COSATU condemns irresponsible statement by Julius Malema

 The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns Julius Malema's irresponsible call for "a national strike at all the mines until Frans Baleni and the NUM leadership step down with immediate effect".

He is playing a dangerous game, exploiting the emotions of angry workers. This can only inflame tensions within the mining industry, flames which he is quite incapable of quenching.

It is revealing that his main target is not the capitalist employers, who are responsible for the mine-workers' low wages and terrible conditions, but their union, the National union of Mineworkers.

COSATU urges the workers not to allow themselves to be used as a political football, to remain united and strong and to focus their anger on their real enemy, the mining bosses.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, September 11 2012

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