Speaking after an urgent Board meeting in Johannesburg this afternoon following a personal attack on Mr Nyatsumba by the leadership of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), Mr Khumalo said that Mr Nyatsumba has done a great job of representing the Federation on all matters, including on the deadlocked wage negotiations that began four months ago.
Mr Khumalo, who chairs the SEIFSA Board, said that the Board was surprised by the attack launched on the Federation’s CEO because everything that Mr Nyatsumba has done in leading the SEIFSA negotiating team and articulating the organization’s views was consistent with his mandate from the Board and the Council.
“We find it regrettable that, at a time when we should all be working together to reach an agreement and to end the strike currently affecting our industry, we have to spend time responding to personal attacks on our CEO. We are happy that, since assuming office in November last year, Mr Nyatsumba has raised SEIFSA’s public profile considerably and ensured that the Federation’s voice is heard on many matters.
“As a Board, we expect that the engagement between all parties must be responsible and matured,” Mr Khumalo said.