SAPTU condemns in the looting and destruction rife in the country over the past couple of days. We have also noted the dismay of South Africans at the government’s handling of the situation.
“The unrest has a devastating effect on the economy, employment and human lives,” says Adv Ben van der Walt, the general secretary of SAPTU (South African Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union). “We will never accept burning and stealing as appropriate ways to show dissatisfaction. As a union, we believe that you solve a problem by addressing it and creating an effective solution.”
SAPTU is, however, aware that the extremely high unemployment rate in the country causes much frustration. Therefore, we are convinced this does play a role in the current situation.
“We beg the government to reassess the deeper root causes of unemployment,” continues Adv Van der Walt. “We have an unemployment rate of more than 43%. Extreme unemployment was a problem even before the pandemic reared its head. Please go back to the drawing board on finding a solution, because the current plans and policies are not working. That is the reality of our country.”
SAPTU would also like to put the ball in the hands of our eligible workforce by repeating Pres Cyril Ramaphosa’s words of last night: we must build up and not shut down.
“You cannot sit and wait for someone else to do something for you. You can also not break and steal when things do not go your way. Now is the time for all of us to work together,” concludes Adv Van der Walt.
Issued by: SAPTU
Date: 13 July 2021
Enquiries: Adv Ben van der Walt, General Secretary SAPTU Cell.: 083 260 8548