MBOMBELA – Some of them alleged that they last received their stipends three months ago.
“This is not the first time to strike. We did embark on a protest on a previous occasion and they only paid us half our stipends while other did not receive anything at all. This also happened after we have worked for three months without pay,” said a source.
This has triggered anger from the Democratic Alliance (DA) which has written a letter to the premier of the province, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni asking when she plans to pay the interns. According to the interns, the government owes them their salaries for July, August and September.
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“At 41.7%, Mpumalanga is facing record high levels of unemployment with the youth bearing the brunt of this sluggish economy and the premier had made no effort to revive Mpumalanga’s economy causing a steady increase in the provincial unemployment rate,” says Jane Sithole the provincial leader of the party.
She adds that the interns were also stunned by the controversial R8.3 million statue of Nelson Mandela, than having them paid.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) Sidumo Masilela said: “As Nehawu, we are not yet organizing internships, however, that does not mean we do not have the interest to represent them because they are our potential members. Part of, among other things why as Nehawu we are vehemently opposing a moratorium on the filling of vacant posts in government.
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The lifting of the moratorium on the filling of vacant posts will address upward mobility of our members, interns can be absorbed and the level of unemployment can be alleviated,” he said. “We did not receive any information on the matter because we rely on our shop stewards on any matters that affect the workers in the workplace. We will investigate and consult our structures regarding the non-payment of stipends to interns,” concludes Masilela.
