By OBAKENG MAJE
31 March 2025- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane, has welcomed the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) resolutions to deal with an illegal industrial action by employees. Lenkopane said employees of the entity have, for the past month or so, embarked on an unprotected strike, which destabilised operations both in the entity and the department, traumatized other staff members and disrupted tourism business operators.
She further said the Board has briefed her that the entity will take disciplinary and or prosecution action against employees or any individual involved in this illegality. Lenkopane added that, the Board has acknowledged that protesting employees had obtained a permit to picket, but flouted the rules thereof, engaging in illegal actions that included intimidations to non-striking staff, vandalism and disruption of private business at lodges and parks.
“Lodge and Park owners have since obtained a court interdict to prevent the illegal picketing and the disruption of their businesses. The Board has directed the entity’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to be firm and decisive in implementing its resolutions to deal with any element of criminality and or unsanctioned absenteeism.
“The Board has also resolved that the situation be declared an emergency, to allow the deployment of extra security resources, to protect the property of the entity and its human resource capital. This is also to enable business to normally run again,” she said.
Lenkopane said she welcomes the Board’s decision to implement a salary of 4.7% increase to the non-managerial positions. She said half of the salary increase will be implemented retrospectively from March 2024 and another half in April 2025.
“We appreciate the improved financial management of both the administration and the Directors of the entity. The department acknowledges the salary disparities between employees from the merged the then Parks and Tourism Boards.
“We also call on the current NWPTB Directors and management to bring balance thereto. We unreservedly apologised to all staff members and businesses, who experienced the unruly behaviour of the illegal picketing, and assured them that parties are working together to bring the situation to normality,” said Lenkopane.
She said they highly appreciate the efforts of all who stood up and joined hands with the government to fight against the illegal strike.
The Guardian 