![Deputy Mayor of Juba Thiik Thiik Mayardit speaks to reporters during a press conference in his office in Juba on Monday, February 12, 2024. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Thiik-Thiik-Mayardit.jpg?resize=1024%2C485&ssl=1)
Mayardit made the remarks during a press conference, expressing his strong discontent with the ministry’s handling of the recent dismissal of 10 South Sudanese employees from UAP Insurance, a South African-based company.
“I am saying that the Minister of Labor, James Hoth Mai, and Undersecretary Mary, they failed the people of South Sudan. And I want to tell the people of South Sudan, wake up and see them, they are your enemy,” he said.
Mayardit, who is bitter about the alleged unfair dismissal of national staff from UAP firm, a South African-based company, called on President Salva Kiir to replace the minister of labour and the ministry’s undersecretary.
“I want to appeal to the government of South Sudan under his H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit. If he is going to change his government, I want James Hoth to be out of that position and Mary Hillary, and bring people who can serve the people of South Sudan,” Thiik added.
“We want people who serve South Sudanese interests rather than letting the people of South Sudan down. By always saying they have listened to [UAP] company, what is the meaning of listening to outsiders and you leave your people?” he noted.
The Deputy Mayor alleged that the undersecretary terminated ten national staff on January 10th, 2024, after he shut down the company.
“For us to listen to foreigners that they are the ones having the right to benefit rather than the people of South Sudan; I denounce that, this is not correct, and it is not going to be correct,” he emphasized.
Mayardit mentioned during his interaction with the Japanese ambassador, who is yet to be accredited on 13th next month, that he noticed all six vehicles are driven by foreigners rather than nationals.
“I asked him, your excellency! What is this? And he was saying it is not me – it is the people of South Sudan. Go to Uganda; your ambassador is not being driven by South Sudanese or any other foreign national but Ugandan, that is the law and regulations,” he said.
“I don’t know what is wrong with the people of South Sudan, what is wrong with Minister James Hoth and what is wrong with Undersecretary Mary Hillary because this country is for the people of South Sudan,” he added.
Mayardit also targeted State Commissioner-General for Regulatory Authority, Latio Ramba, claiming he received bribes from the UAP following a trip to Nairobi, and threatened to expose further evidence if the situation persists.
He accused Ramba, who also acts as the SPLM party spokesperson in the state, of prioritizing the interests of South Africans and Kenyans over those of South Sudanese citizens.
He urged the South African and Kenyan embassies to intervene in the matter “so that this thing can be solved amicably.”
In December 2023, the deputy Mayor closed down the UAP insurance company after it failed to reinstate the ten staff it fired.
This move caused a tense standoff between the Juba City Council and the national Labor docket, along with other government officials, forcing Mayor Floria Modi, the Juba Mayor, to rescind Thiik’s stance.
The Ministry of Labor called on the Deputy Mayor for Social Services to refrain from involvement in labor affairs and focus on his duties at the Juba City Council.
OK great Hon Deputy mayor for standing with 10 staff dismissed by the undersecretary of the ministry of labor, your concern is fine. But what about the concern thousands South Sudaneses employees who go in 6 months without payment, while their families are hungry, is it not a concern to you, that minister of finance and economic planning should be accounted for.