Sanco blasts EFF over jobs in Marikana
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the North West on Monday blasted the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Bojanala accusing it of using “divisive actions and bullying tactics” to secure jobs in Marikana.
“The EFF should not position itself as an employment agency that bullies mining houses and traditional councils as their actions undermine peace, stability and sustainable mining,” Sanco provincial chairperson Paul Sebegoe said in a statement.
Sebegoe was reacting to comments by Thulani Makhanye, EFF chairperson in Bojanala region during a march to Lonmin in Marikana on Friday.
Makhanye told party supporters that the Bapo Ba Mogale Traditional Council “must stop discriminating against non-Setswana speaking people”.
Makhanye also accused the council of refusing to give non-Setswana speaking people letters that confirm their residential abode, which would make them eligible for employment at Lonmin.
“The council must stop this discrimination or we will challenge them. I am not scared of them. We are all South Africans. They must not see us as Motswana, Sothos or Xhosa we are all equal and need to be respected,” Makhanye said.
He called on party members to resist paying bribes in order to secure employment at Lonmin.
“There is a man who is collecting R500 from you promising you jobs. You must not give out money. Lonmin must employ you,” said Makhanye.
However, on Monday Sebegoe said Sanco was happy with the partnership between Bapo Ba Mogale and Lonmin.
“We applaud the partnership between Bapo Ba Mogale Traditional Community and Lonmin that has recently afforded 500 unemployed youth participation in the Youth Cadet Programme to acquire training in basic mining skills to prepare them for entry into the mining industry,” he highlighted.
The EFF marched to Lonmin on Friday, demanding that Lonmin mines should provide assistance for students in higher learning institutions and give an account of how many students have obtained bursaries from Lonmin mines annually.
In a memorandum the EFF urged the mine to stop retrenchments and ensure that mine workers have proper sustainable jobs.
The EFF further demanded that workers must be paid a minimum of R12 500 per month.
In August 2012, Lonmin workers went on a wildcat strike demanding an entry level wages of R12 500 a month.
During the strike 44 people were killed in the ensuing violence.
Ten people, including two Lonmin security guards and two policemen, were killed in the week preceding the Marikana massacre in which police shot dead 34 mine workers on 16 August 2012. - ANA
(File photo: Gallo Images)