ANC statement on Solidarity strike against Sasol share scheme

3 September 2018  

The ANC has noted with concern the strike called by Solidarity against the employee share scheme targeting black employees at SASOL.  

The right to strike is sacrosanct to our democracy and Solidarity has every right to exercise that right. However, we must be concerned when the rights we fought for and encoded in our nation’s Bill of Rights are abused for nefarious reasons that seek to undermine our democracy. 

The ANC is deeply concerned about the racist overtones of this strike, which seek to reverse the gains of our democracy.

Historically, SASOL has always had schemes that benefited white employees to the exclusion of their black counterparts.  One of the fundamental tenets of our democracy is enabling economic participation by black people as part of addressing historical inequalities.  

We applaud the initiative taken by SASOL and welcome its contribution towards the realization of our constitutional imperative to share the wealth of the country with all her citizens.  

In characterising the SASOL initiative as racial exclusion is at best malicious and at worst dishonest. 

The objective to achieve 25% direct black ownership in Sasol South Africa is a step in the right direction and is in line with the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment legislation and should be supported.

We call on Solidarity to become part of the nation-building project that seeks to build a prosperous nation where all citizens share in the nation’s wealth and have equal opportunities to fully participate in the economy.  

Their obsession with perpetuating racial polarization does nothing towards advancing our forward momentum as a nation.

Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, ANC, 3 September 2018