South African Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Thursday condemned trade unions that use racism in order to mobilise workers. The minister was agreeing with concerns raised by Fedusa General Secretary Chez Milani over the weekend regarding the activities of the all-white Solidarity Union.
Mdladlana emphasised that the South African Constitution guarantees both freedom of expression and freedom of association, but warned that organisations, whether predominantly black or white, which whip up hysteria over race in order to canvas for membership are playing a dangerous game.
“We want peace and stability in the workplace and the country as a whole,” the minister said.
“We are emerging from a painful past, where people were subjugated and exploited solely on the basis of race. Re-opening those wounds in such a divisive manner can only hamper the development of the non-racial society to which the majority of South Africans, black and white, aspire to,” he said.
He also pointed out that all challenges to Employment Equity Act, the undermining of which he said was the focus of much of Solidarity’s energy, had resulted in the courts repeatedly finding in favour of the proper implementation of the Act.
“The ANC’s struggle has never been against white people, our struggle has been against racism, the apartheid system and the oppression and exploitation of black people. We fought tirelessly for the total eradication of that system and for the establishment of a democratic order and a non-racial society,” – Mdladlana added. – I-Net Bridge