Bosses doing their bit for democracy

WORKING will be no excuse not to vote tomorrow as Nelson Mandela Bay bosses heed the government's call to allow employees sufficient time off to make their mark.

It will not be business as usual for some of the biggest employers in Port Elizabeth, who are treating election day as a designated holiday and letting workers have the day off.

At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University campuses in Port Elizabeth and George, students and staff will all take the day off.

Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said all staff would be off, except for essential services.

"It will be work as usual for essential services like the fire department and emergency services as we cannot afford to have them off. "But the employees will be able to take some time during the day to vote, when their schedule permits.

"All other employees will be off."

Stephen King, contracts manager at Murray & Roberts Buildings, the principal contractor working at the Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth, said all employees would be off tomorrow.

"If any employee wants to take advantage of the extra pay for public holidays they can come into work after they have voted. Otherwise it is a normal public holiday."

Food and Allied Workers' Union provincial secretary Luyanda Matuntuta said employers were beginning to understand how democracy worked and were allowing people time off to vote.

"This new democracy is sinking in. We have not received any information that indicates otherwise from companies or farms around the Eastern Cape.

"So employees will be able to cast their votes where they are registered."

Numsa regional secretary Pumzile Nodongwe said all workers would get a chance to make their mark.

"Even those who might be working will get time to cast their votes.

"We have not been informed of any company that is not cooperating." - Thulani Gqirana