DA Exposes itself as a Racist and Anti-Worker Party

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is shocked but not surprised at the latest antics by the Democratic Alliance through its so called Shadow Minister of Labour, Ian Ollis who suggested that workers had flouted labour laws by attending a properly constituted meeting. It is embarrassing that someone who claims to be working with labour does not know the laws governing the portfolio he is in charge of.

Mr. Ollis is bitter because workers at Johannesburg Metropolitan Police saw it fit to organise and be part of a march against police killings, a march which was legal and approved by relevant authorities. According to Mr. Ollis, workers should fold their arms while their colleagues are butchered daily by criminals. In case Mr. Ollis has forgotten, the country’s labour laws permit workers to have meetings even during working hours, something which he as a shadow minister should know. It is for this reason that he will forever remain a “shadow” minister, always in the shadow of those who are governing.

As a Shadow Minister of Labour, Mr. Ollis and his anti-worker party have not done anything when police, who are workers are killed in the line of duty or maybe it is because the majority of these workers who are killed are black and as such they see no need for action in this regard. Surely in their white circles the, DA rejoices at the death of a black worker because they do not value a black man’s life.

The DA is the last party to claim moral authority or even dare speak on worker issues. This is a party that has a proven track record of victimisation, harassment and disregard of workers’ rights in municipalities which it governs especially in the City of Cape Town. Under the DA’s watch female firefighters are systematically dismissed for being pregnant, racism in the City is rife yet Mr. Ollis says nothing because its black people at the receiving end. 

As a trade union, we enjoy all the rights as per the Labour Relations Act and the Main Collective Agreement signed between ourselves and the employer which includes the right to strike, march, organise and have general meetings at workplaces during and outside working hours. Mr. Ollis should familiarise himself with such laws governing his portfolio as he has now exposed himself to be an empty shell with no knowledge of labour laws.

We are disgusted at this attack on the working class and as such urge voters, in particular South African workers to be careful of the DA as it has shown itself to be a party that will definitely bring back apartheid laws which oppressed workers and undermine their rights. These are rights that workers have fought for while some have died in the process. Irrespective of their poster boy leading the party, the DA remains a white racist party which is opposed to transformation in the country and cannot be trusted by voters particularly black voters.

Issued by Simon Mathe, SAMWU, Deputy General Secretary, 19 November 2015