I am the newly elected chairperson of Sanco Maki Legwete branch, Ward 11, Kagiso 2.
I have been absent in politics of the alliance for a while. But just recently I received invitations from Chamdor and Luipaardsvlei workers to educate them on the new tax law amendment.
The bill was signed into law by President Jacob Zuma over the festive season. Over time, this in effect will turn provident funds into pension funds, which will force many workers to buy annuity products instead of receiving lump sums on retirement.
From 1 March, the law will apply to all workers, apart from those over 55.
This is an attack on workers’ basic rights, in particular on young workers, who will be affected most.
I was once a Sanco West Rand regional leader and at the Sanco Gauteng NGC’s 10th Provincial Conference, a resolution was adopted on communication and media, stating that Sanco should be quiet on every critical national issue of importance. The resolution further said: “For Sanco to be a centre of influence in all our communities, communication must be aggressive.”
We therefore resolve that we fully support the new resolution. In addition to that, we would like to thank the local media houses such as Mogale FM and the News for their contribution in helping to bring back our leader. Indeed, umtu’ akalahlwe – you can’t put a good man down.
During our militant struggle of the 1980s, the workers movement fought for the right to choose whether to take a lump sum when they retired or to receive a pension.
That bill was met with mass mobilisations and 30 strikes and ultimately was withdrawn by the apartheid government. The amendment represented a patronising ‘colonial attitude’ that the state must intervene to ‘save yourself from yourself’.
