ANC staffers bemoan inability to provide for families

By: Sello Theletsane

African National Congress staff members say they have to contend with being seen as “useless parents” who can’t provide the basics for their children.

This comes as they head into a third month without salaries. The liberation movement continues to face financial difficulties, which are making it impossible to honour financial obligations. The staffers have had to bear the brunt of that difficulty.

“We are starting to feel like we are useless parents who can’t even afford to provide the bare minimum for our families. Many of us came from poor backgrounds, and we vowed to change the situation for our children, but we are finding ourselves back there,” said a staffer speaking on condition of anonymity.

The workers said they are losing hope with every passing day as there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight to their suffering. Instead of receiving their salaries on the 25th of September, they received a letter from general manager Febe Potgieter informing them that payments for July, August, and September would not be paid.

Potgieter stated in the letter that over the first 14 months of the Covid-19 pandemic and challenging economic situation has kept its commitment to staff to pay full salaries each month, albeit late and not to retrench.

“This is the first time that we are delayed with three months of payments. We are in a challenging position where we have also raise resources for local government elections, and budgets for elections have been reduced to an absolute minimum. We appreciate the commitment and dedication of ANC staff, who, despite these difficulties, diligently serve their organization,” Potgieter said.

Staffers have expressed frustration over their limited options as the organization has not been paying pension funds and UIF.

“We are also not in a position to resign in hopes of accessing our pension funds to have access to money to cover our debts because the organization has not been paying for the past three years,” the worker said.

The staffers have also accused the organization of breaking its promises. Many were promised that when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his cabinet reshuffle, they would be moved to government positions.

“That did not happen. None of us was taken, and we continue to starve. We are waiting to have a meeting on Wednesday to hear what the way forward will be,” said a staffer.

The workers added that their family setups had been severely affected as well. They have also had to go and borrow money from friends and families, which they are now struggling to pay back.

“We have been known as liers now as we are struggling to pay those who have borrowed us money. As we speak now, my children’s school fees are in arrears, my landlord wants to kick me out, yet I’m still expected to come to the office and work. Another frustrating thing is that we use our cars for ANC work. We don’t have petrol money,” said the staffer.

The workers added that the organization had given them letters to send to their creditors, but they were also fed up because of the many delays.

“How can you stay in someone’s house for three months without paying rent? How do you think they are managing to pay their bonds? This system is unworkable,” they said.

Another worker spoke about how they had to reduce a lot of the things they used to do with their families to stretch whatever cent they had. The staffer said children no longer get to go out or even participate in extramural activities.

“The most painful thing is having to explain to my kids why they can’t go for swimming lessons and sporting activities. We have become disappointments in our children’s eyes all because our employer messed up. We can’t even claim from UIF,” said the worker.

“Our medical aids covers have lapsed. I’m currently driving an uninsured car I use for work because I can’t keep up with payments. I’ve had to cancel funeral policies,” the staffer added.

The struggles with the party have also seen some staff members laying charges against the top leaders for deducting money and not paying for medical aid, UIF, and pension fund.