The South African Communist Party (SACP) Skenjana Roji (Buffalo City Metro) is deeply concerned with the ongoing standoff between the Buffalo City Municipality and organised labour, which has left citizens of Buffalo City highly inconvenienced particularly the working class communities that have been without basic services such as electricity and water.
The SACP fully supports the demands made by organised labour as articulated by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). This includes the honoring of collective agreements and the ending of outsourcing which the SACP has been consistently calling for in the metro.
As the SACP, we call on the leadership of the municipality to immediately resolve the dispute that may leave workers left with no choice other than to withdraw their labour. The manner and vigour in which the city is quick to respond to acts of violence and sabotage should be consistent with the manner in which it responds and resolves the dispute it has with the workers.
We join all those, including SAMWU, that have condemned the acts of violence and disruption of services such as electricity and water. It is also deeply worrying to learn that the electricity and water cuts only affect the working class communities, which is probably the reason why the City is working at a snail’s pace to resolve the dispute. The SACP calls on authorities to act decisively in instances of criminality that has nothing to do with the issues raised by workers. We further call on workers to refuse to be used by outside elements which seek to use their plight to further their own narrow and political objectives.
The SACP will meet with the leadership of SAMWU and other involved trade unions in an effort to help the speedily resolution of the dispute. The working class remain the most reliable motive force in the struggle to overcome racial oppression, class super-exploitation and patriarchal relations of power, as such, the working people should not have to resort to withdrawing their labour during a very critical time of the year for the ANC led government to respond to their demands.
Issued by the SACP Skenjana Roji District
For more information contact:
Luntu Sokutu
SACP District Spokesperson
Mobile: 064 686 4535
Email: luntu.sokutu@gmail.com
