KARIMA BROWN
Political Editor
AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Gwede Mantashe yesterday attacked public sector unions for their shoddy work and demands for double-digit salary increases.
This strong criticism of a union by a senior ANC leader is likely to heighten tensions in the ruling tripartite alliance. The ANC and its leftist allies will hold an alliance summit next week in an effort to iron out major differences over economic policy and how best to deliver on the government’s five key priority areas — the creation of decent jobs, health, education, rural development and fighting crime.
Mantashe’s comments are likely to resonate with some ANC leaders who have called for a paradigm shift in relations between the developmental state and public sector unions affiliated with the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
Mantashe, addressing a gathering of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Bela Bela in Limpopo, said that unions engaged the state on the basis of “demands and offers” and that they failed in their obligations to serve the people.
“It is members of these progressive unions that deliver shoddy services to the communities, and political deployees absorb the pain. There is no commitment to serve but (they) demand for more.
“When Samwu is proud of getting a 13% increase in cash strapped municipalities, is it equally engaging in a discussion about serving our people better?” Mantashe said.
He said these demands led to an increase in budget deficits, which was not desirable, especially considering the recession and the global financial crisis.
“The increases are not a major issue if and when the services given to our people are of superior quality. They become an issue when the communities feel the decline in the quality of services they receive.”
The ANC has come under pressure in several communities across SA as angry residents take to the streets to protest tardy service delivery and corruption.
Mantashe’s attack on public sector unions is likely to be supported in many ANC provincial structures given that the ANC in Gauteng has also put the blame for sub-standard services at the door of public sector workers.
David Makhura, the ANC provincial secretary in Gauteng, recently called for a “fundamental” debate that required a “paradigm shift” on the part of public sector unions.
But Cosatu is likely to contest the ANC’s passing the buck to the unions. The labour federation has blamed poor service delivery on a range of policy choices, including privatisation of basic services, as the key driver of slack delivery and under-performance.
Next week’s alliance summit is likely to come up with resolutions that will try and bind the allies, including labour, into helping the administration of President Jacob Zuma to turn around service delivery, especially at municipal level.
brownk@bdfm.co.za
