Numsa slams tribunal call

THE NATIONAL Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) claims the ANC’s renewed calls for a media appeals tribunal are motivated by a need to hide corruption.

The union said yesterday its second march against corruption today was because it was “on an offensive against new liberal policies espoused by the ANC government”.

The ruling party resolved at its national general council meeting at the weekend that Parliament should be requested to assess the “feasibility and desirability” of a media appeals tribunal.

The controversial policy was first suggested during the ANC’s Polokwane conference in 2007, and has faced opposition from several sections of society.

“There is a looming threat, which is the setting up of a media tribunal.

“We want to suggest the strong call for a media tribunal is informed by the fact that everything must be done to hide corruption, so that the media cannot report on the Hitachis and Chancellor Houses of this world benefiting from state projects,” Numsa deputy general secretary Karl Cloete said in Joburg.

The union would also be marching against job losses, especially in the metal and mining sectors, where workers have been hardest hit.

Numsa and civil society held anti-corruption marches across the country last month. But this time around, workers will be allowed to participate in the protests as permission from the National Economic Development and Labour Council has been obtained on time.

“Therefore, every worker is allowed to participate. No employer can take any disciplinary action or dismiss a worker for taking part in this historic and unprecedented action.

“The main march will take place in Johannesburg,” the union said in a statement.

Cloete said: “The fact that we have very serious levels of unemployment, poverty, inequality and corruption in our society makes the point that we have got to pick up the battle against what we see as the ANC’s new liberal programmes in the economy, in social life and at other levels.”