ANC staff members gathered outside Luthuli House, on Tuesday, to display their disgruntlement with the ruling party’s failure to process salaries on time.
Watch: ANC workers demand salaries outside Luthuli House
A small group of protesters gathered at various ANC offices to hand over a memorandum of demands which, in essence, sought clarity on a number of issues, including outstanding salaries and job security.
ANC staffers have begun to protest outside the party's headquarters in Luthuli House. They are picketing over late salary payments and unfair labor practices. This amid looming retrenchments. @SundayTimesZA @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/PLikRFKuri
— Nonkululeko Njilo (@Nkulee_Njilo) June 15, 2021
The ruling party’s cadres have accused the organisation of failing to come forth with a concrete plan on how it aims to address its financial woes. Moreover, the Cyril Ramaphosa-led party is currently embroiled in a debt collection saga with SA Revenue Services (SARS) concerning missing millions of rand in unpaid provident and UIF funds that were deducted from staffers’ payslips but never made it to the tax authority.
This, according to a statement released by the ANC shortly after accepting the memorandum from protesters, is a difficult situation that will “require sober and decisive action.”
ANC response to wage strike: ‘We can’t make any promises’
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe revealed that staffers’ May 2021 salaries have since been paid and the outcomes of a meeting held on Monday would be communicated with every branch as early as next week.
“The current cash flow challenges faced by the movement is as a result of a variety of factors, including the general economic situation, the implementation of the Political Party Funding Act since April this year, as well as an urgent need to modernise the ANC’s operational and funding models,” Mabe noted.
The reprieve offered by the ruling party to its staffers may be shortlived, the party warned. While a plan is in place to meet shortfalls in provident fund and UIF payments and to ensure monthly wages, the ANC admitted that staff salaries may not be paid “at the end of the month.”
“We also wish to give our assurance that no salaries will be reduced and if we do need to retrench, this will be done after consultation with the staff representatives as the labour law prescribes,” Mabe added.
A decision on the lay-offs will arise from an audit the ANC will undergo soon.