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Metalworkers' union Numsa says it's overjoyed that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who it's labelled as "the worst minister since the advent of democracy", has decided to retire from politics.
Gordhan announced his retirement on Friday, saying he would vacate his office after the general elections on 29 May 2024.
Numsa said it wished he would leave sooner.
Spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said they'd even volunteer to help him pack his bags.
"It is an absolute pity that he cannot leave sooner," she said in a statement on Saturday.
"Just like the hit song by Miley Cyrus, Gordhan came in like a wrecking ball in 2018 and he has wrecked every single state owned entity that he touched.
"We said in our previous statement that he has a 'deadly midas touch' because everywhere he goes, SOE's collapse and workers suffer. He claimed he was turning around SOES' unfortunately, most of them are in ICU or have died because of his involvement."
'SUFFERED IMMEASURABLY'
Hlubi-Majola added however that as much as the union wants Gordhan gone, Numsa also wants him to be held accountable.
"He cannot be allowed to get away with selling SAA for far less than its value," she added.
"Workers at SAA wanted to use their pensions to invest in the airline so that they could be shareholders, but he denied them that opportunity.
"Instead, he engineered the deal so that it can be sold to people handpicked by him, for less than a R100! Most of the workers who were retrenched remain unemployed.
"Gordhans sins must not go unpunished. We demand justice, on behalf of the working class which has suffered immeasurably under his tenure," Hlubi-Majola said.
"As NUMSA we say, 'good riddance to bad rubbish!'"
