CWU’s response to the public statement issued by its KZN provincial secretary on the Public Protector’s investigation report on the SABC

The Communication Workers Union wishes to categorically distance itself from and dismiss the public statement issued by our KZN Provincial Secretary, Comrade Thami Mzileni, questioning the legitimacy of the Public Protector’s report on her investigation into the maladministration, corruption and the abuse of power at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

In trying to defend the man fingered in the Public Protector’s Report, the KZN Provincial Secretary goes out of line by attacking the credibility and integrity of the Public Protector and accuses her of advancing interests of the opposition DA.

As CWU, we have previously expressed concern about the slow pace with which the Office of the Public Protector has handled our complaint on the South African Post Office.  However, we cannot be associated with any insults and deviant behaviour that seeks to discredit and damage the reputation of the Public Protector.

As a principled and progressive union, we distance ourselves from the Hlaudi Motsoeneng Coalition and the agenda it chases.

As it relates to CWU’s position on the Public Protector’s Report on the SABC, this is a competency of CWU Head Office as it is a national issue and as such no provincial structure has a right to speak for the union on this matter.  Our KZN Secretary has clearly crossed the line by going against union policy and has through his utterances brought the name of the organisation into disrepute.

As a remedial action, the National Executive Committee of CWU has decided to suspend Comrade Thami Mzileni pending an internal disciplinary process.  This should send a clear message that as a revolutionary union, we cannot allow anarchy and ill-discipline amongst our ranks.

CWU shall never be co-opted into any personal and factional agenda to protect wrong-doers at the expense of workers who bear the brunt of maladministration and unethical management practices.

We call on the SABC Board, Parliament’s Communications Portfolio Committee and the Minister of Communications (Department Of Communications) to consider the Public Protector’s Report and act in the best interests of the South African masses and the SABC workers in order to create a conducive environment for the public broadcaster to fulfill its duties to the best interests of South African people.

Issued by Communication Workers Union.

For more information, please contact Thabo Mogalane, Acting General Secretary, on 0827105666.