In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 14 November 2017.
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After Durban guard's hand was chopped off, cable ties around wrist saved his life Daily News reports that cable ties fastened around a security guard’s wrists saved him from bleeding to death after robbers cut off his hand during an incident in Cato Ridge at the weekend. The guard, who works for a vehicle storage facility, was taken to hospital where his hand was successfully reattached after 15 hours of surgery. Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said security guards were at the facility in Eddie Hagan Drive early on Friday morning when they were accosted by men carrying firearms and a bush knife. “The suspects amputated a security guard’s hand and fled with the CCTV cameras, cellphones and laptops.” A case of business robbery and attempted murder has been opened at Inchanga police station for investigation.” A spokesperson for LAD Security said the guard was doing well and recovering in hospital. Read this report by Zainul Dawood in full at Daily News Hillbrow congregants' attack on metro cop embarrassing, says Samwu ANA reports that that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has condemned the attack on Sunday on a Johannesburg metro police in Hillbrow. The officer was confronted and allegedly attacked by members of the Revelations Church of God after he, along with his colleagues, had impounded a vehicle belonging to one of the church members who had illegally parked the vehicle on the street obstructing traffic. Samwu general secretary Simon Mathe said it was embarrassing that church members could assault an officer of the law unprovoked and while he was executing his duties. He went on to say: “It can’t be correct that the very same people who are supposed to be holding the moral high ground have also joined in on such attacks against law enforcement offices." Mathe praised the SA Police Service in Johannesburg for arresting one church member for the illegal possession of a firearm issued to the metro officer. Read this report by Molaole Montsho in full at IOL News. See too, Suspect arrested following attack on JMPD officer in Hillbrow, at EWN. Read Samwu’s press statement in this regard at Samwu online Attack on JMPD officer: Hillbrow police to meet church leaders EWN reports that police in Hillbrow will meet with leaders from The Revelation Church of God after a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer was assaulted by members of the congregation. The group were filmed assaulting the cop in the street on Sunday during what is said to have been a dispute sparked by the JMPD clamping a car that had been parked illegally. Congregants have accused the JMPD of abuse. Hillbrow station commander Petulo Mahasha said: “It’s a concern. We need to sit down with the leadership and talk about this and make sure that we build a relationship between the police and members of the church.” The City of Johannesburg has welcomed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the crime. The officer has been discharged from hospital. Read this report by Hitekani Magwedze in full at EWN. See too, Cop attacked by church members ‘saved by prayer’, at SowetanLive EFF chief whip in North West alleged to have assaulted junior female staffer SowetanLive reports that the EFF chief whip in North West has been accused of assault by a junior staff member at the provincial legislature after an argument. Bunga Ntsangane, who is also EFF deputy provincial chairman, allegedly also threatened to "cut off" the woman's private parts during their heated argument. The alleged assault took place on Thursday when Ntsangane demanded that the woman, who is an EFF administrator at the legislature, come to work early the following day. The alleged assault happened after she demanded to know why she had to report for work earlier than the usual time. She said she suffered bruises on her left arm, thighs and knee. A police spokeswoman said a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened against Ntsangane. Ntsangane, who was at the police station on Monday for questioning, denied assaulting the complainant. He said he was also assaulted by the junior staff member. Read this report by Boitumelo Tshehle in full at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Harmony Gold, Amcu reach agreement to end Kusasalethu strike EWN reports that according to Harmony Gold it has reached an agreement with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) to end the strike at its Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville. But it will wait to see if employees hold to their end of the deal and return to work. Employees embarked on a wildcat strike following the dismissal of six Amcu branch officials. Harmony Gold approached the Labour Court for an urgent interdict on Monday morning. The company indicated: “Subsequent to the granting of an interdict, there was a mass meeting held by Amcu leadership with employees at the mine and they have confirmed that they will call off the strike. They also confirmed that employees will start returning to work.” This short report by Masechaba Sefularo is at EWN. See too, Kusasalethu employees return to work, at Mining Weekly Eskom says it has ‘healthy’ coal stockpiles ahead of NUM strike from Sunday in coal sector Reuters reports that state-owned power utility Eskom said on Monday it had healthy stockpiles across its coal-fired power stations and was building them further ahead of a potential coal sector wage strike by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). “To mitigate the impact from this impending strike, the utility is working tirelessly to reclaim coal from current stockpiles, as well as build up operational stockpiles,” Eskom said. The NUM is aiming to strike from Sunday after wage talks broke down last week with the Chamber of Mines which represents collieries run by Anglo American Coal, Delmas Coal, Exxaro, Glencore and others that together account for about half of SA’s coal production. A short report by Ed Stoddard is at Moneyweb It is a bit rich for the Chamber of Mines to cry about transparency with mining’s own track record As the court challenge to the third Mining Charter begins, Robert Krause, researcher at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits University, writes that mining companies have done to communities what they accuse government of doing to them, namely drowning out their voices. The Chamber of Mines (CoM), which represents 71 companies in the mining sector, has come out swinging against the latest version of the Mining Charter, launching a legal challenge to its validity that is backed by an extensive media campaign. One of the main charges levelled by the CoM against the charter is that it was developed without meaningful public consultation. But, the mantel of champion of public participation is a highly uncomfortable fit given the mining industry’s record in relation to groups of people who are affected by mining in a particularly acute and continuous manner, namely the communities who breathe the polluted air, drink unclean water and live in cracked houses as a result of mining. Krause says that twenty years into the democratic era, unilateralism, failure to consult and bad faith remain pervasive characteristics of how mining companies themselves interact with communities. Read this article in full at BusinessLive Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Postings on Mining Charter
Union says huge bonus paid to CEO shows SABC’s finances better than claimed The Star reports that according to the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu), the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is not in the financial quagmire it claims to be in. This was said after it was revealed that the broadcaster’s acting group chief executive, Nomsa Philiso, received a R877,000 bonus. Bemawu’s Hannes du Buisson commented: “We find it shocking that that kind of amount is paid out, especially at this point. It shows that the SABC is in a much better financial position than everyone has been told.” He said the bonus made them question the SABC’s real financial status. This came at a time when the union is embroiled in labour negotiations for the broadcaster’s workers to receive a 10% salary increase. Talks collapsed last week and the dispute has been referred to the CCMA. The union said it was appalled by the broadcaster’s ability to pay one employee a huge bonus but was reluctant to give the rest of the staff an annual salary increase. Read this report by Mary Jane Mphahlele in full at IOL News
Civil Engineering Bargaining Council strengthens negotiation skills through training Engineering News reports that to ease wage negotiations in its industry, the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI) has embarked on building strong negotiations through training. Members of the National Negotiating Forum (NNF) have been undergoing training courses to improve their negotiation skills. During 2016, two training courses from the International Labour Organisation were completed, followed by a collective bargaining/negotiation skills course and a relationship building initiative workshop this year. Both workshops were presented by Conflict Dynamics. The NNF intends to start its industry negotiations during the first week of February 2018, even though the current collective agreement only expires in August 2018. The council has also established a dispute resolution centre – accredited by the CCMA – to conciliate and arbitrate in cases in the sector where parties cannot reach a settlement. The council’s party members include the Building, Construction and Allied Workers Union and the National Union of Mineworkers on the employees’ side, while employers are represented by the SA Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors and the small business focused Consolidated Employers’ Organisation. Read this report in full at Engineering News
Digital reinvention isn’t about job losses, it’s about industrial growth City Press writes that new transformative digital technologies hold substantial promise for South African companies and the economy. While local organisations have shown an early willingness to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data, it remains for these to be customised to the local context in order to realise their true potential for economic gain. Speaking at the launch of Accenture’s White Paper Industry X.0 Combine and Conquer: Unlocking the Power of Digital, Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) faculty and chief executive of ‘The Strategists’, Abdullah Verachia said the world was in a period of phenomenal change. “South Africa has the tools to use technology in a way that is relevant to our pain points and our challenges,” he said and called on companies to focus their efforts on contextually relevant innovation and strategy. Read this report in full at City Press. See too, Innovation holds key to jobs, at SA Govt News Agency Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Square Kilometre Array construction project creates over 7,000 jobs Cape Times reports that the construction of the groundbreaking Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project has created a total of 7,284 direct and indirect jobs. The majority of those who have benefited in the form of jobs, bursaries and technical training come from the small neighbouring communities of Carnarvon, Williston, Van Wyksvlei, Brandvlei, Vosburg, Loxton and Calvinia. The socio-economic developments resulting from the SKA will be in the spotlight as Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and the media undertake a visit to Carnarvon in the Northern Cape this week. Carnarvon is where the SKA - the world’s largest radio telescope - is being built. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is currently building the MeerKAT telescope, the SA precursor to the larger international SKA. To date, R134m has been spent on local suppliers for the construction of the projects, DST director for astronomy, Takalani Nemaungani, indicated. SKA SA has established a technical training centre located at its support base in Klerefontein, outside Carnarvon. Read this report by Lisa Isaacs in full at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nursing agency owed R6.2m stops providing nurses to Rahima Moosa Hospital ANA reports that a nursing agency has stopped providing nurses to the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in west Johannesburg because it is owed over R6 million by the Gauteng health department. This was revealed in the Gauteng Legislature in a written reply by MEC for Health, Gwen Ramokgopa, to a question by the DA’s Jack Bloom. Ramokgopa indicated that three nursing agencies were being used by the hospital at the beginning of this year, but they stopped services in September because they had not been paid by her department. Two of the agencies were paid in full on 31 October, but the Nursing Services of SA agency was only paid R4.9 million and is still owed R6,173,045. Ramokgopa told the legislature that "amounts are loaded for payment", but due to cash allocation constraints the amounts owing remained unpaid. Bloom warned that the withdrawal of agency nurses has led to staff burnout at the hospital. He claimed that two wards had been closed and the three operating theatres had been "cut down to one". Read this report in full at IOL News
Department can't act against SGB teacher accused of kicking 8-year-old girl Daily Voice reports on a case of alleged assault of an eight-year-old girl by a teacher at a Mitchells Plain primary school last week that resulted in the little girl being so traumatised that she now cries constantly and is scared to go to school. Her angry father’s account of the incident is as follows: “My daughter, in Grade 2, takes a lift home with a teacher at the school every afternoon. She was playing in the park when the Grade R teacher walked to the park, grabbed her by her ear and dragged her towards the school. She also kicked her in her back. My child cried for hours thereafter.” He went to the school the following day to complain, but was told the teacher was not employed by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). According to the department, the teacher was appointed by the school governing body (SGB) and they could do nothing about her. But the father has laid a charge against the teacher and he wants the WCED to do something. A police spokesperson confirmed that a case of assault had been opened for investigation, but said no one had yet been arrested. Read this report by Saafia February in full at Daily Voice
Govt. must leave UIF money alone, says Cosatu on fees commission TVET proposal News24 reports that labour federation Cosatu said on Monday that it would reject the proposed ring-fencing of R50bn from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. The Fees Commission that investigated the feasibility of free tertiary education has recommended that surplus money from the UIF be used to fund infrastructure development at TVET colleges. Should President Jacob Zuma adopt the recommendations as they stand, the use of UIF funds would have to be tabled at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). Cosatu said it would oppose the recommendation there. It added that, while it supported free education in principle, government must "stay away from workers' money". Spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said: "Government must go find the money somewhere else. There are billions of rands from the fiscus that are misappropriated, why doesn't government go after that money?” Reports in 2016 indicated that the UIF had a surplus of almost R99bn. Read this report by Mahlatse Mahlase in full at News24. See too, Fees Commission: TVET colleges could be biggest winners, at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
NHI ‘will require trade-offs’ in form of finances taken from other projects BusinessLive writes that National Health Insurance (NHI) was not feasible without sustained economic growth and it required so much money there would have to be trade-offs with other spending plans such as expanding access to tertiary education. This was the warning from the Davis tax committee on Monday. NHI is the government’s ambitious policy for implementing universal healthcare, which it promises will provide all with services that are free at the point of service. The committee, which is headed by Judge Dennis Davis, released six reports on various aspects of tax administration, including one on NHI. The committee expressed concern about the lack of clarity on how NHI would be implemented and operated, saying more details were needed to understand its resource requirements. It consequently stopped short of making firm recommendations on ways of financing NHI, saying to do so would be premature. Read this report by Tamar Kahn in full at BusinessLive. Read too, NHI could go same route as e-tolls, Davis Tax Committee warns, at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Twelve corrupt cops stationed at border posts dismissed after internal investigation The Mercury reports that twelve police officers, who had all been working at border posts in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), have all been dismissed for engaging in “corrupt activities”. KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Bheki Langa said in a statement that the police officers were dismissed following an internal investigation into corrupt activities at the Kosi Bay and Golela Border Posts. Langa commended the role played by the community from the Umkhanyakude area for raising the alarm and reporting the corrupt police officers. He explained that President Jacob Zuma had visited the area recently to listen to the concerns of the community. A project was established to deal with the challenges identified. “The project yielded positive results as a number of arrests were made and stolen vehicles were also recovered. It also emerged during these operations that some police officers at border post were corrupt, which resulted in an undercover operation being instituted. These 12 officers were nabbed for corruption and were charged criminally and internally,” said Langa. Read this report in full at The Mercury. See too, A dozen corrupt cops get the chop after president's visit to KZN border posts, at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Monday, 13 November 2017 at SA Labour News
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