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 Monday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared so far on
Wednesday, 8 November 2017.
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State drags its feet in tabling opening wage offer to public servants City Press reports that government last week remained tight-lipped on its negotiation position despite having delayed the public service wage talks by more than three weeks. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), which represents government in the wage talks, has said it was still pondering its official position regarding the unions’ long list of demands, which were already submitted last month. A DPSA spokesperson said: “The employer is still busy with the internal processes relating to collective bargaining issues as tabled by labour. Once completed, the employer will go back to the formal negotiating processes at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council.” Last month, government postponed the overdue negotiations at the eleventh hour, citing a lack of preparation. The unions are demanding wage hikes of up to 12% and a number of other improved perks. In his mini-budget last month, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba forecast an average increase in wages of 7.3% in the period from March 2018 to March 2021. In the budget statement, Gigaba said that government finances would deteriorate substantially if the public service wage talks led to an agreement that exceeded consumer price inflation. Read this report by Lesetja Malope in full at Fin24
Health services union Hospersa threatens to pull paramedics off the roads eNCA reports that the Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) has threatened to pull its paramedic members off the roads. The threat came after an ambulance, carrying an eight-year-old boy, was ambushed and robbed in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Cape Town. The boy later died in hospital. Hospersa said such attacks have been increasing at an alarming rate across the country. Over 100 attacks were reported in the Western Cape in 2016. The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has also come out strongly against the attack saying it was "sickening." Read this report in full at eNCA. Read Hospersa’s press statement at Hospersa online. Read SAMA’s press statement at SAMA online Panic buttons to be fitted in Western Cape ambulances as part of EMS safety plan EWN reports that Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo, Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and City of Cape Town Safety and Security Mayco Member JP Smith briefed the media on Friday on an Emergency Medical Services Safety Plan. This followed the death of an eight-year-old boy after an attack on an ambulance on the N2 earlier in the week. The plan incorporates connecting panic buttons in ambulances directly with police and other law enforcement agencies. Smith said the panic buttons fitted in Metro EMS vehicles did not yet send alerts to the city's safety and security officials. But, the the city “won’t take long with those adaptations, the system will adapt to that reasonably soon so by first quarter next year, at latest June next year we should have that built into our system so that your panic button immediately triggers on every single mobile vehicle or resource or smart device on each one of our officers on the street.” Safe zones for emergency workers will also be designated in some of Cape Town's most dangerous communities where help will be available to ambulance crews 24 hours a day. Read this report by Lauren Isaacs in full at EWN. See too, EMS workers in Cape Town now have safe zones, at EWN. And also, Boy's death sparks call for army to accompany medics in 'red zones', at Weekend Argus. As well as, What to do about ambulance attacks? at TimesLive Worker at University of Pretoria killed after being pulled into chipper machine TimesLive reports that a Servest employee working at the University of Pretoria was killed when he was pulled into a chipper machine at the university’s LC De Villiers campus on Monday. Mokhiti Moeti‚ 25‚ was chopping wood for recycling and compost when the incident occurred. A traumatised witness described the gruesome details. According to Isaac Malema‚ spokesperson for the General Industries Workers Union of SA (GIWUSA)‚ the workers were not properly equipped to operate the machine. “After investigations into this‚ I am of the understanding that the machine must be operated by a minimum of six people‚ and in this case it was only two. The workers told us that they were not properly trained or given safety equipment‚” said Malema. The ANC Youth League branch at the university charged that workers at the university continued to be treated as “expendable appendages”. Read this report by Kgaugelo Masweneng in full at TimesLive Cops yet to arrest man who shot, killed two employees at Soweto hardware shop EWN reports that Gauteng police have appealed for any information that could lead to the arrest of a man who shot and killed two employees at a hardware store in Soweto last week. The suspect, whose accomplice is currently under police guard at a Johannesburg hospital, fled the scene after their foiled business robbery. Police are now investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and business robbery. Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said: “One of the staff members who had a gun started shooting at the suspect… Two staff members were shot dead and the owner was taken to hospital.” This short report by Koketšo Motau is at EWN SANDF member killed by boyfriend in DRC gets full military funeral News24 reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that the member who was shot and killed by her boyfriend while on service in the east of the Democratic of the Congo (DRC) will receive a full military funeral on Saturday. SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi, said Private Nomathemba Ngeleka, 27, would be buried at KwaNzimakwe Village, KwaWhoza Community District on the South Coast in KwaZulu-Natal. Ngeleka, who had joined the SA Army in 2011 and was based at 5 South African Infantry Battalion (5 SAI) in Ladysmith, was killed on 27 October in the DRC by a man she had been in a relationship with for five years. Her boyfriend then allegedly turned the firearm on himself in an attempt to commit suicide, but survived and is fighting for his life in hospital. Read this report by Derrick Spies in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
NUM says coal sector wage strike to begin on 19 November Reuters reports that a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesman said on Friday that the union’s strike over wages in the coal sector will commence on 19 November. According to the Chamber of Mines (COM), the companies involved in the negotiations, which include Anglo American Coal, Delmas Coal, Exxaro and Glencore, account for about half of SA’s coal production and employ 14,000 people, namely 20% of the labour force in the sector. The NUM apparently represents about 70% of these employees. The two sides are not far apart. The larger companies have offered an increase of R1,100 for year one for lower-paid employees and an increase of 7.5% for the higher categories. The smaller companies have offered increases ranging from 5% to 7.5%. The union has been demanding a once-off payment of R1,100 this year and an 8% increase for 2018. Read this report in full at EWN. See too, NUM members ‘will only accept three-year coal wage deal’, at EWN NUM youth league member's home in Orange Farm torched ANA reports that a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) youth leader's house has been burnt down in Orange Farm, in the Vaal area south of Johannesburg, allegedly by members of the opposition Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). The NUM said on Sunday: "The National Union of Mineworkers Youth Structure (NUM-YS) is disturbed and concerned by the recent acts of crime and barbarian that it observed in Orange Farm in the Vaal area in Gauteng where our youth leader (Tebogo Litelu) house was burnt down by alleged Amcu hooligans on Friday." Tebogo Litelu was branch chairperson of Vaal Sanitary, a manufacturing company under construction where the NUM was organising, NUM-YS national secretary Bonginkosi Mrasi said. Read this report in full at IOL News Employees demand reinstatement of Solidarity’s recognition at Lonmin Mining Weekly reports that on Friday, Solidarity members and other Lonmin employees demanded, in a manifesto, that the recognition of Solidarity and other representative trade unions be reinstated immediately. Since 5 November, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has been the only trade union recognised by the platinum producer. Solidarity’s Connie Prinsloo said the Labour Court’s rejection, on 3 November, of Solidarity’s urgent application to have its recognition rights at Lonmin reinstated was a setback, but that the trade union would not allow that to weigh it down. “With Uasa and the National Union of Mineworkers, we represent the majority of the skilled Lonmin employees,” he pointed out. Prinsloo noted that Solidarity members and other Lonmin employees working at Lonmin were making themselves heard through the manifesto, which emphasised members’ disappointment in Lonmin after the company failed to fulfil its promise to protect the recognition of employees’ trade unions. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online Security increased after protesters disrupt Lonmin’s platinum mines Reuters reported last week that workers employed by Lonmin’s community shareholder Bapo Ba Mogale protested last week as they had not been fully paid, causing minor disruption at two of the platinum producer’s shafts. Lonmin, grappling with soaring costs and low platinum prices, briefly shut the two shafts earlier this year when community members held protests to demand jobs. Lonmin spokeswoman Wendy Tlou indicated: “We are experiencing minimal challenges as some buses to our E2 and E3 shafts are running later than usual. We are monitoring the situation and have added security to assist with the safe transportation of our workers.” A Bapo spokesman said the protesting workers had not been fully paid because their traditional council had not receive its R5m annual economic development funds from Lonmin. Tlou said only R3m would be paid to the community in November due to financial constraints and the rest paid in 2018 as the contract requires. Read this report by Zandi Shabalala in full at Moneyweb Judgment reserved in CoM’s application for declarator on BEE ownership in terms of Mining Charter Fin24 reports that the application by the Chamber of Mines (CoM) for a declaratory order on the principles applicable to the assessment of the ownership element of the Mining Charter was heard by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court on 9 and 10 November. The CoM was seeking clarity on whether a party was obliged to top up the Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) ownership to meet a 26% target if for some reason ownership fell below it (the target was bumped up to 30% in the 2017 Charter). As things currently stand, not meeting the minimum ownership requirements means the mineral resources minister can cancel or suspend the mining right. All parties presented their respective arguments over the two-day period and judgment was reserved. During the first day on Thursday, the CoM’s counsel Adv. Chris Loxton argued that the Charter was not legislation, but was being treated as such. But, Adv. Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing a community based organisation, argued on Friday that the Charter might not be a statute, but it was a “constitutional force” in terms of Section 9(2) of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). Ngcukaitobi went on to assert that the Chamber had failed to indicate that the Charter had no rational purpose. Read this report by Lameez Omarjee in full at Fin24. See too, Judgment reserved in CoM’s application for declaratory order regarding continuing consequences of ownership, at Mining Weekly
CCMA teams up with agriculture sector so as to better address issues Business Report writes that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) wants to team up with the agriculture sector and has embarked on the Director’s National User Forum on Agriculture programme. It also wants its commissioners to understand and be specialists in the sectors they would be assisting in. The programme has been spearheaded by CCMA director Cameron Morajane as a way to engage and establish working relations with the agriculture sector and address issues pertaining to collective bargaining and the preservation of jobs. Addressing one of the forums in Polokwane on Wednesday, he said: “We can never stop learning, the ‘each one teach one’ formula can never stop. One can never have too much information; when we meet, there is often an information gap.” Limpopo’s labour department chief inspector Phaswane Tladi said 40 of the 333 agricultural workplaces they had inspected recently were not compliant with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Issues of concern pertained to record-keeping and minimum wages. Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane in full at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Broadcasting union Bemawu takes SABC to CCMA over wages EWN reports that the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) has turned to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to help resolve a salary dispute at the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). This came after an internal dispute process last week yielded no results. On the previous Friday, the union had re-lodged a dispute internally with the public broadcaster demanding a 10% salary increase for employees. But the SABC refused to increase its offer of 0%, resulting in Bemawu filing a dispute with the CCMA. The union's Hannes du Buisson said that if the broadcaster failed to negotiate, a strike would be back on the cards. “We are waiting for CCMA to schedule conciliation and if they don’t within 30 days then we can go on strike,” he indicated. This short report by Mia Lindeque is at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Construction group Stefanutti shrank headcount by 3,000 in past two years and more expected Business Report writes that construction group Stefanutti Stocks reduced its employee headcount in the past two years from about 13,000 to 10,000 people as the number of its construction projects shrank. CE Willie Meyburgh said on Thursday that the group was forced to proactively rightsize the business and expected a further reduction in the headcount in the next few years. His comments followed the Construction Industry Development Board this week reporting that the industry shed 140,000 jobs between the first and second quarters of this year and the job losses by the industry totaled about 240,000 jobs this calendar year. Meyburgh said trading conditions remained extremely challenging and, although there were opportunities, they were fiercely contested. However, mining houses were putting out more work for tender for mining infrastructure and there were extremely good opportunities for open-pit mining. On the infrastructure side, roads and bridges, marine and water and sanitation continued to offer opportunities. Meyburgh commented: “It’s not that the opportunities are not there. It’s just that it takes so damn long to come to the market place, which is really what’s causing pressure on our business.” Read an extended summary of this report by by Roy Cokayne at SA Labour News
Gibela rail consortium warns of false recruitment drive for technical posts ANA reports that the Gibela rail consortium has distanced itself from the flyers and Facebook posts currently circulating about the recruitment of people for a significant number of technical positions. “Members of the community should note that when the company recruits it uses formal channels, including newspaper advertising, posters at the community care centres, the company’s website, the stakeholder forum, and through the community liaison officers,” Gibela said in a statement. It added: “Further, Gibela does not use social media channels for any of its communication with the local community. The next recruitment drive for artisans and operators will be communicated early in 2018.” Gibela was formed to replace SA’s outdated rolling stock. Through the project, it is expected to generate 1,500 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs through the supply chain over a 10-year period. Read this report in full at The Citizen
SABC says acting CEO earned R877,000 bonus through ‘sheer hard work’ City Press reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) last week had to scramble to explain a whopping R877,000 bonus paid to its acting group chief executive officer (CEO) Nomsa Philiso. The bonus prompted questions in Parliament, but the public broadcaster was adamant that she had earned it through sheer hard work. The SABC’s latest annual report revealed that Philiso earned a total of R3.37m in the year ended March 2016, which included bonuses and commissions to the tune of R877,000. This was earned while she was one of the broadcaster’s salespeople – long before she became its acting chief. Acting SABC chief financial officer Thabile Dlamini told Parliament that Philiso’s bonus came for heading the commercial enterprises division, but City Press established that during the period for which she received the bonus, she had not been heading the division. It was then explained by the SABC spokesman that Philiso had been general manager for sales operations, a unit within the commercial enterprises division – thus making her one of about 300 employees who qualified for the incentive scheme in the unit. DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said she wanted to know how the SABC could pay a senior executive a bonus or commission of almost R1m while it was in serious financial trouble. Read this report by Andisiwe Makinana in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Metrorail fined R3 million for employing unregistered security staff GroundUp reports that according to independent sources, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) has fined Metrorail R3-million for employing security staff who are not registered under the PSIRA Act. PSIRA regulates the private security industry. In a leaked letter dated 31 May to a Prasa executive, Western Cape Regional Security Manager Ernest Hendricks stated that "it is a known fact that 80% of our [Metrorail security] staff is not PSiRA registered due to service providers who trained our staff and have failed to register the staff after completion of the training they conducted". But according to the Security Industry Regulation Act, no person or security company "may in any manner render a security service for remuneration, reward, a fee or benefit, unless such a person is registered as a security service provider in terms of this act". In the letter, Hendricks also indicated that many of the security staff cannot be registered with PSiRA because of their criminal records. Read this report in full at News24
Solidarity demands information about GEPF’s investments Netwerk24 reports that Solidarity says it will take the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to court if it does not comply with the trade union’s request for information about certain of the fund’s investments and investment plans. Schalk de Bruin, head of special projects at Solidarity, indicated that about 10,000 of their members belonged to the GEPF. They are worried about their pension monies in the light of rumours of ‘state capture’ and the extent of unlisted investments on the part of the fund and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The union believes that the percentage of the GEPF’s funds invested in unlisted and development undertakings exceeds the fund’s guidelines for permissible exposure to various investment classes. Solidarity asked for the information as long ago as August in terms of the Access to Information Act. The GEPF and the PIC did not respond to the request within the 30 day stipulated deadline. (Loosely translated from Afrikaans) Read this report by Riana de Lange in full in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (limit on access). Read too, Union warns against state’s hijacking of pensions, at Security.co.za (The Star). And also, Could pension funds be compelled to invest in infrastructure? at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Senior traffic cop gets fined by provincial colleague for violation on notorious Moloto Road The New Age reports that scores of motorists watched in disbelief when an on-duty senior traffic officer attached to the Thembisile Hani local municipality was issued with a R500 traffic fine by his provincial counterpart on the notorious Moloto Road in Phola Park near KwaMhanga on Thursday morning. This followed after the local traffic supervisor, Themba Godfrey Skhosana, 41, in full uniform and in an unmarked state vehicle, failed to stop at a four way intersection. Thereafter, his provincial counterpart, who was monitoring the intersection, pulled him over and issued him with a traffic fine in full view of The New Age reporter, who was driving behind Skhosana and witnessed his disrespect for traffic regulations. Thembisile Hani local municipality’s spokesperson, Simphiwe Mashiyane, said they were shocked by the conduct of the senior law enforcement officer. Community safety, security and liaison provincial spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said law enforcers failing to adhere to the law should be dealt with harshly. Read this report by France Nyaka in full at SA Labour News Head of eThekwini’s revenue protection services allegedly involved in kickbacks Sunday Tribune reports that the head of eThekwini municipality’s revenue protection services was recently placed on suspension following an investigation linked to alleged kickbacks on a tender. Nathi Nkwanyana is alleged to have made arrangements with individuals within the municipality to secure lucrative tenders, then allegedly “cut a deal” for his own gain. Nkwanyana is the head of the unit that operates the troubled Revenue Management Services (RMS) system. The controversial unit has been in the spotlight for several months after Durban residents vented their frustrations over receiving exorbitant utility bills, as a result of the chaotic system. Three weeks ago, Mayor Zandile Gumede admitted that residents were being billed incorrectly and called for an inquiry into the system. Read this report by Nabeelah Shaikh in full at Sunday Tribune Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet from Friday, 10 November to Sunday, 12 November 2017 at SA Labour News
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