Legislature shopstewards worry about dismissal

By Lucas Mati, Political Reporter

EAST LONDON -- The dropping of charges against eight National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) shopstewards has fuelled fears among them that the Eastern Cape Legislature's executive management is planning to dismiss them.

The charges were dropped after Nehawu withdrew and unreservedly apologised for any allegations of mismanagement, maladministration, embezzlement of funds, corruption, nepotism or any other irregular conduct attributed to the management and others.

One of the shopstewards, who did not want to be identified because he did not want to jeopardise the already sour relationship with management, spoke of "some political powers being hellbent" on firing them.

He said the entire shopstewards' committee was considering resigning and giving way to a new committee.

Problems between Nehawu and management started in January after the union accused it of gross irregularities in the appointment of senior staff within the institution.

After a series of verbal battles with management, the union declared a dispute through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Management countered the Nehawu move by instituting a disciplinary inquiry into the allegations. It called in Grahamstown High Court advocate John Grogan, who struck a deal with Nehawu legal adviser Motoai Masooa -- which led to the dropping of the charges.

On the possible dismissal of the shopstewards' committee, Masooa said it "would be too malicious" for the management to do that.

Masooa was upset yesterday that legislature secretary Mzwanele Yawa had been making media statements in breach of a mutual agreement that they should refrain doing so.

He said he was disappointed with the manner in which Yawa was handling the matter and that it did not augur well for the future.