A Labour Portfolio Committee meeting to discuss the National Minimum Wage Bill, came to a stop when a fight broke out.
The Labour Portfolio Committee chair‚ Sharome van Schalkwyk condemned the disruption.
“The Portfolio Committee on Labour is disappointed with the conduct of alleged South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) activists who sought to disrupt a committee meeting meant to discuss the National Minimum Wage Bill‚ clause by clause.
“The committee will not be distracted and derailed in trying to improve the conditions many of our poor working South Africans find themselves in.
The processes on the National Minimum Wage are unfolding‚ and this drastic and chaotic stance is not warranted‚” said van Schalkwyk said.
Van Schalkwyk said the committee accepted that activists have a right to protest, but that right should not seek to interfere with the work of Parliament, and the rights of other persons.
“There will still be an opportunity to engage with the Bill during the National Council of Provinces’ processes and therefore Members should be allowed to do their job without hindrance,” she said.
Chaotic scenes allegedly recorded in Parliament Committee Room 1 during a Labour Portfolio Comm meeting today. SAFTU union members being ejected. SAFTU anc Parliament have both complained about the incident. pic.twitter.com/aw5hbMpJhU
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) May 16, 2018
Parliament statement on the violent scenes captured in cell phone footage:
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) May 16, 2018
"On Wednesday a handful of activists donning Saftu regalia disrupted the Committee on Labour’s meeting that sought to deliberate on the corrected version of the National Minimum Wage Bill." pic.twitter.com/MRnXP44whr
