Solidariteit's challenge must be expanded upon
The falsehearted call for a ‘debate' on employment equity by the right-wing union Solidariteit is at short notice and the expedient theme needs to also include the steps by the very same union, like Freedom Front Plus and the so-called human rights lobby group Afri-Forum.
The ANC says this call is merely a ploy by Solidariteit to make it relevant in a province it had no stronghold as it publicly solicits support or membership to expand and to pre-empt the present case in the Labour Court.
ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman says: "I will gladly debate any issue the Freedom Front Plus aligned union Solidariteit wants to discuss. It will however be on different terms.
"Solidariteit deputy secretary Dirk Hermann must upfront state and come with evidence of what his own organisation, its aligned structures, members, other businesses and even its Afrikaans insurance front VirSeker (of which he is the chairperson) have done to truly transform and adapt to the demography and reality of South Africa and every province where it is represented. I will gladly lecture him on affirmative action, broad-based black economic empowerment and employment equity."
Fransman invites Hermann to arrange with his ministerial office an agreeable date and venue (preferably not on or around the Labour Court's steps) with more time for Hermann to prepare his evidence.
Fransman is on record for his position for a few years now when he spoke out against unfair discrimination and organisations must apply both national and provincial demographics as is required by law.
He maintains that the present divisive media circus conducted around the Labour Court by Solidariteit could be avoided had all parties come to an amicable position.
Fransman is not part of ringmaster Hermann's show where he can at the crack of a whip conjure an act to entertain his paid audience. Solidariteit and Afri-Forum are all strongly recruiting members around the Western Cape ahead of the upcoming elections as if they will be taking part in that national poll.
"People also remember that Solidariteit is the papered over and rebranded version of the old White Mineworker Union which is still fed by the same right-wing Conservative Party roots and on which the Freedom Front Plus and Afri-Forum had been grafted as branches to the same trunk and bearing much of the same fruits of resistance to change," Fransman says.
Statement issued by Marius Fransman, ANC Western Cape chairperson & international relations and cooperation deputy minister, May 2 2013
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