ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu has strongly condemned the storming of a parliamentary committee meeting on the minimum wage law. South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) members stormed a meeting of Parliament’s labour committee on Wednesday to protest against the adoption of the National Minimum Wage Bill. The committee meeting was scheduled to have clause-by-clause deliberations on the National Minimum Wage Bill, the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill, and the Labour Relations Amendment Bill. The Saftu delegation demanded to participate in the deliberations on the bills. When acting committee chairperson Sharome van Schalkwyk refused the request, on the grounds that the meeting was not a public hearing, the group started chanting and banging on tables, resulting in damage to property. "The despicable conduct of these protesters was also abusive as they threatened members of Parliament with violence. The committee had to call parliamentary protection services to ...
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