20 March 2008
The SACP in the Eastern Cape notes with appreciation the recent developments in the negotiations to deal with the deteriorating situation in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The agreement between the municipality and workers as led by SAMWU is indeed welcomed.
As the SACP, we are of the view that these agreements on job evaluation, recruitment policy must propel negotiations to deal with the outstanding political matters engulfing the municipality. These include the victimization of workers, suspension and dismissal of worker leaders.
The other burning matter that require urgent resolution is the dispute on the privatization of municipal services including the transfer of primary health care to the provincial government in the face of a crisis ridden provincial health system. As the SACP, we commit to join SAMWU in the struggles ahead in defence of better quality serves for the majority as part of our continuing Red October Campaign for Quality Public Health system.
The welcomed developments at the municipality are as result of a 3 weeks strike action that has helped to put all the above matters at a centre stage. The inability of both political and administrative leadership to swallow their pride in the interest of the majority and the subsequent strike action had devastating consequences.
The situation in the Nelson Mandela Municipality is no different from what is taking place in other municipalities in the province including Nkonkobe Local Municipality. It is in this municipality that councillors have openly undermined the laws of the country without repent.
This include the removal of the official Mayor without proper procedures and channels, the alleged fraud involving missing computers worth thousands of rands and millions of rands allegedly lost in a local low cost housing project.
As the SACP, we are of the view that lessons should be draw from the developments at metro in order to deal with these challenges.
From the side of the SACP what is clear is that the ANC must prevail over its deployees for the sake of stability and service delivery in the province. It is in this context that the SACP call upon all our people not to demobilize post Polokwane so that together we can be part of resolving these challenges. As the SACP, we are of the firm belief that our people are their own liberators.
Mandla Makupula
SACP Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary
082 044 0200