Public service and administration minister Senzo Mchunu has defended his decision to ask for public inputs in the standoff between the government and public service unions, saying there is nothing untoward about his request.
“Parliament, which is just another arm [of the state], each time they pass a law they do public consultations. No-one has gone out to ask why do they seek public opinion or accused parliament of failing and parliament must step aside for publicly consulting people because they are the first law.
“We are consulting, seeking and gauging their views, asking them to contribute on this aspect. So how do you say it is wrong to do so or suggest indirectly that it is wrong to do so? Last year, finance minister Tito Mboweni announced that the government would implement a three-year salary freeze in the sector to cut government spending by R300bn and bring ballooning state debt of R3.95 trillion under control.
Maintaining that he did nothing wrong by making the unprecedented plea, Mchunu said consultations were common.
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