Tintswalo and colleagues, jobless a month before the elections

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – Contrary to popular belief that the ANC-led government is delivering a better life for all, job losses continue.

Hardly a year after Polediso’s “50,000 Jobs For The Youth” Motsoeneneng instructed the Head of Departments and Municipal Managers to the youth, that the opposite was happening and worse, just before the national elections.

This is also contrary to what President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his last State Of The Nation address about jobs and the famous Tintswalo bedtime story.

While delivering the last State of the Nation Address of the sixth democratic administration, President Cyril Ramaphosa regaled South Africans with the tale of Tintswalo, a woman born at the dawn of democracy whose life had changed for the better because of the ANC-led government’s successes.

While the story aimed to inspire, Ramaphosa has come under fire from young South Africans for being out of touch with the realities of the youth.

To show how both the president and Free State Provincial Secretary are literally out of reality, the Free State Community Safety, Police, and Transport has not renewed the contracts of employees who started as interns in 2016 and later employed on a contract basis.

In a letter in possession of this publication dated 4th March 2024, signed by Dr Masego Tshabalala, notice is given that the contract will not be renewed.

“Your employment contract with the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, refers is expiring on the 31st of March 2024 and will not be renewed.

The department would like to thank you for the services rendered and hope you will use the experience gained during your stay at the department.

Wish all the best in your future endeavors.”

Speaking exclusively to STEPUPSANEWS on condition of anonymity, at least two of the employees whose contracts were not renewed said they are helpless and this is against the ANC mandate.

“We are helpless, we don’t know where to go. All these years we have heard there is no money but our contracts were renewed.

The ANC mandate says people must be employed but we are sent packing.”

Another victim said the department created a legitimate expectation and used DBSA.

“We became part of structural programs inclusion strategic sessions. President is talking about Tintswalo but we are discarded.

And, the DBSA is not talking about us.

One of us is doing Masters in Labour Rations and this is someone that the department could benefit from.”

According to the DBSA circular sent to all Heads of Departments nationally and provincially, in November 2023, by DG of DBSA, departments are advised.

“The department is advised to manage perpetual contract renewal(s) and the potential risk of creating legitimate expectations in terms of Section 186(1)(b) of the Labour Relations Act for continued employment. Additionally, it is important to maintain records of the justifications for employment and the extensions of contracts.“

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