The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) mourns the passing of struggle stalwart and former MEC for Eastern Cape Safety and Security, Dennis Neer. Neer passed away on Friday after a long illness. He was 77 years old.
Born in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, Neer had a two-year stint at Fort Hare University. In the late 1970s he worked for Ford Motor Company at Neave Township, when the plant produced the Ford Cortina model. Dumile Makanda, Sipho Filden Hina and Thozamile Botha were among his workmates who worked as time and motion study technicians controlling the production line.
When Ford workers downed tools, demanding better working conditions, Comrade Dennis joined the action and led the strike, demanding the implementation of Wiehan and Riekart Commissions’ recommendations, which were aimed at stabilising labour relations and stimulating economic growth.
Neer was also part of the protesters who pressured Ford South Africa to implement the Sullivan Code of Conduct, removing all discriminatory policies and racially based job reservation. His involvement in the Ford Motor strikes is what hurled him to the leadership of workers’ struggles in the region and ultimately saw the formation of Motor Assembly and Component Workers Union of South Africa (MACWUSA) and General Workers Union of South Africa (GWUSA). MACWUSA later came together with other unions to form the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA).
Neer and his comrades understood the workers’ struggle couldn’t be separated from community struggles, as a result they worked closely with other civil society movements including PEBCO and KWARU. Neer was also at the forefront of many a consumer boycott and also opposed to the Tri-cameral Parliament and Bantu Councils proposed by the Piet Koornhof Bill.
The 1980s saw Neer became an active member of COSATU predecessor, The South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). In 1981, he was among the leaders who were consulted when unity talks were initiated; the talks lasted four years and culminated in the formation of COSATU in December 1985. Neer emerged as a Provincial Secretary of COSATU.
Like his many of his contemporaries, he endured brutal torture by members of the Special Branch but never broke; instead he remained in the leadership structures of the Mass Democratic Movement until the release of leaders from Robben Island. Comrade Dennis was elected among the first Members of the Provincial Legislature in Bisho following the country’s first democratic election. The next year saw him appointed MEC of Safety and Security and contribute to the setting up of community policing forums in the Eastern Cape. Long serving, Neer held the office of Eastern Cape MEC of Safety, Liaison and Transport until 2004, and remained an MPL until the 2014 polls.
He is remembered as an activist, trade unionist, civic and community leader who served with distinction and exemplified the rare leadership qualities that are sorely needed today.
Hamba Kahle Qhawe.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela(COSATU National Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788/077 600 6639
Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za
donald@cosatu.org.za
mediadon.co.za
