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(HERALD) People must benefit from minerals, says SA union

People must benefit from minerals, says SA union
Tuesday, 15 November 2011 00:00

Johannesburg - Nationalisation must be taken forward, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said yesterday. "Clearly the status quo cannot be maintained. The South African people and economy must benefit from the minerals in our motherland," NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said.

The union is hoping for a positive outcome from research being done by the ANC on nationalising mines, he said. Baleni was speaking after a NUM national executive committee meeting in Johannesburg. The executive had discussed what he termed "the triple evil". These are unemployment, inequality and poverty.

Corruption, which often went together with the triple evil, did not only take place in government. It is also happening within trade unions, he said. "Corruption has engulfed our society."

He called on the ANC and trade unions to compel members to declare any business interests, saying this would give comfort to those bidding for tenders.

Those in decision-making positions should declare their interests and leave when it becomes clear that a deal would benefit a family member, Baleni said.

The NUM was also concerned about people misleading the working class by claiming to be one of them, when their lifestyles reflected otherwise.

Asked about the suspension of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, Baleni said the ANC should be seen to be leading.

"We fully respect the ANC in enforcing internal discipline. We accept the outcome of the internal disciplinary committee.

"No one should be allowed to pronounce on policies that have not been debated internally. Nobody must feel he is above the ANC," Baleni said. - fin24.

Labels: ANC, NATIONALISATION, NUM (SA), TRADE UNIONS

posted by MrK @ 6:15 PM