SACP Western Cape supports Nehawu workers in Parliament 

8 September 2016  

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape, fully supports the Nehawu strike in Parliament and condemns with the strongest the suspension of Nehawu branch chairperson, comrades Sithembiso Thembe and Michael Sithole.

We view the suspension as nothing but an attempt to defocus workers in their fight for their rights. Thus, suspending individuals is an effort to isolate them to the neglect of addressing the root of the problem, effectively this a clear indication of provocation and a reckless management on the part of parliament. Truth be told, the workers in parliament are fighting for a collective agreement which parliament signed but has never implemented.

 As the SACP in the Province, we fully support Nehawu and encourage workers to refuse being subjected to intimidation and bullying tactics by Gengesi Mgidlana, the Secretary of parliament.  We call on the ANC, as the majority Party in the parliament, to stop hiding its head in the sand on this matter and to desist from subjecting workers to the wrath bureaucrats, whom by their very action and conduct, have illustrated that they have no interest in the advancing the National Democratic Revolution, the motive forces of which are the working class.

Failure to uplift the suspension of the union leaders will indeed border on a direct attack on the very motive force that has contributed to the ANC being the majority in Parliament today. As the SACP we will support Nehawu in their endeavour to ensure workers’ rights are not being undermined, our support is extended should mass action be decided upon. 

Issued by Masonwabe Sokoyi, SACP Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson, 8 September 2016