Johannesburg — The National Union Of Metalworkers and the International Metalworkers Federation will reward R20 000.00 for any person with information leading to the discovery of Mr. Rui Benjamin Cossa. He disappeared somewhere between the Garden City Clinic and Braamfontein on Thursday 24 May. The last call from his cell phone was at 15.14.
His car, a red VW Jetta, registration number FDR 363 GP was found abandoned at the corner of Smit Street and Station Road in Braamfontein. It was locked, slightly damaged and the radio was missing. Mr. Cossa is currently the coordinator of the Metalworkers unions in Africa. He was also a General Secretary of the Mozambican Federations of Trade Unions and former Governor of Maputo Province. NUMSA, COSATU and International Metalworkers Federation expresses its grave concern at the disappearance of Rui Benjamin Cossa, an official with the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF). The three organisations are scared and worried about the disappearance of Mr. Cossa. It is highly unusual for a senior trade unionist to disappear without trace.
NUMSA and the South African Police Services have searched for Mr. Cossa at mortuaries and hospitals without trace. The union distributed 10 000 pamphlets in inner City Johannesburg, Hillbrow, Berea, Braamfonteinand Yeoville. We have notified the Mozambican authorities about his sudden disappearance
He has given assistance to African workers in the fight to improve their living standards and working conditions. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa confirm that he coordinates the activities of IMF with dedication and zeal. The South African Police Services and metalworkers have been searching for Mr. Cossa but so far there are no signs of his whereabouts and COSATU, NUMSA and the IMF are appealing to community to come forward and help to find him.
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We call upon the police to make this investigation a top priority and leave no stone unturned until he is found. We also urge the media to give the story as much publicity as possible and appeal to their readers, viewers and listeners to help with information.
For more information Contact Mr. Dumisa Ntuli at 689 1700 or cell 0829737282 or Mr. Ekkie Esau 339 1825/26 cell 0829008017 or Captain Scheepers 0837776601
Contact 082-821-7456 Patrick Craven or Moloto Mothapo for further comment.
Visit the COSATU web site at http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html for copies of our most recent press statements. For the full archive go to: http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/archive.html.
