TimesLive reports that North West premier Supra Mahumapelo’s office has denied that the provincial government would be cutting public servants salaries in 2017.  

This came after an outcry by labour federation Cosatu and its affiliate the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).  Spokesman Brian Setswambung said the North West government understood that salaries were a national competence and could not be negotiated in provinces since SA was not a federal state.  The backlash followed The New Age newspaper’s report that the province would cut salaries of senior employees as part of its efforts to scale down on expenditure in 2017.  Setswambung said the newspaper report which led to Cosatu and Nehawu’s reaction was a “misrepresentation” of facts.

• Read this report by Genevieve Quintal in full at TimesLive
• See too, North West premier under fire for pay cut plan, at The Citizen
• And also, Cosatu reads North West premier the riot act, at Cape Times

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page