Nehawu backs Zuma promise

2009-06-03 16:52

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma's confirmation that government was committed to implementing the ANC's manifesto was welcomed by the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) on Wednesday.

Earlier, Zuma delivered his first state of the nation speech to Parliament in Cape Town.

One of the points Zuma made was that in spite of the country's shrinking economy, the plans that the African National Congress placed before the electorate would remain at the core of the government's programme.

In reaction, Nehawu said it fully supported this stance.

"We endorse and support the government's overarching stance that the current economic crisis will not cause any change in the content of the programme and that the government is committed to implement the ANC's manifesto with speed and determination."

Engaging with govt

The union added that it hoped to engage with government on its Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009 to 2014 as presented by Zuma in his speech.

Nehawu said it welcomed government's commitment to speed up the establishment of a single public service as well as its commitment to the introduction of a National Health Insurance scheme.

The union added it was commendable that Zuma had committed the R787bn infrastructure expenditure not only to public enterprises but also towards the poor.

Zuma announced in his speech that the money would also be spent on the school building programme, public transport including the bus rapid transit system, housing, water and sanitation.

Combating corruption

Nehawu also lauded Zuma's intention to combat corruption.

The union, however, said it was concerned that there had been no mention of the implementation of all the outstanding Occupation Specific Dispensations as well as the filling of all funded vacancies in the public service in line with government's previous commitments.

Nehawu added that while it welcomed Zuma's pledge on job creation, it was worried about the "silence" over the commitment made in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in October 2008 when government stated that it had set aside R4bn to create 155 000 permanent jobs each year up until 2011.

"We require clarity on this," the union said.

Clarification was also required on Zuma's pledge to create a Border Management Agency "because of its potential implications for workers currently working at border posts as part of the public service", Nehawu said.
 

- SAPA