Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary of trade union Solidarity, looks in detail at how the six year-long Aurora saga played out and comes to the conclusion that the system suits those carrying out corruption but works against the workers.
While Khulubuse Zuma has to pay R23 million in damages and the Bhana family members have been sequestrated, the liquidation of Aurora will take years to conclude. Du Plessis nevertheless argues that several lessons can be learnt from the Aurora saga and he goes on list 10 specific instances in respect of which changes are necessary in the liquidation process. Foremost among these is that Section 38 of the Insolvency Act, which regulates workers’ termination of employment during liquidation, must be amended as the current process prevents workers from obtaining fast financial relief. Another point is that SARS should not receive preferential treatment ahead of employees when it comes to the payment of outstanding monies. Du Plessis says that workers have paid dearly for the Aurora corruption, “yet the pain can be assuaged if, apart from judicial consequences for the Aurora thugs and salary repayments, worker-friendly statutory and regulatory amendments could result from this saga.”
- Read Du Plessis’ analysis in full at BizNews
- Read this article in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (limited access)
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