Premier Mr Mandla Ndlovu today delivered the welcoming address at the National Labour Relations Conference at The Capital Hotel in Mbombela. The conference was held under the theme "Building Labour Relations Capacity and Capabilities for the Realisation of South Africa's Developmental State."
In his address, the Premier informed delegates that "a capable, ethical and responsive state is not an option, it is a prerequisite for meaningful development," and called on government and labour to work as genuine partners in building institutions that can deliver on the promises made to the people of South Africa.
Premier Ndlovu highlighted Mpumalanga's Provincial Labour Summit, where COSATU, FEDUSA and SAFTU signed a historic pledge committing to labour peace, sound collective bargaining and uninterrupted service delivery. He said the province has maintained total labour peace over the past year, and pledged that Mpumalanga's government will remain "an objective, fair, and reliable custodian of labour relations," protecting vulnerable workers while fostering innovation in the public service workplace.
In his Keynote Address, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, paid tribute to the country's public servants as the backbone of the state. He spoke of the nurses who go beyond their shifts to care for patients, the teachers who dip into their own pockets to support their learners, and the police officers and social workers who carry the weight of their communities' hardships every day. The Minister described public servants as indispensable to the life of every citizen, stating that “they are present at every stage, from birth to death and said that without them there would be no functioning state”.
The conference also heard from Acting Deputy Judge President of the Labour Court, Ms Maletsatsi Mahalelo who addressed the growing influence of artificial intelligence and digitisation on the workplace, telling delegates that "human judgement, accountability, and oversight remain essential" even as technology becomes more capable. She noted that technology can assist decision-makers but cannot replace responsibility, fairness, or dignity.
The three-day conference continues in Mbombela, bringing together government, organised labour, legal institutions and academia to chart a way forward on public sector labour relations. The Mpumalanga Provincial Government remains committed to building a capable, ethical and people-centred public service.