COSATU condemns the National’s Assembly’s failure to pass the Employment Equity Amendment Bill
13 September 2021
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) condemns the pathetic failure of the National Assembly (NA) to quorate and pass the long-delayed and progressive Employment Equity Amendment Bill.
This is an indictment on all political parties and their leadership in the National Assembly. The ANC on its own can provide the necessary quorum for the National Assembly to vote and adopt legislation. This reflects weak leadership and ill-discipline amongst the ANC Caucus in the NA.
The deliberate boycott and walkout by some Democratic Alliance Members of Parliament (MPs) and a few other little parties is testimony to their opposition to transforming South Africa and protecting the rights of women, Africans, Coloureds, and persons with disabilities who continue to face discrimination at their workplaces.
The leadership of the National Assembly needs to get its house in order, to urgently reconvene the NA and ensure that Members of Parliament do what they are paid to do by workers, e.g., attend sittings and vote on legislation that will improve their lives.