COSATU Mpumalanga condemns the attack on SACP Mpumalanga Memorial Lecture

26 JANUARY 2015

The brutal and violent attack on the SACP members who were attending the Joe Slovo and Jimmy Mohlala memorial lecture on 25 January 2015 at KaNyamazane Hall in Mpumalanga, is condemned in the strongest possible terms by COSATU in the province.

COSATU believes that this attack on the SACP by criminals and thugs masquerading as ANC members, if not well managed, has the potential of causing permanent strife and rupture amongst the Alliance partners in the province.

We believe that it was a well calculated work of political thugs and mafias who do not appreciate the historical relationship that exists between the SACP and the ANC that dates back to many decades.

This historical relationship was well articulated by comrade Oliver Tambo when he said "The relationship between the SACP and the ANC is not an accident of history, nor is it a natural and inevitable development, for as we can see, similar relationships have not emerged in the course of liberation struggles in other parts of the Africa."

COSATU calls on all members of the Alliance structures to exercise the highest level of political discipline, calmness and political maturity during this difficult and highly provocative period.

COSATU fully agrees with the ANC that this is the work of hooligans and not the ANC.

We commit to work within the Alliance to try and find a lasting solution to the challenge that is presently engulfing the province.

COSATU calls on the police to leave no stone unturned in trying to bring the culprits to book.

Statement issued by COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, Fidel Mlombo, January 26 2015

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