“SADTU stands in the way of a better future for our children” – Bokamoso by Mmusi Maimane

Press Release: (RSA) Parliament Rejects Recent Reports About Precautionary Suspensions (07.09.2015)

Parliament, Monday, 07 September 2015 – Parliament notes and strongly rejects various newspaper reports related to the precautionary suspension of the senior managers in Parliamentary Protection Services, as a desperate attempt to sensationalise and dramatize a management and labour process that is aimed at stabilising security arrangements in Parliament.

Parliament notes that these actions are aimed at damaging the image of the institution, its management and the Parliament Protection Services by way of engaging in unbecoming ‘politiking,’ against the integrity of the institution. Parliament will not be drawn into this type of engagement because it lacks integrity.

Parliament stands by its previous statement that the precautionary suspension is without prejudice, it is put in place to allow for an independent investigation to take place without any negative influence.

Parliament wishes to reiterate that it is precisely for such reasons as demonstrated by the unprofessional behaviour of some staff members that it wishes to protect the integrity of the process from those who seek to influence and direct the outcomes of this process in a manner that is not consistent with our policies and general professional conduct. Through such utterances in the media, any official is in direct violation of the terms of Parliament policies regarding the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Employees and the Media policy of Parliament, which are very clear on the rules of staff engagement with the media. Parliament notes the brazen disregard for organisation processes, authority and policies in regards to speaking with the media.

Parliament urges all involved to allow the due process of Parliament to take place without interference and attempts to influence the process or its outcomes. To this end, Parliament has engaged with the suspended employees to take the process forward as quickly and smoothly as possible and has not received cooperation in this regard.

Parliament will not respond to each and every utterance as covered by recent media reports.

Parliament notes that its security environment has progressed positively towards stabilisation and it is working hard to ensure a more sustainable solution.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT of RSA

Press Release: SAMWU Disappointed by the Enactment of the Public Administration Management Act

 

 07 January 2015

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is disappointed by the enactment of the Public Administration Management Act by President Jacob Zuma in December 2014. Although SAMWU agrees with some of the content of the legislation, we however view the Act as unconstitutional and will definitely erode the gains that organised labour has made through collective bargaining as envisaged by the Labour Relations Act.

The Act seeks to among other things, to promote high standards of professional ethics in public administration, to promote efficient service delivery and to facilitate the eradication and prevention of unethical practices in the public administration. All this is to be achieved by putting in place basic values and principles which would govern public administration. The Act further seeks to develop capacity for officials, we hope that Chapter 4 of the Act will be used as a tool to empower and develop the lowest paid workers particularly municipal workers some of whom are paid as little as R50/day. 

SAMWU has and continues to be proponents of ethical and transparent government especially in our sector- local government. We hope that the enforcement of the Act will trickle down to all spheres of government starting with national government. We are however of the view that National Government should set a precedent of dealing with state resources. As such, we are concerned by the enforcement of this Act. Although the Act provides for the creation of an Integrity Unit which will be responsible for the enforcement of this Act, there seems to be no willingness by the state to put in place monitoring mechanisms of other legislation in the country. Certain legislations are in place such as the Ministerial Handbook, however we still have incidences where one man buys a R1 million BMW at the state’s cost while another spends R5 million on luxury vehicles in a single year, this being done while the Ministerial Handbook stipulates that these people may only purchase vehicles not exceeding 70% of their annual salaries.

The signing of this Act is but a realisation of most arguments that SAMWU has advanced for a long time. The Act requires officials seeking employment or already employed in the public administration to disclose their financial interests including that of their spouses for any shares, sponsorships, benefits and immovable property. Failure to make such disclosure by an employee would constitute misconduct. The Act further makes it illegal for any public administration official to do business with the state. SAMWU has and continues to be of the view that no official should be do business with the state as this plays a role in corrupting officials. 

We are however concerned that the Act only targets officials not acknowledging that in any corrupt relationship there is a corruptee and a corruptor. In the interest of Public Administration Management, the Act should be extended to political office bearers. Truth of the matter is that politicians are responsible for most of the corruption witnessed in government, they are in pole position to influence the direction that government business goes, history has taught us that this is how many politicians have managed to enrich themselves. The country needs an act that is cut across and is inclusive of everyone who is involved in the supply chain and procurements that all spheres undertake, including political office bearers. 

The 2012/2013 Auditor General’s report into Municipalities has shown that most municipalities received the audit outcomes they received as a result of contracts being awarded to companies which officials had interests in. One cannot measure the prevalence of the problem but clearly doing business with the state has become profitable for some individuals. For the state to enjoy sound and healthy finances especially in local government, there should be an overhaul of the manner in which municipalities conduct their business, local government should re-municipalise. The provisions of municipal services though contracts and tenders has neither been in the interest of service delivery nor kind to the public purse, if anything we have only seen privatisation of municipal services and the emergence of tenderpreneurs who charge municipalities ridiculous amounts compared to the costs that municipalities would have incurred if they were rendering such services on their own. 

Overall our view is that this Act is unconstitutional on the basis of its selectivity between political office bearers & public servants. Furthermore the Act seeks to give power to integrity unit to preside over disciplinary matters. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act is clear that such matters are subject to negotiations at bargaining councils. The laws of this country must apply to all equally and there no reason why politicians should receive preferential treatment. We should note that the LRA takes precedence over any labour matters, the LRA further gives a platform for the establishment of bargaining councils and the Act undermines their existence. Our fear is that by virtue of secondments, those who refuse the secondment may be victimised or even worse dismissed for refusing to move to another sphere of government.  

The act further undermines the recruitment and selections policies that already exist in all spheres of governments. We are further concerned that the Act may be used to lure skilled personnel from local government to other spheres of government. SAMWU has long maintained that there should be devolution of powers, that certain functions performed by provincial government should be returned and / or handed over to local government as they are primary functions of municipalities. Provincial government tend to attract skilled personnel who are at the end of the day not uterlised to the best of their abilities by provincial government whereas they can service communities better if they were employed by local government.

Statement by Walter Theledi, General Secretary 

Issued by SAMWU Head Office

Papikie Mohale

National Media Officer

South African Municipal Workers’ Union

84 Fredericks Street

Johannesburg

2001

M: 0604166661

T: 0111002615

E: Papikie@samwu.org.za