Central SA
'Stop exploiting workers'-Dukwana─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 08:15 Sat, 22 Jul 2023
Free State Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana has called on employers to treat workers like human beings.
Dukwana and l Free State MEC for Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Thabo Meeko, attended the launch of Hangda Steel in Thaba Nchu on Friday, 21 July 2023.
R300 million was poured into this project, where scrap metal is turned in to steel. The factory currently employs about 150 locals. In total, 500 will be employed as the company expands.
‘Allow them to be the best version of themselves’
Dukwana appealed to the management to treat workers with the necessary respect after urging the workers to do their work with the required diligence. "We are very disruptive to this environment, and yet we need this environment. We exploit our people when we should unleash their potential, develop them and allow them to be the best version of themselves, even if we took them in while they didn't even attend school.
"Our people cannot just be mere workers; they cannot be just tools to be used; they must be respected. They must be allowed to be a better version of themselves in order to build a better society. The workers that you have become the soul of the business that you run.
“Exploiting them does not help you. We must stop using people to pursue money and profit. We must build a humane society, a society that cares, if we want to be remembered as children of Mandela," he said.
Dukwana thanked the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China, Zhongdong Tang, and the management of Hangda Steel for providing work for Free State people. He called on companies to invest in the province in order to reduce the high unemployment rate.
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Dukwana also lashed out at officials who exploit people to enrich themselves. "We want to work with those who want to work and leave a legacy. Those who do wrong will be dealt with by the law. I want to tell you now that we will get rid of such people because they are not willing to work for the people. This is the new Free State; you are either with us and working for the people, or you are against us."
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