ANC must 'choose' sides
2001-08-29 16:23
Johannesburg - The ANC should decide whether it wanted to
listen to the workers who voted them into power or side with
"capitalists", National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general-secretary Gwede Mantashe said on Wednesday.
"We elected the ANC to defend us and protect our interests,"
Mantashe said to a thunderous applause from more than 5 000 workers at a Cosatu gathering at Johannesburg's Library Gardens.
Mantashe warned the ANC-led government to remember who put them in power, saying its privatisation programme could provide the "right-wing" an opportunity to gain the support of the poor.
He said the ANC government should side with the exploited and not support those who could afford basic needs.
He added that when the government replaced the Reconstruction and Development Programme with Growth, Employment and Redistribution (Gear) Programme, it was clear it had privatisation in mind.
"We are totally against Gear which have conservative plans that doesn't protect the interest of workers. Privatisation will take away the benefit of improving the lives of the poor citizens.
"We cannot be told jobs will be created while we see government destroying jobs," he said.
Mantashe said the stayaway was historic in that workers were
highlighting their differences with the government they elected
into power.
"But the question is, are these differences reconcilable or not. If they are reconcilable, the interests of the workers should be protected."
- SAPA