Spirited members of the Eastern Cape Unemployed Workers Union filled the Orient Theatre yesterday afternoon to await an address by social development minister Bathabile Dlamini.
Members who took to the floor to air their grievances said they were vexed with corruption in the ANC leadership and disgruntled with the candidate lists drawn up in the recent local government elections.
About 500 people, many wearing ANC T-shirts and scarves, cheered “Viva ANC” as community members took the microphone.
The minister, who was scheduled to arrive at 1pm, had still not made an appearance by 2.40pm when the Daily Dispatch left the venue.
According to the national president of the South African Unemployed Workers Union Jabu Ntusi, President Jacob Zuma had been invited to the event, but had sent Dlamini in his place.
Ntusi said the union wanted to take a firm stand against the ANC’s policy of “imposing” election candidates on communities.
He said many ANC members had chosen not to vote as a result.
“Our leaders are so arrogant, especially secretary-general who is very, very arrogant. We don’t need such behaviour here, because it divides the society.”
He said the union had wanted to ask President Zuma why no jobs in a tourism safety initiative launched two years ago had materialised.
“It was supposed to provide 3000 jobs over five years, but not even one job has started.”
Meeting participant Sibulele Matsha said members of the Unemployed Workers Union were deeply unhappy with Mantashe. “He is the root of the problem because he had the power to change candidates and he imposed candidates the people do not know.”
Dressed in a sharp olive green military-style uniform and maroon beret emblazoned with a red star logo reading “Provincial Tourism Safety Unit”, Matsha said he had attended tourism safety training in Coffee Bay in 2012, but no job had materialised.
“We just received this uniform and training, but then there were no jobs and no salaries.”
Unemployed Workers Union member Nomfundo Zinto said members were fed up with corruption in local ANC structures.
“This is about the issue of the candidates who were selected by the ANC and not by the people,” said Zinto. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za