MINISTER in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa is ‘too sick’ and unable to carry out his official duties.
Ramaphosa was expected to meet with leaders of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, who had asked to discuss their demands for workers safety and salary increases.
Mthembu told journalists that an arrangement has been made for Ramaphosa to engage the union at a later stage.
“The only person who can deal with these issues properly and listen to what Nehawu has to say is our president and he is available to meet them on Wednesday, because today he is really sick. He is in the blankets as we speak,” said Mthembu.
Nehawu marched to the Union Buildings earlier this month demanding government honours its three-year wage agreement of 8%.
The union is also demanding that health frontline workers be equipped with sufficient protective gear and for government to provide a safe working environment during Covid-19.
Nehawu’s general-secretary Zola Saphetha expressed Nehawu’s dissatisfaction.
“We will only be happy once the president responds favourably to our demands that is what will make us happy. But for now, we are not happy but we accept the fact that the president is willing to engage us,” said Saphetha.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
