Isaiah 9: 6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“The King of the world, he who was to deliver us from evil, was born in a stable and only the shepherds witnessed his glory. But the sight of the angels, of the brilliance, at his birth was a foretaste of his glory that is extended to us. We can live and die in piece, because a Child was born unto us and a Son was given unto us. He will bring peace and prosperity for all eternity and his kingdom will be upheld through justice and righteousness.” Cecile Cilliers

Solidarity and the Solder team wish all members and readers a blessed Christmas. May Christmas 2011 be filled with joy, love and thankfulness.

This is the last issue of Solder for 2011. The next issue
will be published in the first week of January 2012.

Solidarity Movement looks back on a year of success and growth

By Moira-Marie Kloppers

Solidarity: A year of service
During 2011, trade union Solidarity gave back more than R259 million, that is, more than R21 million a month – almost three times more than its average monthly income from member contributions – to Solidarity members in the form of legal successes and claimed member benefits.

According to Ilze Nieuwoudt, Solidarity spokesperson, Solidarity’s legal department made history this year when a record amount of more than R250,5 million was awarded to Solidarity members in legal actions. This amount includes more than R206,5 million in compensation paid out in respect of occupational health and safety claims and close to R47 million awarded in respect of cases heard in the Labour Court and general litigation.

The trade union also paid out member benefits exceeding R6 million in 2011, of which R33 000 was paid out in respect of permanent disability claims and R446 250 was paid out in maternity benefits. Further, Solidarity paid out more than R5,6 million as part of the Solidarity funeral benefit to hundreds of families who lost loved ones.

Kraal-Uitgewers: A year of remembrance
Kraal-Uitgewers once again played its part in telling history the way only our people can tell it. Two superb books captured the stories of the thousands of soldiers who fought on the border and victims of farm attacks in modern-day South Africa.

Solidarity Financial Services: A year of growth
The short-term insurance product of Solidarity Financial Services experienced unprecedented growth during 2011. The short-term scheme showed 19,8% growth compared with last year and net growth of 1 050 policies.

The Campus: A year of dreaming big
Solidarity’s new higher education institution is expected to be all set for the registration of its first students as early as next year. In 2011, four programmes, three in managerial sciences and one in social sciences, were developed within the new Higher Education Framework and accredited with the Council on Higher Education. Furthermore, The Campus is expected to receive its official registration certificate as a higher education institution from the Department of Higher Education and Training soon.

Maroela Media: A year of putting down roots
Maroela Media, Solidarity’s new media platform, was launched on 29 July this year and aims to become a prominent online meeting place for Afrikaans speakers around the world. Maroela offers its visitors daily news, a debate platform called Dié Groot Debat where some 50 leading Afrikaans opinion formers blog and debate about topical issues, a blog functionality, news on literature, the arts and music, reviews, theatre and festival calendars, spiritual guidance and much more. Contributions are accompanied by video recordings, sound bites and other multimedia. The website is designed to encourage and facilitate interaction.

Sol-Tech: A year of progress
2001 was a year of progress for Sol-Tech in all respects. A brand-new training model was implemented that will cut down on costs and increase the intake of new students to 800 per annum as of next year. Sol-Tech is also planning to introduce new courses in 2012. Furthermore, students who did not meet the minimum requirements in the past can now apply for a bridging course that will prepare them for N1, ensuring that Sol-Tech can continue to yield skilled artisans.

AfriForum: A year of victory
It was a busy year for AfriForum, the biggest challenge being the hate speech case against Julius Malema. The organisation also expanded significantly during the year, with 21 new branches being established nationwide. AfriForum’s new environmental division has also already achieved successful results and took on several environmental issues such as the sewage crisis in the Apies River and illegal mining activities in the Grootvlei and Naboomspruit areas.

Solidarity Helping Hand: A year of hope
Several highlights marked Solidarity Helping Hand’s efforts to sow hope in South Africa. One of the big highlights was Helping Hand’s convention that was held in Bloemfontein in August. Another highlight was Helping Hand’s first mass hunger strike and Facebook telethon in aid of the Lunchbox Project. Furthermore, the Afrikaans Bursary Institute, administrated by Helping Hand, grew to more than 50 bursary loans and helped thousands of prospective students to take the first steps towards a better future. Helping Hand also took further action to fight unemployment through the establishment of WerkNet, an online jobs portal for skilled employees.