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'Disaster waiting to happen'
02/05/2008 08:14 - (SA)
Durban - The current electricity crisis and the proposed huge jump in tariffs is a manifestation of a disaster in waiting, African National Congress (ANC) secretary general and SA Communist Party chairperson Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday.
He was speaking at the May Day celebration at Curries Fountain stadium in Durban.
"The food prices make the availability of a plate (of food) every night almost a luxury rather than a right and is a reflection of a system that puts profits before people," he said.
"The oil prices... are a reminder that the international rules are meant for the poor nations...The high interest rates that are used to fight inflation driven by external factors is indeed a blunt tool."
And all these, said Mantashe, were impacting negatively on the poor and working people.
Mantashe also said the health system in South Africa was headed for a disaster.
"The signs of our health system heading for a disaster are there for all of us to see, whether it is scores of babies dying of contaminated water or babies dying of klebsiella..."
Energy summit
He said the beginning of wisdom will be on the alliance acknowledging the crisis rather than "just waiting for opposition parties to hurl insults at us".
He said they were hoping that these problems would be dealt with at the energy summit on May 16.
"It is the responsibility of the alliance partners to be where the people are and provide the necessary leadership and guidance... Our movement must remain the hope of the people and represent their aspirations," he said.
Mantashe also spoke of workers' rights and said "still today" many workers do not enjoy their rights.
May Day, he said, reflected centuries of struggle against exploitation of one man by another.
He said the basic demand of an eight hour shift or a 40-hour week had not been met "by our beloved country".
"This defies the more than a century long struggle for a human being to have eight hours for working, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for sleeping."
Hundreds gathered at the stadium, wearing red Cosatu T-shirts and among the dignitaries was provincial MEC for Agriculture Mtolephi Mthimkhulu.
Other speakers included Julius Sithole, Cosatu's deputy chairperson and Thulas Nxesi, a central executive committee member.
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