Bongani Hans
COSATU says the R2.5 billion loaned by South Africa to Swaziland would have been better spent if it had been given to Somalia, where people, caught in a drought, are starving to death.
“Why give the money to Swaziland while people are asked to donate money for Somalia? Had they (the government) asked for donations for King Mswati (III of Swaziland), they would have seen how many people would have donated,” said Cosatu’s provincial secretary, Zet Luzipho.
He was addressing a press briefing in Durban, where Basil Cele, the provincial chairman of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, was introduced as Cosatu’s new provincial chairman.
Cele replaces Chris Ndlela, who stepped down after being appointed mayor of the Msunduzi municipality.
Luzipho said Cele was “down to earth but very principled as a leader”, and committed to workers. He had been the Cosatu deputy provincial chairman, a position now occupied by John Dlamini, chairman of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union and a former Howick mayor.
Luzipho lamented that the majority of jobs that had been created in the province were “indecent”. Such jobs were temporary and in the hospitality, financial and construction industries.
Though KZN had created 71 000 jobs, most were not based on the principle of decent work, he said. “Sadly, the manufacturing industry, which has the potential of creating sustainable jobs, continues to shed jobs.”