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The United Democratic Movement (UDM) condemns the acts of violence in the march by the Democratic Alliance on Cosatu House yesterday in the strongest possible terms. The fact that the leadership of these two organisations allowed the march to degenerate into intolerable levels of violence and lawlessness is a disgrace to our young Nation and reverses gains we have made since the dawn of our democracy.

Government should shoulder a major share of the blame for what happened yesterday. It allowed various social partners to stall the debate on the wage subsidy, which frustrated other social partners. The people of South Africa gave the ANC the mandate to govern. Therefore, Government needs to demonstrate decisive leadership on socio-economic issues. The debate on youth wage subsidy has been going for a long time. It boggles the mind how Government has yet to reach consensus with organised labour on how to implement a wage subsidy it (Government) proposed in the 2010 State of the Nation Address.

President Zuma told Parliament that the wage subsidy would be implemented on 01st April 2012. This is typical of the ruling party’s motto of making empty promises. Here, we are talking about young people who bear the brunt of unemployment and who have lost hope about the prospect of ever finding a job. In Parliament, President Zuma keeps on saying that the issue is being discussed at NEDLAC. It is time that President Zuma exercises this mandate.

In the next seating of the Forum of the Leaders of Opposition Parties, we should consider organising an even bigger march to the Administrative Seat of Government, the Union Buildings, to call for the immediate implementation of this wage subsidy, because it enjoys the support of all political parties represented in Parliament. This march should also call for the restructuring of NEDLAC, which is dominated by the members of the Tripartite Alliance and big business. NEDLAC has failed to deliver an economy that benefits all.