EFF LEADER Julius Malema has promised to fight for the rights of workers and to help those who lost their jobs to go back to work.
Malema said this when he addressed residents of Hammankraal, Tshwane during a Workers' Day commemoration at Temba Stadium on Wednesday, 1 May.
Malema said no worker should be expelled by a boss who woke up and decided to hate 200 workers.
"We're going to make sure these workers who are here are reinstated, including others everywhere. We're here to observe this day and I'm glad workers came on their own to raise their concerns through placards because we are giving them an opportunity to express themselves with regard to the conditions they are subjected to. This is a platform where we must remind the people of Hammanskraal that more than 50% of young people are jobless," said Malema.
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He said the party has received complaints from jobseekers who are asked by some officials to buy jobs with their bodies. He said this act will come to an end under the EFF government.
"When we take over, we will ensure this conduct of asking sexual favours in exchange for jobs will come to an end. When one has qualifications and is a South African citizen, they should be employed irrespective of their political affiliation,” he said.
“We also want to ensure all farm workers' rights are restored because they cannot be paid R4 600 per month. No worker must earn less than R7 500. Workers must be paid enough to take care of their families. We want them to have protected strikes without being intimidated. We want workers in the mining sector to also be paid properly. Those who are earning the lowest salary must get R17 000. These people risk their lives underground to take out gold, but their salaries don't match the work they do."
Malema said civil servants should also be paid well. "Teachers and nurses are not progressing in life because their salaries do not qualify them to get houses or cars. When we talk about teachers, we talk about those who perform their duties as teachers, not those who sleep with pupils," he said.
He also took a swipe at President Cyril Ramaphosa for failing to provide clean water to the residents of Hammanskraal. He said the issue of water will be tackled within three months when the EFF takes over.
