The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the dismissal of disciplinary charges levelled against our Shopsteward, Comrade Rhulane Manganye at the Department of Public Service and Administration [DPSA].
The dismissal of the charges by the Disciplinary Chairperson comes against the background of an instruction by the Director-General, Yoliswa Makhasi to charge Cde. Rhulane on bogus, frivolous and spurious charges for defending and guarding the gains of collective bargaining and interest of our members and workers.
The Director-General has shown total disregard to the application of legislation and use of discretionary management style and this is demonstrated by how she has ran the department with an iron-fist management style, witch-hunting and vilifying officials who expose maladministration in the department.
The charges against our shopsteward formed part of the broader onslaught directed to workers through various tactics such as bullying and unfairly suspending officials and victimisation of union leaders.
It is clear that the Director-General was just trying to deflect from the real issues contained in the petition submitted by the union to the then Minister of DPSA, Ayanda Dlodlo requesting an intervention against the abuse of authority which has led to a low morale and productivity in the department due to victimisation and bullying.
The Director-General instead of addressing issues contained in the petition opted to charge our shopsteward. As NEHAWU, we have written on numerous occasions to the DG to observe fair labour practice and good governance on various issues that are detrimental to workplace democracy and conditions of service of our members and workers at the DPSA.
Lastly, NEHAWU calls on the Director General to refrain from using disciplinary processes to bully and victimise our shopstewards and workers, but to attend to real issues as raised in the petition. The attempt to dismiss our shopsteward didn’t work and we want to send a stern warning to the DG and department that the union will do everything in its power to defend and protect its members and workers in general.
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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za