Durban – Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza says the union is displeased with the government’s imposed 3% salary hike for public servants.
He was speaking at the central executive committee (CEC) conference that took place at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg at the end of November.
Cebekhulu-Makhaza said workers within the public sector had not received a salary hike for three years.
“This creates a major challenge for unions, and as a Cosatu affiliate we need all hands on deck to overcome these obstacles.
“This year we held a national march to express our many concerns to the government, which include safer working conditions, housing subsidies, and the lack of salary increments.
“In order to find working solutions to these issues we need Cosatu, the SACP and the ANC to work together.”
Cebekhulu-Makhaza added that Popcru celebrated its 33rd anniversary this year, and used this milestone to reflect on its position and founding principle of justice for all.
“We will not accept the 3% wage hike that the government has imposed on us. We as Popcru know no setbacks, only victory, and we will emerge victorious. We will not stop fighting for workers’ rights until workers are free. This is what we stand for as a union.”
Cebekhulu-Makhaza cited a World Bank Report on Inequality in Southern Africa which rated South Africa as the most unequal country in the world, ranking first among 164 countries.
“The country’s unemployment rate is now over 32% and poverty is running rampant. These factors are deeply distressing, and our inequality explains many of the country’s mounting social ills such as serious social unrest, high crime rates and widespread hunger.
“This statistic is an indictment of the ruling government and does not paint a bright future for the next generation. When inequality becomes entrenched in our society, there will be no further economic growth,” he said.