Cape Town — African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, says the party intends to fulfill its goal of creating 2.5 million jobs within the next five years.
Speaking at a Worker’s Day rally at Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban, Mbalula acknowledged that great progress has been made thus far but said there is still a lot more that can be done to alleviate the job crisis, and said the new jobs will greatly assist in fighting against South Africa’s high rate of unemployment.
“We will create 2.5 million job opportunities and permanent jobs. We will maintain the R350 but change it to a basic income grant. Over the past years, the ANC has been meeting basic needs of working people and instituting a social wage, through housing, electricity, water and sanitation, education and health, public transport, and infrastructure. That is the work the ANC is involved in,” he said.
[WATCH] The ANC is going to create 2,5 million work opportunities within the next 5 years. This will greatly assist in fighting unemployment.
Over the past years, the ANC has been meeting basic needs of working people and instituting a social wage, through housing, electricity,… pic.twitter.com/XSMmdQqa0g
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 1, 2024
According to EWN, despite harsh criticism about progress in addressing some workers’ issues, labour analyst Tony Healy said South Africa remained ahead.
“South Africa has very significant workers’ rights in a fairly regulated labour regime where you will see the kind of protections in our law or better than what you’ll see in the rest of the world.”
Mbalula acknowledged the partnership with its tripartite alliance allies, Cosatu and the SACP, had ensured that workers’ rights were protected and advanced, IOL reported.
He also said the party had a huge task ahead of the upcoming election of defending the “revolution” against other organisations trying to overthrow the ruling party.
“One of our biggest tasks during this elections is to come out in our numbers and defend the revolution of our movement, especially against those who used to claim that they are with us, only for them to later show their true colours.”
The SACP’s first deputy general secretary Madala Masuku told workers they must not let the ANC be defeated, saying that the party’s defeat would mean the defeat of the people of South Africa.
[WATCH] One of our biggest tasks during this elections is to come out in our numbers and defend the revolution of our movement, especially against those who used to claim that they are with us, only for them to later show their true colours. #MayDay2024#VoteANC2024… pic.twitter.com/FbPpz3CMo2
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 1, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
