Unpaid ANC workers get youth league, Nehawu backing at National General Council

UNPAID ANC employees took their plight to the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, where the ANC's 5th National General Council is currently being held. 

This despite ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula’s assurance that unpaid salaries for ANC employees have been resolved. This is reportedly the  fourth time this year that the party has failed to pay its staffers.

One of the protesters spoke of the pain of having to work without being paid their salaries, suspended medical aid and unpaid pension contributions.

One of the affected workers holding placards airing their grievances said they were on duty at the National General Council (NGC) despite not being paid.

"We have decided to just start off here despite our frustrations amid the delays in our salary payments. The salaries are not the only issue; some of us have outstanding pension fund payments and medical aid.  We have members here with chronic medical illnesses, whose medical aid has been suspended," she said.

The group also enjoyed support from the ANC Youth League and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), who stood in solidarity with them.

Reacting to the cries of the unpaid employees, ANC Youth League leader Collen Malatji said those 'responsible for the mess must be held accountable'.

"We cannot be eating while ANC workers and their children go hungry,'' he said.

NEHAWU deputy secretary at the Luthuli House branch, Dan Semenya, said it was important for the union to show its support to the workers.

"This matter of unpaid salaries is not limited to November, as it has been a recurring issue. I can remind you that in 2022, during the policy conference, picketing was on the basis of the same issue. We are here today, three years later, and we are still dealing with the same issues,” he stated.

On Sunday, during his pre-NGC press briefing, Mbalula said the issue has been resolved, with top management being the only group that has not been paid their November salaries.

"The component of staff not paid is management, starting with me, the Secretary-General. All our staff below that level have been attended to in terms of salaries. We are working on resolving the issue through rigorous fundraising efforts to ensure our staff bill is settled," he said.

Cape Times