ILLEGAL STRIKE BY SAMWU MEMBERS NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS AND EMPLOYMENT EQUITY BILL OF RESPONSIBILITIES TO INSTIL VALUES IN YOUTH (Minister's Response)

UNGQONGQOSHE WEZABASEBENZI: Ngiyabonga Somlomo, ngiyethemba ukuthi nginemizuzu emine ngoba ngizophendula imibuzo emibili. Owokuqala yilowo ophakanyiswe yilungu le-IFP, othi i-ANC ayisakwazi ukulawula izinyunyana. Ngifisa ukusho ukuthi i-ANC ihola umbimbi kodwa izinhlangano ezingaphansi kombimbi zizimele. Okwesibili ngokoMthethosisekelo waleli lizwe, izinyunyana zinalo ilungelo lokuteleka. Thina njenge-ANC esingahambisani nakho wukuthi uma betelekile bese kuba nodlame. Ngiyethemba ilungu elihloniphekile lizokhumbula ukuthi lwalungakanani udlame olwalukhona KwaZulu-Natali ngenkathi beyothula i-Wusa. Asihambisani nokuthi amalungu ezinyunyana abe nodlame uma eteleka.

Okwesibili kubheke kwilungu elihloniphekile le-Freedom Front eliza nezincomo kule Ndlu. Lapha sikhuluma ngomthetho osahlongozwa, ongekabekwa ezithebeni zale Ndlu; okusenokuthi ohlelweni lwe-National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, i-Nedlac yenze izichibiyelo, kwenzeke iKhabhinethi ithi ayiqhubeki nalezi zichibiyelo. Ngakho-ke ngiyafisa ukuthi Somlomo uke uqeqeshe amalungu ale Ndlu - ikakhulukazi angaphesheya - mayelana nokuthi uhlelo lokumiswa kwemithetho luhamba kanjani ngoba kuyacaca ukuthi hhayi kumnyama. [Ihlombe.] Ngiyafisa-ke futhi ukuthi asingavimbeli ukuthi amalungu omphakathi ajule ngengxoxo, yithi siyile Ndlu esathi iNingizimu Afrika ayijule ngengxoxo; asibayekeni-ke baxoxe bese beza nezincomo noma siyaqhubeka noma asiqhubeki. Ngifuna ukuthi-ke "hlehla bheseni akukaphakwa". Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)

[The MINISTER OF LABOUR: Thank you, Speaker. I hope I have four minutes as I will respond to two questions. The first one is the one raised by the member of the IFP, stating that the ANC is no longer able to control the unions. I wish to state that the ANC leads the tripartite alliance, but all organisations in the alliance are independent. Secondly, according to the Constitution of this country, unions have a right to strike. We, as the ANC, don't support violence when they go on strike. I trust the hon member will recall the amount of violence in KwaZulu-Natal when they launched Uwusa. We don't support the actions of union members who become violent when they go on strike.

The second one is directed to the hon member of the Freedom Front Plus who presented recommendations to this House. Here we are talking about a White Paper, not a Bill tabled before this House; amendments might be made during the preparation by the National Economic Development and Labour Council which the Cabinet might not approve. I therefore wish, Speaker, that you train members of this House - especially those from the opposition - on how legislation is drafted since it is clear that they are not clear about this. [Applause.]

I again wish that we don't prevent the members of the public from deeply discussing issues; it is us as this House who said South Africa must discuss issues deeply, so let us allow them to discuss them and come up with recommendations whether we must or must not proceed. I want to say, "let's not rush, the right time will come". I thank you.]