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This week Solder will be distributed in text format only as Solidarity is currently busy with maintenance on its website, Solidarity World.
MAIN STORY
Corruption crisis in South Africa bigger than Nkandla – Solidarity
By Inge Strydom
Corruption in South Africa has reached crisis proportions and stretches far beyond the notorious Nkandla debacle. This is according to a new report released by the trade union Solidarity this week. The report details nine corruption scandals that, over the past number of years, have cost the taxpayer much more than the R246 million spent on the president’s Nkandla home.
Solidarity consulted various media sources and indexes to analyse ten case studies. In the tenth place is the notorious Nkandla debacle while nine other institutions and cases exceed it in terms of their extent, severity and impact on the corruption scale. These include, among others, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs.
One of the biggest government blunders discussed in the report is the R620 million spent on unsuitable locomotives by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). In addition, a recent report by the Auditor-General (AG) shows that Prasa has racked up irregular expenditure of at least R790 million.
According to Dr Eugene Brink, senior researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute, the findings in the report, although shocking, are merely a drop in the ocean. “It is impossible to quantify the actual extent of corruption in South Africa as much of the corruption takes place unnoticed and unpunished. Furthermore, there are even more incidents of corruption not mentioned in this report that exceed Nkandla. Therefore the findings in the report are not all-encompassing and are merely an indication that corruption is undeniably one of the biggest crises in our country,” Brink explained.
Brink believes that one of the major disadvantages of corruption is that citizens are deprived of essential service delivery. “The waste of the country’s resources partly explain the high incidence of violent protest action across the country. In addition, corruption discourages investors, leading to a drop in business confidence.
Solidarity has brought the said report to the attention of several stakeholders, including the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, and the watchdog organisation, Corruption Watch. The report also forms part of Solidarity’s comprehensive social media campaign against corruption. Click here for more information on the campaign.
The ten corruption scandals reviewed in the report include:
- Local government
- Tenderpreneurship
- Tshwane Prepaid Meters
- The SAPS
- The Metro Police
- Prasa
- False qualifications
- The Department of Home Affairs
- The Cabinet and Parliament
- Nkandla
Click hereto read the full report.
STORY 1
Solidarity objects to ArcelorMittal’s racially based share scheme
By Inge Strydom
Trade union Solidarity will object to ArcelorMittal’s Ikageng Share Scheme for employees which was recently approved by the majority of the company’s shareholders. The trade union, which will file a grievance against the company on behalf of its members, believes that the scheme discriminates against white employees since shares are allocated according to employees’ race.
According to Marius Croucamp, Head of the Metal and Engineering Industry at Solidarity, this scheme entails that black beneficiaries earn returns of 15% more than non-designated beneficiaries. In addition, this scheme provides that newly appointed persons qualify for shares simply on the basis of their race. To make matters worse, additional shares will be awarded to black employees in order to ensure that the scheme meets the requirements of broad based black economic empowerment.
“Our members feel discouraged by the discriminatory manner in which the shares are allocated to ArcelorMittal employees. Share schemes are supposed to reward loyal workers for their years of service and hard work. That is why it is unfair to award shares to a newly appointed employee merely on the basis of his race. We believe the shares should be awarded solely on merit, irrespective of race,” Croucamp said.
Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity’s Centre for Fair Labour Practices, believes that although the Black Economic Empowerment Act (BEE) allows employers to award shares specifically to black employees, the Employment Equity Act does not make provision for it. “Although ArcelorMittal may award shares to black employees in terms of the Black Economic Empowerment Act as indicated above, the Employment Equity Act provides that this process may not discriminate against any employee. Therefore, the said pieces of legislation are contradictory,” Groenewald explained.
“We believe that the company is discriminating unfairly against white employees in terms of the mentioned share scheme and that this contravenes the principles of the Employment Equity Act,” Groenewald said.
Solidarity members at ArcelorMittal are currently signing the grievance, after which it will be submitted to the employer. If the grievance is not resolved internally within 33 days, Solidarity will refer a dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
STORY 2
Aurora directors’ application for leave to appeal denied – Solidarity
By Inge Strydom
The application of five former directors of the controversial Aurora Empowerment Systems for leave to appeal has been denied by the North Gauteng High Court this week. Khulubuze Zuma, Zondwa Mandela, Thulani Ngubani, and Fazel and Solly Bhana applied for leave to appeal against an earlier judgment in terms of which they were held liable for damages to the value of R1,7 billion.
Some of the former directors have already indicated in their appeal application that neither they nor their families have the financial means to pay the money. If they prove to be unable to comply with the order jointly or severally, they could, therefore, soon be sequestrated.
“Justice has been done today for hundreds of Aurora employees and this ruling is an indication that others involved in this case will not be able to hide from the law,” Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis said. Du Plessis also expressed the hope that after today’s ruling, the Aurora directors would no longer attempt to delay the legal process and that they would begin to bear the consequences of their actions.
Aurora Empowerment Systems was the parent company appointed by the Pamodzi liquidators to manage the Pamodzi mines in Springs and Orkney some time ago. However, the directors of the company destroyed both mines through looting and mismanagement.
STORY 3
New ANC heritage monuments distort history – Solidarity
By Inge Strydom
Trade union Solidarity this week said the new heritage park in the Fountains Valley Resort in Groenkloof, where statues of historic “freedom fighters” are displayed, is yet another way government distorts history and incites racial tension.
This week, at the unveiling of the first 55 statues in the park, Dali Tambo, son of the historic ANC figure Oliver Tambo, told the media that one cannot attach a price tag to the heritage of nation that had endured suffering for 350 years. On the occasion, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, also said that the park contains statues of individuals who had died for “freedom”.
According to Solidarity spokesperson Juran van den Heever, statements such as these create the impression that black people had been suffering under white rule since the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652. “This is an unrefined and one-sided version of history. The park moreover contains many statues of individuals who did not die during protests against colonialism and apartheid, statues of former President Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activists Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, who all died of natural causes, count among those. The park thus represents an unrealistic romanticising of anti-apartheid fighters,” Van den Heever said.
Mthethwa also pointed out that the sculptors who made the statues had rewritten the country’s story. “It is a good thing that all communities are afforded the opportunity to write their ‘story’ but not at the expense of other communities and their ‘stories’. On the one hand, the ANC Youth League wants to remove statues of Afrikaner leaders because it depicts a one-sided version of history but on the other hand, millions of taxpayers’ rands are spent to erect statues of historical ANC figures that fought against apartheid.”
“It is clear that the ANC is applying double standards and actually wants to present its own version of history as the only version to thousands of tourist from around the world. The country’s story cannot be rewritten at the expense of white people whose tax money contributed to erect these statues,” Van den Heever said.
Solidarity said earlier that the project would be hugely detrimental to the economy. “The R700 million spent on this large, extravagant project while a similar monument in the shape of Freedom Park already exists just a short distance from the Fountains Valley Resort will not solve any of the challenges and crises facing us today,” Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Johan Kruger said.
Apparently there are plans to erect at least another 400 statues of historical anti-apartheid and ANC figures. The project could cost the taxpayer as much as R1 billion in the end.
STORY 4
From Crisis Summit to Summit on the Future
As you may remember, the Solidarity Movement called on its members to attend a Crisis Summit on 5 May 2015. The purpose of the summit was to reflect upon the growing crisis in the country and how to deal with its impact on our members and our community.
The summit highlighted the mounting evidence that the country’s decline was gaining momentum and several motions were adopted to seek solutions to protect the Afrikaner community against this decline. The theme of the summit was: We are here to stay!
We are now calling on our members to attend the follow-up summit, namely the Summit on the Future.
This follow-up summit will be known as the Solidarity Movement Summit on the Future –“Helpmekaar 2020” (Mutual Support 2020) and the outcome of the committees’ work will eventually be embodied in a five year plan for the future of the Afrikaner up to 2020.
It is important that every member / friend of the Movement should register at A unique code will be emailed to you which you should print out and display at the Summit on the Future.
•Read the question and answer session of Flip Buys, Chairman of the Solidarity Movement, on the importance of attending this Summit on the Future.
•See the video invitation here.
STORY 5
Caffeine: Is it a drug or a dose of health?
By Lize-Mari Labuschagne
624 million cups of coffee in ONE day. This means three cups per person in the USA.
Before you switch on the coffee machine or order a bottomless cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop, consider the following:
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a stimulant and is bitter as gall, should you taste a lot of it. But the 100 to 150mg in your filter coffee (and a lot less in instant coffee) is little enough to be masked by the glorious coffee aroma.
The negative effects of caffeine:
•High blood pressure.
•Anxiety.
•Depression.
•Irritability.
•Remember that caffeine is a drug and can therefore become addictive.
•Headache.
Positive effects of caffeine:
•Better concentration and memory.
•High energy levels.
•Accelerates metabolism.
•Can combat the development of heart diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and liver cancer.
How many cups of coffee per day are enough?
Research indicates that the limit for daily caffeine intake is three to five cups of filter coffee and five to six cups of instant coffee. This is equal to 300mg, but is difficult to measure as caffeine is not indicated under ingredients on the labels of other products. A cup of coffee contains 100mg, an energy drink 80mg and a fizzy cool drink 30 to 40mg caffeine.
Caffeine is therefore not only to be found in coffee, but also in tea, energy drinks and some fizzy cool drinks. To decide whether caffeine is good or bad for you, the golden rule is that too much of anything is always bad. It could also cause a negative interaction with medication and lead to anxiety, heartburn and insomnia.
Be wary of caffeine or rather remove it from your diet altogether if you answer ”yes” to any of the following questions:
•Do you suffer from headaches or migraine? Caffeine is a migraine trigger.
•Do you suffer from PMS? Caffeine can exacerbate the symptoms.
•Do you use antibiotics, an asthma pump or other stimulants that occur in some herbal substances? Combined with caffeine these substances can cause severe anxiety.
•Are you trying to fall pregnant? Studies have linked caffeine to infertility.
•Are you having problems sleeping? It is better to have your last cup of coffee six hours before going to bed. It takes approximately six hours to be eliminated from your system.
•Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? Caffeine can worsen the symptoms.
•Are you pregnant or breast-feeding your baby? Your baby may be too small at birth and very restless and anxious after a feeding.
STORY 6
Successful co-parenting: Four essential steps for divorced parents
By Anja van den Berg
There can be few experiences more painful than divorce and separation. Divorce involving children are particularly traumatic and parents need to implement a balanced approach, emphasising the role of both parents in the children’s upbringing.
Your marriage may be over, but your family is not; doing what is best for your children is now your most important priority. How do you make joint custody work after a separation or divorce? The following viewpoints can set the tone for a successful approach to co-parenting:
1.Devise a co-parenting plan
Sit down with your ex-spouse and make an affirmative plan that sets aside any differences you may have; focus instead on meeting the needs of your children. Invest in the services of a family therapist if you need to sort out unfinished emotional business. According to Dr Edward Kruk, contributor to Psychology Today, a key factor to successful co-parenting is the ability to separate your previous hostilities as a couple from your ongoing responsibilities as parents.
Negotiate and agree on how you can best accomplish such things as sharing the children for visitation, holidays, or events. Discuss practical issues, including topics such as medical needs, education and extra-curricular activities, living arrangements and financial matters. If the court has prescribed a certain custody arrangement, it is imperative not to deviate from these instructions and to incorporate them into your co-parenting plan.
2.Establish a business relationship with your former spouse
Even if your relationship didn’t end amicably, it’s best not to bring volatile emotion into your interaction going forward. Jocelyn Block and Melinda Smith, contributors on HelpGuide.org (a non-profit guide to mental health and well-being) recommend approaching the relationship with your ex-spouse as you would a business partnership, where your “business” is your children’s well-being.
Lina Guillen, a divorce attorney, agrees with this approach as she explains the concept: “In business relationships there are no emotional attachments or expectations of approval and emotional support. Appointments are made to talk about pre-established topics, meetings take place, agendas are provided and discussions focus on the business at hand. Role-players are polite, formal courtesies are observed, communication is direct and agreements are explicit, clear, and written.”
Speak or write to your former spouse as you would a colleague - with cordiality, respect, and neutrality. Relax and talk slowly. Commit to conducting yourself with emotional integrity.
3.Choose to play to the strengths of your ex-partner
It may be very challenging, but choose to underline your ex-spouse’s strengths, talents and abilities. Play to those strengths – not in a manipulative way, but in a spirit of making the best use of one another’s talents. Accentuate your former spouse’s authority and strong points when communicating with your children. Speak about and act in a respectful manner toward the other parent, especially in front of your children.
According to Drr Kruk, conveying an attitude of respect toward your co-parent is vital to children’s well-being, and shielding children from conflict is essential. Support the other parent’s role and relationship with your children. Your children’s connection with their parents will influence their relationships for the rest of their lives. Allow them to love both parents without fear of angering or hurting either one.
4.Maintain your own health and well-being as a priority