SAMWU is saddened by ANC comments.

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) the biggest trade union in the local government sector is extremely saddened by the comments directed at municipal employees in the Statement of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, on the occasion of the 98^th Anniversary of the ANC, as delivered by the President of our country on the 8^th of January 2010 (see here)

The worrying comment made by the President reads as follows; "We are of the firm view that municipal employees should not hold officials' positions in political parties; and we will tighten our deployment procedures to ensure that we deploy comrades with political integrity and professional competence."

SAMWU in its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for the year highlighted the comments as disturbing. A firm resolution was taken at the SAMWU NEC meeting to engage the ANC's National officials, offering the ANC an opportunity to clarify or apologise for the comments made on the occasion of the 98^th Anniversary of the ANC.

The comments that were made are constitutionally and politically unnecessary. The ANC cannot tamper with the freedom of association we are guaranteed as South Africans and municipal employees.

As SAMWU we view this as part of a concerted effort to depoliticise and deunionise the public service, which could be disastrous for the country and the working class.

The comment that was hurled at municipal employees by the President is now being discussed by all the constitutional structures of the Union, for a way forward. The SAMWU NEC vowed to engage COSATU, the ANC and the SACP as a matter of urgency on this particular statement.

Statement issued by Tahir Sema, South African Municipal Workers' Union national media and publicity officer, January 13 2010

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