Cosatu calls for heads to roll
COSATU and its alliance partners yesterday called for heads to roll during a march against job losses and retrenchments in Kimberley.
They petitioned for the removal of the HODS of the departments of Health and Transport, Safety and Liaison.
Included in a list of demands, was the removal of the former Phokwane municipal manager, who was implicated in a Section 106 investigation. He was subsequently appointed as the Head of the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.
“Officials implicated in any wrongdoing must be suspended and not deployed. The SAPS brigadier who (allegedly) assaulted the Provincial Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) secretary must also go.”
Cosatu also called for the removal of officials and leaders at the departments of Health and Education, as well as the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, who were implicated in alleged corruption.
Cosatu’s provincial secretary Orapeleng Moraladi pointed out that state capture and corruption had led to unemployment.
“Allegations on the capturing of prosecutors, magistrates and judges must be condemned and those who are mentioned in the scandal must vacate their positions with immediate effect. All mentioned politicians must be removed from office.
“Directors of companies and individuals who mismanaged company funds and stole money must be arrested, prosecuted and their assets attached.
“All role-players in the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) investment scandal and corruption must be arrested, prosecuted and assets attached to recoup workers’ lost funds.”
He added that the municipality needed to reduce high electricity prices.
Moraladi also spoke out against racism in the workplace and the “sale” of mineworkers.
“Mine employees are being sold like slaves, chewed up like bubblegum and spat out.”
Cosatu’s treasurer general Freda Oosthuysen noted that corruption was prevalent in the Northern Cape.
“It is like picking up leaves that have fallen off the trees, it must stop.”
She also objected to the unbundling of Eskom, which she believed would lead to job losses.
Accepting the memorandum, Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas, promised to engage with the Minister of Higher Education to resolve the crisis at Northern Cape Urban TVET colleges, where students are continuing to protest over the shortage of lecturers.
“The director-general will send a team to the Province to deal with the issues. We cannot afford our children losing out on education.”
She added that she would also request national government to resolve the reinstatement of 15 employees at the Sol Plaatje Municipality.