For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I am Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: EFF wants an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate non-compliance with Pension Funds Act; ANC calls for political education, activism as ANCYL celebrates 80th anniversary; And, Cogta committee welcomes wage agreement between Salga, labour unions

EFF wants an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate non-compliance with Pension Funds Act

The Economic Freedom Fighters has asked National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate non-compliance with Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act by private security companies and local government municipalities.

In a letter addressed to Didiza the party highlighted that the Ad-Hoc Committee should comprise members from finance, law enforcement and labour committees.

The party noted the call by Pension Funds Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane, for workers across the country to check whether there is money in their respective pension funds.

The EFF claimed that many of these funds are empty owing to non-compliance with Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act.

EFF Parliamentary Chief Whip Marshall Dlamini pointed out that according to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, 2 224 private security companies and 172 municipalities have failed to adhere to their statutory obligations with regards to payments towards pension, health and provident funds.

ANC calls for political education, activism as ANCYL celebrates 80th anniversary

The African National Congress today celebrated the “indomitable spirit” of the ANC Youth League, calling on the next generation of members to carry the torch forward with “even greater intensity”.

The ANCYL was created at the house of Walter Sisulu in Soweto, on September 10, 1944, when founders Anton Lembede, A.P. Mda, Jordan Ngubane, Nelson Mandela, and Oliver Tambo saw that the party was “weighed down by a conservative older generation”.

The ANC said the founders “dared to challenge the status quo”, and ignited the flame of a militant youth movement that would transform the liberation struggle.

The ANC saluted past and present ANCYL leadership who it said fearlessly championed the cause of the oppressed.

The party said as the ANCYL celebrates this historic milestone, it must deepen its revolutionary role, bringing political education to the masses and igniting the fire of activism in every corner of the country.

The ANC said since its inception, the Youth League has never wavered in its mission to fight for true democracy in South Africa and across the African continent.

And, Cogta committee welcomes wage agreement between Salga, labour unions

Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration chairperson Mxolisi Kaunda has hailed the five-year wage agreement between the South African Local Government Association and municipal labour unions, saying the agreement should ensure the stability needed to improve municipal efficiency and effectiveness.

Kaunda noted the dire state of many municipalities, which he said required “passionate and dedicated” personnel who were committed to providing quality services to residents.

The agreement will see employees receive a 6% increase in the 2024/25 financial year; salary increases will be set at Consumer Price Inflation plus 0.75% for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years; and salary increases will be pegged at Consumer Price Inflation plus 1.25% for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years.

Kaunda stated that now the wage agreement issue has been put to bed, it is essential that workers contribute to the stabilisation of the local sphere of government to ensure that municipalities are functional and deliver quality services.

He emphasised that it was imperative that municipalities worked for the benefit of the residents as mandated by the Constitution.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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