Michael Sekuneke
CIVIL servants in the Northern Transvaal are threatening mass action to force premier Mgwako Ramatlhodi’s administration to honour his pre-election promises.
They are expected to bring the province to a standstill on Tuesday when thousands of government employees in the former Lebowa, Venda and Gazankulu homelands take to the streets to highlight their plight with a march on government offices in Pietersburg.
Hundreds of workers in the former Lebowa this week attended a meeting at the Lebowakgomo Civic Centre where they accused the new administraton of failing to deliver on its campaign promises. Speakers called for a campaign of civil disobedience and encouraged each other to defy various circulars distributed by the government. They said one circular ordered all heads of department to stop taking workers home in government vehicles. Another called on workers to be on duty until 4:30pm on Fridays and that the workers should stop leaving before time.
On Tuesday, they intend handing Ramatlhodi an ultimatum: meet their demands or face intensified mass action. Workers are demanding promotions, salary parity, housing and car subsidies and maternity and paternity leave.