uMkhonto we Sizwe Party(MK Party) expresses its profound concern and disapproval of the Ramaphosa-ANC government’s recent announcement to drastically reduce The South African Post Office’s (SAPO) workforce from 11,083 to a mere 6 383 employees. This decision threatens to retrench approximately 42% of SAPO’s current staff, impacting around 4,700 individuals. Such a move is not only cold-hearted but also recklessly timed, as it unfolds against the backdrop of an economy growing at a sluggish rate of approximately 1% and a staggering unemployment rate of 42%, with the black community being disproportionately affected.
The implications of this decision are dire. In a country where each employed individual often supports an average of eight family members, a legacy of the apartheid era compounded by the current administration’s failures, the implications from these retrenchments will be devastating for countless families.
The MK Party stands firmly against this neo-liberal policy, which is indicative of a broader pattern of systemic disinvestment in and dismantling of StateOwned Enterprises (SOEs) under the guise of Ramaphosa-ANC governance, particularly orchestrated by Pravin Gordhan with President Ramaphosa’s endorsement.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling trend that has seen the dismantling and sell-off of national assets, including the tragic downfall of South African Airways (SAA), which was sold off for a mere R51, and the decline of once-proud entities such as Denel and PRASA into mere shadows of their former selves. These actions have led to significant job losses, leaving many employees struggling to survive. This strategy, aimed at devaluing SOEs for sale to the benefactors of the CR17 campaign, reveals a blatant disregard for the welfare of employees and their families, and a prioritization of the interests of a select few over the national good.
Furthermore, the hurried move to break Eskom into three parts before the May 29 elections for easier privatization to allies of the current administration, along with similar plans for Transnet, showcases a concerted effort to undermine and privatize our national infrastructure, disregarding the socioeconomic repercussions on the workforce and the broader public.
The MK Party commits to reversing these injustices upon assuming office on May 29, 2024. Our immediate actions will include halting all pending retrenchments and initiating efforts to reinstate those who have been unjustly removed from their positions. We pledge to restore the integrity, stability, and operational capacity of our SOEs and to prioritize the creation and preservation of jobs for South Africans.
In this critical moment, the MK Party calls upon all South Africans to stand united in granting us the 2/3 majority needed to rectify the extensive damage inflicted by the Ramaphosa-ANC administration on our nation’s valuable SOEs and to support our mission of job restoration and creation. Together, we can reclaim the promise of a prosperous, equitable, and just South Africa for all its citizens.
Enquiries:
Nhlamulo Ndhlela
Communications and Media
+27792303345
