FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape demands urgent intervention by National Treasury to fund COGTA in order to reconsider terminating the temporary employment contracts of people aged 55 and older.
The CWP is a government initiative which provides temporary employment for people of working age while they search for permanent jobs.
We deplore any plans by Minister of COGTA to terminate workers contracts which would result in more unemployment of about 60000 workers, 40000 of those beneficiaries are in the Eastern Cape. The country is in the midst of crisis levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality and yet COGTA decide to terminate contracts which would lead to jobs bloodbath and more misery to the extended families of the beneficiaries who stay in our townships and villages.
We can’t have a state through National Treasury that continues to prioritize implementing austerity measures including reducing public service wage bill, cuts in social spending, outsourcing, mass retrenchments, and freezing funded vacant posts amongst others.
Furthermore, ANC in the province calls on the community works program workers to remain firm and resolute on their demands that they remain contracted by COGTA. ANC as an ardent believer in worker’s battle slogan; “an injury to one is an injury to all”, shall soon unleash its practical solidarity action and plan involving all our members in support of the community works program workers struggles.
ENDS….
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS -EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Enquiries :
Cde Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
ANC Eastern Cape
Mobile No- 0849519924/0848439706
