The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMB) this year dismissed Senior Work Study Practitioner, Gayle Grootboom, and Municipal Media Liaison Officer, (municipal spokesperson), Kupido Baron on trumped up charges of gross insubordination. They had served NMB for respectively 27 and 20 years of commendable service with spotless disciplinary records. Their dismissals were the culmination of ordeals spanning years of bullying, harassment, unfair labour practices and racial discrimination. With all internal processes now exhausted, the comrades have now appealed to the SA Local Government Bargaining Council which has jurisdiction over workers below senior management level.<\/p>\n
The NMB\u2019s conduct is an egregious example of the ANC\u2019s abandonment the aims of the struggle against apartheid including worker rights and non-racial equality. Shockingly, in its persecution of these comrades, it has drawn from the cesspool of apartheid racism.<\/p>\n
The MWP calls for their immediate reinstatement. We appeal to all trade unions, socialists and activists in SA and worldwide to support this demand and to write to the employer condemning their actions. Please send all letters to the officials at the email addresses provided below.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Comrade Kupido\u2019s victimisation:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Comrade Gayle\u2019s persecutio:<\/strong><\/p>\n From October 2022 to November 2023<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The NMB municipality\u2019s attitude towards its own internal disciplinary processes and the Labour Relations Act\u2019s Code of Good Practice (LRA Code) can only be described as complete contempt. NMB has violated these comrades basic labour rights including to a fair hearing. This blatantly contravenes its own internal disciplinary policy as well as the LRA Code. The NMB is acting in line with the bosses and government\u2019s attacks on the LRA Code.<\/p>\n The NMB\u2019s use of race quotas as a weapon of discrimination, victimisation and persecution, mimics apartheid racist practices. It constitutes the most disgraceful betrayal of the anti-racist principles of the struggle against apartheid that inspired solidarity worldwide. We are outraged that a government elected democratically by all, has resurrected the disregard for basic human rights and even the racist methods of the universally hated apartheid regime. This is a betrayal firstly and foremostly of the struggle of the oppressed working class majority in SA, but also the millions globally who acted in solidarity with them.<\/p>\n This would be bad enough on its own. But the NMB municipality management\u2019s treatment of comrade Grootboom given her medical condition descends to apartheid-style cold blood callousness. The NMB is directly responsible for precipitating the onset of comrade Gayle\u2019s mental and physical ill health \u2013 her depression and heart attack.<\/p>\n We stand in unwavering solidarity with Comrades Kupido Baron and Gayle Grootboom, whose dismissals have not only stripped them of their livelihoods but have deeply impacted their families and communities. These are not just workers\u2014they are parents and breadwinners who now face the daily anguish of being unable to provide for those who depend on them. The emotional toll of this injustice reverberates far beyond the workplace, affecting the dignity and stability of entire households. We demand that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality recognises the human cost of these actions and correct this injustice with urgency.<\/p>\n The devastating impact of the NMB\u2019s persecution, victimisation and racial profiling of comrades Kupido and Grootboom is not, however, limited to them personally. The LRA and EEA are violations to clear the way for nepotism and corruption. The official who dismissed comrade Kupido is facing charges of procurement corruption in the Commercial Crimes Court.\u00a0 The NMB\u2019s conduct sheds light on why it regarded as the weakest of the country\u2019s large metros in the poorest province in the country in the world\u2019s the most unequal society.<\/p>\n Reinstate comrades Kupido Baron and Gayle Grootboom now! <\/strong><\/p>\n Reject racism! Defend Labour Laws! An injury to one is an injury to all! <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
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