2000 Annual Report

OVERVIEW OF NEDLAC

The Formation of Nedlac

In the early 1990's, the struggle against apartheid created a multitude of organisations dedicated to ensuring that government decisions were taken in an inclusive and transparent manner. These organisations included, amongst others, the National Economic Forum and the restructured National Manpower Commission.

Following the election of South Africa's first democratic government, Parliament recognised that these institutions could continue to play a valuable role in the creation and consolidation of a new social and economic order. However, there was a need to consolidate all of these institutions under one umbrella. Accordingly, in September 1994, Parliament passed the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) Act. Nedlac was subsequently launched on 18 February 1995.

The Composition of Nedlac

The Nedlac Act defines Nedlac as consisting of:

  • Members who represent organised business.

  • Members who represent organised labour.

  • Members who represent organised community and development interests

  • Members who represent the State.

Organised business is represented by Business South Africa (BSA) and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc). Business South Africa represents the interests of twenty employer federations. Nafcoc in turn represents 156 000 businesses and 18 Provincial or Sectoral Chambers.

The Women's National Coalition (WNC), the National Rural Development Forum (NRDF), the South African Federal Council on Disability, the South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco) and the South African Youth Council (SAYC) represent organised community and development interests.

The interests of organised labour are represented by the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (Cosatu), the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa), and the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu).

The government delegation in Nedlac is drawn from several ministries and departments, including Labour, Trade and Industry, Finance and Public Works. Representatives of other government ministries and departments participate in Nedlac structures on an ad-hoc basis. These have included the Departments of Welfare, Minerals and Energy and the Office of the President.

Meetings between the constituencies are facilitated and supported by a secretariat of 14 people.

Scope of Activity

The Nedlac Act determines the scope of Nedlac's activities.

The Act requires Nedlac to:

  • Promote the goals of economic growth, participation in economic decision-making, and social equity.

  • Seek to reach consensus and conclude agreements pertaining to social and economic policy.

  • Consider all labour legislation relating to labour market policy before it is introduced in Parliament.

  • Consider all significant changes to social and economic policy before they are implemented or introduced in Parliament.

  • Encourage and promote the formulation of coordinated policy on social and economic matters.

To meet these objectives, the representatives of organised business, community, labour and government are involved in:

  • Negotiations that aim to deliver a formal, consensus-based agreement.

  • Consultations that aim at developing policy prior to it being tabled for negotiation or implemented.

  • Information sharing, workshops and seminars that report on and assess the implementation of socio-economic policy.

  • Research that guides the formulation and implementation of social and economic policy.

  • Resolving socio-economic disputes in terms of section 77 of the LRA.

Nedlac Operations

Nedlac's work programme is determined by constituencies tabling issues that they wish to negotiate or discuss. These issues can be tabled at a chamber, the Management Committee or the Executive Council. Issues that are tabled at the Management Committee or Executive Council are referred to the appropriate chamber for negotiation or consultation.

Once the Management Committee has endorsed a chamber's work programme, the chamber has to develop mechanisms to deal with the substantive details of each issue on their work programme. This often results in the establishment of a technical subcommittee.

Subcommittees or working groups report to the chambers, which finalise or recommend changes to the agreement reached in the working group. Before an agreement is considered to be a Nedlac agreement it has to be ratified by the Management Committee and then the Executive Council. In some instances, these bodies may request the chamber or the working group to further consider an issue.

The Executive Council may mandate another Nedlac structure to ratify a Nedlac agreement. Following the ratification of a Nedlac agreement, Nedlac sends a report to the appropriate Minister for tabling in Parliament or for implementation. A Nedlac report records the process that was followed in Nedlac and the areas of agreement and disagreement between the parties (all Nedlac reports are available on Nedlac's web-site: www.nedlac.org.za.)

In addition to this formal process, Nedlac provides an environment for informal meetings and engagements that serve to strengthen relationships and understanding between constituencies. In these instances, constituencies often invite other specialists to contribute to the dialogue in these forums.

NEDLAC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Nedlac Executive Council met once during the year under review. This was a special extended Executive Council Meeting on 27-28 August 1999 and was addressed by Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

Delegates to the Executive Council were:

BUSINESS

James Lennox
Borence Moabi
Ian Hetherington
Abram Napo
Andre Lamprecht
Raymond Parsons
Dorian Wharton-Hood
Jim Buys
Rudolf Gouws
Ian Robinson
Friede Dowie
Jacob de Villiers
Vic van Vuuren
Frans Barker
Michael McDonald

COMMUNITY

Patrick Nkosi
Mncedisi Mdunyeloa
Khulu Mbongo
Teboho Loate
Pat Horn
Kenny Diseko
Mamakhooa Nhlapo-Maklein
Zacharia Mosola
Sizwe Shezi
Anna-Marie Nutt
Fadila Lagadien
Mpule Mogudi
Elias Phiri
Godfrey Jack
Mbongeni Ngubeni

GOVERNMENT

Themba Mhlongo
Rob Adam
Nomonde Mapetla
Shuaib Chalklen
Bongani More
Stella Sigcau
Membathisi Mdladlana
Alec Erwin
Sipho Pityana
Zav Rustomjee
Trevor Manue
Les Kettledas
Jerry Majatladi
Thibedi Ramontja

NEDLAC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Nedlac's Management Committee met six times during the year under review. Delegates to Nedlac's Management Committee have been:

Labour

Chez Milani
Cunningham Ngcukana
Ebrahim Patel
Mark Bennett
Neil Coleman
Khumbula Ndaba
Randall Howard
Bengeza Mthombeni
Gwede Mantashe
Tony Ehrenreich
Siphiwo Gangca
Bethuel Maserumule (observer)

 Business

Jim Buys
Vic van Vuuren
Raymond Parsons
Abram Napo
Gerrie Bezuidenhout
Andre Lamprecht
Michael McDonald

Government

Elias Masilela
Les Kettledas
Themba Mhlongo
Bongani More
Jerry Majatladi
Zav Rustomjee
Rams Ramashia

Community

Tebogo Loate
Godfrey Jack
Khumbula Mbongo

Nedlac Secretariat as at 31st March 2000

Phillip Dexter (Executive Director)
Amiena Arendse (Administration: Office of the Executive Director)
Michelle de Bruyn (Co-ordinator: Trade and Industry Chamber)
Karl Gostner (Research co-ordinator)
Liesel Köstlich (Co-ordinator: Labour Market Chamber)
Tsholo Lelaka (Administration)
Manase Maguga (Accountant)
Anusha Makka (Co-ordinator: Trade and Industry Chamber)
Ruth Matotong (Administration)
Khanya Mjiyako (Co-ordinator: Development Chamber)
Mbuso Ngcongo (Information and Liaison Officer)
Tshidi Rapola (Receptionist)
Doris Tshabalala (General Assistant)
Jennifer Wilson (Communications co-ordinator)

 

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