ANC workers protest at NGC over unpaid salaries

Despite an assurance by ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula on Sunday that unpaid salaries for ANC employees have been resolved, the start of the ANC's 5th National General Council (NGC) got off to a disruptive start.

This comes as a small group of unpaid ANC employees picketed outside the Birchwood Hotel on Monday over unpaid salaries for November, with some reports indicating that this is the fourth time this year that the party has failed to pay its staffers.

One of the protesters reflected the pain of having to work without being paid their salaries, suspended medical aid and unpaid pension contributions.

Nombuso Mthembu, one of the affected workers holding placards airing their grievances said they were on duty at the National General Council (NGC) despite not being paid.

"We have decided to just start off here despite of our frustrations amid the delays in our salary payments. The salaries are not the only issue; some of us have outstanding pension fund payments and medical aid.  We have members here with chronic medical illnesses, whose medical aid has been suspended," she said.

The group also enjoyed support from the ANC Youth League and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), who stood in solidarity with the affected employees.

Reacting to the cries of the unpaid employees, ANC Youth League leader Collen Malatji saying those 'responsible for the mess must be held accountable'.

"We’re going to hold everyone accountable because the workers have families to take care of. They must buy clothes, and they must prepare for December. We cannot be eating while ANC workers and their children go hungry,'' he said.

NEHAWU deputy secretary at the Luthuli House branch, Dan Semenya, said it was important for the union to show its support to unpaid ANC workers.

"This matter of unpaid salaries is not limited to November, as it has been a recurring issue. I can remind you that in 2022, during the policy conference, picketing was on the basis of the same issue. We are here today, three years later, and we are still dealing with the same issues,” he stated.

On Sunday, during his pre-NGC press briefing, Mbalula said the issue has been resolved, with top management being the only group that has not been paid their November salaries.

Mbalula said he was aware of intended protests but said the salary matter for junior staff had been resolved, with only payments to senior managers, including himself, outstanding.

"The component of staff not paid is management, starting with me, the Secretary-General. All our staff below that level have been attended to in terms of salaries. We are working on resolving the issue through rigorous fundraising efforts to ensure our staff bill is settled," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za