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BL Premium reports that Cosatu on Wednesday rejected the unbundling of state-owned freight transport and logistics company Transnet.
The trade union federation, which backed Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign for the ANC presidency, has in recent times questioned his economic reforms, saying workers were never consulted. “The federation demands a moratorium on the decision to unbundle Transnet and for more honest and proper engagements to take place to discuss the future of SOEs [state owned enterprises],” said Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla. He claimed the decision on Transnet would have serious consequences for workers “because if this new entity is declared an essential service, their right to strike will be curtailed”. Pamla went on to say: “The federation views this decision [unbundling] with suspicion and scepticism because it is not in line with the vision of the alliance and the ANC manifesto. This new method of unbundling SOEs has not been properly canvassed with relevant stakeholders and is at odds with the commitment to a developmental, interventionist state.” He added that the federation was deeply disturbed because “this decision was unilaterally taken without broad and comprehensive consultation of stakeholders and unions in particular”. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa announced the unbundling of Transnet in a move meant to boost the functioning of SA’s ports, which have been hampered by inefficiencies and ageing infrastructure in recent years. The unbundling of Transnet will see the establishment of the Transnet National Ports Authority as an independent subsidiary.
Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Read too, National Ports Authority now an independent subsidiary of Transnet, at TimesLIVE
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page