Change the world

FACTS ABOUT NEHAWU

BACKGROUND

Nehawu is the National, Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, which was established on the 28 June 1987 by Workers from the Education, Health, Government and Social Welfare. NEHAWU is affiliated to COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) which is the biggest federation in the country with about 1.9 million members. We believe that workers achieve strength through unity and working together to achieve progressive change. It is for this reason that we are affiliated to COSATU which unite workers from all industries and services.

WHY IS NEHAWU DIFFERENT TO OTHER WORKER ORGANISATIONS?

NEHAWU was part of the Mass Democratic Movement that brought in the democratic dispensation that we now all enjoy. NEHAWU will continue to advance and advocate the principle of non-racialism, gender equality and democracy in the workplaces in particular and also in our society in general.

PLEASE NOTE! NEHAWU is like a church every NMMU employee is welcome to join irrespective of occupation (Doctors, Professors, Lecturers, Cleaners, and Drivers etc.), religious belief, race, gender and political belief or affiliation.

NEHAWU GENERAL SECRETARY (1991-1994) – Phillip Dexter

Secretary

Signing the Proudly South African banner at the Proudly South African launch from left to right: Kevin Wakeford former CEO SA Chamber of Business and Phillip Dexter former Executive Director of Nedlac

PROGRESSIVE MINDS

Phillip Dexter – He obtained his Bachelor of Arts majoring in Philosophy and Politics and his Masters in Philosophy at UCT. He served as the NEHAWU General Secretary (1991-1994). He was the Executive Director for National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) from 1999 to 2003. He served as the Non Executive Chairperson of the Union Alliance Media Ltd. In 2003 he joined Human Science Research Council (HSRC).

Kevin Wakeford He has represented organized business on numerous boards including BSA, Nedlac, Proudly SA and AFSA. He obtained his BA (Hons) at what was former known as University of Port Elizabeth. During his studies he worked for the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDASA) and was a well known activist fighting for non-racialism and democracy. Shortly after he completed his studies, he worked for the Consultative Business Movement whose purpose was the engagement of liberation movements on economic issues.

group

From the left Shakes Binza, Director Research Capacity Development and NEHAWU NMMU Branch Chairperson, Dr Shaleen Els and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology and Planning Dr Mohammed Jeenah.

NMMU academics Darelle van Greunen (below) and Mzikayise Shakes Binza recently attended the National Research Foundation’s prestigious annual award ceremony where their excellence as two of our country’s top developing researchers was recognized. Mr Binza of Political and Government Studies and Ms Van Greunen of the School of ICT were among the top achievers in the 2006 NRF Thuthuka Researchers in Training programme, with Mr Binza being awarded a monetary prize of R30 000, to be utilized toward research, along with the title of Top Performer. As one of the finalists, Ms Van Greunen received R10 000 towards her research.

The information above is taken from the talk@nmmu article. NEHAWU salutes you Chairperson and may you continue to impart your wisdom in our quest for Transformation!