S Africa’s ‘instant’ society hurting prospects
NUM general secretary Frans Baleni discusses South Africa's instant society. Recorded:09.10.14. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Videoediting: Shane Williams.
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa has reached a proverbial crossroads, where the nation’s great Constitution and legal framework and prospects of being a successful country were being offset by persistent poverty, inequality and a scourge of unemployment – and the effects of an increasingly “instant” society.
National Union of Mineworkers general-secretary Frans Baleni told delegates at the Joburg Indaba, on Thursday, that South Africa had become an “instant” society, taking short-term approaches, applying violence and destruction and becoming increasingly populist and media-attention seeking.
He spoke of a greedy society accustomed to abnormalities, a deficit of empathy and having no respect for the law, while businesses were rife with corruption, collusion and anticompetitive behaviour.
Further, South Africa’s mining industry held a collapsed management system and weak leadership, with the tactics of organised labour being questionable.
“There is an inability to stand for what is right,” he commented, adding that it was imperative that the mistrust between workers and companies be resolved.
Much had to be done to create a globally competitive and sustainable mining industry and a stronger, more inclusive dialogue could bolster growth efforts.
“We need a new framework for dialogue,” Baleni said, adding that the “bread and butter” issues affecting mineworkers and communities needed to be urgently – and honestly – addressed.
Companies needed to fully comply with the letter and spirit of transformation imperatives and legislation, while organised labour needed to look beyond its own needs and become the voice of those that require it.
Further, information sharing between labour and management must be promoted with the sustainability of the industry developed in the best interest of the workers and other stakeholders.
Baleni emphasised the need for a people-first approach, with greater respect for human rights.
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