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SA Labour News
‘Shades of Marikana’ haunt platinum sector
Mail & Guardian writes that the country is holding its breath as tensions in the platinum sector continue to add up to what many see as a toxic cocktail for the struggling industry. A volatile market, delays in the Farlam Commission and new union recognition agreements, accusations of political favour-finding, union in-fighting, a perceived lack of government intervention and looming wage negotiations are dogging the industry. Against this backdrop, suspicion between rivals unions Amcu and the NUM is growing, as violent deaths continue to stack up on both sides. The factors have combined to create a situation that some view as strikingly similar to the one that ushered in the violent deaths of 44 people at Lonmin nine months ago. Meantime, the DA was called on the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, to mediate for calm earlier than she did last year. “The earlier she steps up to the plate the better. The DA will support any reasonable intervention she makes to cool the temperature and calm tempers between the unions," said a spokesperson.
- Read a full report at Mail & Guardian
EWN reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday it doesn't expect the strike committee at Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) operations in Rustenburg to get any support from the miners as it plans an illegal strike. The committee threatened to stop work to oppose a restructuring proposal which could see 6,000 workers lose their jobs. The committee said it would wait for an announcement by the company's CEO on Friday to determine whether the wildcat strike would go ahead. But the NUM’s Lesiba Seshoka said the move was bound to fail. “The so-called strike committee will not be supported by workers because we as a union rejected their proposal for a strike because it is illegal.” But the strike committee’s Godfrey Lindani insists miners have already been mobilised and are ready to strike.
A man has been arrested near Durban for the murder of the sangoma believed to have masterminded rituals performed on Marikana mineworkers, police consultant Makhosini Nkosi said on Thursday. The Hawks arrested the 28-year-old man from KwaMaphumulo, outside Pietermaritzburg, at KwaMashu Hostel on Tuesday night. He was linked to the murder of sangoma Alton Zikhuthele Joja, 69, also known as Ndzabe, and will appear in the Bizana Magistrate's Court on Friday. "The SA Police Service had wanted [Joja] to testify at the Marikana Commission regarding his alleged role in the rituals that made protesters believe they would be invisible and invincible in the face of gunfire," said Nkosi. The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 44 people in strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mine in Marikana in August last year.
Business Day reports that trade union Solidarity is opposed to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies’ suggestion that the draft Licensing of Businesses Bill needs to be redrafted, insisting instead that it must be scrapped in its entirety. Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) senior researcher Piet le Roux said the bill would be detrimental to everyone involved in business as it paved the way for serious abuse of state power.
Business Day reports that Glencore bosses tightened their grip on the miner and trader on Thursday as shareholders voted out all former Xstrata directors, including the outgoing chairman, replacing him with former BP boss Tony Hayward. The clean-up at the top on Thursday was abrupt and fast — handing Glencore a freer hand to restructure the combined company as it begins a three-month evaluation period since the merger closed this month. Shareholders also voted against three other Xstrata directors — Con Fauconnier, Peter Hooley and Ian Strachan.Latest News
- Marikana sangoma murder case postponed
- Heading for trouble: Public sector wage bill must drop if ‘fiscal cliff’ is to be avoided
- Vavi appeals to Numsa for unity, tolerance
- Mines can’t afford pay rises, so strikes may result, says Impala Platinum
- SA unions’ state of flux is ideal time to initiate debate
- Police could have done more at Marikana, Amcu’s lawyer tells Farlam inquiry
- With large Esop payments blown, destitute Kumba strikers appeal for NUM’s help
- MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMIN: 47,450 unfunded vacant posts in Limpopo disestablished
- DEPT. OF LABOUR: Compensation Fund takes huge strides to tackle fraud and corruption and aims to reduce claims backlog
- DEPT. OF LABOUR: Labour Minister calls on parties in Marikana to display leadership
- DEPT. OF LABOUR: Labour Minister to table Budget Vote Speech under theme: “Working towards a peaceful environment in labour relations and collective bargaining”
- SADTU: North West career guidance exhibition a success
- NEHAWU condemns the death of twenty three initiates in Mpumalanga
- COSATU Western Cape: City spin doctors lies to Cape Town citizens
- COSATU calls for dismissal of Minister Donald Grant
- SAMA welcomes Professor Karabus home
- SADTU replies to Helen Zille
- COSATU’s response to Helen Zille
- Web links to labour articles on Friday, 17 May 2013
- Union rivalry is root of mining unrest: Ramaphosa