Source: Cosatu
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province is highly disturbed by the increase in rape, killings and all forms of gender-based violence that is terrorising our community.

COSATU has noted that it has now become a daily activity that a person is raped, killed or both in this country and our province seems to be taking a lead in these kinds of crimes and social ills.

COSATU believes that this is a matter for society as a whole and cannot be left unchallenged, as it will continue to doom the future of our children and ruin the reputation of our country. It is high time that society as a whole must stand up and fight against this monster that is terrorising our country.

On another matter COSATU has noted the eruption of racism and racially discriminatory activities in the province, as illustrated by the recent activities in the North West University Potchefstroom Campus where there were Nazi greetings earlier this year during the orientation of new students.

This is not the beginning but a continuation and it will be very rife as we approach the elections. COSATU knows for a fact that farmers who are DA and AWB members are going to evict farm workers and farm dwellers just because they do not want them to vote.

The North West University continues to host of all sorts of racial activities and racism continues to thrive at this university.

As a start to the fight against this monster, COSATU has come up with a campaign that will draw the attention of society as a whole to act in defence of our children and our country, including our women and the workers, as they are affected on a daily basis.

The campaign will be in a form of a march in Potchefstroom and COSATU, together with all federations which are affiliated to ITUC, its alliance partners and the civil society organisations will hand over a memorandum to government, HRC, NPA, DOL and the University of North West and the National Prosecuting Authority to highlight our concern.

We support the call of dissolution of the council and the appointment of a new team that will take the transformation program of our government forward.

It is disappointing that someone who has been there watching all these racial activities and enjoying them now wants to leave; they must all go.

The march will be on 21st March 2014 at 10h00 and will start from Potchefstroom taxi rank and go to the office of the university of North West Potchefstroom campus where the memorandum will be delivered.

We are taking this action on the Human Rights Day to defend our constitutional rights.

COSATU calls on all members of the community to come in numbers to support this action as it affects the society as a whole.
For more information contact Solly Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, at 082 304 4055

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