that the family is under police protection while they are in the resort and all their trips have police escorts using state vehicles.

COSATU is also informed that the family does not want to be served by the African staff members who are employed in the resort. They demand that their services must be rendered by white personnel, starting from the cleaning of their rooms, the cooking and the drivers of the shuttles they use in the resort

For us as COSATU this is racism at its worst and this cannot be allowed to continue to take place in a country where racism is a crime. At Sun City our members have been facing racial attitudes from some of the service providers such as the 24/7 security company with which we have an outstanding case with, as we have with Sun City.

It also cannot be allowed that people who are on a private trip are provided with state security while in the country, and this applies only to this family and not to all the foreign visitors who come and visit our country.

For us as COSATU there is a link between their private jet landing at the air force base and the use of police as their escorts. This can only mean that this has been authorised somewhere in the security departments of the country, as we believe that the members of the police services take directives from their superiors.

COSATU calls on the government to stop using state resources for private business and all the member of the police services who have been deployed to protect the Guptas must be withdrawn with immediate effect.

COSATU also calls on Sun City not to allow the Guptas to practise racism in their resort.

COSATU have noted the attitude of the new manager who has started with the tendency of wanting to oppress workers, as COSATU has been informed that he refused to let the workers attend the May Day celebrations which were held on 1st May 2013.

The COSATU Provincial Secretary will be visiting the resort on 3rd May 2013 to interact with the workers who have experienced this racist attitude of the Guptas. The workers will take action immediately.