In our weekend roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-related
stories that appeared since midafternoon
on Friday, 3 November 2017.
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Transnet trainee marine pilot drowns at sea after falling from ladder Sunday Tribune reports that a trainee marine pilot fell into rough seas and drowned while trying to board a sailing vessel last week. Thandeka Mzimela, who had been employed as a trainee pilot with Transnet for four months, had a fear of heights. On Wednesday, she tried to climb onto an incoming vessel, became overwhelmed, lost her grip on the ladder, fell and subsequently drowned. She was with a senior pilot and another trainee. A witness said: “She had reached the middle rung on the ladder when she shouted she was tired. She yelled buyani, buyani (come back) to the others before she lost her grip. Everyone tried to help her but the sea was too rough.” Another witness stated: “Her lifejacket kept her afloat for about half an hour. Then she suddenly disappeared.” Durban port manager Moshe Motlohi said an investigation had been launched into the incident. Read this report by Siphelele Buthelezi in full at Sunday Tribune Brakpan gardener killed in dog attack on Friday The Citizen reports that a man in his 30s sustained fatal injuries when he was attacked by two dogs at about 8am on Friday at an address along Muir Avenue in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni. Captain Pearl van Staad, spokesperson for the Brakpan police, said: “The victim was a regular gardener at the property, and the owner would leave the gate open for him in the mornings. The dogs were kept in a separate section of the garden, but they managed to get out this morning.” Police were notified of the attack by a woman at a neighbouring property. Paramedics declared the man dead on the scene. An inquest docket has been opened. A short report is at The Citizen Political parties unite to condemn alleged rape, bestiality acts against domestic worker ANA reports that on Thursday a 45 year-old man accused of first raping, and then forcing his domestic worker to perform sex acts with his dog abandoned his bail application in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that the suspect dragged the woman into his room on 23 October, where he attacked her and forced her to perform acts of bestiality with his dog. The accused is facing 10 charges, including rape, sexual assault, and malicious damage to property. The incidents allegedly happened in Riamar Park, Bronkhorstspruit, on 23 October. The matter was postponed to 5 February 2018 to allow for further investigations and to await the DNA test results. Outside the court, hundreds of people, including members of the ANC, the DA and the EFF, sang and danced. Read this report in full at eNCA. See too, Ndileka Mandela in court to support domestic servant allegedly raped by employer, at SowetanLive Worker plunges 10m after falling through roof TimesLive reports that a 38-year-old man sustained multiple injuries‚ including suspected back injuries‚ when he fell through a roof of a building and plummeted more than 10 metres to the ground in an industrial area in Vanderbijlpark on Thursday afternoon. ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said: “Bystanders explained that he was part of a team busy repairing the roof. He was treated and stabilised on the scene before he was rushed to Mediclinic Emfuleni for further care.” The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are not yet clear. Read the original of this report at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
With death toll at two, AngloGold confirms all other trapped miners rescued at Mponeng EWN reports that AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has confirmed that all mineworkers who were trapped underground at the gold producer’s Mponeng operation near Carletonville on the West Rand have been brought to the surface. A rock-fall trapped eight workers underground on Thursday, killing two instantly. Four others were rescued soon after the incident, while the remaining two were brought to safety late on Thursday night. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was "disturbed and saddened" after it learned of the trapped workers. NUM health and safety secretary Erick Gcilitshana indicated that this was the third incident at the mine in about a month, and there had been similar incidents at other mines in the area this year. Based on reports at EWN and News24 Investigator Paul O'Sullivan calls for public's help with platinum belt killings EWN reports that private investigator Paul O' Sullivan has asked anyone with information on the recent killings in and around Marikana on the platinum belt to come forward. He was hired by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) following the deaths of at least 10 of its leaders. Four men have gone into hiding, saying that challenging the union's leadership landed them on an alleged hit list. But O’Sullivan said that until evidence had been brought forward, the allegations were hearsay. He added: “We have also set up a toll-free number which is 0800-118-118. Anyone with any information whatsoever, regardless of who they think it might be, are welcome to call that number. There’s a R100,000 reward being issued.” Some of the miners have accused Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa and others in the senior leadership of creating an environment that has enabled the murders. Meanwhile, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula says those who face allegations of murder on the platinum belt will be fully investigated. Read this report by Masechaba Sefularo in full at EWN Ex-Amcu members live in terror after fleeing platinum belt City Press reports that two former Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members claim the union is running a well-managed project to kill rivals and rule the North West platinum belt. The newspaper travelled to the Eastern Cape to meet the two miners who fled for their lives and now live in fear. They are amongst at least eight former Amcu members who have fled Marikana, North West, amid killings sparked by union strife. The one interviewee insisted that his name appeared on a hit list, saying: “I know I am a target. Two of my friends have died this year and there have been at least two attempts on my life while I was still living in Marikana.” When asked why anyone would want to kill him, he replied: “I know too much. If I can open my mouth the information that will flow out of it would reveal the real Amcu and how people have died from 2012 until now.” Another ex-Amcu branch executive committee member fled Marikana in the middle of the night about two months ago, quitting his job at Lonmin in fear for his life. After being sent a list of questions, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa issued a public statement in which he attacked City Press. He denied all the allegations and insisted his union was not involved in the killings. He said Amcu would not murder people and then hire a private investigator to probe these crimes. He pointed out that Amcu had put up a R100,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Read this report by Poloko Tau in full at City Press. Read too, Rustenburg mines on edge as union killings continue, at Financial Mail Lily Mine to stay closed despite talk of IDC cash injection City Press reports that Mpumalanga’s Lily Mine will remain closed for now, contrary to reports of a R319 million cash injection from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The IDC has denied it approved the amount to reopen the mine owned by Australian company Vantage Goldfields, despite Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant’s announcement about the investment at the Bench Marks Foundation conference last month. An IDC spokesperson said they had not received any formal application for the investment. Lily Mine, which is situated in Louisville outside Barberton, was shut down two years ago after the shaft’s crown pillar collapsed and left three workers – who were working in a container office – trapped in the bowels of the earth. About 1,000 workers subsequently lost their jobs. Vantage Goldfields put the mine under business rescue, but has struggled to get investors and two potential deals have already fallen through. Business rescue practitioner Rob Devereux said that he was still talking to potential investors and was currently engaging two South African companies. National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) deputy president Joseph Montisetsi said the union was disappointed with the lack of progress and believed that the management was imposing undesirable conditions on investors. Read this report by Sizwe Sama Yende in full at City Press Pilot study at Lonmin indicates sexual harassment of women “common and pervasive” Miningmx reports that a pilot study commissioned last year by platinum producer Lonmin acknowledged that sexual harassment of female employees at the company’s facilities, near Rustenburg, was “common and pervasive”. The report was delivered to Lonmin in March and the company has subsequently set out an action plan that it hopes will respond to the issues. Lonmin shared the details of the study into the treatment of female employees at its facilities with Miningmx following an enquiry about it. Sexual harassment was reported to have occurred in the cages that transport employees to mining areas, as well as during transit, and in ablution facilities. Individual women who were working on their own had also reported instances of harassment. Lonmin also acknowledged that “sexual harassment and violence against women and children in the community” was a problem. Lonmin’s action plan identifies a timeline for remediation as well as individuals who will be responsible for various responses. In some cases, there had been advances. Other goals had not yet been attempted such as an initiative to provide work-appropriate overalls for women. A policy and procedure review will be conducted in March 2018. Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Agriculture sector shed 109,000 jobs in first three quarters of 2017 Fin24 reports that the combined agricultural job cuts for the past three quarters of 2017 reached 109,000, of which about 84% were in the Western Cape. This is according to economist Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). After cutting 84,000 jobs in the first half of 2017, the agricultural sector saw a further 25,000 jobs lost in the third quarter, placing SA’s agricultural labour force at 810,000 jobs. Unlike the past three years when the third quarter figures presented an uptick in agricultural employment, the sector continued to experience job losses this year due to reduced activity in field crops and the horticultural sector. The persistent drought in the Western Cape province remained a key risk that could potentially undermine the performance of agricultural labour market, said Sihlobo. Read this report in full at Fin24. See too, Agriculture sector records over 100,000 so far this year job losses, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Disgruntled Samwu members cause water cuts on KZN South Coast The Independent on Saturday reports that disgruntled members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) have been holding KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast residents to ransom, cutting water supplies from Hibberdene to Port Edward. Vandalism to infrastructure has left swathes of the Ugu District Municipality without water or with an erratic water supply for up to a week. According to Margate, Ramsgate and Southbroom DA ward councillor Dave Watson, certain Samwu members have engaged in a co-ordinated and illegal attack on infrastructure meant to provide this essential service. Crucial infrastructure such as pipes, valves and reservoirs have also been vandalised and sabotaged during the illegal strikes taking place in Ugu. There have also been reports of intimidation of municipal senior managers and private contractors by striking workers. Premier Willies Mchunu has apparently indicated that a task team would be deployed to Port Shepstone to address the crisis. The strike has its roots in workers being paid out premiums from cancelled life insurance policies. Samwu could not be reached for comment. Read this report by Tanya Waterworth in full at IOL News
Reconfigure the alliance or we will rebel, Popcru president tells union’s conference News24 reports that Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president Zizamele Cebekhulu said on Saturday that if the proposal for a reconfigured alliance was not accepted by the ANC, they were going to rebel. He was speaking at the union’s central executive committee conference. Cebekhulu said workers would not give presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa a blank cheque but rather, if he succeeded President Jacob Zuma, he should ensure that the ANC-led alliance was renewed. Labour federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP) have been calling for a renewed alliance that would give all parties equal decision-making powers. Cebekhulu said that the police and correctional services have been left on the sidelines in the developments that have occurred in the country in the past three years. Read this report by Lizeka Tandwa in full at News24 Popcru gives SACP ultimatum on purging of capture of Luthuli House Sunday Independent reports that the unambiguous message given by the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) to the SA Communist Party (SACP) on Saturday was that the party must purge the capture of the ANC and Luthuli House by the Guptas or be on its own politically. At Popcru’s central executive committee meeting, the union’s president Zizamele Cebekhulu told SACP first deputy secretary Solly Mapaila that Popcru and other Cosatu-aligned unions were seeing a mass exodus of members to rival federations due to the “capture of Luthuli House”. His challenge to the SACP followed the party’s elective conference in July in which they demanded a “reconfiguration of the Alliance”. At that conference the SACP argued for equal powers for all partners of the ANC - the SACP, Cosatu and Sanco - in decision-making. It also wanted President Jacob Zuma to be forced to consult with the alliance partners prior to reshuffling his cabinet and entering into important government deals. On Saturday, Cebekhulu urged the SACP to explain its model, saying “the reconfiguration of the Alliance must touch on other matters that we are concerned about.” Adding to Popcru’s unhappiness has been the announcements of the appointment of Fikile Mbalula as police minister and acting commissioners in the police and correctional services prior to them being consulted. Read this report by Baldwin Ndaba in full at Sunday Independent Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Joblessness is here to stay, even if economic growth returns Business Times writes that SA’s jobs market is entering a new era in which it could absorb less labour than in the past - even if growth returns to the economy. A shift to a service-driven economy in line with global trends would not be a panacea for the country's unemployment challenge, according to economic experts. Unemployment registered 27.7% in the third quarter of 2017 - a 0.6 percentage point deterioration from the same period a year ago, Statistics SA said in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released last Tuesday. Nicholas Ngepah, professor of economics at the University of Johannesburg, commented: "We are entering a different kind of era. I believe that when growth takes off again it will not be as absorptive of employment as in the past because of a number of factors, key of which is mechanisation in the context of the fourth industrial revolution." Well-known labour economist Andrew Levy said the building, automotive, retail and manufacturing sectors would be labour-absorptive in the event of an economic recovery, but "the economy is not growing fast enough, there's no prospect it's going to grow fast enough. If it grew at 6% to 9% for a decade then it would mop up unemployment,” but there was no prospect of that under the current political circumstances and labour market policies. “So it's a very bleak picture." Read this report by Asha Speckman in full at BusinessLive (paywall access) or on page 4 of Sunday Times Business Times of 5 November 2017. See too, Unemployment unchanged at 27.7% in the September quarter, at BusinessLive Manufacturing sector to unveil plan to create one million jobs over 10 years eNCA reports that the manufacturing sector says it remains a job-creating engine in the economy, with the Manufacturing Circle to launch its Map to a Million plan soon, which will outline a plan to create one-million direct jobs over a 10-year period. During his recent medium-term budget speech, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said manufacturing was vital, as it formed the basis of a modern economy. The latest monthly purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in slightly better than expected, but it still showed that the manufacturing sector was contracting and provided little incentive for growth. Unemployment figures from Stats SA showed that manufacturing shed 50,000 jobs in the third quarter. Insiders say the sector has the ability to ensure long-term, sustainable growth that will reindustrialise the economy. However structural barriers must be removed. "We don’t have adequate aggregate domestic demand in SA. This can be augmented we think by import substitution. We import too many products,” said Andre De Ruyter Manufacturing Circle Chairman. Read this report in full at eNCA Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Unions have mixed reactions to R20 national minimum wage announcement Business Report writes that union rivalry came to the fore again last week when SA’s labour unions reacted differently to the R20 an hour national minimum wage (NMW) approved by cabinet. Labour federation Cosatu welcomed the policy, which will be implemented in May, but quickly warned it would become redundant if the government failed to implement its requirements. Noting that the labour department had 1,000 labour inspectors, it said more were needed. The rival SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), rejected the NMW, charging that it sought to formalise poverty wages. Spokesperson Patrick Craven said the proposed R20 hourly rate was “outrageous”. Federation of Trade Unions of SA (Fedusa) general secretary Dennis George said they welcomed the NMW, which would help reduce inequality and poverty. Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane in full at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Former Home Affairs employee arrested for issuing fraudulent permits for R10,000 EWN reports that a former 34-year-old female employee at the Department of Home Affairs has been arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Anti-Corruption Unit for issuing allegedly fraudulent permits. During 2015, the suspect allegedly manipulated the department’s administration system, issuing permits to foreign nationals and asking a fee of just over R10,000 for each permit. The Hawks’ Lloyd Ramovha said: “Comprehensive investigations resulted in the arrest of the suspect on 3 November. She has been warned to appear in Cape Town Regional Court on 13 November to face charges related to corruption and fraud.” A short report by Graig-Lee Smith is at EWN. See too, Former Home Affairs department employee arrested for fraud in Cape Town, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet from Friday, 3 November to Sunday, 5 November 2017 at SA Labour News
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