Posted on

DA wishes Gauteng workers a peaceful Workers’ Day

by John Moodey MPL – DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

The Democratic Alliance would like to wish all workers in Gauteng a restful and peaceful Workers’ Day.

It is the working and middle classes that contribute immensely to keeping Gauteng on track but are often the first to bear the brunt of government failings and misguided policy choices.

The working and middle classes have had to endure the costs of e-Tolls, increased VAT, fuel and food prices which have pushed many of them beyond their means.

The DA will continue to champion policies which ensure that families and communities receive a break from the rising cost of living.

We will also introduce policies to create an environment conducive to afford more unemployed residents of the province an opportunity to get ahead in life through meaningful employment.

Come 2019, we will radically shift the playing fields for all of Gauteng’s residents to ensure that there is more than a new dawn. We will create a better tomorrow.

Posted on

R15.2 million allocated for all public holidays in Gauteng

In a written response to a DA question, Gauteng Premier David Makhura revealed that R15.2 million of the provincial budget will be spent on public holidays in the province.

This is a colossal waste of public funds as money could be better spent in developing the township economy and assisting the 242 000 young people that are unemployed in the province with finding a job.

The Premier revealed the breakdown of costs per public holiday as follows:

Freedom Day – 27 April R2.4 million
Workers Day – 1 May R200 000
Youth Day – 16 June R3.2 million
Women’s Day – 9 August R2.5 million
Heritage Day – 24 September R8 million + R2.5million from Arts & Culture budget

The Premier and the ANC have only paid lip service to the “radical economic transformation” they wish to implement in the province.

The provincial government could have collaborated with civil society, trade unions and private organisations to drastically cut expenditure and save money on these days of national celebration.

However, the ANC-run province of Gauteng will now further extend a hand of patronage to service providers closely linked to their organisation.

The DA will submit further questions on these celebrations to ascertain the exact amount of money spent, supply chain management processes followed and the procurement of service providers in order to celebrate these days.

It is disingenuous that jobseekers in the province struggle to find work whilst millions of rands are spent on frivolous ribbon-cutting exercises.

Media Enquiries

Kingsol Chabalala MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage
060 558 8299

Yaseen Carelse
Media and Issues Specialist
073 895 5789

Posted on

DA Debates Workers’ Day

Note to editors: The following speeches were delivered in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature today by the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC of Social Development Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC of COGTA&HS, Fred Nel MPL, and DA Spokesperson on Community Safety, Michele Clarke MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC of Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL, during a debate on Workers’ Day.

 

Speech by: Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL

“High unemployment rate casts shadow on Worker’s day”

  • We cannot celebrate a country spiraling on a downward trend where over 700 jobs are lost per day.
  • The economy is not growing fast enough, corruption under ANC watch has been rampant, and higher education opportunities are few if you are poor.
  • It is equally shocking to note that the exposure of young South Africans to hunger is increasing. That is why I say, we cannot celebrate the freedom of workers while forgetting that so many are not working.
  • More importantly, the establishment of workers day is about a culture of human and worker rights and to ensure that these are enshrined in the national law. The real fight for today remains ensuring all South Africans economically active.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by: Fred Nel MPL

“South Africa’s economic growth too low to create employment”

  • Unions started out to improve the working conditions of workers especially those who worked in dirty and unsafe factories.
  • One could argue that unions have morphed into organisations reaching beyond their core function in society.
  • It is difficult to celebrate this day when a quarter of our population do not have employment opportunities available to them.
  • South Africa’s economic growth rate is too low to create jobs, in fact jobs are being cut as a result of this low growth, however, the situation can be turned around through the DA’s Vision 2029.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by: Michele Clarke MPL

“Workers’ day should focus on transformation and job creation”

  • Histories that should never be taken for granted as they lead the way in establishing the rights and opportunities we enjoy today
  • For too many South Africans the political freedom achieved in 1994 has not been matched with economic freedom under the current government.  The fact that, one out of every four South Africans, does not have a job is in an indictment on the notion of economic freedom.
  • Workers day should be focused on transformation and escaping poverty.
  • Commitment to economic transformation is a priority for the DA in government. Where the DA governs, 80% of tenders over R100 000 going to black owned firms.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by: Khume Ramulifho MPL

“A fair society creates work opportunities for everyone”

  • It is unfortunate that certain labour unions abuse workers’ rights by engaging in illegal strikes, vandalize public facilities or use violent methods to express their frustrations whenever their expectations or demands are not met.
  • There are many who have given up, others are considering giving up because they have been looking for job opportunities with no success
  • In order to create a fair society, people must get opportunity to work.
  • It is time to encourage innovation and creative thinking. The idea should be to broaden the pool of employed people.
  • Just imagine South Africa under the DA led government where we become a beacon of hope with a strong growing economy which creates countless job opportunities.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Refiloe Nt’sekhe

DA Shadow MEC for Social Development

060 558 8297

 

Fred Nel MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC on Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements

083 263 2427

 

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety

060 558 8299

 

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC on Education

082 398 7375

[Image source]

Posted on

SPEECH BY MS REFILOE NT’SEKHE, MPL ON WORKER’S DAY, DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2016

High unemployment rate casts shadow on Worker’s day

Thank you madam speaker,

Workers’ Day is a national public holiday in South Africa and since 1994, it has been celebrated on 1 May of each year.

It is rather unfortunate that we use the verb ‘celebrate’, when the real term we should be using is commemorated because celebrating implies a jovial spirit, yet our present circumstances in South Africa prove otherwise.

We cannot celebrate a country spiraling on a downward trend where over 700 jobs are lost per day.

Where are the jobs that South Africans were promised in 2009?

We cannot be satisfied as leaders in South Africa at large when we see the people especially the youth living with a sense of hopeless.

The recently released statistics by Mr. Pali Lehohla are a reflection of the hope many South Africans are losing.

The ‘Vulnerable Group Series I: The Social Profile of the Youth 2009-2014’ released by Statistics South Africa reveals that structural inequality continues to keep young black South Africans jobless and stuck in poverty.

These disturbing findings should be a call to all leaders to rise to the challenge.

The economy is not growing fast enough, corruption under ANC watch has been rampant, and higher education opportunities are few if you are poor.

According to the report, unemployment amongst black South Africans of all age groups is the highest at 28.6%. Of those who are unemployed, 66.6% are black South Africans in the age group of 15-34. Further to this unemployment amongst young people in age bracket of 15-35 has increased over the last five years to 36.8%.

It is equally shocking to note that the exposure of young South Africans to hunger is increasing. That is why I say, we cannot celebrate the freedom of workers while forgetting that so many are not working.

Look at the trends and the increase in the number of grants. Grants have proven to assist the most vulnerable members of our society to survive, yet they hardly ever empower them to be workers and eventually job-creators.

Equally concerning is the pool of people who contribute to the tax base are in decline.

Is it not logical that: for an economy to flourish, one needs to get more people off social welfare and create an environment for economically activity and growth?

Moreover, Stats SA reports that there is a decline in the number of black South Africans completing bachelor’s degrees over the years.

The percentage of workers in skilled occupations has declined for black South Africans aged 24-34.

Workers day may have its origins within the historical struggles of workers and their trade unions for solidarity between working people in their struggles to win fair employment standards.

However, today’s workers day should be dedicated to those without employment who fight every day get a job to put food on the table.

More importantly, the establishment of workers day is about a culture of human and worker rights and to ensure that these are enshrined in the national law. The real fight for today remains ensuring all South Africans economically active.

Mr.Pali Lehohla’s sentiments should inspire us as leaders to pursue the radical change needed to move our country forward.

The DA is ready to rise to this challenge and has in fact started by having the lowest unemployment rate of 24.5% in the DA-led Western Cape and 19% in other municipalities.

I thank you.

Media enquiries:

Refiloe Nt’sekhe

DA Shadow MEC for Social Development

060 558 8297

Posted on

SPEECH BY MR FRED NEL, MPL ON WORKER’S DAY, DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2016

South Africa’s Economic Growth Rate Too Low to Create Jobs

Workers’ Day started as a commemoration of the struggles that workers had to overcome during their campaigns to improve working conditions. These struggles often ended in bloodshed and death of workers as they demanded better treatment. It is often also associated with the trade union movement that organised workers and fought for their rights since the late 1800’s.

Unions started out to improve the working conditions of workers especially those who worked in dirty and unsafe factories. It also started to bargain on behalf of workers for a fair wage and later started entering politics.

Although the initial purpose that brought about labour unions was noble, one could argue that unions have morphed into organisations reaching beyond its core function in society.

However, we cannot talk about Workers’ day in South Africa without looking at employment. It is difficult to celebrate this day when a quarter of our population do not have employment opportunities available to them. In fact, this number is growing more working South Africans are joining the ranks of the unemployed.

A clear indication of this is the drop in labour union membership in the country. We have seen in the last year that large unions like NUM and SAMWU reported major drops in membership figures. This cannot be attributed to increased competition among labour unions alone, but is mainly associated with job losses.

These losses are a direct consequence of a lack of economic growth in South Africa. According to Mineweb/ Bloomberg:

“Even without labour upheaval, the growth prospects in Africa’s most industrialised economy are looking dire. The National Treasury expects the economy to expand less than 1% this year, undermining efforts to cut a 25% unemployment rate, while the nation’s credit rating is on the brink of being downgraded to junk. The risk of political turmoil is also rising…

NUM has also been weakened by the firing of tens of thousands of its members in response to the commodity price slump. The mining industry employed 462,000 people in the final quarter of last year, 5.9% less than in the same period the year before, and down from a peak of more than 800,000 in the 1980s, according to the national statistics agency. Mining production fell for a sixth straight month in February, contracting an annual 8.7%, the agency’s data shows.”

In short, South Africa’s economic growth rate is too low to create jobs, in fact jobs are being cut as a result of this low growth.

However, this situation can be turned around. The DA launched its vision for South Africa in 2015 known as Vision 2029. As part of this plan the DA recently launched its five point job creation plan that aims to generate employment through the following focus areas.

  • Invest in integrated energy, transport and ICT infrastructure for job creation;
  • Give more people the education and skills they need to get a job;
  • Radically reform the labour regime to support job creation;
  • Provide direct incentives for job creation; and,
  • Create a nation of entrepreneurs by making it easier for South Africans to start and grow their own small businesses.

There is no freedom in poverty. There is no fairness in being kept poor. There are no opportunities for the poor.

We need to turn this around by establishing a society where individuals and business are free to access and participate in the economy instead of being restricted by unnecessary government regulation and red tape.

We must promote fair labour practices but not draconian labour laws. We need to provide proper education and training in order to provide equal access to employment opportunities for South Africans.

If we do this we can employ the 25% unemployed South Africans. Moreover, we could in future truly celebrate workers day rather than ignoring unemployment issues.

 

Media enquiries:

Fred Nel MPL

DA Gauteng MEC on Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements

083 263 2427

Posted on

SPEECH BY MRS MICHELE CLARKE, MPL ON WORKER’S DAY, DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2016

May Day has become an annual celebration of workers day, a day when workers demonstrate their common interests and international solidarity.

The DA calls on every South African to take time out on the 1st of May to celebrate the efforts of all workers and to thank them for the contribution they make to society and our economy.

Labour unions and workers were key to dismantling apartheid. It is important for those born after the dawn of democracy in 1994 to know about the history of heroes like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Chris Hani and OR Tambo which led to freedom.

Histories that should never be taken for granted as they lead the way in establishing the rights and opportunities we enjoy today.

These leaders of selfless commitment gave to the struggle, seeking no personal enrichment. The ANC has changed under the leadership of Jacob Zuma.

For too many South Africans the political freedom achieved in 1994 has not been matched with economic freedom under the current government.  The fact that, one out of every four South Africans, does not have a job is in an indictment on the notion of economic freedom.

One of the most urgent and critical challenges facing our country is desperate need for job creation. We need to diversify our economy in order to create sustainable jobs for all our people in our Province.

Workers day should be focused on transformation and escaping poverty. But what does transformation really mean, what are the reasons for poverty and how do we as government address this?

Real transformation is not about enriching cadres of the ANC with BEE deals nor giving jobs and tenders to friends and family members. This will not transform society, this practice only enriches an inclusive cadre grouping

Transformation is by instilling hope into communities so that they can believe in the future again.

Real transformation stems from access to quality education as well as security of tenure through title deeds. Additionally, access to basic services and a continuous breakdown of Apartheid spatial planning and socio-economic systems.

If we want to talk about real transformation this is where we should start.

Business should be the driver of new jobs, not the enemy of the unemployed.

Chapter three of the NDP talks about Government dealing with poverty and giving people without an income access to economic opportunities and labour markets. There should be a greater focus on integrating economic development and the employment needs of all people, especially the poor.

Commitment to economic transformation is a priority for the DA in government. Where the DA governs, 80% of tenders over R100 000 going to black owned firms. But businesses incubated by the state should not become dependent on the state. These businesses should be networked with each other so that they do business to business and business to consumer deals. This is how you create jobs, break down concentration and monopolies – by giving small business more opportunity

Progressive governance such as this empowers previously disadvantaged South Africans on an on-going basis and is a sign of the DA’s commitment to redress.

Cutting of red tape should be a priority to ensure that entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. Existing legislation should be reviewed to ensure compliance costs for small business is minimized.

Not only should government departments make it easier for small businesses to win government contracts but they should and pay them on time.

The government should speak with one voice about the economy and jobs. Policy uncertainly hinders business, growth and employment.

In line with the DA’s jobs and economic policies, we will continue to provide a voice to the unemployed, communicate our plan to create jobs, and continue to put pressure on government departments by highlighting their constant failure to see the need of hundreds of thousands vulnerable South Africans that are unemployed.

Human dignity is the basis of Human rights, however this can only be achieved when government creates an environment for all citizens to prosper.

 

Media enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety

060 558 8299

Posted on

SPEECH BY MR KHUME RAMULIFHO, MPL ON WORKER’S DAY, DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2016

A fair society creates work opportunities for all

Workers must celebrate and have fulfilment in their jobs. They have rights which are guaranteed by The Constitution.  Legislations such as Labour Relations Act outlining Basic Conditions of Employment, Occupational Health and Safety Act ensure tools that are effective in protecting them.

It is unfortunate that certain labour unions abuse workers’ rights by engaging in illegal strikes, vandalize public facilities or use violent methods to express their frustrations whenever their expectations or demands are not met.

Certain leaders threaten those who chose to work, even when their actions are unlawful. The ‘Pikitup strike’ is one typical example. The “no work no pay rule” affects those who don’t report to work because of fear to be victimized.

While Workers’ Day is recognized and celebrated in South Africa, few people have access to this opportunity. So many people have never worked and earn an income in their life. This affects both skilled and unskilled people.

There are many who have given up, others are consider giving up because they have been looking for job opportunities with no success.

The current unemployment rate and countless poverty alleviation programmes attest to this challenge.

In order to create a fair society, people must get opportunity to work.

The solution is to attract local and international investors. This will be possible when government is prepared to cut red tape.

The DA believes that government should be accountable and protect jobs and businesses by ensuring the timeous payment of service providers within 30 days.

 

Media Enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho, MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC of Education

082 398 7375

Posted on

Gauteng’s Failed Bus Services Leave Workers Stranded

National Department of Transport (NDOT)DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport Neil Campbell

While millions of Rands will be spent on celebrations across Gauteng tomorrow in honour of Workers Day, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has dealt workers in the province a serious blow by not ensuring the sustainability of public bus operations.

Inefficiently utilised bus subsidies granted directly to Gauteng by the National Department of Transport (NDOT) has forced PUTCO to suspend its operations in the province.

This will negatively impact the 80 000 commuters who use these buses every day.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura

When asked what steps the GPG had taken to provide affordable and efficient alternatives, Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, stated in an official written reply that alternative means of transport were already established to accommodate commuters.

These included mini-bus taxis, metered-taxis, metro-rail and the Gautrain.

Premier Makhura has indicated that extra steps will not be taken to assist stranded commuters, as the above mentioned alternatives will be able to pick up where the busses have left off.

While these forms of transport exist, and are used by many, the thousands of commuters who make use of PUTCO’s services, and not the alternatives do so for the following reasons:

·         Mini-bus taxis are often unreliable, do not service all areas and are not as cost effective as busses;

·         Metered-taxis are extremely expensive and impractical;

·         Metro-rail often experiences delays due to cable theft, rolling stock is outdated, always loaded beyond capacity and is notorious for incidents of crime.

Gauteng Workers Interests

While the GPG under Premier Makhura’s leadership attempts to make right noises, it is clear from the everyday experiences of workers that this administration does not have their best interests at heart.

A key focus of this administration is to redress Apartheid social and geographic planning by bringing those who were once forced to the periphery closer to economic nodes.

How is this to be done when one of the crucial mechanism to do so has been completely disregarded?

The people of Gauteng are being held back from economic inclusion by a government unwilling to accommodate the challenges to prosperity.

The DA will continue to champion this fight on behalf of the workforce of Gauteng.

Media enquiries:

Dr Neil Campbell MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport

082 387 2540

 [Image source]

Posted on

SPEECH BY MR ASHOR SARUPEN, MPL IN THE DEBATE ON THE WORKERS DAY MOTION DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 2015.

We must reform to truly advance workers rights.

It is prudent on Workers Day not only to reflect on the historical role that organized labour played in the struggle against oppression, but also to critically examine workers rights today and understand how today’s circumstances can be helped by organized labour, and whether or not our laws adequately cater to the needs of modern workers, and those who are desperately seeking employment.

Now, organized labour has given us the 8-hour work day, paid leave, maternity leave, an end to child labour, improved workplace safety, pensions, healthcare and sick leave. For this, organized labour must be commended.

So, let me be clear, I am no union basher.

But, I am a realist about what needs to be done when economically destructive actions are taken by those so-called union leaders with ideological and political motives, and not in the interests of all workers and, more importantly, those seeking employment.

We live in one of the most unequal societies in the world. It is not a co-incidence then that we also live in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. In this case, correlation does indeed equal causation.

How has the politically connected elite at the helm of organized labour reacted to these realities? By using workers and workers rights as a shield for the political power plays, not for advancing the needs and rights of their own workers and the unemployed.

Protracted strikes are frequently political tools, where an agenda without a democratic mandate is forced onto a democratically elected government on a different platform. This is a reality. Strikes are not called democratically, members are instructed to strike and enforced militancy in the ranks prevents any dissent from being voiced. Workers don’t even get to vote in a secret ballot about whether or not they want to strike.

This enforced militancy results in looting and violence during strikes, but because of he political connections of union bosses, the organizations are never held accountable. The rights of thousands of others are trampled on during strikes but the politically connected union bosses don’t care – they’re using this all as theatre to pursue their political agendas.

More often than not, the wage offers accepted after a protracted strike are the ones on the table before strikes even commence, but the debts that households have had to incur because they and their families are used in this game of political football they can never recover from. This is why household debts are in extremes.

Most disturbingly, workers who don’t want to strike suddenly have their human rights stripped away by unions – they are beaten and attacked violently, on orders of the unions, when they attempt to go to their place of work instead of strike. Their rights are violated with complete impunity.

Workers rights extend to every worker. It is the responsibility of the state not just to protect unions, but workers! The state must ensure that every worker that wants to work when a strike takes place is able to safely get to his or her place of work and exit.

Until we introduce these reforms to protect workers, to make unions truly democratic organizations and to protect all our people from violence, we have not actually taken care of workers rights. Until we have introduced the economic reforms that move people from welfare to work, we have not advanced workers rights. Until we start calling out those who use workers as cover for their political purposes, we have not advanced workers rights.

We must reform to truly advance workers rights.

Posted on

SPEECH BY MR JOHN MOODEY, MPL ON THE WORKERS DAY MOTION DELIVERED IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE ON TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 2015

I clearly recall the bad old days prior to the 1980’s and the challenges workers in South Africa faced, more specifically the challenges black workers faced.

Even though workers not of European origin were discriminated against, the black worker was more oppressed, oppressed to the extent that they were denied the fundamental right to establish or belong to a Workers Union.  But then of course we all know, that in apartheid South Africa, people of colour were not considered as equals, they were considered lesser beings and thus denied most basic human rights.

I recall the challenges that people of colour (non-Europeans / nie blankes) faced in the workplace.  No matter how qualified or experienced a non-white worker was, you could not progress beyond the level of supervisor, and then you could only supervise non-whites.  No matter that you did the same work as your white / European counterpart, you earned substantially less and you did not have the other fringe benefits such as a pension fund, medical aid, housing subsidy, etc.  Those were the days of job reservation.  Those were the days when workers in general, were nothing else but another resource, a means of production.

I also remember when non-white political organisations were banned (I do not refer to the puppet organisations that in one way or another participated in the illegitimate system).  It was the workers who took up the challenge, to defy the apartheid regime and to fight for the liberation of workers and the freedom of our country and all its people.

Many of us in this August House, were leaders in the Trade Union Movement.  We bravely withstood the onslaught waged against us by the employer aided by the regime.  We were targeted, we were deliberately discriminated against, denied and overlooked on promotions.  The deliberate attempts at making our lives at the workplace so unbearable, that hopefully we would resign, the attempts to dishearten us.  I also remember the attempts to bribe us with huge bonuses and promotions and in exchange, we only had to sell out our fellow workers first and foremost, our lives dedicated to the course, to improve the plight of the workers and to free our beloved country from oppression.

On Sunday, I listened to a program on 702.  It was about domestic workers.  I recalled that in 1946 Eleanor Roosevelt said “The Unionisation of Domestic Workers will be salutary for both this employer and the employee” This program brought home to me the fact that the domestic worker is still to a large extent being exploited.  The irony of it all, is that to a greater extent, this exploitation of the domestic worker, is at the hands of an employer who is a worker as well.  We expect much from our domestic help, who in many instances raise our children, yet we pay them the barest minimum wage.

In conclusion:  The question I ask of us former leaders of the workers is this, what are we doing to grow this economy, to address the plight of the millions of unemployed workers, especially the youth.  What are we who now occupy positions of leadership in Government doing, to offer our unemployed youth, hope?  I quote another Roosevelt:  “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future” I believe that as leaders we must lead, we have to bring the employer and employee to understand that we co-exist, that we need each other to grow our economy and to build a South Africa in which we all have an opportunity to prosper. Thank you.