Pretoria - The EFF has threatened to protest outside Tshwane House, where MMC for Finance Peter Sutton is expected to deliver the budget speech today.
Regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu said this was prompted by the DA-led coalition’s decision to “reverse the monumental milestone achieved in 2019 regarding the council-approved process of insourcing security guards and cleaners”.
He said the protest action would go ahead despite attempts by the Tshwane Metro Police Department to prevent it.
Ramabodu said security guards and cleaners in the City of Tshwane had been subjected to an exploitative and capitalistic system of “tenderpreneurship”.
He said the pockets of the politically connected white minority were lined while security guards and cleaners who worked their fingers to the bone remained with meagre earnings and on empty stomachs.
“The long and sustained predicament of the workers came to an end in 2019 when the EFF, through a council motion, succeeded in pushing for the insourcing of security guards and cleaners.
“Surprisingly, the DA and its proxies in council are plotting to reverse the gains made in 2019 for the insourcing of these workers.
“The EFF, as a vanguard of the people and the working class, will not sell security guards and cleaners in Tshwane to the highest bidder.
“We are unequivocally opposed to the administration’s tendencies of furthering the poverty and exploitation of the oppressed African workers.
“We demand the reinstatement of the 627 fixed-term contractors in the City with immediate effect, as per the award of the arbitration.
“The administration should desist from branding fixed-term contractors as capacity workers as this has confused workers and created confusion in their roles.”
Ramabodu implored trade unions to fight for workers and all the security guards, cleaners and municipal employees who did not receive an increase in their wages or salaries to join the EFF in the protest.
“Subsequently, we do not support the anti-poor budget that will be tabled by the administration in the special council meeting.
“Equally, we appeal to the consciousness of the Tshwane ANC caucus to resist politics of the stomach by aligning themselves with the budget, as public opinion suggests, for the shameful purpose and hope of enjoying lapdog benefits.
“Security guards and cleaners should never feel abandoned as long as the EFF exists in council. The cause for the liberation of the working class is not negotiable and can never be betrayed for reasons of political expediency,” Ramabodu added.
Mayor Randall Williams has stated that the City could not afford to absorb everybody.
Meanwhile, the metro was yesterday confident the budget speech would go ahead.
Mayoral spokesperson Sipho Stuurman said: “The City is prepared and ready to host the budget speech.
“However, we would like to advise against any plans to disrupt such an important occasion.
“No one has the right to deny our residents the opportunity to hear the budget speech that speaks to the City’s plans for service delivery for the year ahead.”
Pretoria News