Group of ANC staffers lay charges against party leaders
The group believes the party’s top six leadership squandered the money of employees, which include UIF benefit payments and provident funds.
A group of African National Congress (ANC) Luthuli House staffers have laid criminal charges against the party’s leadership.
It is accusing the leaders of theft, fraud, corruption, and unfair labour practices.
The group believes the party’s top six leadership squandered the money of employees, which include UIF benefit payments and provident funds.
The disgruntled workers, led by recently-axed ANC staffer Carl Niehaus, opened the criminal case at Johannesburg Central Police Station.
“The nature of the charges is that our employer has deducted funds from our salaries but have not paid those funds over to the relevant authorities. We have tried to bring this matter to the attention of the employer ANC but have not been successful getting the matter addressed,” said Niehaus.
Niehaus was dismissed from the party headquarters last week, but claims his axing was illegal.
“The ANC decided to dismiss me in an illegal way because they have learnt that I was prepared to blow the whistle in what we believe to be criminal activities. It was a blatant act of intimidation against me and other staff members to prevent them from taking similar action. I am not prepared to be intimidated.”
The ANC has admitted to funding issues, which in turn has led to workers not being paid their salaries on time.
At the start of the staffers’ strike, the ANC said: “We want to assure everybody that our challenges will be resolved based on several initiatives approved by the national officials. These include crowd funding, increasing membership fees and levies. We have agreed with provinces to take over the salary bill.”
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