Durban — The National Association of South African Workers (Nasa) elected a new crop of leaders during the second national congress held in Pretoria on Saturday.
In an effort to reaffirm the position of the working class, the association also discussed economic issues that workers are confronted with.
The one-day congress saw the founder of the association, Mpho Morolane emerge as general secretary, deputised by Tshepo Maila, while Bongezwa Poti was elected president. The position of deputy president went to Simon Hina. Merriam Monkwe was elected as the treasurer with Ben Baloyi elected as organiser.
Additional leaders elected were Thulani Mangu, Lydia Senamela, Michael Magodla, Tlou Malebana and Brenda Mohlafase.
Speaking to the Daily News on Monday, Morolane, who is also the former EFF Student Command president, said his movement decided that their methods of organising had to change dramatically to counter attempts to delegitimize the struggle of workers.
“This was also a mandate from the working class on the revolutionary path the organisation has to embark on to find strategic ways of mobilising the working [class] towards the goal of economic liberation, to continue challenging self-serving juggernauts and reactionary employees, and crush the capital establishment by waging a war of ideas.
“The system of capitalism has been reinforcing itself, increasingly becoming aggressive on the working class. This disequilibrium manifests itself when employers have been pursuing policies that are hostile to workers and unions,” said Morolane.
Addressing the congress, the general secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), Zwelinzima Vavi said that it was important for the workers to unite and asked that Nasa consider joining Saftu.
On unemployment and lack of opportunities for young people, he said “the majority of the youth remain unemployed, and this means that five in 10 young people must resort to things such as drugs because they had nothing to do. They also do criminal things to try and survive because the country has failed to create opportunities for young people.”
Nasa was founded in June 2019 and started off as a vanguard of insourcing workers (cleaners, general worker and security guards) at Unisa that was successfully led by Morolane. As a result, the workers were in-sourced and their wages improved.
Daily News