Saftu slams ANC for ‘abandoning’ interest of South Africans

July 1, 2024 63

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) Secretary-General, Zwelinzima Vavi, has accused the ANC of abandoning the interest of South Africans for Cabinet positions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night announced his new Cabinet, which consists of Ministers and Deputies from the 11 political parties who form part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

DA’s John Steenhuisen, Siviwe Gwarube, Solly Malatsi, the PA’s Gayton McKenzie, and the IFP’s Velonkisini Hlabisa are some of the members of the so-called ‘bloated cabinet’.

While Vavi isn’t impressed with some of the appointments, he has, however, applauded the President for appointing a Labour Minister from the ANC.

South Africa’s largest labour federation, Cosatu, says some of the GNU cabinet portfolios have placed unionists in unchartered territory as they will now have to work with officials from other political parties, with whom they might not have always seen eye to eye.

Despite this, however, Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says they are committed to strengthen their work on the ground and assist the government.

Regarding Steenhuisen’s appointment as the Minister of Agriculture amid concerns over the DA’s policies which, among others, want the minimum wage done away with, Parks says they will ensure that every worker’s rights are respected.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has slammed Ramaphosa’s Cabinet as an attempt to accommodate individuals and appease external interests.

The Cabinet went from 30 members to 32. Deputy ministers are now 46 after the President added 10 more during his announcement on Sunday, raising concerns that this will eat on the public purse.

Outa CEO, Wayne Duvenage, says the splitting of ministries explicitly shows how Ramaphosa wanted to ensure that the ANC retains positions, despite how poorly they performed in the May 29 elections.

Social rights group, Black Sash, says it is ironic that government has funds to pay for a bloated cabinet, but has failed to fulfil its obligations to the people of South Africa.

Speaking to YNews, the organisation’s national advocacy manager, Hoodah Abrahams-Fayker, says the government hides behind fiscal constraints when asked to increase social grants.

Abrahams-Fayker says the disparity between the grant amount and the cost of living highlights a systemic issue.

Earlier this year, the Minister of Finance announced a R20 increase in the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant from R350 to R370.

Abrahams-Fayker says Black Sash hopes that government will prioritise ordinary South Africans in this new administration.