Cosatu gives xenophobia a red cad

The big Bafana Bafana t-shirt was signed by the likes of the Cosatu Secretary General Zwelibanzi Vavi, its president Sdumo Dlamini, Dr Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist Church and the presidents of the affiliates Presidents. The president of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) Cedric Gina told The Zimbabwean that they are in solidarity with all the workers from all over the world. He says, we want to highlight the wrongs of xenophobia. It was barbaric. We want to encourage all the workers not look down upon workers who come from other countries to look for jobs in South Africa. It is not because of their own making. Workers come from Zimbabwe to South Africa because of the political and economic situation in that country. We do not want to see xenophobia again. Today we are giving it a red card. Some Zimbabwean workers depend on South Africa for their livelihood. They have to be treated as brothers and sisters. They will continue coming here for as long as problems in that country are not solved We want to re-claim soccer as a working class sport in South Africa and the continent, geared towards fostering solidarity, peace, friendship and elimination of racial, class and tribal divides.. Cedric says during xenophobia one of their members who was born and bred in Mozambique was killed. The Numsa president says his organizations members and 2million Cosatu members have to welcome visitors and those coming to South Africa for the world cup. Mr. Gina says xenophobia disturbs the working class from pursuing their programmes and struggles. He says they want to use sport to raise consciousness among the people to nib xenophobia in the bud. The Cosatu spokes person Peter Craven concurred with Numsa saying they sympathize with workers from other countries. He says they have a duty to assist in developing the economies of their neighbours like Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Mr. Craven says, Xenophobia is used by capitalist to divide the workers. Some employers abuse and exploit the workers from other countries to make a quick and fat profit. They turn the workers against each other because they know that divided we fall together we stand. To us the injury to one is an injury to all. The President of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa Mabutho Sithole says as they celebrate Africa day they are extending their African-ness and ubuntu ( humanity). Mr. Sithole says they want to extend their hands of friendship to African brothers and sisters who were attacked before. He states that the coming world cup is an African spackle. Mabutho Sithole says the music gala to open the world cup was supposed to have many African singers like Salif Keita and Oliver Mtukudzi.