Letter from Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

14 February 2017

Dear Bheki Ntshalintshali,
COSATU General Secretary

The International Trade Union Confederation [ITUC] stands in solidarity with Bongani Masuku, the International Relations Secretary of South African Trade Unions [COSATU], who is facing a trial before the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg today, 14 February 2017.

Invitation from United Front (Joburg region) to organise against xenophobia
Issued 9 February 2017

We are writing to you because we are concerned that xenophobia is rearing its ugly head again in South Africa. In our recent meetings we have been getting reports from various community organisations and civics which suggest this. There does not seem to be any threat of violence yet, but we all know how quickly these things can escalate. We are worried that public figures such as the Mayor of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba have made some xenophobic statements against “illegal foreigners” who hijack buildings in the city. Most seriously, an organisation in Mamelodi is trying to organise a march against “foreigners” in the community – blaming them for the structural unemployment crisis, suggesting that South Africa shouldn’t give refuge to refugees, accusing migrants of drugging women and selling them as sex slaves. What is most worrying is that this organisation has been contacting other areas such Alexandra in an attempt to spread their xenophobic ideas.

Dear friends

In December a fact-finding mission by a civil society delegation from Tanzania, visited the Kayelekera uranium mining complex in northern Malawi. They were arrested on 22nd as “Tanzanian spies”, and have been jailed ever since. The accusations have ranged from trespass to being members of a foreign organisation. Their case was due to be reviewed on 4 January, but they remain in Mzuzu jail in Malawi over six weeks later. The delegation included Caritas workers as well as local farmers from the area where uranium is likely to be prospected in southern Tanzania.