Union welcomes resignation of DG of Communications in SA

SOUTH Africa’s Communication Workers Union (CWU) said it had welcomed the resignation of Lyndall Shope-Mafolo as the Director General of the Communications Department.

CWU general secretary Gallant Roberts said her affiliation to the ruling party political foes had compromised her performance.

“We have raised our concerns with regard to the DG serving two political masters in a CWU collective Bargaining conference in December 2008, where the Deputy Minister, Ray Padayachee was present. We did not buy the story that the erstwhile DG would be unbiased. The Director General in our view was not going to perform her duties with vigour. Her political affiliation was going to be a stumbling block for progress in an already badly performing Department,” he said.

“There was just no way that ANC policies could be implemented by a National Leader of Cope. That was clearly a recipe for disaster. So for us, it is a matter of good riddance!”

Cope is a breakaway party from the ruling African National Congress, which was formed last year by members opposed to the dismissal of former president Thabo Mbeki.

CWU meanwhile called for the appointment of a new director general who would be committed to ANC principles.

“CWU will make sure that the new DG is a person that is committed to the policies of the ANC government and understands the bias towards developmental agenda and creation of quality jobs and the retention thereof. We cannot allow the appointment of person favoured by the Industry players as per the advice of so called “analysts,” Roberts said.

Mthulisi Sibanda