Thembinkosi Qondela, a longstanding socialist activist, died this week due to COVID-19 related complications. He was a lifelong activist for social justice. Not many people who knew him realise that he worked on the mines for a year in the early 1990s where he came to understand the need to defend workers’ rights and the importance of health and safety at work. That experience, along with others might have been the spark to turn on his calling to make justice, equity and worker’s rights a reality. After moving to Cape Town, he became involved in various progressive socialist organisations, including serving as Assistant Regional Secretary for the Western Cape Unemployed Workers Movement, part-time assistant librarian at both Khanya College and the Trade Union Library and Education Centre, and as Resource Coordinator and then Assistant Researcher at the International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG).

Read more: Hamba Kahle Tembinkosi Qondela

Dear Comrades and Friends, 

We were recently informed of the sudden termination of the weekly Workers on Wednesday (WOW) labour show by SAFM management. No substantive reasons were given, nor discussed with us - the show’s co-producers, a non-profit NGO, Workers’ World Media Productions (WWMP). This comes as a great surprise to us because the show has been running successfully with great listnership and participation for 15 annual seasons. The show was the product of an agreement between the SABC and the trade union movement during 2004 and was the only dedicated labour show on all the SABC radio and TV channels. Yet business has so many dedicated slots as well as features in current affairs and news broadcasts.

The historical irony is that the WOW show’s cancellation comes at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic when dedicated labour shows are even more necessary. This high-handed action is unacceptable. Moreover, it has caused us to revisit our concerns about the failure of the SABC to meet its public mandate and the exclusion of dedicated labour shows our immediate issue.

Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in. Together we can reach heaps of people and help create change around this important issue.

After you've signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others. It's super easy – all you need to do is forward this email. 

Thank you!

SIGN THE PETITION

Workers formerly employed in South Africa's mines are living with occupational diseases acquired from working underground and living in the industry's hostels. While the gold mines have admitted their responsibility for the ill health of their employees, the agreed compensation for silicosis is a pittance and the coal, platinum and other mines have still to own up to their culpability. A life spent working for the mines invariably leads to an impoverished, sickly and painful end. The Unpaid Benefits Campaign seeks to change that. Elitsha speaks to some former mineworkers and widows of former mineworkers, and members of the UBC.

In the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, Elitsha spoke to community healthcare workers in Khayelitsha about the hazards of doing their work and followed them on their way to visit patients in their homes.