What is the status of the OSD and Salary for teachers?

Salary negotiation for Teachers and other government employees have taken another level. The government and unions for teachers reached an agreement for OSD and salary increment for teachers on the 5th of August 2009. The first due date for negotiation was the 30th June 2009, unfortunately by then no agreement was reached so the negotiation postponed.
The agreed upon salary rise for government employees seem to be a good achievement. I think this will assist teachers to settle their debts and to live normal lives just like other workers.
Unfortunately, the agreement looks good on paper, after signing the agreement, Minister of education Angie Motshekga came clear on Television says the government does not have money.
How do you sign an agreement when the department categorically claims that they do not have the money and how are they going to backdate this OSD when they do not have money? Or is this something to full educators with the signing.
As reported in NAPTOSA National News Flash 13 of 2009, the employer was due to return to the ELRC on 6 August 2009 with a mandated document. The employer did return, with an amended version of the draft collective agreement (No.4). Labour rejected the amended document outright. However, the crucial issue is that the employer returned without the additional funding, hence the amendments. Labour requested that the Minster for Basic Education and the Minster for the DPSA should come to the Council and address them eventually the special task team that was established a month ago to assist with the finalisation of the OSD reported back to council.
But I think SADTU has become a “sweetheart” union, making secret deals behind close doors to which we as members are not informed. Their loyalty is first and foremost to the ANC government, their alliance partners. But we witness on a daily basis the profligacy of the government, from million rand renovations to bluing for their expensive official vehicles.
Now the questions are:
Are teachers going to get their increment this months or they still have to wait for another months?
Do you think these delay would make teachers to embark on strike just before the exams.
“These delays are now contradicting Zuma’s promise of prioritising education and paying teachers what they deserve,”
When is the government going to start thinking about car and housing allowance?

BAFANA BAFANA`S PREPARATION TO WORLD CUP

Bafana Bafana has lost in their last six match games, which is a record to the team, they had 68 percent of ball possession in a recent friendly match against Ireland but they still could not take advantage.
Just to refresh your memory: Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for African Cup of Nation tornament which will be held in Ghana in 2010. This was not the first time when Bafana failed to qualify for the big tournament. They failed to qualify for the previous world cup which was held in Korea/Japan in 2006. In the last African Cup Nation tournament, they could not score a goal; Benny McCarthy was part of the squad.
But
Others believe, it was blessing in disguise not to qualify for African Cup of Nation, as these would give the team an ample opportunity to prepare for our team, we have started with our preparation for 2010 world cup but the team seems to be getting worse.
Do you believe that the friendly games played so far have shown them where they need to fix?
Who is to be blamed for this dismal performance? Coach or Players.
Others are calling for South Africa football association officials (SAFA) to resign?
Have they have failed to provide the country with development structure?
Should we recall Carlos Alberto Parreira for the Job?
Can unpredictable Benny McCarthy rescue us?
Is Aaron Mokoena the good man for defence?
Or the selection process needs to be revised?
What do you think?

Eskom plans to ask for rates increase

It is believed that Eskom will later this year ask the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to approve a further 40 percent increase in electricity rates.
Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga told Parliament that Eskom was R9,7 billion in debt and was another R80 billion short for its R385 billion electricity-producing expansion programme. He said some of the debt was the result of buying emergency coal supplies through expensive five-year contracts and from trucking the coal over long distances to power stations.
But
Inflation is standing at 8,5% at the moment, Can it honestly propose an increase of triple the inflation rate, when consumers are facing current levels of financial hardship?

When employees ask for salary increment, the company says there is no money and is in debt but directors and managers are given three times than other employees. Eskom employees settled last month for a 10, 55 percent salary increase after a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration that averted a strike at the last minute. When it comes to the CEO earning so much money you don't hear the same argument about increases being in line with inflation. It is entirely inappropriate for (Eskom's) CEO to have his annual package increased to almost R5m.
This kind of increase is something that needs to be looked at very carefully. It is far more than the inflation rate and it is very questionable and very worrying."Tito Mboweni said a six percent rise in electricity tariffs would be reasonable and anything above that would stoke inflation.
Does Eskom consider high rate of unemployment in our country? Do it consider employees that earn less than R5 000 per annum? What about those who depend on government grant?
When is our people going to get what `s worth for their Job?