ANC CAUCUS FORCED TO CUT STAFF

DORIANNE ARENDSE

The African National Congress Parliamentary Caucus staff was informed on Tuesday morning that they will have to reapply for their jobs and that interviews will start on Wednesday morning. Speaking to VOC News on Tuesday, the spokesman for the office of the Chief Whip of the ANC in Parliament, Moloto Mothapo, said that a multi-stakeholder report had been adopted by the task team that was set up earlier after it emerged that the ANC Parliamentary Caucus was in dire financial straits.

"The multi-stakeholder task team recommendations were accepted by the political committee that oversees the work of the ANC Parliamentary Caucus. It was also taken to the National Working Committee as well as the National Executive Committee of the ANC," Mothapo said.
The Parliamentary Caucus has already advertised the positions but first preference will be given to staff members currently employed by the ANC Parliamentary Caucus. Mothopa said that those staff members who are not successful will be assisted by the ANC to find alternate employment.

"There is a process that will unfold afterward that will include assisting them with alternative employment either within the ANC or outside of the ANC," said Mothapo. In addition, staff members will also receive additional skills training.
ANC Caucus staff has alleged that the report which was earlier leaked to the media indicating that the ANC Parliamentary Caucus was in serious financial difficulty, had inflated staff numbers. According to one staff member whose name is known to VOC, the ANC Caucus has about 44 admin assistants and not 70 as indicated.

When asked about this, Mothapo declined to comment as the report was not final at the time. Earlier this month Mothapo refuted allegations that the ANC Caucus would be reducing staff numbers as "it may compromise the current negotiations with multiple stakeholders. The forum is to ensure that we arrive at a mutually agreed upon solution," he said.