The SACP is deeply concerned at the breakdown of the mediation process between SAMWU and Joburg municipality over iGoli 2002. This creates a completely unhealthy climate not only in terms of labour relations in the municipality, but also continues to cast a dark shadow over the much-needed transformation of Greater Johannesburg.
The SACP calls upon the parties to seek to resolve this matter through talks and
negotiations. We are particularly disturbed by the attitude of the GJMC to continually
insist that it has negotiated and fulfilled its side when labour consistently expresses
its dissatisfaction over this process. The SACP has in the past consistently pointed
out that there can be no transformation of any of our local government structures without
adequate consultative processes, nor through attempts to bulldoze local government
transformation despite very serious concerns being expressed by some of the key
stakeholders. Such an approach is a serious violation of the ANC’s and Alliance
approach to the entire transformation and restructuring process in this transition.
We strongly believe that an insensitive approach, as seemingly being taken by the GJMC,
is neither in the long-term interests of the transformation of GJMC nor in the interests
of local government transformation as a whole. In approaching the question of local
government transformation we need a much more long-term vision and an inclusive approach
rather than short-cuts that
can only undermine service delivery to the majority of the poor people of our country.
In view of this serious development, the SACP is of the view that Alliance partners
should as a matter of urgency to deal with this issue once and for all.
19 January 2000
Issued by the SACP Department of Information & Publicity
E-Mail: sacp1@wn.apc.org
South African Communist Party Head Office
COSATU House No. 1 Leyds Street
7th Floor Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
(Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2)
(Fax: 27 11 339-4244)