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Trade Union, National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in Parliament says it is disturbed by the conduct of Acting Secretary to Parliament Baby Tyawa, who reportedly refused to pay the required monthly fees for the apartment she rents from Public Works.
Nehawu says Tyawa’s argument that it’s a personal matter between her and Public Works is not acceptable.
The union’s Chairperson in Parliament Sthembiso Tembe says, “We read that Miss Tyawa refused to pay a rental fee of R16 000 per month in rental fees to Department of Public Works.
Instead, she decided unilaterally that she was going to pay R10 000 and as if that was not enough, she then again decided that she was not going to afford R10 000, (and that) she was going to pay R5 500.”
Tembe has described Tyawa’s reasoning as “disturbing.” “She says this has got nothing to do with parliament. It’s a personal matter between herself and the department. But we want to remind Miss Tyawa that she is not just an ordinary citizen. She is the Secretary of Parliament, the CEO of Parliament. She occupies such an important position in society. And her conduct must be exemplary, not only to parliamentary employees but society at large.”
Tembe says Tyawa must be placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation for bringing the name of parliament into disrepute.
“We are talking about somebody here that earns R3.2 million. The person that recently refused to pay performance bonuses to the employees pleading poverty. If she can’t afford the rental fee of R16 000 per month, how does she expect ordinary employees to afford the rental fees and the bonds that they have in Cape Town? Therefore, we are saying that parliament must be consistent. Presiding Officers must put her on precautionary suspension pending an investigation. Her conduct brought the name of parliament into disrepute.”
