Comments by African National Congress Youth League President Julius Malema that Minister of Education Naledi Pandor ”must use her fake accent to address our problems” were unacceptable and disrespectful, the ANC said on Wednesday.
”Malema’s comments are uncalled for and unacceptable. They suggest a lack of respect for the dignity of the individual concerned and the important work they have been entrusted to undertake,” said party spokesperson Jessie Duarte.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) President was addressing protesters at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Pretoria campus when he accused Pandor of not taking action to resolve the ongoing salary dispute at the institution.
His comments came after the university’s management on Tuesday announced that the institution would be closed due to protests by both students and staff over salary negotiations.
”The ANCYL is entitled to express its own positions and views. However, this should be done within the norms and culture of the ANC,” Duarte said.
She said the ANC leadership will take up the matter with the youth league.
”There can be no excuse for the kind of utterances attributed to Malema,” Duarte said.
Capping of salaries
Meanwhile, National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) President Noluthando Sibiya said the unions involved in the strike were not informed of the decision to close the campus.
She said Nehawu had approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in order to force management to engage with the unions for further talks.
Nehawu supporters also reiterated that they would never accept the capping of salaries for staff.
On Wednesday, Malema urged the protestors to continue their militancy in an orderly fashion.
University spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision to close the institution was taken following the intimidation of non-striking staff by some union members at the university over the past few days.
She said the decision was also influenced by violence and vandalism witnessed during the strike.
”The safety of staff, students and university property is our primary concern and management has taken the decision to avoid any threat to the safety of people’s lives or TUT property,” De Ruyter said. – Sapa