BL Premium reports that SA businessperson Mthunzi Mdwaba says he finds it “quite bizarre and odd” that the SA government has revoked its support for his candidacy to become the next director-general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

It was reported in June that Mdwaba, a former vice-chair of the ILO, a tripartite UN agency that sets international labour standards, had been endorsed by the government, the AU, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordination Council (Satucc), Cosatu, Fedusa and Nactu, among others. Mdwaba’s campaign team said it had learnt about the “mysterious withdrawal” by SA and that it “regrettably notes this development, but wishes to confirm that Professor Mdwaba’s nomination remains intact in the ILO nomination process”. The team said it would engage with the SA government “o establish the reasons for this unexplained action as neither Professor Mdwaba nor his team were consulted or advised of this unexpected position.” Mdwaba is CEO of Tzoro IBC, a business consultancy in Sandton, as well as chair of Productivity SA and of the SA-Norwegian Association. When contacted for comment, cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said: “I don't know where that is coming from, that the government has revoked its support for Prof Mdwaba, therefore I can’t comment.” The election of the new ILO director-general for a five-year term will be held on 25 March 2022.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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