South Africa’s constitutional changes – especially in the labour sector – received international acclaim for discarding the oppressive apartheid policy that stripped the majority of the country’s citizens of their political rights rendering them slave labourers in the land of their birth.
In the public-sector space, workers still faced challenges. But there was a mutual respect between the state and the public-sector unions. This was further strengthened by the establishment of the bargaining councils where employers and employees will negotiate, resolve issues, and enter into mutually binding agreements and disputes adjudicated.
But our optimism was misplaced. Just before the commencement of the third financial year, the state reneged on its agreement. The state argued there was no budget for the increases and/or the increases were unaffordable and offended public policy. It further stated the increases offended the constitutional provisions that imposed a duty on it to affect citizens’ constitutional rights and values.
If the state can simply change its views, what is the hope for the rule of law being upheld in other facets of society? Daily we see how hard public servants work in trying conditions. During the pandemic, many have risked their lives rendering essential services to the needy. Tragically, some have died while trying to help the sick.
The state should be frank and honest about the root cause of its current economic woes: corruption. It was announced recently that more than R500bn was lost due to rampant corruption over the past decade or so.
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