BDLive reports on proceedings at the annual general meeting on Monday of the Public Service Association (PSA), where former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas was a speaker.  

The PSA, which represents more than 230,000 public service workers, has been vocal in its opposition to state capture and corruption.  SA had to build an immune system against corruption on all fronts, in both the public and private sectors, Jonas told delegates.  General secretary Ivan Fredericks said the union had started a process to ensure that its members were informed about whistle-blowing.  

The PSA also announced it would be tabling a 12% salary increase demand when public sector wage negotiations get under way on 16 October.  The figure had to still be discussed with other trade unions, including Cosatu affiliates, before a final demand was agreed on for presentation to the government by the labour caucus, but it was unlikely to be lower.  Fredericks said workers would use the billions of rand lost to wasteful and irregular expenditure and corruption in the government as a benchmark of the state’s ability to offer workers an increase well above the inflation-targeted hike the Department of Finance has punted.  Earlier this month, senior managers received a 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment, backdated to April.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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