This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our Thursday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared since
midafternoon on Wednesday, 18 October 2017.
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Rescue underway for AngloGold miner trapped for four days underground News24 reported on Wednesday evening that rescue operations were still underway at AngloGold Ashanti’s Maponeng mine in Carletonville for a miner who has been trapped since Saturday. Spokesperson Chris Nthite said on Wednesday that a series of seismic events occurred at the mine in the early hours of Saturday, resulting in the death of a winch operator. A second miner was injured and is in a stable condition in hospital. Operating teams were hard at work to rescue the last trapped miner. Nthite indicated that the third miner was trapped around 3.8km underground, with the mine being just over 4km deep. All mining operations have since been suspended. Read this report by Iavan Pijoos in full at TimesLive. See too, Efforts to rescue miner trapped underground after tremors continue, at TimesLive Sixth death in platinum belt in three months leaves Lonmin ‘deeply concerned’ News24Wire reports that platinum producer Lonmin has raised "deep concerns" following the death of employee Tholakele Dlunga this week, the sixth in the platinum belt in the North West in the past three months. "Lonmin is deeply concerned by the recent fatal shootings across the platinum belt. The company is aware of at least six deaths and three injuries in various shootings across the region in the past three months, including three at Lonmin," company CEO Ben Magara said in a statement on Thursday. In the latest incident, an unidentified assailant shot and killed Dlunga. One of his relatives was also injured. Dlunga was one of the rock drill operators who took part in a wage strike in Marikana in 2012 that resulted in more than 44 people being killed. He subsequently became the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) Lonmin branch chairperson for health and safety. On Wednesday, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa addressed a gathering in Marikana in an effort to dispel reports that the killings could be a result of tribalism within the area. He told the union members that he had always helped workers, regardless of their culture and background. He also denied rumours that Amcu leaders and members were responsible for the death of miners, as well as some leaders of the rival NUM, in the mining town. Mathunjwa said he had gone so far as to hire private investigators to find the perpetrators because police were not doing their jobs, despite being given evidence. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly. Read too, Killings bedevil Lonmin ‘at the worst time’, on page 17 of Business Report of 19 October 2017 Sibanye Platinum’s favourable wage agreement creates certainty, says Solidarity Mining Weekly reports that trade union Solidarity says is has reached a favourable three-year wage agreement on behalf of its members at Sibanye Platinum’s Kroondal mine. The agreement is effective from 1 July and will be valid until 30 June 2020. The wage component of Category A employees will increase by 6% during the first year and, in the second and third years, by 6% or a consumer inflation increase of up to 7%, depending on whichever is the higher amount. The salaries of Category B employees will be increased by R1,000 across the board each year. Further, Sibanye’s contribution to the employees’ medical fund will increase by R50 with effect from 1 July. Female employees will also be eligible for four months’ maternity leave, with Sibanye to pay the difference between the Unemployment Insurance Fund allowance the employee is entitled to receive and her current basic salary. This short report is at Mining Weekly. Solidarity’s press statement in this regard is at Solidarity online Pan African says wage deal of only one year with NUM was due to national flux Miningmx reports that Pan African Resources (PAR) has agreed with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to an 8% wage increase for employees at its Barberton Mines, but it will be back at negotiation table before the end of 2018 as the deal is only for a year. The agreement with the NUM is further to a three-year wage deal concluded on 30 June with the United Association of SA (Uasa) at Barberton Mines. “We would like a 10-year wage deal if we could get it, but the reality is that the country is in flux and I believe that has had an impact on wage negotiations this year,” said Cobus Loots, CEO of PAR. Another factor influencing this year’s wage negotiations at Barberton with the NUM was that negotiations with unions at Evander Gold Mines (EGM), Pan African’s other main asset, are only due to kick off next year under the auspices of the Chamber of Mines. It is said to be questionable whether employers will mandate the Chamber to much more than the 8% agreed at Barberton Mines given the pressure the industry is under at the present. Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx Zwane hits out at critics, saying he has saved thousands of mining jobs Miningmx writes that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, emboldened by President Jacob Zuma’s decision to retain him in the Cabinet, kicked back on Wednesday against attempts to “try him by public opinion”. His comments came on a day in which the Chamber of Mines lodged its notice of motion and founding affidavit for the judicial review and setting aside of the Mining Charter redraft, gazetted in June. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) issued a press statement in which Zwane was described as coming out “with guns blazing” in response to allegations of his involvement in state capture, which were levelled against him in a sitting of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources in Parliament. Criticised by opposition MPs for his globe-trotting exploits, Zwane commented: “I travel to various parts of the world to meet with a number of people to attract investment in South Africa… The story that has not been told by anyone thus far is that a number of these travels have resulted in us saving thousands of jobs in the mining sector and members of the opposition must desist from personal vendettas and be constructive in their engagement with me as a member of the executive.” Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx. See too, Zwane strikes back at his many critics, at Business Report Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Postings on Mining Charter
Agri jobs boom in Western Cape despite crippling drought Cape Argus reports that, despite the drought, more than 125,000 jobs have been added to the Western Cape’s agri-processing and agriculture sectors since the launch of the province’s Project Khulisa growth strategy in 2014. Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde, the government team driving the strategy and Wesgro this week delivered a mid-term update on Project Khulisa. To achieve the project’s target of adding 100,000 jobs to the agri-processing sector and growing the gross value add (GVA), three initiatives were identified, namely, capturing a large share of the global halaal market for the Western Cape; increasing wine export to China and Angola; and improving the production capacity for domestic and key strategic markets. Winde said 127,497 jobs had been added to the agri-processing and agriculture sectors and GVA grew by R179 million. Wesgro’s agri-business unit had secured investments in excess of R1.4billion, exceeding its three-year target of R1.1bn. A key objective of the growth strategy was to expand access to the agri-processing and agriculture sectors and Winde commented: “I am also especially pleased to announce that we’ve expanded access to the industry through transformation projects and support for emerging farmers.” Read this report by Joseph Booysen in full at Cape Argus Over 1,000 jobs lost in egg production sector due to avian flu Reuters reports that industry experts said on Wednesday that commercial egg production in SA has tumbled 17% and over 1,000 workers have lost their jobs in the wake of an outbreak of avian flu in June. Commercial egg production per day dropped to 17 million from 20.4 million after an outbreak of the H5N8 virus, the SA Poultry Association’s (Sapa’s) acting CEO Charlotte Nkuna said. “We used to have about 24 million hens, and now we have just under 20 million or so,” Nkuna told Reuters and added that the industry has seen 1,000 to 1,500 lay-offs as a result of avian flu between June and September. The Western Cape, which is second largest egg producer and which has been grappling with a severe drought, was the hardest hit by the virus, Nkuna said. The impact of the virus on the poultry industry also poses a risk for food price inflation. Read this report by Tanisha Heiberg in full at Moneyweb. See too, SA Poultry Association says avian flu has hit egg production, with over 1,000 jobs lost, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public sector unions want wage rises of 10% to 12%, with state to table offers on Friday BusinessLive reports that public sector unions have tabled a consolidated list of demands, including general salary increases of 10% to 12% depending on level, with the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). The unions called for the abolition of levels 1, 2 and 3 as those workers earned "slave wages". They have proposed that levels 4 to 7 get the highest increase of 12%, while levels 8 to 10 would receive 11% and levels 11 and 12 would get 10%. One of the demands on the list is for a R2,500 housing allowance increase and for the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to invest in the Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS). The government is expected to deliver its feedback by tabling an official offer to unions on Friday. While labour has already expressed anxiety about the 2017 negotiations because of the uncertain economic and political outlook, Public Service and Administration Minister, Faith Muthambi, said in September that she aimed to have a dispute-free negotiations season She will apparently deploy the most senior staff from her office to the talks and ensure they have a mandate. Read this informative report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
Vavi: Alliance may fall apart if Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma becomes president HuffPost writes that with tensions at an all-time high between the ANC and its alliance partners, the SA Communist Party (SACP) has labelled President Jacob Zuma's axing of its general secretary, Blade Nzimande, as a minister of state as a declaration of war. Trade union federation Cosatu has urged the governing party to reflect on its decision. This while both alliance members have amplified their calls for the president to step down. But neither was provoked enough to step away from the ANC. However, former Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi says the move to detach from the ANC may come after the party's national conference in December -- if Zuma's preferred candidate, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is voted as the party's new president. While the communists saw Nzimande’s axing as a direct attack on the alliance, Cosatu trod lightly on the matter, neither condemning the reshuffle nor supporting it. In a statement, the federation said it found the frequency of Cabinet reshuffles "unsettling". Vavi, now general secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), said the alliance only worked to benefit the ANC during the election periods, but it was unlikely alliance members would make any considerable moves ahead of the ANC's December conference. "They won't walk away now but they are more likely to do so if [Dlamini-Zuma] wins. I think they are waiting for a (Cyril) Ramaphosa victory," he said. Read this report in full at HuffPost. See too, Cabinet reshuffle's target was Nzimande, claims Cosatu, at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City of Joburg strengthens Metro Police force with 1‚500 new officers TimesLive reports that the City of Johannesburg on Wednesday inducted 1‚500 new Metro Police (JMPD) officers to “bolster” policing in the city. Speaking at the induction‚ executive mayor Herman Mashaba said the city had received 38‚600 applications when it was recruiting JMPD officers and added: “You all here today are among the fortunate few the City could accommodate. Though we are heartened by the vast number of applications received‚ we clearly have a massive task ahead of us in tackling unemployment.” Mashaba said one of the city’s nine priorities was to ensure safer communities and that the addition of 1‚500 would alleviate pressure on the formerly overstretched JMPD. Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sadtu warn of national strike if demands not met within seven days TimesLive reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has given the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) seven days to respond to certain demands or face a full national strike. The demands range from pay disparity issues to working conditions. On Tuesday‚ about 10‚000 union members marched to the offices of the departments in Pretoria‚ demanding a pay-scale progression of 1.5% to match the recompense received by other public servants. The union claimed that since 2009 teachers have been receiving 0.5% less than other state employees on their pay scale. Pay progression‚ which considers factors such as performance‚ competency and market rates‚ is the movement of an employee’s salary within a pay range. Read this report by Michelle Gumede in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
'Surprise' bus strike leave commuters stranded in Tshwane on Thursday TimesLive reports that a surprise strike by Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) staff at the C de Wet depot in Pretoria left commuters stranded on Thursday morning. Workers blockaded the main gate at the depot‚ preventing buses from leaving. The Tshwane municipality said only three out of 105 buses were able to exit the depot early in the morning before workshop personnel‚ who consist of artisans‚ senior operators and general workers‚ downed tools and blockaded the gate with two trucks. Commuters in Centurion‚ Olivienhoutbosch‚ Danville‚ Pretoria East and some in Lotus Gardens were severely affected by the strike. The disgruntled workers apparently decided to embark on strike action “due to overtime and the apparent outsourcing of work to external companies," according to TBS management. Read this report by Sipho Mabena in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category Prasa says it’s on top of Metrorail security problems, at GroundUp Metrorail probes 'drunk' ticket checkers on Cape Town northern line, at Cape Times
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Wednesday, 18 October 2017 at SA Labour News
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Get South African labour news reports at SA Labour News