Elections special
As Numsa News went to print, election results were pouring in showing once again overwhelming support for the ANC despite grumbles over service delivery and corruption.
Numsa was active across the country in campaigning for the ANC. In this Numsa News we give you just a taste of what went on in KwaZulu Natal.
Numsa made it clear in its posters and pamphlets that workers must not stop at voting. If workers wanted the ANC’s delivery record to improve, it meant treating their ward councillor like a shop steward. Make your councillor accountable to your community, watch that they follow the ANC Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, the National Office Bearers plan to move to other provinces to continue their “Ear to the Ground” campaign started in KZN. We hope that this will satisfy the concerns raised by VWSA shop steward, Xolani Tshayana in his letter to Numsa News.
As Numsa News went to print, a number of Numsa staff, members and ex-members were waiting for Election Day to see if they would make it into local government. Mdu Ntuli , spoke to one of them, Makhosi Zungu. She is number 2 on the Ilembe District PR list and number 10 on the Endondakusuka local PR list in KwaZulu Natal.
Tell us more about yourself: I was born on May 8 1972 in Mandeni. I am a single parent and mother of a 12-year old boy Luyanda. I live in Sundumbili township at Mandeni with my mother Grace and my younger sister Nombuso.
I did my matric back in the ’90s at Tshana High in Mandeni.
I like meeting with and solving other people’s problems. I dislike pretence, lies and deceit.
How did you become involved politically? While I was at school I was a member of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas). In 1996 I was elected ANC BEC member for the first time.
Tell me about your previous and current positions? I was former Numsa Isithebe local secretary, Cosatu local secretary, Chris Hani Brigade member until I was fired from my job at Hesto Harnesses in Isithebe. I was also ANC ward 13 Ireland branch secretary in 2003, ANCYL Regional Working Committee member and deputy chairperson of the Party branch at Mandeni.
I am currently an ANC branch chairperson of Ireland and the Acting Regional Secretary of the Greater Kwa Dukuza Region.
What did you learn during your days as a Numsa shop steward and in the Chris Hani Brigade? As a shop steward I learnt leadership skills defending employees cases. I also gained bargaining skills, attended workshops on various acts pertaining to workers useful for policy making or improvement of working conditions.
As a Chris Hani Brigade member I was given a wealth of knowledge on political economy to capacitate workers.
What is your manifesto?Simple – to be the best tool for the implementation of the ANC manifesto.
How is the alliance’s working relationship during this election and in general?It is very poor. It is as if the alliance lacks direction. As for the elections it seems partners are not clear about their role towards elections.
Is the Numsa local structure active in your local or region?It is not the way it used to be.
Are they supportive of your candidacy?I can not tell. I am not even sure that they are aware that I am a candidate.
Did they offer any resources during the campaign? Yes, manpower on condition that they are called especially as a party agent.