DOCUMENTS

DOCUMENTS

Speeches prepared for the funeral of Neil Aggett on 13 Feb 1982

General Workers Union's speech made on behalf of a number of independent unions

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C o m r a d e s , 1 h a v e got a lot t h a t 1 w a n t to s a y t o d a y b e c a u s e Neil was a t r a d e u n i o n l e a d e r a n d 1 t h i n k t h e t r a d e u n i o n movement must h a v e a lot to s a y t o d a y a n d in t h e f u t u r e a b o u t N e i l ' s d e a t h .

In t h e l a s t t h r e e months t h e d e m o c r a t i c t r a d e u n i o n s a n d o t h e r democratic o r g a n i s a t i o n s h a v e been l e a d i n g a s t r o n g fight a g a i n s t the system of d e t e n t i o n w i t h o u t t r i a l . And now one of t h o s e l e a d e r s who was d e t a i n e d w i t h o u t t r i a l i s d e a d . And m a y b e t h e r e ' s a l e s s o n in t h a t - m a y b e t h e l e s s o n we must l e a r n i s t h a t w h e n e v e r we a r e p r o t e s t i n g a g a i n s t d e t e n t i o n w i t h o u t t r i a l we a r e p r o t e s t i n g a g a i n s t the g o v e r n m e n t k i l l i n g our l e a d e r s . B e c a u s e when p e o p l e a r e detained w i t h o u t a r e a s o n a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t w a n t s t h e r e to be a t r i a l , t h e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t must make t h e e v i d e n c e for t h i s t r i a l . And to make t h e s t a t e m e n t s for t h e t r i a l it must get c o n f e s s i o n s a n d it must g e t c o m r a d e s to g i v e e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t c o m r a d e s . And when the k i n d of p e r s o n t h e y choose to make t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s o r to g i v e evidence a g a i n s t h i s or h e r c o m r a d e s i s somebody l i k e Neil, t h e n either t h e y will lose t h e i r c a s e or Neil will d i e a n d we must

remember t h a t . And now Neil is d e a d they must get t h e i r statements a n d t h e i r evidence out of somebody else - who a r e they going to turn to now? Maybe t h e y ' l l turn to Thozamile Gqweta now, or maybe Emma Mashinini or maybe Samson Ndou. And if they turn to

these people to give evidence a g a i n s t t h e i r comrades or to convid themselves then e i t h e r they will lose t h e i r case or these people will die a l s o .

We must look at why Neil was in j a i l in the first p l a c e . We must look at what N e i l ' s crime w a s . We must see whether Neil was a c r i m i n a l or not. I t h i n k that Neil was a c r i m i n a l . You can see the evidence a g a i n s t him was very s t r o n g . Neil was a man who believed t h a t the workers of South Africa a r e oppressed a n d exploited a n d he believed the only way they could end t h e i r oppression was by o r g a n i s i n g t o g e t h e r . So he joined the t r a d e union movement and in a c o u n t r y where the police d o n ' t allow the workers to belong to the t r a d e unions they want t o , then Neil was a c r i m i n a l for wanting

t h a t . And Neil d i d n ' t only believe t h a t workers must join unions Neil believed those unions must be democratic u n i o n s . They must be controlled by the w o r k e r s , and in a c o u n t r y where workers a r e not allowed to have control o v e r a n y t h i n g , even over t h e i r own unions, then Neil was a c r i m i n a l there a s well. And Neil saw that the workers l i v e s d i d n ' t end a t the factory g a t e at 5 o'clock - he saw t h a t there was no democracy anywhere in South Africa. And he saw t h a t for democratic unions there must be a democratic c o u n t r y . So Neil fought for democracy in South Africa. And in a country t h a t is r u l e d by a m i n o r i t y , anyone t h a t fights for majority r u l e is a c r i m i n a l in t h i s c o u n t r y . So if Neil was a c r i m i n a l so i s everybody e l s e in the democratic t r a d e u n i o n s , c r i m i n a l s . And we a r e proud to be c r i m i n a l s like Neil.

Comrades, what crimes h a s the s t a t e s a i d Neil h a s been guilty of? T h e y ' v e s a i d through t h e i r n e w s p a p e r s that Neil i n f i l t r a t e d the u n i o n s . We s a y t h a t ' s n o n s e n s e , b e c a u s e f i r s t l y , Neil was a democrat not an i n f i l t r a t o r . And we say t h a t the unions d o n ' t work t h a t way e i t h e r , b e c a u s e the unions a r e n ' t c o n t r o l l e d . The democratic unions a r e n ' t c o n t r o l l e d by one man at the t o p . T h e y ' r e

c o n t r o l l e d by t h e w o r k e r s a n d t h e r e ' s no p l a c e for i n f i l t r a t o r s in the u n i o n s . C o m r a d e s , t h e w o r k e r s h a v e s a i d w h a t t h e y h a v e t h o u g h t a b o u t N e i l ' s d e a t h ; on T h u r s d a y more t h a n 100 000 w o r k e r s sat down for h a l f a n h o u r to s a y w h a t t h e y t h o u g h t a b o u t N e i l ' s d e a t h . And i t ' s v e r y f i t t i n g t h a t the w o r k e r s of a l l u n i o n s in a l l

p l a c e s s h o u l d h a v e s a t down for Neil, b e c a u s e Neil w a s n ' t a n o r d i n a r y t r a d e u n i o n i s t . N e i l ' s v i s i o n w a s n ' t j u s t with t h e Food a n d C a n n i n g W o r k e r s ' Union, with t h e w o r k e r s t h a t he o r g a n i s e d .

Neil saw a l l the w o r k e r s a n d one of N e i l ' s main j o b s in t h e t r a d e union movement was to b r i n g a l l the u n i o n s t o g e t h e r . And t h e new unity t h a t i s b e i n g b o r n in t h e t r a d e u n i o n movement t h a t h a s been very d i v i d e d in t h e p a s t i s in l a r g e p a r t d u e to N e i l ' s w o r k . And that was N e i l ' s g r e a t e s t c r i m e c o m r a d e s . N e i l ' s work a n d N e i l ' s death i s w h a t i s g o i n g to b r i n g u s t o g e t h e r . 1 t h i n k N e i l ' s d e a t h i s

a g r e a t p r i c e to p a y for t h e u n i t y of t h e union movement, b u t I think t h a t t h e t r a d e u n i o n s must see now c l e a r l y who t h e common enemy i s . We must t a k e t h e e x a m p l e t h a t the w o r k e r s showed on T h u r s d a y . And we must t a k e t h e e x a m p l e of t h i s f u n e r a l a n d I think we must s t a r t to t h i n k a b o u t u n i t i n g t h e t r a d e u n i o n movement. And t h a t must be the monument t h a t we must b u i l d to Neil Aggett. We d o n ' t want a b i g b u i l d i n g on a h i l l . The Monument t h a t

we must b u i l d to Neil must be t h e u n i t y of t h e t r a d e u n i o n movement.

So p e o p l e , we must p r o t e s t a t N e i l ' s d e a t h a n d we must work and we must o r g a n i s e . We must show t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h a t w h i l e t h e y sit in P a r l i a m e n t p a s s i n g new l a w s a b o u t t h e t r a d e u n i o n movement, that t h e i r h a n d s a r e full of t h e blood of o u r h e r o e s - we must show them t h a t . We must show to t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h a t we a r e not a n o r g a n i s a t i o n j u s t in South Africa - t h a t t h e w o r k e r s ' movement i s an i n t e r n a t i o n a l movement. We must show t h a t to t h e m . And we must show them t h a t t h e s a n c t i o n s t h a t t h e y f e a r so much in South Africa, t h e y will come one d a y . And t h e y w o n ' t come from t h e British or American g o v e r n m e n t s , t h e y will come when t h e B r i t i s h and American w o r k e r s d o n ' t w a n t to d e a l with b l o o d - s t a i n e d South African g o o d s . T h a t ' s when t h e y w i l l c o m e . And t h e y must know

t h a t . But mostly c o m r a d e s , we must do w h a t Mr. P e n d l a n e s a i d -We must show t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h a t for e v e r y Neil t h e y k i l l t h e r e will be a t h o u s a n d to t a k e h i s p l a c e . T h a t ' s what we must show them. So c o m r a d e s , I t h i n k l e t ' s s a y to N e i l ' s p a r e n t s a n d l e t ' s s a y to Liz, t h a t t h e y w o n ' t mourn Neil a l o n e . Let them know t h a t the workers of South Africa w i l l mourn Neil a l s o , b u t we w o n ' t mourn him by c l o s i n g our d o o r s . We will mourn Neil by t a k i n g f o r w a r d h i s work.

And l e t ' s tell N e i l ' s family a n d Liz t h a t t h e y will not remember Neil on t h e i r o w n . T h a t we will a l s o remember Neil a n d t h a t we will r e m e m b e r Neil a s a k i n d , g e n t l e p e r s o n - t h a t i s what we will r e m e m b e r . Neil a s a d e m o c r a t who n e v e r w a n t e d p e r s o n a l glory.

T h a t ' s how w e ' l l r e m e m b e r Neil a n d I t h i n k t h a t we should remember Neil in the w o r d s t h a t a g r e a t c o m r a d e of N e i l ' s used to d e s c r i b e him a s : Comrade O s c a r Mpetha who i s one of t h e great l e a d e r s of t h e South African p e o p l e , a n d who i s in j a i l now, maybe d y i n g in j a i l now. Comrade Mpetha s a i d of Neil, he s a i d a very s h o r t a n d s i m p l e t h i n g a b o u t Neil, he s a i d t h a t Neil was a 'man of t h e p e o p l e ' , a n d t h e r e ' s no g r e a t e r t h i n g t h a t c a n be s a i d about a n y b o d y , a n d t h e r e ' s no b e t t e r p e r s o n to s a y it a b o u t t h a n Neil, a n d 1 t h i n k t h a t if we remember Neil t h a t w a y , t h e n v i c t o r y r e a l l y will be o u r s .

A M A N D L A!

Federation of South African Trade Unions' speech

On b e h a l f of t h e 95 000 members of FOSATU we e x t e n d our d e e p e s t s y m p a t h y to t h e f a m i l y of our d e p a r t e d c o m r a d e N e i l . On T h u r s d a y more t h a n 75 000 of o u r members s t o p p e d work in m o u r n i n g , p r o t e s t a n d s o l i d a r i t y . We mourn t h e u n t i m e l y d e a t h of a fellow t r a d e u n i o n i s t . We p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e i n h u m a n a n d o p p r e s s i v e s e c u r i t y l a w s of t h e N a t i o n a l i s t G o v e r n m e n t . We show

s o l i d a r i t y a s a w a r n i n g to t h e s y s t e m t h a t w e , t h e o p p r e s s e d w o r k e r s of t h i s c o u n t r y , we a r e t o i l i n g a n d s u f f e r i n g to e n r i c h our o p p r e s s o r s , we t h e p e o p l e whose l a b o u r h a s been d i v i d e d a n d e x p l o i t e d , we who h a v e been m e r c i l e s s l y u p r o o t e d a n d forced i n t o

c o m p o u n d s , o v e r c r o w d e d t o w n s h i p s a n d b a r r e n h o m e l a n d s , we t h e p e o p l e of S o u t h Africa s h a l l not t o l e r a t e t h i s i n j u s t i c e f o r m u c h l o n g e r .

C o m r a d e s , o u r m e m b e r s o u t s i d e t h e T r a n s v a a l d i d not k n o w much a b o u t Neil A g g e t t . What we d i d k n o w w a s t h i s . We k n e w h e was a t r a d e u n i o n i s t . We k n e w h e w a s t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e A f r i c a n Food a n d C a n n i n g W o r k e r s Union in t h e T r a n s v a a l . We k n e w t h a t u n d e r h i s g u i d a n c e t h a t Union b r a n c h h a d g r o w n a n d we c o n c l u d e t h a t h e t h e r e f o r e w a s o r g a n i s i n g a n d r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e g e n e r a l w i s h e s of w o r k e r s . T h i s i s n o s m a l l t a s k . O r g a n i s i n g a Union i n such a w a y t h a t it i s t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c a n d r e p r e s e n t s t h e w i s h e s of w o r k e r s , d e v e l o p i n g w o r k e r l e a d e r s h i p from t h e f a c t o r y f l o o r , d o i n g t h e s e t h i n g s in t h e h o s t i l e e n v i r o n m e n t of S o u t h A f r i c a r e q u i r e s t i m e , e n e r g y , p a t i e n c e a n d c o u r a g e . For t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n s i t u a t i o n i s a c t i v e l y h o s t i l e to d e m o c r a t i c w o r k e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s . T h e y h a v e been h o u n d e d b y p o l i c e , v i c t i m i s e d b y m a n a g e m e n t a n d a c t i v e l y o p p o s e d b y m i n o r i t y t r a d e u n i o n s . Even in a t r a g e d y l i k e t h i s we see how t h e l a r g e s t of t h e c o - o r d i n a t i n g b o d i e s of t h e m i n o r i t y u n i o n s h a s r e m a i n e d s i l e n t . T h e i r s i l e n c e s p e a k s v o l u m e s for t h e k i n d of u n i o n s t h a t t h e y a r e .

Then h e d i s a p p e a r e d , d e t a i n e d i n c o m m u n i c a d o in N o v e m b e r l a s t y e a r . T h i s i s w h e r e o u r k n o w l e d g e of h i m e n d s - t r a g i c a l l y w i t h h i s d e a t h h a n g i n g in a l o n e l y c e l l . No o n e k n o w s w h a t h o r r o r s c a u s e d h i s d e a t h . We w o n d e r if a n y e v e r w i l l k n o w .

We w i l l r e m e m b e r Neil A g g e t t from o u r k n o w l e d g e of h i m . We will not a c c e p t i n s i n u a t i o n s a b o u t h i s a c t i v i t i e s o r h i s c h a r a c t e r . We w i l l not a c c e p t h a l f b a k e d s t a t e m e n t s c l a i m e d to b e in t h e p r o c e s s of h a v i n g b e e n m a d e b y t h e p o l i c e . And we do n o t a c c e p t that t h e r e c a n b e a n y j u s t i f i c a t i o n for h i s d e a t h .

All we k n o w i s t h a t o n c e t h e r e w a s a t r a d e u n i o n i s t c a l l e d Neil Aggett, a n d t h a t a f t e r b e i n g h e l d b y t h e S e c u r i t y p o l i c e u n d e r s o l i t a r y c o n f i n e m e n t , h e w a s n o m o r e . N o t h i n g m o r e d a m n i n g c a n b e

said a b o u t s o l i t a r y c o n f i n e m e n t a n d t h e s y s t e m i t r e p r e s e n t s . HAMBA KAHLE MFOWETU AGGETT

T h e Union movement s t a n d s in T r i b u t e t o one of i t s l o s t s o n s .

Extracts from General and Allied Workers Union's speech

C o m r a d e s a n d c o m p a t r i o t s , I g r e e t y o u a l l in t h e n a m e of the p o p u l a r u p s u r g e of w o r k e r m i l i t a n c y w h i c h i s c u r r e n t l y wafting

t h r o u g h t h e c o r r i d o r s of t h i s c o u n t r y . P e r h a p s i t i s i m p e r a t i v e for me to s t a t e h e r e a n d now t h a t t h e p e o p l e ' s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t racism, o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n i s so w e i g h t y t h a t t h e e n e m y h a s seen c a u s e to r e s o r t to m e a s u r e s w h i c h r e f l e c t n o t h i n g b u t d e s p e r a t i o n on i t s p a r t . In t h i s c o n t e x t i t i s c l e a r t h a t o n e w i l l r e f u s e to s e e the d e a t h s i n d e t e n t i o n of M k h u t h u z i J o s e p h M d l u l i , Ahmed Timol,

L a w r e n c e N d z a n g a , Neil A g g e t t a n d m a n y more o t h e r s , a s a c c i d e n t s . In t e r m s of t h i s , e v e r y d a y i s " H e r o e s D a y " for e v e r y d a y this u n j u s t s o c i o - e c o n o m i c s y s t e m s i f t s t h r o u g h t h e r a n k s of its p o p u l a t i o n to c h o o s e i t s v i c t i m s . It i s i n t h e l i g h t of this o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t I w i s h t o s t r o n g l y w a r n t h e B o t h a - M a l a n r e g i m e to s t o p s e l l i n g u s d u m m i e s w h e n in t r u t h we k n o w w h y c o m r a d e Neil A g g e t t w a s r e m o v e d from u s .

C o m r a d e s , 1 s h a l l o n c e more c o n f i n e m y s e l f to t h e e s s e n t i a l of o u r c o m i n g t o g e t h e r t o d a y b y p a y i n g s p e c i a l t r i b u t e to Comrade

Doctor Neil A g g e t t . He r i g h t l y d e s e r v e s t h a t . At t i m e s we t e n d to p e r c e i v e p o v e r t y a s " c e r t a i n p e o p l e who u n f o r t u n a t e l y a r e p o o r " , a n d n o t a s a r e f l e c t i o n of i n j u s t i c e . C o m r a d e Neil s a w many d i s e a s e s a s e v i d e n c e of p o v e r t y . L a p a M u n n i k , t h e s o - c a l l e d

M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h w i l l t e l l y o u t h a t d i s e a s e s a r e " n a t u r a l " . C o m r a d e Neil w a s f a r s i g h t e d e n o u g h t o s e e t h a t t r e a t m e n t in the

h o s p i t a l d o e s not a f f e c t t h e c a u s a t i v e f a c t o r s of d i s e a s e s . It i s for t h i s r e a s o n t h a t h i s c o m m i t m e n t in t h e w o r k e r s ' s t r u g g l e must be s e e n a s a n a c t a i m e d a t c r e a t i n g a h e a l t h y home for a l l South A f r i c a n s . I t h e r e f o r e s u b m i t t h a t t h o s e w h o a r e r e s p o n s i b l e for h i s d e a t h h a v e c o m m i t t e d a c r i m e a g a i n s t m a n k i n d . In t h e s a m e b r e a t h I w o u l d m a k e a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n to a l l f r e e d o m l o v i n g p e o p l e in S o u t h A f r i c a : " P e t t y d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h i n t h e r a n k s of t h e p e o p l e must b e s u b m e r g e d t o t h e c a u s e of t r u e h u m a n i t y . Let u s s t a n d a n d s t r i v e t o g e t h e r to d i s l o d g e t h e e n e m i e s of p e a c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y " .

C o m r a d e s , I w o u l d l i k e to d i s p e l t h e m y t h s w h i c h h o l d t h a t t h e

problem in t h i s c o u n t r y i s one of B l a c k s a g a i n s t W h i t e s . The s t a r k r e a l i t i e s of o u r s i t u a t i o n p r o v e b e y o n d a n y s h a d o w cf d o u b t t h a t the s y s t e m which a l l men a n d women of h o n o u r a n d i n t e g r i t y a b h o r , t r a n s c e n d s r a c e a n d c o l o u r . When I look a t p u p p e t K a i z e r Matanzima a n d h i s hoodlums who t e r r o r i s e p e o p l e d a y in a n d d a y out, I see in them a g r o u p of i n d i v i d u a l s who h a v e g i v e n t h e m s e l v e s body a n d soul to t h e s e r v i c e of c a p i t a l a n d o p p r e s s i o n . When I look a t t r a i t o r P a t r i c k M p h e p h u , t h e man who i s s t i l l to account for t h e d e a t h of T s h i f h i w e Muofhe, 1 see in him a man who would r a t h e r d i e t h a n s e t t l e for a South Africa which b e l o n g s to a l l live in i t . G a t s h a B u t h e l e z i would not a g r e e w i t h Sammy Adelman on the d e m a n d t h a t t h e doors of l e a r n i n g a n d c u l t u r e b e open to a l l . T h e r e f o r e , I w a n t to make it a b u n d a n t l y c l e a r t h a t to see t h e s t r u g g l e in t h i s c o u n t r y a s a s i t u a t i o n w h e r e b l a c k s a r e f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t w h i t e s i s t a n t a m o u n t to a s s u m i n g t h a t b l a c k p e o p l e h a v e reached a c o n s e n s u s a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n . I for o n e , would be l e g i t i m a t e l y h e s i t a n t a b o u t m a k i n g such a b a s e l e s s , u n s c i e n t i f i c and cock eyed a s s u m p t i o n . If c o l o u r was r e a l l y a n i s s u e , Comrade Neil Aggett would s t i l l be a l i v e t o d a y .

In c o n c l u s i o n d e a r C o m r a d e s , I would a g a i n make a c a l l to a l l those who, l i k e Neil A g g e t t , u p h o l d the p r i n c i p l e s of a g e n u i n e d e m o c r a c y , to r a l l y to t h e defence to t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s movement in t h i s c o u n t r y .

I feel t h e r e i s a d i r e need for u s to u n i t e a n d march t o w a r d s a South Africa which w i l l b a n i s h f a m i n e a n d l a n d h u n g e r , a South Africa which w i l l b a n i s h s l u m s , a South Africa w h i c h will b a n d e t e n t i o n s a n d b a n n i n g o r d e r s . The w a y t o w a r d s t h a t South Africa - the South Africa which we s h a l l a l l c h e r i s h a n d l o v e , i s g u i d e d by the "FREEDOM CHARTER".

"AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!"

Extracts from TUCSA statement published in the Garment Worker in response to protests over Neil Aggett's death in detention

TUCSA is p e r t u r b e d a b o u t t h e r e c e n t d e a t h in d e t e n t i o n of a

y o u n g d e t a i n e e ( a s it w o u l d b e a b o u t t h e u n n a t u r a l d e a t h of anj p e r s o n in d e t e n t i o n ) , a n d it t h e r e f o r e c a l l s for t h e l e g a l enquiry i n t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s c o n c e r n i n g t h i s e v e n t to be d e a l t with as e f f i c i e n t l y a n d s p e e d i l y a s h u m a n l y p o s s i b l e .

TUCSA c a n n o t h o w e v e r , comment on t h e b a c k g r o u n d , occupation, t r a d e u n i o n a c t i v i t y , o r a n y o t h e r m a t t e r c o n c e r n i n g t h i s late d e t a i n e e , s i n c e TUCSA h a s n o k n o w l e d g e w h a t s o e v e r in r e l a t i o n to t h e s e f a c t o r s .

TUCSA u n h e s i t a t i n g l y d i s t a n c e s i t s e l f from a n y c a l l s for i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h i s s p e c i f i c t r a g i c event, b e c a u s e it c a n n o t s u b s c r i b e to s t r i k e s , work s t o p p a g e s a n d other f o r m s of i n d u s t r i a l a c t i v i t y not c o n n e c t e d to t h e e m p l o y e r / e m p l o y e e r e l a t i o n s h i p , a n d a l s o b e c a u s e it d o e s not b e l i e v e in a n y h a s t y and e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n to e v e n t s w h i c h h a v e not b e e n completely c l a r i f i e d .

E q u a l l y , TUCSA d o e s not b e l i e v e in s u p p o r t i n g n e g a t i v e a c t i o n s w h i c h do not f i n d f a v o u r w i t h t h e w o r k f o r c e in g e n e r a l , a n d which w i l l o n l y h a v e t h e effect of d i s c r e d i t i n g a l l s e c t i o n s a n d e l e m e n t s of

t h e l a b o u r f o r c e . I t s v i e w i s t h a t e n g a g i n g in a c t i o n s w h i c h r e s u l t in t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of l a b o u r ' s c r e d i b i l i t y , i s f a r from p o s i t i v e a c t i v i t y .

TUCSA i s a l w a y s c o n s c i o u s of t h e f a c t t h a t t h e i n t e r e s t s of the w o r k e r s c o n c e r n e d a r e of p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e , a n d TUCSA d o e s not l i g h t l y c a l l for a c t i o n s w h i c h c o u l d r e s u l t in h a r d s h i p a n d s u f f e r i n g for t h e w o r k e r s i n v o l v e d . TUCSA t h e r e f o r e d i s t a n c e s i t s e l f c o m p l e t e l y from t h e v a r i o u s w o r k e r o r g a n i s a t i o n s who h a v e r e c e n t l y c o m m i t t e d t h e m s e l v e s to h a v e no c o n t a c t w h a t s o e v e r w i t h a n y G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t , s i n c e TUCSA ( a s t h e m a j o r e l e m e n t in t h e o r g a n i s e d t r a d e u n i o n m o v e m e n t ) i s d e e p l y c o m m i t t e d to t h e w e l f a r e a n d s o c i o - e c o n o m i c p r o g r e s s of a l l i t s a f f i l i a t e d u n i o n s ' m e m b e r s ,

a n d t h e w o r k e r s in g e n e r a l .

TUCSA a l s o c a n n o t be i d e n t i f i e d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , w i t h s t a t e m e n t s t h a t h a v e b e e n m a d e b y some o r g a n i s a t i o n s t h a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t of M a n p o w e r i s c o n d o n i n g t h e v e n d e t t a b e i n g w a g e d a g a i n s t t h e t r a d e u n i o n s b y t h e S e c u r i t y P o l i c e , s i n c e i t h a s seen no e v i d e n c e to

s u p p o r t t h e s e e x t r a v a g a n t a l l e g a t i o n s .

TUCSA a l s o d e p l o r e s s t a t e m e n t s to t h e effect t h a t p e r s o n s should not be b r o u g h t to t r i a l if t h e y h a v e committed a n o f f e n c e , since w h a t i s e v i d e n t l y b e i n g s o u g h t a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e i s " t h e a b o l i t i o n of a l l d e t e n t i o n l a w s " . As a l r e a d y s t a t e d on n u m e r o u s o c c a s i o n s , TUCSA b e l i e v e s in t h e rule of l a w , s i n c e to s u b s c r i b e to a n y t h i n g l e s s , a n d to s t r i v e for the i n t r o d u c t i o n of s o m e t h i n g e l s e , c a n o n l y l e a d to c h a o s a n d a n a r c h y .

TUCSA must a l s o e x p r e s s i t s d e e p - f e l t c o n c e r n a t r e c e n t h a s t y a n d i l l - c o n s i d e r e d s t a t e m e n t s by some i n d i v i d u a l s , c e r t a i n p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s , a n d some e m p l o y e r s . Many of t h e s t a t e m e n t s t h a t h a v e been made h a v e done n o t h i n g to a s s i s t in c a l m i n g o u r p r e s e n t v o l a t i l e l a b o u r r e l a t i o n s c l i m a t e . South A f r i c a ' s r a p i d l y d e v e l o p i n g l a b o u r a n d i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s s y s t e m s , which a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g a l l

the e x p e c t e d s t r e s s e s r e s u l t i n g from a d r a m a t i c a l l y c h a n g e d d i s p e n s a t i o n , n e e d s the i m p u t s of c a l m n e s s , m o d e r a t i o n , u n d e r s t a n d - ing a n d g o o d w i l l (if t h e s y s t e m s a r e g o i n g to s u c c e e d ) r a t h e r t h a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s of a n e m o t i o n a l a n d i r r e s p o n s i b l e n a t u r e .

TUCSA r e p e a t s i t s c o n v i c t i o n t h a t t h e i n t e r e s t s of i t s m e m b e r - s h i p , t h e w o r k e r s in g e n e r a l , a n d a l l of South A f r i c a ' s m a n i f o l d p e o p l e s , c a n b e s t be a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h o r d e r l y a n d p r o g r e s s i v e socio-economic a d v a n c e m e n t , b y s u b s c r i b i n g to u t i l i s i n g , a n d p a r t i c i p a t i n g in s o u n d a n d p r a c t i c a l l a b o u r a n d i n d u s t r i a l r e l a t i o n s s y s t e m s . Any a c t i v i t i e s which seek to s a b o t a g e t h e s e socio-economic g o a l s w i l l be v i g o r o u s l y r e s i s t e d by TUCSA, a n d i t s r a p i d l y g r o w i n g n o n - r a c i a l a n d n o n - s e c t i o n a l m e m b e r s h i p .