Letters
WINNING LETTERDear Numsa NewsI would like to congratulate our Numsa KZN region for managing to recruit and elect more women shop stewards. We have elected more women in leadership as well but we still want more.
Male comrades must watch out for imbokodo iyashisa!Now I want to encourage all women shop stewards in the companies especially in our eThekweni Local to attend shop steward councils which sit every Monday at 5.30pm.
It is very important for them because it is where we learn. We listen to other people's problems in their companies so that when you have the same problem in your company you know the language and terms used in the unions and you grow up politically. You get a chance to stand and talk in front of other people because I know women are shy to talk.We also encourage people to be disciplined.
Male shop stewards who attend in our local please make sure when you attend shop stewards' councils on Monday that you don’t leave women behind, encourage them to attend.I am very proud of Numsa. Numsa has made me strong.
Even if I wear Numsa t-shirt or cap I feel very great because Numsa is with me all the time. Through Numsa I've got brothers and sisters who really care. See you there!Viva Numsa viva!Patricia Hlengiwe KleinbooieThekweni, KZN
Dear Numsa NewsEskom is ripping us off as workers as we have to share the little slave wages that we earn with our unemployed friends and families.We hear from the media that Eskom has applied to Nersa to increase electricity tariffs. According to me it is pretending as if it is Nersa that gives them permission.
Eskom is cheating poor South Africans because instead of increasing the price, they reduce the units/kwh.Eskom has already increased its tariffs in 2008 and I am very sure that they did not apply to Nersa to approve their April 2008 increase as they have done now.
Local municipalities are not able to articulate this hidden increase by Eskom. Mayors, managers and councillors are also not aware of this increase and if they are aware, they betray communities because there was no information alerting communities that there will be an increase.
Eskom is pretending as if they have never increased the electricity price. Such hidden increases are the reasons that the Big Heads of Eskom give themselves exorbitant bonuses.
I think instead of these exorbitant bonuses they should increase power stations to supply qualitative and quantitative electricity.Load shedding is a huge problem in rural areas.
Eskom just cuts the supply without notifying communities.We refill Eskom boxes with units but on the other hand you have to always have candles, matches and paraffin for any cut off by Eskom.Comrades, the most heart-hurting scene is when learners have to do home work and examination preparations. The lights go off and the candlelight becomes insufficient and they lose concentration.
As long as Eskom is monopolising the country or the Southern African region development, empowerment and government strategies like the Skills Development strategy which encapsulates JIPSA etc will never be achieved and it also contributes to high matric failure and retards productivity.
The time has come for municipalities to employ people with skills, competencies and researchers who will find out these hidden increases.
LIFE Is a book with many chapters.some tell of tragedy, others of triumph, some chapters are dull and ordinary, others intense and exciting.
LIFEThe key to be a success in life is to never stopon a difficult page norquit on a tough one.
LIFEChampions have the courage to keep turning with the pagesbecause they know a betterLife lies ahead.
LIFEKeep on turning the pageswith God nothing is impossiblewait, Listen, Learnkeep smiling, the universeis waiting always – love
Mphadile Paulina Mohale
I hereby attach proof of what I have expressed:
24 December 2007 Amount R50Units 86.2Price per unit R0.58
16 April 2008 Amount R50Units 75.4Price per unit R0.66
Difference in price per unit R0.08
J R LekalakalaMadibeng localDear comrade LekalakalaOn December 20 2007, Nersa granted Eskom an average price increase of 14,2% to be applicable from April 1 2008.The difference in price that you are now paying is equivalent to a 13,8% increase. So this is in line with the increase that Nersa granted Eskom.
Nersa has just granted Eskom a further increase from July 1. For people like you that buy straight from Eskom, this increase will be about 20%. So your R50 in December could buy 86.2 units. In April this year it could only buy 75.4 units. From July 1 when the 20% increase comes in it will only be able to buy about 60 units!If you are a Homelite 1 or 2 customer you will not pay extra from July 1.
For those readers who buy their electricity from municipalities, expect an increase in your electricity charges of about 35,9% from July 1 2008!
Source
Numsa News