The document says we went to SA to visit workers and communities and to be able to report to workers here on the status of workers there. We thank CLUW sisters for your contributions to our trip. The document says Cole and I had been part of the ILNAA whose goal was to stand in solidarity with the SA trade union movement in its economic (such as) and its political objectives (the overthrow of apartheid); because of ILNAA, we. were · hosted in SA primarily by the Metalworkers union. The document says we visited the cities of Durban, Johannesburg and Capetown, went to 8-10 townships outside those cities; visited some work sites, some people in their homes, and met with a few labor and...
The document says we went to SA to visit workers and communities and to be able to report to workers here on the status of workers there. We thank CLUW sisters for your contributions to our trip. The document says Cole and I had been part of the ILNAA whose goal was to stand in solidarity with the SA trade union movement in its economic (such as) and its political objectives (the overthrow of apartheid); because of ILNAA, we. were · hosted in SA primarily by the Metalworkers union. The document says we visited the cities of Durban, Johannesburg and Capetown, went to 8-10 townships outside those cities; visited some work sites, some people in their homes, and met with a few labor and political officials. The document says as you know, SA is in a state of transition; it's been one year only since the election took place to install a temporary national government to begin the transition from apartheid to democracy. The document says when we were there the 1st budget of the new SA was passed. The document says there was great dialogue taking place on who should be given amnesty for past crimes; people were working on their first voter registration drive, to get all people registered for the 1st democratic -elections at the local level that will take place on October 31; they need to set up voting boundaries, precincts, city council structures, etc., etc. The document says another thing that's happening is this; in years past, the civic organizations in the townships had boycotted services and fees of the apartheid regime; much of the land, housing and public utilities were owned by the regime; people had refused to pay rather than give $ to the regime. The document says but now the new government has to figure out how to get people to pay something so that there is money to make improvements; but people don't want to pay because there are yet no improvements; so government leaders like Moses Mayekiso are campaigning for people to pay their fair share; the ironies are many. The document says today there is a group of officials in power, composed of the ANC with the massive support of trade unions; on the ground, there is some skepticism about public officials. The document says I cannot emphasize enough: Everything, but everything has to be redone; the scope of what needs to be done is overwhelming. The document says we're going to show some of our slides; I'll go through some quickly because of time, but will stop' for a few questions as we go along. The document says South Africa's history draws many parallels to the U.S. cities look a lot like Chicago; they are made up of people of all races. The document says outside the cities are the areas called TOWNSHIPS - Areas where black WORKERS under apartheid had to live; because of economics, these areas are still segregated in the same way they were prior to ending apartheid. The document says HOMELANDS - Rural wastelands where those not useful to the white run economy were forced to live; old people, etc. The document says now that people are no longer officially segregated, impoverished people from the homelands are moving to the townships, and have set up massive squatter camps. The document says and then there are· the RURAL FARMLANDS and the question of who owns the land is a primary issue of concern. [Notes: This document is apparently prepared remarks by Kathy Devine to a CLUW (Coalition of Labor Union Women) meeting on June 20, 1995 about a trip she took with Cole Wright to South Africa. The correct spelling of the city is Cape Town.]
