Police have been given express authority to draw a ring of steel around parliament as political leaders drew a line in the sand last night against the striking Nehawu members who disrupted parliament and caused suspension of its business yesterday.“This far and no further” were the word of a stern-faced Baleka Mbete, speaker of the National Assembly to the parliamentary press corps last night.
She was flanked by her deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli, and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise.
Presiding officers Mbete and Modise were clear that they would not budge on the union’s demands for higher pay because parliament’s budget did not allow for it.
Negotiations between the top leaderships of the legislature and Nehawu continued deep into the night to try and break the deadlock.
Today, Nehawu workers will only be allowed to enter the parliamentary precinct to work. They will not be allowed to protest inside the parliamentary precinct. If they try to do so, they will be met by the full force of the security forces.
The National Assembly, which could not meet at all yesterday because of disruptions, is scheduled to sit from 10am to late tonight to pass a raft of budget-related and other bills.
Yesterday afternoon, armed police stood guard outside the often dull National Council of Provinces to prevent any effort to stop the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill debate.
That followed the suspension of the National Assembly due to labour unrest yesterday morning after members of Nehawu took over the chamber.
They sang and chanted “Asonwabanga, epalamente sifun’ imali asonwabanga!” loosely translated to “we are not happy in parliament, we want money”, making it impossible for MPs to debate the adjustments to the national budget.
They then changed to “Makuliwe!” (let us fight!) .
Union members are unhappy about wage and salary issues, and about the securitisation of parliament by the state security agency.
Parliament reached an agreement with the union on wage issues last week, only to renege on it Friday.
Nehawu branch chair S’thembiso Tembe said that MPs “must be prepared to assist us”.
He said the union was ready for “anything today”.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said failure to pass the budget by today would have “grave implications” for Treasury.
The EFF’s Hlengiwe Hlope said the party supported the workers in their strike.
“The budget process will be delayed but it’s high time parliament listens to its workers. They must sit down and be genuine with them,” she said.
Parly takes tough stance against Nehawu
“This far and no further” were the word of a stern-faced Baleka Mbete, speaker of the National Assembly to the parliamentary press corps last night.
She was flanked by her deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli, and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise.
Presiding officers Mbete and Modise were clear that they would not budge on the union’s demands for higher pay because parliament’s budget did not allow for it.
Negotiations between the top leaderships of the legislature and Nehawu continued deep into the night to try and break the deadlock.
Today, Nehawu workers will only be allowed to enter the parliamentary precinct to work. They will not be allowed to protest inside the parliamentary precinct. If they try to do so, they will be met by the full force of the security forces.
The National Assembly, which could not meet at all yesterday because of disruptions, is scheduled to sit from 10am to late tonight to pass a raft of budget-related and other bills.
Yesterday afternoon, armed police stood guard outside the often dull National Council of Provinces to prevent any effort to stop the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill debate.
That followed the suspension of the National Assembly due to labour unrest yesterday morning after members of Nehawu took over the chamber.
They sang and chanted “Asonwabanga, epalamente sifun’ imali asonwabanga!” loosely translated to “we are not happy in parliament, we want money”, making it impossible for MPs to debate the adjustments to the national budget.
They then changed to “Makuliwe!” (let us fight!) .
Union members are unhappy about wage and salary issues, and about the securitisation of parliament by the state security agency.
Parliament reached an agreement with the union on wage issues last week, only to renege on it Friday.
Nehawu branch chair S’thembiso Tembe said that MPs “must be prepared to assist us”.
He said the union was ready for “anything today”.
DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said failure to pass the budget by today would have “grave implications” for Treasury.
The EFF’s Hlengiwe Hlope said the party supported the workers in their strike.
“The budget process will be delayed but it’s high time parliament listens to its workers. They must sit down and be genuine with them,” she said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos