New Executive Director of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) "To Hit The Ground Running".

Mr Alistair Graham Smith becomes the latest former trade unionist to be appointed as Executive Director of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC). Established in terms of the National Economic Development and Labour Council Act by the then new Labour Minister Tito Mboweni, NEDLAC is the social dialogue institution for government, labour and organised business in respect of all proposed labour legislation.

At the time of the establishment of NEDLAC, trade union activist Jayhendra Naidoo was appointed as the first Executive Director. He left NEDLAC when in partnership with Jay Naidoo the RDP minister in the cabinet of President Nelson Mandela; he left to pursue a career in business. Jayhendra Naidoo was succeeded by Philip Dexter, also a former trade union activist, and treasurer of the SACP who was a member of the National Assembly when appointed the second Executive Director of NEDLAC. Dexter subsequently left NEDLAC to head the economic development agency of the Mpumalanga provincial government. Dexter left the SACP to join the Congress of the People (COPE) to become a member of the National Assembly.

Dexter was succeeded by Herbert Mhkize, also a former trade unionist, who at the time of his appointment as the third Executive Director of NEDLAC was a member of the National Assembly. Mhkize is leaving NEDLAC after being at the helm of the institution for eight years.

Smith has worked for several organisations including the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa as a research officer; Frederick Ebert Foundation as a Project Coordinator; Independent Mediation Service of South Africa as labour services Project Director before becoming the head of the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council (MEIBC).

Smith has a Masters Degree in Philosophy in Development Studies from the University of Sussex (alma mater of former President Thabo Mbeki). He has attended several courses, seminars, workshops, on matters related to the CCMA, Strategic Human Resources and Financial Management. He will assume duty on 3 October 2011 and in accordance of a statement made by Page Boikana of the Department of Labour, “will hit the ground running" considering his vast experience in social dialogue.

Critics of labour market trends in South Africa are likely to comment that this appointment is a further manifestation of the stranglehold South African trade unions aligned to COSATU are applying, particularly in view of the current Minister Mildred Oliphant and her predecessor Membithisi Mdhadlana both having strong COSATU affiliated trade union links.

Little wonder that a report of the International Monetary Fund recorded; "The labour market is clearly broken and failing the unemployed."

Pieter Rautenbach