NEHAWU Notes The Delaying And Evasive Actions By The NSFAS Management
Wednesday October 07, 2020
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] notes with disgust the delaying and evasive actions of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme [NSFAS] management.
Our strike action at NSFAS started on the 5th October 2020 and on the 6th October 2020 the management asked for a meeting to discuss the ongoing strike. In that meeting which sat at 12pm, management told us that they would be meeting with the Minister of Higher Education and Training later in the afternoon and they were to give us feedback of the outcomes of that meeting today. However, today they are proposing a meeting on the 12th October 2020 as they still need to engage various stakeholders such as National Treasury and the Minister.
We note this as nothing but delaying and evasive tactics by the management who are trying to buy time with the hope that the strike will fizzle out and die. In this regard, we want to send a clear message to the management that our members remain very resolute and militant. We are more than ready to use all resources at our disposal to ensure that the strike is a success.
We continue to hold a strong view that our demands are reasonable and genuine. Our members and workers remain unwavering in their demand for a 8% salary increase and the improvement of their working conditions and benefits. In this regard, we will come back stronger on the 12th and we will actually demand that the Administrator comes out and account to workers.
On Friday [October 9, 2020] the national union will be making a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on higher education on corruption, maladministration, victimization of workers, lack of IT systems, illegal extension of the contract of the Administrator and the flouting of recruitment policies. Moreover, the National Office Bearers [NOBs] will continue to meet the Minister on the same day as part of the follow-up meeting from last week Friday which will also discuss the poor state of NSFAS in details.
As NEHAWU, we believe that NSFAS has been in disarray and poorly managed over the past couple of years. This has disadvantaged both our members and students greatly. We remain very committed in playing a big role in fixing the institution for the benefit of all deserving students especially those from poor background. We will leave no stone unturned in transforming the institution to be good employer that treats our members with dignity and respect.
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat and DHET
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Khaya Xaba (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 082 455 2500 - email khaya@nehawu.org.za