SASOL Ex-Workers are to Gather at SASOL’s Headquarters on May 2, 2007 from 10:00 to Remind SASOL of their Failure to Redress Harm Done to their Workers Wrongfully Dismissed nearly 20 years ago
Around two thousand four hundred SASOL 1, NATREF and FLUOR workers were unfairly dismissed twenty years ago when they participated in a strike that commenced on October 1, 1987. Some of these workers had service records of between twenty and thirty-five years. Seventy-seven workers lost their lives that day and in the following days, after SASOL’s management called on the riot police to intervene.
It should be noted that the number of workers killed as a result of SASOL’s actions in October 1987 is even greater than the number killed at Sharpeville on 21 March, 1961. SASOL has not yet resolved this shameful event in its Apartheid history.
SASOL Ex-Workers are to Gather at SASOL’s Headquarters on May 2, 2007 from 10:00 to Remind SASOL of their Failure to Redress Harm Done to their Workers Wrongfully Dismissed nearly 20 years ago
Around two thousand four hundred SASOL 1, NATREF and FLUOR workers were unfairly dismissed twenty years ago when they participated in a strike that commenced on October 1, 1987. Some of these workers had service records of between twenty and thirty-five years. Seventy-seven workers lost their lives that day and in the following days, after SASOL’s management called on the riot police to intervene. Khulumani Support Group has the names of seven hundred and fifty dismissed SASOL workers, the seventy-seven who were killed, others who were maimed, and those who have died in the subsequent years.
A meeting was held at SASOL’ s Headquarters on May 19, 2006 with nine representatives of the ex-workers, a former TRC Commissioner, Khulumani Support Group, and other interested parties. Proposals for attention of the Board of SASOL were requested by SASOL and were formally submitted to the head office in Rosebank on June 21, 2006. Apart from acknowledgement of receipt of the proposals, no official response from SASOL’s Board has yet been received.
About two hundred ex-workers together with other members of the Vaal Region of Khulumani Support Group will march around SASOL’ s Headquarters on Wednesday May 2, 2007, from 10:00 and a Memorandum will be handed to a representative of SASOL management.
It should be noted that the number of workers killed as a result of SASOL’s actions in October 1987 is even greater than the number killed at Sharpeville on 21 March, 1961. SASOL has not yet resolved this shameful event in its Apartheid history. The ex-workers have not given up their quest for justice, the restoration of their lives, and their dignity.
Khulumani Support Group believes these events are a blot on the corporate records of SASOL, NATREF and FLUOR. Khulumani believes it is time for SASOL to deal with its past and the unjust treatment of its former employees. We call on SASOL to respond to and engage with the proposals submitted in June 2006. This would send a powerful message to the nation and to the world, that SASOL is in fact committed to reconciliation in South Africa.
For further information or comment, please contact
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Mr Lenning Makhiwane, SASOL Ex-Workers? Committee: 083 954 6417 or (016) 974 1064 or
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Mr Tshepo Madlingozi, Advocacy Coordinator, Khulumani Support Group on 082 496 9914
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Mr Zweli Mkhize, National Liaison Officer, Khulumani Support Group on 073 704 6414
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Mr Freedom Ngubonde, National Coordinator, Khulumani Support Group on (011) 339 5031
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Dr Marjorie Jobson, Acting Director, Khulumani Support Group on 082 268 0223
