SAMWU NATIONAL TREASURER: Nwabisa Majova

Nwabisa Majova was born in the Eastern Cape town of Mount Frere, a town where she grew up in and completed her secondary schooling. She began her tertiary education at the Walter Sisulu University, where she completed a National Diploma in Internal Auditing.

Thereafter, Majova studied for a BTech Degree in Internal Auditing at the Nelson Mandela University. She also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration. Majova is currently in the process of completing her Honours Degree in Business Administration.

An Accountant by profession and training, Majova began her working career as an intern at the Department of Labour. She was later employed at the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality as an Expenditure Accountant. Her exceptional work at the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality enabled her to get employed as an Expenditure Manager at the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, a position she still holds.

Majova began her political activism during her youth where she was involved in the activities of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS). Her participation in COSAS natured her political activism which she continues to treasure to this day.

In 2007, Majova was persuaded by her fellow Comrades to run for the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections, and was elected as an SRC Sports Officer. Majova still maintains her activism in and outside of the workplace. She remains a member of the ANC and the SACP.

She served in both SACP District Executive Council and SACP District Working Committee in Alfred Nzo District. She also served in COSATU, Bizana Local Secretary and was later elected as the Cluster Secretary in Alfred Nzo.
As COSATU was establishing its Young Workers’ Structure, Majova was identified as a Provincial Task Team member.
After her employment at the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality, Majova looked for a political home within the labour movement and joined SAMWU.

She was later elected a shopsteward and thereafter, elected as the Local Deputy Chairperson in the Municipality. Through her activism and dedication to servicing workers, Majova was elected Eastern Cape Provincial Treasurer.
During her tenure as the Provincial Treasurer, Majova was elected as Deputy Chairperson of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) Finance Committee.

She was elected as Deputy Chairperson of SALGBC FINCOM (Finance Committee) while serving as a Provincial Treasury, giving her extensive expertise in collective bargaining.

At the Union’s 12th National Congress in 2020, Nwabisa Majova was elected SAMWU National Treasurer, a position she holds to this day.

Majova says that she agreed to contest the position of National Treasurer as she believed that her professional career will enable her to assist the Union navigate out of the financial situation it was in through the introduction of risk management and strong governance.

Since her election as National Treasurer, SAMWU has continued to improve on its audit outcomes. Majova attributes the audit achievements to the measurers that she along with the collective NOBs put in place following their election.
Majova is a firm proponent of accountability and transparency. She argues that members of the Union have the right to know how the Union uses its money and importantly, ensuring that the money used will always benefit members.

Majova emphasized the importance of distinguishing between her professional career and her role as an activist. She argues that sometimes it is difficult for her to be both a departmental head and a union leader since the shopsteward in her will always prevail in exposing the exploitation of the working class in the local government sector.

She maintains that while one is tested and needs to be a manager more than a shopsteward at times, she always rises above. For her, workers and their interests always come first. Majova wants to see SAMWU reclaim its rich history of being a militant, fighting Union that represents and treats workers equally and without fail.

Majova also advocated that the union should invest in research and guarantee that all its members are aligned with new developmental goals that will contribute towards the vision, mission, and objectives of the organization.

As the National Treasurer, Majova is tasked with running the finances of the Union and making every cent count. She believes that the Union can reduce its legal expenses by investing heavily in shopsteward training and capacitation.
This training will enable the Union to better service and represent its members. Importantly, the Union will be contributing to the career development of its members.

Given the technological advancements, many of which will change the world of work as we know it and replace many workers, Majova advocates for Unions and employers to train and reskill workers so to cushion workers and save as many jobs as possible.