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The union's secretary, Irvin Jim, said the existing inequalities were a reflection of persisting apartheid capitalist economic and social relations.

"There are dogs that eat better food than black people in South Africa. The dog food is expensive compared with the food a (black) person eats in a day," he said.

He cautioned that unless the ANC-led government reverted to the Freedom Charter and nationalised key sectors of the economy, the ruling party should brace itself for a social revolution.

"Unemployment among Africans was estimated to be 38% in 1995 and stood at 45% in 2005. Now the unemployment rate among Africans is almost 50%. Among whites the unemployment rate is estimated to be around 6%.

"Being African reduces the chances of being employed by 90% in comparison to being white."

He said the fragmented intervention of the ANC government would not appease the previously dispossessed masses.

He said the ruling party should revisit its Freedom Charter and implement nationalisation.

"The share of income going to the majority of the people of South Africa who, by and large, are black and African working class and the rural poor clearly confirms that without nationalisation the commanding heights of the economy, the situation can only deteriorate."

He slated the task team that was assembled by the ANC to investigate the viability of nationalisation.

"That task team did not act according to the mandate of the ANC's NGC (national general council) and we think that is demoralising. They (task team) went to look for reasons why nationalisation should not happen."

"If you say nationalisation is not the route to go, then you must accept that the freedom charter must be dumped."

Jim was highly critical of the National Planning Commission (NPC) which he said has diverted from its core mandate.

He said Numsa objected to Minister Trevor Manuel being appointed as a political head since his previous conduct during the Thabo Mbeki era favoured capital.

"We have noted that the NPC in its diagnostics merely diagnosed the symptoms, rather than the root cause, of our development challenges, the underlying apartheid and colonial character of our economy and its social relation," he said.

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Mon May 20 21:15:24 SAST 2013 ::

May 18, 2012

mambaaai

Based on this article, business models like e toll for roads and the other similar ideas are a step in exactly the wrong direction. As an example making even our paid off roads inaccessable to these people. Example who do they think will be working on the whole e toll system, people from the masses?
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May 18, 2012

Ebony.Girl

Very sad indeed... After 18 years of democracy, not much has improve for the majority.
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May 18, 2012

molefelives

Pls Jim don't come with your f**t nonesense.
Who is in power?
Who steals from the poor?
Who lies to the poor?
Is it apartheid?
Come on dude, wake up...
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May 18, 2012

Wanani

Truth hurts
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May 18, 2012

Sugaar

I wish zoomer can read this article only if he knows how to read.
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May 18, 2012

WarrenG

It's got Fukkall to do with apartheid! We're 18 years in now and the rulers are more corrupt than ever and getting worse. These peoples plight could easily have been lessened in 18 years but it's getting worse the further we move from apartheid.
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May 18, 2012

Pointman

Looking for a scapegoat Mugabe style. After messing up you look around for someone to blame. And why is he making this a rac!st issue - it is poor people of all races that are suffering. One thing the government must do is speed up land reforms and then loosen the labour laws. Nationalisation will favour the few.
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May 18, 2012

Tronn

Firstly, please walk into any restaurant and you will see that the majority of the patrons are black.
Secondly, you have you ruling party to thank if you have no food.
Next time, try voting for a party that really cares for you
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May 18, 2012

JajazQueen

Should Cosatu join the nationalisation choir...sparks will fly. As for me I am watching for a rising of the work force and change of policies....???????????


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May 18, 2012

hulas

Stupid little jimmy
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