Pro-Capital Mandatorism and Autocratic Management Style in Labour Relations; The Transkei experience between 1976 and 1994.
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Date
1998-12
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University of Fort Hare
Abstract
The aim of this research was to investigate labour relations in the former Transkei
with the focus on work place relations and the role played by the state in
regulating such relations.
The questionnaire instrument was employed in this study. Pilot studies were utilised
in preparation for the administration of the questionnaires. Simple Random
Sampling was employed to select the sample of the representative population for
the questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered to 636 workers and 120
management staff. All the 636 workers and 80 management staff completed the
questionnaires. Nine trade union officials and Dr Bikitsha a minister in Chief
Matanzima's government between 1979 and 1983 were also interviewed. To achieve
maximum returns assistants were employed to administer the questionnaires.
The study revealed that workers in the former Transkei, especially those in
industry, were exploited by their employers. This was made possible by Chief
Matanzima's refusal to allow the formation, let alone the operation of trade unions
in the former homeland. It is worthwhile to note that, the government itself, the
largest employer of labour in the Transkei, neither wished to consult nor negotiate
with its workforce. Instead, liaison committees were established to liaise between
workers and their employers in an attempt to bring about
industrial peace at the workplace. An inspectorate division was also established
to monitor the goings-on at the various workplaces and to report back their findings to the relevant authorities for action to be taken where and when necessary. Regrettably none of the two institutions performed its function as expected. As a result, workers' legitimate demands were ignored by their employers and in the absenceĀ· of trade unions to intervene on their behalf, they (workers) had no means at their disposal to have their grievances attended to. It was also revealed that the two governments that followed Chief Matanzima's government (Chief George Matanzima and Stella Siqcau governments respectively) did nothing to alleviate the plight of the workers until after the overthrow of
Siqcau's Government in 1987 and the coming to power of Major General Bantu Holomisa.
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Keywords
Work place relations, labour, Transkei, Industrial action
Citation
Abankwa, Joseph, K. (1998). Pro-Capital Mandatorism and Autocratic Management Style in Labour Relations; The Transkei experience between 1976 and 1994.Alice. University of Fort Hare.