SAMWU will engage the ANC on comments relating to political activism of municipal workers

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
03 February 2010.

The South African Municipal Workers Union in the Eastern Cape wishes to reiterate the decision of its NEC (National Executive Committee) - on the statement made by the President of the ANC in his January 8th statement, about the political activism of Municipal workers- that they should not hold leadership positions in political parties. As SAMWU we find the above statement very problematic.  We view this as an attempt by the Government to tamper with the rights of South Africans as enshrined in chapter two of the South African constitution – the right to freedom of association- this attitude displayed by the ANC is the same as that which was directed at the countries Soldiers, by trying to influence processes to de-unionize the military. 

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
29th January 2010.

SAMWU expresses its deepest sympathy for those people who have lost loved ones in the terrible earthquake that hit Haiti last week. We also express our concern for the very large numbers of people, currently estimated at over 150,000 who have sustained serious physical and mental injuries that will leave them disabled and traumatised for many years to come.
 
At times like this it is often regarded as diplomatic to simply focus on the relief effort, and to reserve critical political comment to another time, but we believe that they cannot be separated. While we applaud all those countries, organisations and individuals who have rallied to provide immediate relief to the Haitian people, we believe that we are doing the Haitian people a disservice if we do not comment on the circumstances that preceded the earthquake, and what is being proposed for the future of the country.

SAMWU Supports Paul Verryn and the Struggle Against Xenophobia.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
29th January 2010.


SAMWU has carefully noted the suspension of Paul Verryn, until recently a Methodist Bishop and the manager of the Methodist Community Centre in Johannesburg. It also notes the charges that have been laid against him by some of his seniors in the Methodist Church.

We wholeheartedly condemn the scurrilous way the mass media has allowed itself to repeat old and discredited slurs from the past in an attempt to further besmirch the name and actions of this man of the cloth. Early reports of the involvement of the security services in this episode are very alarming, and must be investigated.

 SAMWU Supports FAWU and the Call for a Boycott of SAB.

SAMWU urges Minister to intervene in Limpopo.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
13th January 2010.

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 98th Anniversary of the ANC, as delivered by the President of our country on the 8th of January 2010.

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.”