CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS

13 SEPTEMBER 2010

To: The Office of the Premier
Attention: The Premier
Madam Zille

Dear Premier, Honourable Madam Zille

RE: OPEN LETTER TO THE PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE

Kindly receive correspondence from our offices in respect of the Radio Station and the R2 million deal, representing the greatest "airtime scandal" in South Africa.

It's astounds COSATU that you have used public funds to promote yourself in this shameless manner. You then compound the problem by saying that other politicians should do the same as it is more effective way of communicating. This was clearly an attempt to promote yourself using lax payers money, when there were numerous other channels. The fact that you had concealed the payment, to the radio station, can only be viewed as fraudulent or at least immoral behaviour. We also urge other levels of Government to not follow your advice re buying airtime, as COSATU will be obliged to challenge them also

We cannot allow this conduct to go unchallenged, in the face of the overwhelming sentiments of the public against fraudulent conduct, and corruption. We accordingly call upon your good office to apologise for the misrepresentation, and reckless expenditure. We urge you not to continue to spend public funds to present an image that hides the obvious problems, when R 2 million could have assisted many desperate families with homes, or addressed the shortcomings in the resources in poor schools. This includes the disregard you show to poorer communities and the biased of your focus of govemance. in respect of expenditure. [he most urgent problems in our communities are the lack of delivery to the poorest of the poor. not the lack of communication to the wealthier communities. And the focus you chose is a decidedly political act, in the interest of your party

We vill give you until the 17:00 hours on Friday, 17 September 2010 to do the right thing. and apologise and reverse this immoral expenditure. Should you fail to do that we will on Monday 20 September 2010 lodge the following papers:

• Apply to the broadcasting complaints authority-about this shameless collusion between media and government to misspend public funds

• Apply to the public Protector - misuse of Public funds, and the attempts to deceive the public around immoral expenditure

• Apply to the Equality Court- spending public funds in a way that biases poor communities

• Apply to the Human Rights Commission - misusing public funds when an incredible social injury beckons

We are extremely disappointed, to see that your good office after having pledged to work against the rampant corruption, succumbed to unethical conduct to promote yourself.

We urge your good office to do the ethical thing.

Yours faithfully

Tony Ehrenreich

PROVINCIAL SECRETARY

Issued by COSATU Western Cape, September 13 2010

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