The Daily Discourse

Mayday 2018 and the new National Minimum Wage – Any cause for Workers to Celebrate?

Welcome to our first “Workers on Wednesday” show for 2018. Next week, workers and their trade unions in South Africa and all over the world will be celebrating Mayday or Workers’ Day on the 1st of May (except for the USA).

After the shake-up of South Africa’s trade union movement over the past three years, causing greater division with a new federation, there appears to be good news for workers in South Africa on Mayday. It seems likely that government will adopt legislation for a National Minimum Wage (NMW) this year that will apply across the board and impact on most sectors of the economy.

So in today’s show we remind ourselves about what Mayday is all about and assess whether we are still upholding its traditions in relation to this reconfigured trade union movement in South Africa and the achievement of a National Minimum Wage.

With us to discuss this we have…..

Guest: Matthew Parks - COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator

Guest: Patrick Craven – SAFTU Spokesperson

Earlier in the month, Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu announced his office's decision to terminate with immediate effect contracts with KPMG and Nkonki Inc with the government. Nkonki Inc's chief executive, Mitesh Patel, resigned after it was revealed that his 107-million-rand 'management buyout' of the black auditing firm 18 months ago was funded by Gupta family associate, Salim Essa. The demise of Nkonki is a blow to black audit firms who compete for contracts with the more established big four firms, PwC, KPMG, EY and Deloitte.This morning we discuss Radical Economic Tranformation at the backdrop of all this we ask, while government seeks to change the ownership and control of the economy through legislation, empowerment, how can we help drive radical economic transformation?

Guest: Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana - head of the Political-Economy faculty at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA)

Has violence in South Africa become normative? Has it become the language most South Africans use to express their dissatisfaction and anger, emotions that often leads to the destruction of property and physical confrontations. Recently, violence broke out at soccer match at Moses Mabhida stadium on Saturday night. Kaiser Chiefs fans went on the rampage after their team lost two-nil to Free State Stars during the Nedbank Cup semifinal. The violence resulted in serious injury to a security guard, caught on camera. Violence has also seized the North West, in the last few days with looting and clashes between police and community members over calls for Premier Supra Mahumapelo, to resign.

GUEST: Psychologist, Dr Saths Cooper

On Wednesday 25 April, SAFTU, its affiliates and our allies in civil society, will be on the streets of South Africa in a general strike in protest against the biggest attacks on working-class people, the trade unions and the poor majority of South Africans since the end of apartheid.

Guest: Mack Tshabalala – President of the South African Federation of Trade Unions

The protest action in Taung became violent in North West, with residents hurling stones at police officers at the scene. Police shot rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Initially the march was said to be about non-delivery of services at Taung District Hospital. According to the Northwest Business Forum, We believe there are capable political leaders in the NW who can replace Supra immediately and take the economy of the province to greater heights.

Guest: Gerald Modise - ANC northwest PEC spokesperson

In the past, on the last Tuesday of each month, we have always opened the line to general financial questions, This morning, we answer some of the questions:

a. I am resigning from my job. What are my options?
b. How do I calculate how much life assurance I will need?
c. How can I double my money over five years?
d. I have been paying monies on a monthly basis to investment funds for the last few years and I am not showing any growth.
e. My Mom is a pensioner and wants to take a loan. Can you loan from your pension fund?
f. What difference can it make to delay retirement for 5 years?
g. Please explain the difference of buying property shares versus buying your own property for investments.
h. I am due to retire, so should I buy a Living Annuity or a guaranteed pension?

Guest: Bryan Hirsch of Bryan Hirsch Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

Yesterday Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi visited the Mafikeng Provincial hospital in Mahikeng in North West, where he has come to assess the state of public health in the province. This is amid the ongoing NEHAWU strike of over two-months. The health-care challenges were compounded by community protests last week leaving even this hospital with skeletal staff. Three patients died in this hospital on Thursday night during the violent community protests which were calling for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to resign. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the medical depot in Mahikeng has now been secured by members of the National Defence force and personnel have started delivering medication and other basics to district hospitals. Shortages of medication and other medical tools were already being experienced in many health facilities. Motsoaledi said the Military is now in control of the medical depot.

Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi – Health Minister

We unpack his stance on their appeal for the mining Charter.
Guest: Minister Gwede Mantashe

Botswana has closed its border with South Africa following violent protests in the North West where residents are demanding the resignation of Premier Supra Mahumapelo. Shops owned by foreign nationals have been looted during the protests. Foreign nationals are now demanding an audience with the ANC leadership following the continued looting of their businesses, since violent protests erupted in the provincial capital last week. So are these attacks sentiments of Afrophobia or are they fuelled by a sense of hatred, dislike and fear of foreigners? To answer these questions we are now joined in studio by Thifulufheli Sinthumule, Director at the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA)

Guest: Thifulufheli Sinthumule, Director at the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA)

Two warders have been arrested for allegedly helping 16 prisoners escape from the Johannesburg Correctional Services facility, also known as Sun City earlier this month. Seven of the prisoners have since been accounted for. Two were killed in a shootout by police in KZN. On the Talking Point this morning we examine the recent spates of escapes from prisons In South Africa....

Guest: Singabakho Nxumalo - spokesperson for the department of correctional services