Union slams minister's comments on possibility of selling off public enterprises

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is dismayed by the utterances attributed to the Public Enterprises Minister, Barbara Hogan in arguing for the sale of public enterprises. The NUM is seriously perturbed that the Minister‘s utterances contradicts the progressive policies of the African National Congress and of the Alliance as a whole. The Minister‘s utterances reflects her bias towards the Democratic Alliance‘s agenda and is in clear opposition to the developmental goals as adopted at the historic Polokwane conference.

The NUM calls on the African National Congress to call the Minister to order to avoid contradicting the official position of the movement. "We expect senior cadres like Ministers to be conversant with the positions of our movement and to articulate them convincingly" says Frans Baleni , the NUM General Secretary. "We are calling on the Minister to refrain from her tendencies" says Baleni.

Her agenda items are clearly contradicting those of the movement and the NUM calls on her to find an appropriate platform and vehicle which is in tune with her remarks and ideology. The majority of our people have elected the ANC correctly believing that public enterprises would not be auctioned to the highest bidder. "The English expression says if one cannot withstand the heat, then one need to get out of the kitchen. It is going to be difficult for her to implement what she does not believe in" says Baleni.

Statement issued by NUM, June 11 2009

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