Andrew Chirwa
State needs to step in to save jobs, says Numsa leader
FOR South Africa to save the steel industry from total collapse, the government must nationalise it to keep at least 200 000 workers employed, Numsa president Andrew Chirwa said yesterday.
He also laid the blame for job losses in the industry at the government’s door, saying under the ANC the state had failed to protect key sectors as the apartheid regime had done.
In an interview yesterday following the union’s Ford Indaba in Pretoria at the weekend, Chirwa said they had resolved to continue fighting for the nationalisation of the steel sector.
“If we are to protect the steel industry, the government has to nationalise it because the collapse of the industry will lead to the loss of 200 000 jobs,” he said.
“The industry, even though it might not use the word nationalisation, agrees that the government must protect the industry.
“We are forging ahead to fight for nationalisation.” Government had destroyed the textile industry which thrived under apartheid, Chirwa said.
“Our economy still needs to be protected but the government rushed to please the whole world . . .” he said.
“Even the apartheid government did better then the ANC government in protecting key and strategic industries. It protected the textile industry.
“What did the ANC government do? It collapsed the textile industry. Until the government changes its direction, it will cost us all. It will cost the future generations.”
Compared to 1994, when the manufacturing industry was contributing 23% towards gross domestic product, it dropped to 11% last year, which Chirwa said was an indication the industry was being destroyed.
He accused the state of favouring foreign companies over their South African counterparts, which he said was destroying the country’s industry.
On the opening day of the Indaba, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim singled out the Chinese, saying to make their commodities cheap, they broke labour, health, safety and environmental regulations and gave state subsidies.
“We need more labour-empowering characteristics like special subsidies and protection for worker management or cooperative ownership,” Jim said.
The Indaba also threw its weight behind the planned march against corruption in Johannesburg at month end.
It will be led by former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, Jim and others.
Also discussed was the need for a new federation that would not be a labour desk like Cosatu had become, Chirwa said.
Numsa national ideological officer Zanoxolo Wayile said: “Wewant a new South Africa . . . built on the image of the workers because this one has failed.
“A new South Africa that will not be built on capitalism. We believe nationalisation and socialism are the way to go.”
-Mkhululi Ndamase
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