It is workers in this country, who, having to support large families, live below the poverty line comparable with even the poorest nations, receive low wages, and yet create more, and more wealth and more and more profits for the bosses. The recent tragic death of eleven workers at a factory in Lenasia is a sad testimony of a resistance to change by many employers. Unfortunately, Lenasia is just the tip of an iceberg. Earlier on we mentioned a number of achievements which have been scored by the working class. However, there are a number of challenges that face us in the important task of social and economic transformation.
Poverty represents the biggest threat to our people.
As a result the gap between the rich and the poor is ever-widening. The high unemployment is another challenge that the economy must confront. We will continue to challenge and assist government in unearthing these unhealthy, dangerous, and humiliating working conditions endured by workers despite the existence of progressive laws outlawing these practices. Our unions must intensify the fight to protect workers from these unscrupulous employers, to provide the services we promise them, and be accountable to our members. We pay tribute to the trade union stalwarts such as of RD Naidu, Elijah Barayi, Sam Ntuli, Harry Gwala, Sam Ntambane, Dorothy Mokgalo, Bheki Mkhize, and many others We also salute those who are alive, still seized with the struggles to better the lives of our people in other spheres of social and political life.