Anna Cox
JOHANNESBURG: President Jacob Zuma says workers must refrain from demanding salary increases and instead tighten their belts as his government has done amid the current tough economic climate.
“We can’t have workers demanding higher salaries if the companies are not making profits. Workers should be tightening their belts to protect their jobs. If they lose their jobs, they become the burden of government,” he said yesterday.
The president was speaking at the official opening of Unit 6 of the Medupi power station in Lephalale yesterday. The Medupi project, which began in May 2007, was hampered by intermittent labour strikes and contractual disputes, among others.
He said the opening of Unit 6 of the power station would result in massive benefits to the South African economy, including a growth of 0.35 percent to the gross domestic product.
Zuma said the Medupi project, which he described as “a living example of the pervasive impact and potential of our infrastructure projects”, would boost economic growth in the country, starting with the local economy in Lephalale.
The project is the largest coal-powered power station in the country and is set to be the fourth