NEHAWU agrees to drop R2m defamation case against ANC's Mtolo

JOHANNESBURG - The National, Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) has agreed to withdraw its R2 million defamation case against African National Congress (ANC) KwaZulu-Natal secretary, Bheki Mtolo.

This follows a meeting between NEHAWU, the ANC and Mtolo on Monday, where the provincial secretary agreed to apologise for comments he made against the union. 

In July this year, Mtolo accused NEHAWU workers of failing black communities by providing poor service delivery at Home Affairs, SASSA offices and other government facilities. 

The two parties held a joint media briefing on the matter. 

At an event in his hometown of Kokstad, Mtolo made these remarks against NEHAWU:

"If you go to Home Affairs seeking a death certificate and you’re not being assisted, that is down to NEHAWU. If you go to Home Affairs seeking a birth certificate and you’re not being assisted, that is down to NEHAWU. If you go to SASSA and the service is slow, that’s NEHAWU being slow. If you work on a farm and your white boss is not paying you a minimum wage, the person who is a labour inspector that arrives there and meets only with your white boss and says farm workers are being paid very well, that labour inspector belongs to NEHAWU," he said at the time.

Following outrage, Mtolo doubled down on his comments, leading to a bitter public spat with the union. 

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said Mtolo had agreed to issue an unconditional public apology.

"Similarly, NEHAWU.will agree to withdraw the court challenge against the ANC and provincial secretary in this regard. Going forward, we have agreed to conduct a joint programme in KZN with COSATU and NEHAWU to engage with the workers on the ground and clear the air on matters that have polarised relations as a result," said Mbalula.

NEHAWU president Michael Shingane said they now considered the matter closed.