Today's Labour News

Cape Times reports that labour federation Cosatu has expressed disappointment that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle increased the number of ministers, so further bloating government.

“We remain disappointed that not enough was done to reduce the size of the cabinet and to realign the government departments to improve their cooperation and levels of efficiency. Postponing this process and shifting to the next administration is not satisfactory,” Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla commented. He also said that the labour federation was hoping to see signs of a paradigm shift in how the government saw the role of the state in the economy. “This requires an effective and activist state that is led by men and women of integrity,” he noted. Despite the reservations, Pamla wished the new appointees well: “We will give all the new appointees a chance to prove themselves in their new positions.” Pamla said Cosatu welcomed the declaration of a state of disaster to tackle the energy crisis crippling the economy. “The new minister needs to act decisively to ensure that Eskom has all the support it requires to reduce and end load shedding over the next few months. The nation cannot afford to normalize 10 hours of load shedding a day,” he said with reference to the appointment of Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the Minister of Electricity. Cosatu said it expected newly-appointed Minister for Public Service and Administration Noxolo Kiviet to move with speed to repair the broken relationship between the state and public servants.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at Cape Times
• Read too, Cabinet reshuffle shows Ramaphosa still puts ANC politics before needs of SA, at The Citizen (subscriber access only)

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