Back to business at Ehafo

AS Ehafo workers returned to work on Friday for the first time since Government took over the reins there at the beginning of last month, the future of the organisation for disabled people remained in the balance.

The Ministry of Education has footed the bill for the Ehafo workers’ salaries since last month, when Government bailed out the organisation’s board of trustees, the Ministry’s spokesperson Toivo Mvula told The Namibian on Thursday. But Cabinet has not yet decided which Government department will ultimately be responsible for Ehafo.”Cabinet is still deciding on the responsible agency, but most likely, due to the portfolio of disabilities’, this will end up being the Ministry of Health,” Mvula said.The Education Ministry has been involved until now because of its relationship with the Ehafo Vocational Training Centre (VTC) situated on the same premises, he said.The Ministry took over the functions at the VTC a few years ago and has been spending roughly N$1 million a year on it.In a brief interview on Thursday, outgoing Ehafo board chairman Andrew Matjila said the board had not received any communication from Government since handing over its resolutions stipulating the conditions under which it was willing to hand over power.Matjila also revealed that he had been held hostage by workers during negotiations last month, a day before accepting Government’s offer.”They locked the gates so I couldn’t go out.Then two members of the trade unions threatened me, saying that we don’t want to know what will happen if we don’t sign,” he said.A Police source who had been present during the negotiations confirmed that workers had locked in Matjila, but said that no criminal charges were laid.The workers apparently heeded calls by the Police to unlock the gate.An Ehafo worker told The Namibian that they had been notified that they should return to work on Friday.He also confirmed that workers’ wage problems had been solved since Government took over.Government offered to take over the organisation late last month, after the board of trustees approached the Prime Minister’s office to ask for financial assistance.Workers there had been staging a two-day demonstration, even sleeping at the organisation’s premises on the outskirts of Windhoek, after their wages were not paid.By taking over Ehafo, Government, as per the board’s resolution, has accepted to settle all the organisation’s outstanding liabilities and cover any costs resulting from the handover.But Cabinet has not yet decided which Government department will ultimately be responsible for Ehafo.”Cabinet is still deciding on the responsible agency, but most likely, due to the portfolio of disabilities’, this will end up being the Ministry of Health,” Mvula said.The Education Ministry has been involved until now because of its relationship with the Ehafo Vocational Training Centre (VTC) situated on the same premises, he said.The Ministry took over the functions at the VTC a few years ago and has been spending roughly N$1 million a year on it.In a brief interview on Thursday, outgoing Ehafo board chairman Andrew Matjila said the board had not received any communication from Government since handing over its resolutions stipulating the conditions under which it was willing to hand over power.Matjila also revealed that he had been held hostage by workers during negotiations last month, a day before accepting Government’s offer.”They locked the gates so I couldn’t go out.Then two members of the trade unions threatened me, saying that we don’t want to know what will happen if we don’t sign,” he said.A Police source who had been present during the negotiations confirmed that workers had locked in Matjila, but said that no criminal charges were laid.The workers apparently heeded calls by the Police to unlock the gate.An Ehafo worker told The Namibian that they had been notified that they should return to work on Friday.He also confirmed that workers’ wage problems had been solved since Government took over.Government offered to take over the organisation late last month, after the board of trustees approached the Prime Minister’s office to ask for financial assistance.Workers there had been staging a two-day demonstration, even sleeping at the organisation’s premises on the outskirts of Windhoek, after their wages were not paid.By taking over Ehafo, Government, as per the board’s resolution, has accepted to settle all the organisation’s outstanding liabilities and cover any costs resulting from the handover.