Latest news with #WorkersDay
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
‘An affront to workers': ANC slams DA's court bid to scrap Employment Equity Act
ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said the DA hated any policy on transformation, adding that the (DA) heading to court on the eve of Workers Day proved that. Just as the storm over the 0.5% VAT hike begins to calm, a new political storm is brewing. This week, the DA heads to court over the Employment Equity Act, threatening to reignite tensions within the rocky Government of National Unity (GNU). The DA will challenge the Act at the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday. The DA alleges that the Act will damage the economy even further. The ANC has accused the DA of hindering the progress and transformation of the country. It said the DA was committed to reversing the gains made by the government over the past 30 years. In a tweet on X over the weekend, ANC parliamentary chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said the DA's action was a validation of a continued exclusion of black people in the economy. Last week, ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said the DA hated any policy on transformation, adding that the (DA) heading to court on the eve of Workers Day proved that. "We denounce the DA's court challenge against the Employment Equity Act. It is not only a legal manoeuvre — it is a calculated political stunt, launched on the eve of Workers' Day, aimed at reversing three decades of democratic gains. It is an affront to workers, to the poor, and our national Constitution,' Mbalula said. The DA filed its legal challenge in 2023, but tensions have resurfaced following the release of regulations introducing sector-specific racial quotas—measures the DA views as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The case has further strained the GNU, provoking a backlash from the ANC caucus and renewed calls for the DA's removal from the coalition. It joins a series of legislative flashpoints—including the NHI Act, BELA Act, and Expropriation Act—all passed before the GNU's formation. While the GNU aims for cooperation, the DA continues to oppose core elements of these laws, citing fundamental ideological divides. With the coalition only recently stabilised after a budget crisis, the DA's court battle over employment equity is now a fresh source of political friction. Meanwhile, the DA led by its federal chairperson Helen Zille is expected to hold a media briefing on Monday on the merits of its case against the Act. [email protected] IOL Politics
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
DA Emfuleni urges urgent action on youth unemployment
SEBOKENG.- As the nation celebrated Workers Day on Thursday, May 1 the DA in Emfuleni, in particular its youth held a demonstration at the Masoheng traffic lights in Zone 10 Extension 1, Sebokeng. The message from the DA's youth said youth unemployment rate at an alarming 43.2%, is not just a number but it reflects a national crisis. 'Today, on Workers' Day, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Emfuleni Central Constituency stands in solidarity with millions of young South Africans who face an uncertain future due to crippling unemployment,' supported by Dady Mollo, DA Constituency Head – Emfuleni Central, the young people said. They expressed their frustrations and further said that in this country they see young graduate whose qualifications cannot open doors in a stagnant economy, a breadwinner robbed of dignity after losing a job he once relied on, and young women forced into vulnerability in the absence of opportunities. 'This is the direct result of decades of ANC mismanagement, corruption, and failed economic policies. While the ANC government continues to make empty promises, young South Africans are left to bear the consequences.' The young people said that the DA is fighting for bold economic reforms that: Encourage investment and support small businesses Equip young people with skills aligned to market needs. Cut red tape and grow an inclusive economy that delivers jobs. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Ramaphosa defends Godongwana amid budget challenges
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will keep his job amid calls for him to resign. President Cyril Ramaphosa said they have learned many lessons from the budget impasse but stated that this does amount to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana leaving office. Speaking on the sidelines of the Workers Day rally in Mpumalanga on Thursday, Ramaphosa defended Godongwana and indicated that he will keep his job. Last week, Godongwana reversed the 0.5% value-added-tax (VAT) hike, meaning it will remain at 15%. However, he will table a new 2025 budget together on May 21. Godongwana confirmed this in a media briefing on Wednesday. He also mentioned that he would not resign unless Ramaphosa called the shots. 'That is not my intention [to resign] … That decision does not lie with me it lies with the president. The president understands the nature of the challenges in dealing with this problem,' the minister said. Ramaphosa's comments come as political parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party have called for Godongwana to resign, saying he has failed citizens. "We have drawn a lot of lessons from all this… This is something that we need to take on board and it doesn't need to lead to a minister of finance resigning or stepping down, no. 'It should be on all of us to say: 'What are we learning from all of this?' and what is it that we can do to strengthen the budgetary process,' he said. Godongwana is anticipated to start fresh budget consultations soon in light of persistent issues like declining revenue, rising expenses, expensive debt, and growing political pressure. Cape Argus
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Ramaphosa backs Godongwana after VAT u-turn: ‘No resignation, lessons learned'
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will keep his job amid calls for him to resign. President Cyril Ramaphosa said they have learned many lessons from the budget impasse but stated that this does amount to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana leaving office. Speaking on the sidelines of the Workers Day rally in Mpumalanga on Thursday, Ramaphosa defended Godongwana and indicated that he will keep his job. Last week, Godongwana reversed the 0.5% value-added-tax (VAT) hike, meaning it will remain at 15%. However, he will table a new 2025 budget together on May 21. Godongwana confirmed this in a media briefing on Wednesday. He also mentioned that he would not resign unless Ramaphosa called the shots. 'That is not my intention [to resign] … That decision does not lie with me it lies with the president. The president understands the nature of the challenges in dealing with this problem,' the minister said. Ramaphosa's comments come as political parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party have called for Godongwana to resign, saying he has failed citizens. "We have drawn a lot of lessons from all this… This is something that we need to take on board and it doesn't need to lead to a minister of finance resigning or stepping down, no. 'It should be on all of us to say: 'What are we learning from all of this?' and what is it that we can do to strengthen the budgetary process,' he said. Godongwana is anticipated to start fresh budget consultations soon in light of persistent issues like declining revenue, rising expenses, expensive debt, and growing political pressure. IOL Politics
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Economic realities: workers and job seekers to consider entrepreneurship as the major economic driver
For the first time this year I shuddered at the approaching of Workers Day, a holiday we all so proudly celebrate, sometimes failing to remember the significance of it. Image: Pexels In a time where job security is no longer guaranteed and economic uncertainty is felt across industries, the need to rethink how we view employment has never been more urgent. While we continue to value traditional employment, it has become increasingly clear that the formal job market cannot absorb the majority of South Africans, a reality that calls for a stronger emphasis on entrepreneurship. A friend of mine was recently offered a salary cut, with discussions of possible retrenchment, as the multibillion-rand entity they are employed at, takes a major financial dip which has been brewing for years. This of course has rattled her, expressing her job insecurity with no other stream of income. For the first time this year I shuddered at the approaching of Workers Day, a holiday we all so proudly celebrate, sometimes failing to remember the significance of it. I realised that many South Africans cannot even relate to this day judging by the unchangeable unemployment rate. According to StatsSA the official unemployment rate was approximately 32.7% in Q4 of 2022, 32.1% for Q4 2023, and 31.9% in Q4 2024. There may be slight movement, however reaching a 10% unemployment rate anytime soon seems impossible. The reality of the matter is that the workplace in its entirety cannot absorb everyone and this awakening needs to be seen as an opportunity to stimulate and give rise to the birth of entrepreneurship in our country. Disappointingly, the youth still hold the highest stake in unemployment, therefore other solutions must be explored. It goes without saying that the original educational system was created to prepare pupils for the workplace, the mindset and foundation of the schooling system is that. Since 1997, multiply interventions attempting to incorporate entrepreneurship in the educational system had and has been put into place, including; accounting, economics, business studies and Economics and Management Sciences (EMS) and others in the pipeline, all aiming to expose learners to entrepreneurial concepts. The result of these attempts may be good, but more practical entrepreneurship learning is required. Perhaps the following additional needs can be adopted: Entrepreneurship integration needs to be a continuous and compulsory element in all curriculums and learning for primary schooling, secondary schooling and in higher education. The curriculum should not be like the current, it needs to depart from theoretical learning to a practical approach. Just as mentorship is used in business development programmes, the same concept should apply. Successful and growing entrepreneurs need to contribute to learning whether as teachers, mentors or contributors to the curriculum. Entrepreneurship should be taught, not merely as concept,but as a mental concept – one that can be applied throughout learning, pursued as a viable career path, and leveraged during periods of financial uncertainty, innovation or disruption. There needs to be more schools with an underlying focus on entrepreneurship as there are in schools focusing mainly on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). For employers and workers, the world is constantly evolving, and innovation is needed, more 'Intrapreneurs' in the workplace are needed to contribute into the sustainability of companies- innovation and new product development must be encouraged and rewarded to workers. An existing and rising trend in major entities is the utilisation of ESD budgets for the empowerment of released employees, a portion of this budget can be used to empower retrenched employees by placing them onto their supply chain accompanied by funding and business development support, this being a 'win-win' solution for the economy. Above all, SMMEs remain key players in job creation in our country, rectifying the entrapment of 'schooling and seeking employment' cycle. Entrepreneurship is a two-fold sword in job creation for our country, the job seeker turned into entrepreneur can fend for themselves and further be a job creator to many. As we reflect on the sacrifices of trade unions like the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) for Workers Day and slowly approach youth day, let us remember it as it's no coincidence that these two holidays shadow each other, one may presume that the universe anticipated that youth and unemployment would continue to coexist. As we continue to address the daunting youth employment rate and seek solutions for job leavers and seekers, entrepreneurship remains a practical solution and major driver of our economy. Londiwe Khuzwayo is Programme Manager at 22 On Sloane. Londiwe Khuzwayo, Programme Manager at 22 On Sloane Image: Supplied. BUSINESS REPORT
