FEDUSA

People queuing in Zanspruit to vote in the Local Municipal Elections

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is very pleased with the increased numbers of voter registration and voter turnout for the recent municipal elections. “Now that voters have made their mark, political parties and municipal councillors will need to start delivering on the promises they made during their election campaigns,” commented FEDUSA Acting General Secretary, Krister Janse van Rensburg.

According to IEC records, 12 707 808 South Africans cast their vote on Wednesday. This figure translates into a 57% voter turnout compared to 48% voter turnout during the 2006 Local Government Elections. “FEDUSA is confident that the 2011 Local Government Elections will be declared free and fair,” said Janse van Rensburg, “this democratic process however, also highlights the massive obligations and responsibilities that lie before elected officials at the start of their five year term.”

Continue reading FEDUSA URGES VOTERS TO DEMAND HONESTY, OPENNESS AND SERVICE DELIVERY

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is encouraging all registered voters to use their vote tomorrow to effect change. “We need to honour those who fought so hard to ensure the South Africans today can live in a democratic state in which we all have both the right and the responsibility to vote for the leaders of tomorrow,” said FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), 23 654 578 South African citizens have registered to vote in South Africa’s fourth municipal elections. FEDUSA predicts that voters will be voting based on the performance of their present ward councillors and municipality representatives. “Citizens are concerned with the poor conditions of roads, increasing electricity and food prices as well as basic service delivery,” commented George.

Continue reading FEDUSA ENCOURAGES SOUTH AFRICANS TO USE THEIR VOTE

NPC Deputy Chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa and FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) met with representatives of the National Planning Commission (NPC) today. Deputy Chairperson of South Africa’s NPC Cyril Ramaphosa, welcomed the submission of the FEDUSA Building Blocks for a New Employment Growth Path and stated that the NPC looked forward to further engagement in the future.

The NPC is structured according to Thematic Working Groups (TWG’s) which are headed by a number of commissioners, appointed by the President, from a wide variety of sectors. Mr Ramaphosa explained that the TWG’s would be focusing on specific matters, while the mandate of the NPC was to investigate cross-cutting, broader issues that could make our country work better.

After an extensive consultation process, the national development plan would be submitted to Cabinet before a draft document for public comment would be released in June of 2011.  He said that once a national consensus had been reached, it was envisaged to release the final document on 11 November 2011.

Mr Ramaphosa then went into the detail presentation including a diagnostic evaluation of current issues including poor school results, corruption, competition, unemployment, and poverty.  After this, he focused on the NPCs vision of the economy which should be based on the South African Constitution.  Here he included matters such as a diversified economy, the development and use of modern technology, high growth and employment, productivity, innovate, the role of the state, human capital development, environmental issues, ownership and optimalisation of land usage, as well as South Africa’s integration into the subcontinent.

Continue reading FEDUSA MEETS WITH RAMAPHOSA ON NATIONAL PLAN

Gill Marcus, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is not surprised by the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to keep the interest repurchase unchanged, however it does remain concerned regarding the jobless growth and high unemployment figures.

“We will remain unsatisfied until FEDUSA’s long-time efforts to have the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) mandate expanded, to include unemployment, are realised,” commented FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George, “ultimately South Africa needs to formulate economic policies and strategies to stimulate our economy and lessen the burden on working people.”

Continue reading FEDUSA CONCERNED WITH JOBLESS GROWTH AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT