By Doreen Mokgolo
Desperate for help, a group of disgruntled employees from various companies in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, submitted a list of their grievances to EFF president Julius Malema on Workers’ Day.
This was during the party’s Workers’ Day rally at the Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal, which later moved to venues in Soshanguve and Mamelodi.
“Malema, help us. We are tired of being exploited, unfairly dismissed, and no one wants to help us.” These are the words of hundreds of disgruntled employees in the area.
Some of the employees were from the National Transport Investment bus company, who went without pay for more than three months earlier this year.
Employed and unemployed factory workers from the Babelegi industrial park in Hammanskraal also submitted their complaints to the EFF leader.
Malema said he had received the workers’ grievances, and the EFF regional office had been engaging with them to ensure that their challenges were addressed.
“The matter has been escalated to the national office, and we will make sure that the workers who were dismissed unfairly are reinstated to their positions,” he said.
Malema refuted claims that EFF employment policy doesn’t allow women the right to maternity leave.
“There is no such a policy. [EFF MP] Naledi Chirwa has never said a leader in the party denied her to go on maternity leave. She chose to work until the last day.”
Earlier this year, Chirwa claimed on social media that she had to work until the day before she gave birth.
“I didn’t even know she worked until the last day, but it is her choice,” Malema said. “Women decide what they want to do with their bodies. The next thing I tell her to go for leave, I will be asked if I am forcing her to go on leave,” he said.
“We are pushing maternity leave for men as we believe they, too, deserve it,” he said.
As part of his election campaign, Malema promised pensioners that once he is elected president of South Africa, he will double the pension grant from R2,000 to R4,000.
“We will ensure that the minimum wage is increased, with the lowest paid employee starting at R7,500 and those working at the mines paid R12,000. This is the only way we can fight the high standard of living and ensure the wealth of this country is fairly shared,” said Malema.
Pictured above: EFF supporters came out in numbers to support EFF president Julius Malema.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
