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The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has convened a Special National Executive Committee (NEC) for 3-4 September 2019.

Today, our Special NEC reflected on the never-ending, escalating and horrific attacks of violence and abuse against women and children.

Our Special NEC is disgusted by these developments,  condemns it in the strongest terms. We call on our law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of such horrendous deeds to book, swiftly and uncompromisingly. They must rot in jail for a very long time.

Our Special NEC calls for the following additional actions:

1. The establishment of a R50m strong clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL)  fund to be built up over the next 5 years, to provide medical, legal, psychological, care, protection and other forms of support for victims of violence and abuse from our industry.

To kickstart this fund, we will campaign amongst our members for a once-of R1 levy contribution. We will approach all other stakeholders in our industry, including employers and retailers, to contribute to this fund.

2. The establishment of a R1bn strong national support fund, under the auspices of NEDLAC, and to be built up over the next 10 years and to which all South Africans will be requested to voluntarily contribute. We will request the next COSATU Central Executive Committee (CEC) to initiate this proposal at NEDLAC.

3. The immediate and fastracked introduction of Parliamentary legislation for the ratification of the "Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work" (Convention No 190 of 2019), recently adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at its 108th International Labour Conference (ILC) session, held in Geneva in June this year.

4. Each of our 125 000 members, male and female, to take an Oath at their workplaces, committing to do everything in their power to fight the scourge of violence and abuse against women and children.

5. Encourage our structures and members to actively support protests against violence and abuse of women and children. Our Special NEC will immediately  lead by example and join the picket against gender-based violence at Parliament tomorrow morning.

6. Convene a series of sports and cultural events before the end of this year, which we will use as social events to conciontise our members about the problems of women and child abuse in our society.

Over the next few weeks, we will tighten the modalities to implement the above decisions taken by our Special NEC today.

7. Call on COSATU to arrange a mass march, to highlight workers' condemnation of such unacceptable horrific instances of violence and abuse against women and children.

Issued by SACTWU