Workers threaten another protest against Madonsela
Former workers of the Tshwane South College threaten a second protest march to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's office if a report into their complaint is not released this month.
Workers dismissed “unfairly” by Tshwane South College eight years ago, have threatened a second protest to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s office if she continues to delay her findings on their dismissals.
According to National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), the college dismissed 60 workers between 2008 and 2013 who claimed unfair dismissal and reported the matter to Madonsela three years ago.
They now accuse Madonsela of “pushing an agenda” by attending to high publicity matters while putting theirs on the back-burner.
“This case must be given the same attention as the Nkandla case,” said Nehawu provincial chairperson Vusi Monyela.
At the beginning of May, the dismissed workers at Tshwane South College in Atteridgeville marched to Madonsela’s office to deliver a memorandum to demand that Madonsela release her findings within five working days.
Now they are threatening another protest.
But Tuesday, Public Protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said Madonsela would release her findings in July.
“In response to the memorandum, the Public Protector wrote to the provincial coordinator of Nehawu, indicating that her investigation had been completed and that she was consolidating the responses of the various parties [the people the complaint was against]. She plans to release the report in July.”
Winners Sehlabane, an affected former staffer and union member, said the dismissed workers were unhappy with how Madonsela was handling their case.
“We don’t understand why she’s taking so long to release our report because her investigation is done. What is stopping her from speaking to us?”
Sehlabane said another protest was planned for June if Madonsela failed to release her findings.
“This coming Monday, we are heading to the traffic department so that it can give us a date that will allow us to march peacefully.”
Sehlabane said he was not aware that Madonsela planned to release her findings in July.
“No, July is too far, we can’t wait that long. Communication is key and if she had kept in touch with us, none of this would happen.”
Neither the college nor Monyela could not be reached for comment before going to print.
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