Nedlac Executive Council Meeting

11 September 1998

1. The Minister of Education, Professor Sibusiso Bengu, briefed the Executive Council on the latest  developments in taking forward the agreement concluded in June this year between the Ministry of Education andteachers' unions. - See separate statement.

2. Session on recent initiatives to highlight poverty in South Africa:

Dr S.J. Molosankwe, Chief Director in theDepartment of Welfare, briefed the Council on the findings of the Poverty and Inequalityin South Africa report prepared for the Deputy President's office. President of theSouth Africa NGO Coalition, Rams Ramashia, briefed the Council on the "Speak out onPoverty" hearings. The meeting noted that a cohesive strategy for poverty alleviationwas needed. The meeting proposed that a summary document be formulated from the twopresentations, from which the Nedlac chambers could assess how to take the work furtherthe re-affirmed an earlier decision that Nedlac should undertake a study of how the workof the Nedlac chambers has contributed to the alleviation of poverty alleviation. Themanagement committee will take this matter further and report to the next Executive Council.

3. Preparations in Nedlac for the Presidential Jobs Summit

The Executive Council noted the work that had been done in the past two and a half months in preparation for the Job Summit.

4. Demarcation applications

The Labour Relations Act gives Nedlac the task of considering applications to register new councils or to change the scope of existing ones.The Executive Council approved the registration of the South African road passenger bargaining council (SARPBAC). With regard to the application for the registration of the statutory council of the printing, newspaper and packaging industry of South Africa, the Executive Council noted that the parties were unable to reach consensus, and according to the Labour Relations Act, this matter will now be referred to the Minister of Labour.

5. Section 77 notices:

Nedlac's Executive Director reported that the meeting held in terms of Section 77 (1)(c) to consider Cosatu's notice regarding the privatisation of municipal services had considered the matter exhaustively, but government and labour had failed to reach consensus. Parties were now free to take appropriate steps in terms of Section 77 (1) (d). Labour signalled its intention to tablea further notice, but has not yet done so. Government and labour are to have a bilateral meeting on the issue tomorrow.

6. The Executive Council welcomed the new head of the government delegation to Nedlac, Shepherd Mdladlana, to his first Executive Council meeting. It also formally expressed its thanks to the former Minister of Labour, TitoMboweni, for his tremendous and valuable contribution to Nedlac as head of the government delegation.

7. Regarding the resignation of the ExecutiveDirector, Jayendra Naidoo, the Executive Council signaled its regret at his announcement,and thanked him for his contribution to Nedlac thus far. The Council agreed that the management committee would develop a process for filling the post, which would include advertising and a selection process.

8. The Executive Council observed a moment ofsilence for the death of seven SADTU members, who died yesterday following a road accidentthat took place near Butterworth in Transkei. The Council expressed their condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wished those who had been injured in the accident a speedy recovery.