The Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) held an organised and disciplined march on Tuesday while singing unique songs that tells the story of their plight.
The Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) held an organised and disciplined march on Tuesday while singing unique songs that tells the story of their plight.
Members of the movement and those of the Rural People’s Movement and Jubilee South Africa marched from Noluthando Hall in Joza to the City Hall to hand over their memoranda to the municipality.
The core focus of the protest was to address the poor state of service delivery in Grahamstown. They had four different memomaranda each focusing on a separate issue namely the state of housing, water and electricity, the rape and abuse of women and children as well as unemployment and the tendency of workers being employed as casual labourers instead being permanently employed. Members of the executive for UPM said, "We have prepared four different memoranda to show that we are demanding these, not requesting them. These are our rights." The memoranda was signed by councillor Thuleka Ngeleza on behalf of the municipality and Mod Ndoyana, the Human Resources Manager for the municipality acted as an observer.
The memos stated that they have given the retail industry an ultimatum to permanently employ people who have been working as casuals for the past five years. They have been given until the beginning of December this year to meet this ultimatum. The leader of the UPM, Ayanda Kota said: "I am working as a casual and I could find myself without a job any day. That puts me in the group of unemployed people." He says his contract does not have an ‘expiry date’ meaning that he should be able to work for as long as he is needed.
This means that the company might decide to release him at any time. The UPM also questioned the Constitution, saying it does not state that a person has the right to employment. "We will keep on demonstrating with other movements so that the government can amend the Constitution to involve the ‘right to work’ as part of rights," said Kota.
Kota also said that they have a problem with the high cost of cellphones and airtime. "People are denied the right to communicate because of this," he said. He said that people are dependent on cellphones to make calls in search of employment as they cannot afford land lines. In their demands UPM stated that they demand free water and electricity as per the election manifesto of the ANC as well as access to these services. "There have been mass disconnections in the township and some houses that do not even receive the free basic water supply. We want the municipality to reconnect the water and we are willing to take them to court to fight this," said Kota. To this the group chanted "free of charge!"
Ndoyana said, "The municipality can’t respond to the demands right now but what we can do is meet with the executive of the movement and decide on the date to answer the demands." He added that the meeting will give information to the people on what the municipality will do and what it cannot do and why. Mallet Pumelele Giyose, the National chairperson of Jubilee South Africa, assured the protesters that, "There won’t be any sealed deals behind closed doors. Everything about these issues will be put on the table."
The Rural People’s Movement, who joined in in the protest, is led by Nomonde Mbelekane. Kota says they have the support of Anti-Privatisation Forum led by Trevor Ngwane and the Landless People’s Movement led by Andile Mngxithana. Giyose said, "If these demands are not met, have to get together in big numbers as the people and march here [to the municipality]to get our voices heard."
