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Numsa not planning to overthrow government

Sunday 7 December 2014

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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has rejected reports that it and other forces are plotting to overthrow the South African government.

Numsa Western Cape secretary Vuyo Lufele spoke to the SABC in Langa during the provincial launch of the United Front for Workers and Communities, a Numsa initiative.

The launch is a build-up to the national launch of the United Front in the second week of December.

Lufele says Numsa is not fighting the government but its neo-liberal policies. “One would have to understand that we are in the class struggle, and ours is to ensure that we are overthrowing neo-liberal policies.“”People would feel that there is an overthrow of government, there is no overthrow of government. The only thing that we hate is the neo-liberal policies, and therefore if people would interpret doing away with neo-liberal policies as to overthrow government it is their choice,” explains Lufele.

No freedom without land

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Non-Racial Community Movement says there can be no freedom if people do not have access to land.

The movement’s deputy chairperson Mtobeli Kona has described access to land as a fundamental human right.

“As Cosaco, we are saying we are supporting Numsa and we have been waiting for this time long ago. Because in 1994 the government said there will be freedom for all, but there is no freedom, there is no land.

"You can’t say we are free - from what.? Land first and then you can talk about freedom. We are saying there must be nationalisation of mines and then the government must stop selling companies to the private sectors,” adds Kona.

Numsa launches new social movement

A new social movement, initiated by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) was launched on the Cape Flats on Saturday.

The movement is an attempt to merge trade unions, and existing community organisations.

Saturday’s launch is part of the build-up, to a national launch in December. The new movement aims to include ’all credible organisations with differing ideologies that seek to improve the lives of South African people’.

"Their struggles, if they are not brought together, and be together under one umbrella, the working class shall never win,” says Numsa’s Western Cape Secretary Vuyo Luvele.

Many have welcomed the move.

"We want to unite as communities, all the forces that are affected by the issues of the communities, we as Ses’khona thought let us be part of this,” says Ses’khona’s Khaya Kama.

Some remain cautious however. “Yes in the overall move to bring a relief for the people in this country we will support but many issues still need to be ironed out, until then we support this,” says United Front Against Gangsters and Drugs’ Abdus Salaam Ebrahim.

The Congress of the People (COPE) was also present. "This movement which has been steadily going on is something that needs to be understood and we thought it’s important for ourselves to come and inform ourselves on what is happening to evaluate,” says COPE Leader Mosioua Lekota.

Many feel government has failed to improve their living standards. The national launch is expected to take place in Johannesburg on December 13.

For further statements see ESSF and scroll down.