31 May 2001
The Department of Public Enterprises rejects any suggestion by COSATU that the Department has been negotiating in bad faith. On the contrary, we have been interacting in good faith. We further confirm that we did indeed develop a joint position with COSATU on the 29th May 2001. In the absence of the COSATU representatives who were part of the negotiations the night before, the DPE representatives tabled this joint position to the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises on 30th May 2001.
After careful consideration of this presentation by the Department officials, the Portfolio Committee accepted aspects of the joint position and rejected others.
The Department is astonished with COSATU's apparent disregard of the authority of Parliament to reject or accept as it sees fit arguments presented by Government Departments. Parliament is the highest constitutional authority in SA - a status that the Department of Public Enterprises respect.
Enquiries:
Fani Zulu
Director: Communications
Ministry of Public Enterprises
082 451 0457