The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has issued the following statement in response to the appointment of Dina Pule as Minister of Communications and Stella Ndabeni as Deputy Minister.
The statement reads: The CWU welcomes the reshuffling of cabinet announced by the honourable State President – Comrade J G Zuma on 24 October 2011. We also want to join the progressives in the Broad Democratic Movement and other organisations in society in applauding the president for work well done in strengthening the capacity of government to speed up change.
CWU wants to particularly welcome the new Minister and Deputy Minister of Communications, Ms Dina Pule and Ms Stella Ndabeni. CWU hope that these colossal women will take over where Comrade Roy Padayachie and Comrade Obed Bapela left of. As CWU, we are happy with the reshuffle and we hope that Minister Pule will turn things around in the information, communication and technology sector as she is not new in this portfolio.
We would like to enlighten this new Minister and Deputy Minister of Communications that they must:
Re-look at the implications of the Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) when it comes to job security. We totally reject LLU because it will have serious implication on our workers.
That the Minister and Deputy Minister intervene in the crisis and shenanigans that are happening at public service broadcaster SABC.
CWU still stands firm against the “Snukification’ of news at SABC by some of SABC board members.
We also want to see Minister and Deputy Minister taking a decisive action to restore stability at SABC by making sure that it has a full-time CEO, COO and CFO. We need decisive intervention on this matter as matter of urgency.
We have also noted other important announcements made pertaining to both the National Police Commissioner and arms procurement package, and to this end we once more applaud the president for these decisive steps in an effort to seriously deal with any allegations about corruption.
CWU has observed some within our ranks together with media and so-called analysts trying to undermine Comrade J G Zuma in taking action against those who were implicated in the Public Protector’s report in corruption. As CWU, we characterised these haulers as part of demagogues and delinquent who are trying to hijack the ANC.
