Communique of meeting
DOCUMENT
SOUTH AFRICA federation is to consolidate their affiliates; rapidly membership and effect conversion of the general unions which are part of COSATU into an industry-based union; within each industry bring about mergers in order to realise the principle of one industry, one union and to unite the entire working force of our country under the banner of COSATU. At the same time, as a representative of our working class,
WE PUBLISH below the text of a communique issued following talks between COSATU [Congress of South African Trade Unions], SACTU [South African Congress of Trade Unions] and the ANC [African National Congress] on March 6 in Lusaka, Zambia. The communique is dated March 7, 1986.
Delegations of the Executive of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) the National Executive of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) and the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) met in Lusaka on March 5 and 6, 1986.
The respective delegations were led by comrade Naidoo, general secretary of COSATU, comrade John K Nkadimeng, general secretary of SACTU and comrade Oliver Tambo, president of the ANC. During the course of the discussions COSATU and SACTU held a separate session to discuss matters of common interest as trade unionists.
The meeting resulted from the common concern of all parties arising from the fundamental and deep-seated economic, social and political crisis into which the Botha regime and the apartheid system of national oppression and class exploitation have plunged our country. There was common understanding that the Pretoria regime and the ruling class of South Africa are powerless to provide any real and meaningful solutions to this general crisis, that lasting solutions can only emerge from the national liberation movement, headed by the ANC, and the entire democratic forces of our country, of which COSATU is an important and integral part.
In this regard it was recognized that the fundamental problem facing our country, the question of political power, cannot be resolved without the full participation of the ANC, which is regarded by the majority of the people of South Africa as the overall leader and genuine representative.
The meeting recognized that the emergence of COSATU as the giant democratic and progressive trade union federation in our country is an historic event in the process of uniting our working class and will immeasurably strengthen the democra-
International Viewpoint 21 April 1986 tic movement as a whole.
After extensive discussions on the international situation, characterized by a warm of comradeship, delegations agreed on a number of important issues. They agreed that the solution to the problems facing our country lies in the establishment of a system of majority rule in a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa. Further, that in the specific conditions of our country it is inconceivable that such a system can be separated from economic emancipation. Our people have been robbed of their land, deprived of their due share in the country's wealth, their skills have been suppressed and poverty and starvation have been their life experience. The correction of these centuries-old economic injustices lies at the core of our national aspirations. Accordingly they were united not only in their opposition to the entire apartheid system, but also in their common understanding that victory must embrace more than formal political democracy.
The COSATU delegation explained that the principal tasks facing their The repressive face of the regime (DR)
COSATU is seized with the task of engaging the workers in the general democratic struggle, both as an independent organization and as an essential component of the democratic forces of our country. In this regard, the advancement of the interests of the workers and the democratic struggle of our people requires that COSATU, in working together with the other democratic mass organizations, seek to build disciplined alliances so as to ensure that the mobilization of our people in united mass action also deepens the organizational basis of all demo cratic organizations of the people.
The delegation of the ANC also reported to the meeting on its policy, its programme, its strategy and tactics. The ANC emphasized the need for the greatest possible mobilization of all the people of our country to join in united political action against the apartheid regime, equally and in combination with the mass political struggle. The ANC also stressed the importance of the armed struggle to defend the people against the enemy armed forces and to give the people the possibility to seize power from a white minority regime which holds on to power by the use of force.
The three delegations agreed that it is of central importance that the campaign for the immediate unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, should develop with even greater intensity. They agreed that the three organizations would do their utmost
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between COSATU, SACTU and the ANC