Daily Archives: October 15, 2012

Zuma delaying to appoint SIU head

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JOHANNESBURG – A number of organisations on Sunday said President Jacob Zuma’s failure to appoint a full-time head of the special investigations unit is raising questions about his commitment to fighting corruption.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Corruption Watch, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have all voiced concerns.

Advocate Willem Heath stepped down as SIU head exactly 10 months ago, and no new head has yet been appointed.

He resigned following remarks he made to the City Press newspaper about former president Thabo Mbeki’s alleged involvement in prosecuting President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma became embroiled in corruption-related controversy when his financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, was charged and later convicted with corruption and fraud.

Mbeki then relieved Zuma of his duties as his deputy after he was accused of abusing his power.

Corruption Watch head David Lewis said he did not understand the delay in the appointment.

“It doesn’t square with fighting corruption. The SIU has been a very effective body”.

For more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

Striking Bokoni Platinum miners set to return to work

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Limpopo- Striking Bokoni Platinum Mine workers in Limpopo are expected to return to work today. More than 3 000 miners embarked on an unprotected strike about two weeks ago, demanding to be paid R 16 500 per month. 

Labour unions, the Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Tawusa) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), have urged their members to return to work after management said it would fire them if they did not do so. 

NUM spokesperson William Mabapa says, “If the workers are not back to work it won’t be the issue about the union, it’ll then be an issue about the employee and the employer, because by Monday (today) the company will start to have the powers and the prerogative that if they dismissed the workers they may re-employ them with low salaries and that’s not what we want as the union because that’s going to take us back to square one, we urge our members to go back to work.” 

The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West

Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers says it’s concerned about the escalating violence targeting its members in the Rustenburg area. The union says it has lost its members after violent protests in Marikana in the North West. 

It says four of its members were killed in August. Two people are expected to appear in court today in connection with the killing of an NUM shop stewart in Marikana two weeks ago.

For more details go to http://www.sabc.co.za