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 weekend roundup, see summaries of our
selection of South African labour-related stories
that appeared since Friday, 24 November 2017.
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Fears for Prasa officer's life after shootout at Cape Town station Cape Times reports on a shootout at the Bonteheuwel-Netreg station on Thursday that saw a 31-year-old Metrorail Protection Service (MPS) official rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital. The incident happened at 3.34 in the morning while officers were on vehicle patrol in the Bontheuwel- Netreg area. They spotted four men near the tracks and, on approaching them, the men opened fire on the officers’ vehicle. Multiple shots were fired; three struck the vehicle and one hit the driver in the chest. Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker said it was unforgivable that criminals continued to hold communities ransom. Steve Harris of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) said: “While Prasa and the SAPS have wasted months debating who is not doing their job, our innocent members - who only try to earn a living by serving train commuters to the best of their ability and poor commuters who have no other alternative but to make use of trains, the cheapest form of public transport in South Africa - are losing their lives on the railway lines.” He asked all South Africans to call on government to act to force the police and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to protect his members and innocent commuters. Read this report by Lonwabo Marele in full at Cape Times. See too, Police investigate attempted murder of Prasa employee, at EWN. Read UNTU’s press statement in this regard at UNTU online Ekurhuleni bemoans surge in attacks on emergency staff ANA reports that the City of Ekurhuleni said on Sunday that its disaster and emergency management services (DEMS) were experiencing an increase in attacks on staff, including damage to emergency vehicles and fire station centers. The same was said to be true for Johannesburg. DEMS spokesman William Ntladi said: "In one of the attacks, one member had to discontinue practicing as a firefighter because of the injuries she sustained. Other staff members are undergoing medical treatment and emotional counselling. Several vehicles had to be discontinued because of the damage that occurred during the attacks." Ntladi went on to point out that these attacks were irrational in that they eventually reduced already strained resources, which were meant to save lives. "The situation calls on all in the society to visit their moral compass and protect emergency personnel who are providing an essential service to the communities," Ntladi stated. Read this report, which details recent attacks, in full at IOL News Klipspruit West Clinic reopened after closure due to security threats to patients and staff TimesLive reports that operations have resumed at the Klipspruit West Clinic after it was closed due to security threats to patients and staff. Staff at the clinic had been threatened by “a few individuals who were disgruntled about the arrest of their brother‚ who had vandalised property at the clinic”. The City of Johannesburg said its Group Forensic Investigation Services department and law enforcement agencies had been able to isolate the instigators‚ who have since apologised to staff at the clinic. Pointing out that there would be consequences for any actions that threatened the integrity of services or the well-being of staff and residents, MMC for Health and Social Development Dr Mpho Phalatse said that metro police would continue to monitor the situation and patrol the area to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Hearing of Chamber’s application to set aside Mining Charter III postponed until February Miningmx reports that the High Court has postponed a hearing into the revised Mining Charter, which had been set for 13 and 14 December, deciding instead that the scale and complexity of the matter required a three day inquiry. Senior Judge Potterill on Friday directed that the matter be set down for a hearing on 19 to 21 February next year. A full bench of three judges was due to pick over an application by the Chamber of Mines (CoM) to have a redraft of the Mining Charter published by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on 14 June set aside. The Chamber has argued that the contents of the redraft comprised demands on the industry that were unworkable and that many of the new provisions had not been previously seen by the mining sector at all. A full bench of judges sat earlier this month to consider an application by the Chamber for a declaratory order on the issue of ‘once-empowered, always-empowered’, with the CoM arguing that historic black economic empowerment deals ought to be recognised even if they have lapsed or failed. Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx City of Joburg to engage Department of Mineral Resources on illegal mining TimesLive reports that Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba says he will be engaging with mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane on how they can work together to avert the serious threat to the city posed by illegal mining. Mashaba, together with certain members of the mayoral committee and other government officials, inspected sites in the city on Wednesday where rampant vandalism‚ theft of infrastructure and illegal mining remain the order of the day. He commented: “The issues we identified during the visit are multi-pronged in nature and cut across various government departments and institutions‚ as well private sector players. A multi-agency and collaborative approach is therefore a prerequisite to addressing this crises – no single entity or institution can resolve the problem at hand.” He indicated that during the visit they witnessed how dangerous illegal mining‚ reportedly taking place in old mine shafts‚ has threatened the safety of the community by coming into contact with petroleum pipeline networks owned by Transnet. Read this report in full at TimesLive Push by creditors to liquidate ill-fated Lily Mine Mail & Guardian reports that creditors have applied to the court to liquidate Vantage Goldfields-owned Lily Mine in Mpumalanga. In April last year, three workers working in a metal container were buried alive after the surface of the mine caved in when an underground pillar collapsed. After the collapse, mining stopped, and maintenance, salary and expenses for the search-and-rescue operation almost drained the mine’s financial resources, resulting in it being placed under business rescue. In its initial rescue plan, the company said it required R300m to pay for maintenance and settle its debt. A number of potential rescue deals have since fallen through. The mine’s fate will be decided at a liquidation application on 29 January in the Mpumalanga High Court, where lawyers for the creditors will argue that liquidation should have taken place long ago. Deysel Attorneys formally brought the application on behalf of Rock Mining Machines. Business rescue practitioner Rob Devereux apparently intends to oppose the application. A liquidation will not affect Vantage’s Barbrook Mine, only a few kilometres from Lily Mine, where the company plans to direct its remaining investment. Read this report by Govan Whittles in full at Mail & Guardian Parliament wants Mineral Resources Department to be part of silicosis class action HuffPost reports that Parliament’s portfolio committee on mineral resources has called for the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to play a role in the class action lawsuit by 30,000 former mine workers against 82 gold mines. Chairman Sahlulele Luzipo indicated last week: "It is concerning that political guidance is missing, and this case has been dragging on for four years now. The reality is that people will eventually complain to parliament when things go wrong." He was speaking after a briefing by lawyers representing former mine workers suffering from the fatal lung disease silicosis and from TB. Although the case started in 2012, the high court only granted authorisation to proceed last year (2016). The matter has since been taken on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. Certain mining firms on Wednesday made a R5-billion provision to settle the class action lawsuit. Lawyers acting for the mineworkers said that settlement talks with implicated gold companies over an out-of-court deal could bear fruit by December. Read this report in full at HuffPost. Read the Portfolio Committee’s press statement at Parliament online Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Nehawu tells KZN to 'fix the mess' at the health department or face an all-out strike ANA reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has warned of an all-out strike if the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government does not “step up in fixing the mess” at the provincial health department. The warning was issued by Nehawu’s provincial secretary Phakama Ndunakazi on Thursday at the conclusion of a march in Pietermaritzburg. “This march is a warning shot to both the department and government to sort out the problems because we are of the view that the department is collapsing. If nothing is done we will embark on a full-blown strike,” said Ndunakazi. The areas of concern for the union include inadequate pay to members of the Emergency Medical Rescue Service; the continued use of labour brokers instead of hiring staff on a full-time basis; and hospitals that did not have adequate equipment to treat patients. Nehawu also expressed concern over maladministration, citing the recent report from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on irregular expenditure as a wake-up call to government. Read this report in full at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
S&P downgrade will lead to SA job losses, warns economist Fin24 reports that according to Lesiba Mothata, chief economist at Alexander Forbes Investments, South African jobs will be lost as a direct result of Friday night's downgrade of SA's long-term local currency debt to junk status by S&P Global Ratings. He said it would contribute to a knock-on effect resulting in higher borrowing costs, increased interest rates and tighter lending from banks. "The entire structure of costs when you have borrowed money in the economy goes up – which means it will be harder for the economy to grow further. Which actually means that people will lose their jobs," Mothata explained. SA's unemployment rate currently stands at 27.7%. Late on Friday evening S&P downgraded SA’s long-term local currency rating to 'BB+' - or junk - with a stable outlook, while rival ratings agency Moody's placed the country on review to be downgraded. Read this report by Moeshfieka Botha in full at Fin24 Union federation Saftu outraged at power wielded by ratings agencies Fin24 reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) said on Sunday it was angered at the latest decisions by global ratings agencies. S&P Global Ratings on Friday downgraded SA’s long-term local currency, while it also lowered SA's long-term foreign currency debt. Moody's Investors Service then announced that it has placed the country on review for downgrade. On Thursday, Fitch affirmed SA's long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings at ‘BB+’ - commonly known as "junk" - with a stable outlook. Saftu commented: "It is outrageous that these unelected enforcers of the big multinational monopoly corporations can wield such power to force governments to bend to the will of the rich and powerful, and use downgrades to blackmail them into carrying out policies which will bring even more misery to the working class and the poor." In its view, the agencies "exist to protect and advance the capitalist system and the profits and privileges of the ruling class". For Saftu, the immediate consequences of the latest downgrade would likely be still more job losses. The federation called on the government "to replace neoliberal strategies in the interests of business and follow what the Freedom Charter dictates". Read this report in full at Fin24. Read Saftu’s press statement at Saftu online Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Manufacturing Circle launches plan to create a million new jobs over 10 years Engineering News reports that the Manufacturing Circle released a plan on Friday outlining how SA could create a million jobs over a ten-year period through pursuing a series of reforms designed at stimulating demand for South African manufactured products and improving the investment climate. The document, which also recommends the creation of a “super-ministry”, was handed to Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies at a launch function in Johannesburg. Davies said he “warmly welcomed” the plan, despite disagreeing with some of its recommendations. The Minister also commended the plan’s general thrust of highlighting the importance of manufacturing, and its associated services value chains, as central to future job creation and inclusive growth, as well as its warnings that “premature de-industrialisation” would have serious social and economic consequences. Manufacturing Circle chairperson André de Ruyter said the ‘Map to a Million New Jobs in a Decade’ report was the organisation’s response to a “palpable sense of crisis” in the sector, which had shed more than 500 000 jobs over the past two decades and whose gross domestic product (GDP) contribution had slumped from 24% in the 1980s to only 13% currently. Read this informative report at Engineering News. See too, Industry group targets million new jobs in manufacturing, at BusinessLive (paywall access) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Popcru reacts to appointment of new police boss IOL News reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Thursday reacted to the appointment of General Khehla John Sitole as the new national police commissioner. His appointment, with immediate effect, was announced on Wednesday by the Presidency. Popcru in a statement said “inconsistencies” over the years and the many changes that have taken place in respect of the position of national police commissioner have had a negative impact on policing. It went on to spell out issues hampering the force, including that there were no approved national and provincial structures and that the SA Police Service (SAPS) was operating in silos. The union added that the SAPS needed to urgently review its entire organisational structure as it was currently bloated, with a lot of duplicated positions. Popcru concluded that it could only be “at such time when the newly appointed national police commissioner spells out his vision for the service that a determination can be made as to whether he would be the right person for taking the police forward or otherwise." Read this report IOL News. See too, Mixed reaction to new police chief, at IOL News. And also, New top cop says he ‘won’t be a puppet’, at The Citizen. As well as, It took 22 years to give SAPS top job to a career cop, at TimesLive Desperate student doctors without intern placements for 2018 turn to social media eNCA reports that frustrated student doctors are using social media, under the hashtag #UnemployedDoctors, to complain about their uncertain futures. Nearly 300 final-year students have not been placed for internships next year. And Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi is backing them, placing the blame on three major provinces that have failed to fund the internships. He stated: "The provinces that have to carry huge numbers of interns are the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. If those provinces don’t budge then you experience a problem. I have been telling them that they have to fill those posts.” Motsoaledi threatened to take legal action if those provinces did not act. The Western Cape Health Department said it had allocated seven more posts, but was awaiting further funds from Treasury. The other provincial departments of health have yet to comment. The Junior Doctors Association (Judasa) said the shortage of internships was a crisis. Read this report in full at eNCA. See too, Nearly 300 student doctors don't have placements for 2018, at EWN. Read a joint SAMA/Judasa press statement at SAMA online Scarcity of cardiac specialists at public hospitals a worry SABC News reports that a number of cardiac specialists have expressed concern about the dire shortage of specialists and resources to treat patients with heart-related illnesses at public hospitals. This emerged at a seminar held in East London, which also looked at how patients from rural areas can access treatment in public hospitals. Dr Dave Kettles, cardiologist at St Dominic’s Hospital in East London, revealed that South African state hospitals have on average one cardiologist for 26,000 people. “Some patients who get put on a waiting list for a heart transplant die before they get a transplant because of the low availability of donor organs,” Kettles also indicated. This report appeared on 25 November 2017 at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Draft bills on introduction of national minimum wage go before Parliament BusinessLive reports that the Department of Labour has introduced draft bills in Parliament providing for the national minimum wage (NMW) agreed upon through lengthy negotiations within the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). Two bills, the National Minimum Wage Bill and the Basic Conditions of Employment (BCEA) Amendment Bill, have been tabled. The former proposes that a NMW of R20 an hour take effect from May 1 2018. The rate is specified in a schedule to the bill so that it can be adjusted annually. The bill specifies that the national minimum wage will be obligatory and cannot be varied by contract, collective agreement or law, except a law amending the act. Exceptions have been provided for the first year, namely that the minimum wage for farmworkers will be R18 an hour, for domestic workers R15 an hour and for workers in expanded public works programmes (EPWP) R11 an hour. Provision is also made for learnership allowances. The bill proposes the establishment of a 10-person NMW Commission to annually review the minimum wage and make recommendations to the labour minister. The BCEA bill deals with ancillary amendments. Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Schools are high risk areas for sexual abuse by teachers and caretakers: Shabangu City Press reports that Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, said on Saturday that schools, which were meant to be safe havens for children, were now high risk areas for them to be sexually abused by teachers and caretakers. During the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children in Port Elizabeth, she stated: "This year we have witnessed the worst and most shocking incidents of violence against women and children. Schools, which used to be safe havens for our learners, have now become high risk areas for our... children because of some unscrupulous teachers and caretakers, who abuse them sexually. Many boys have also become victims of sexual abuse." Several Gauteng schools have recently been at the centre of sexual abuse and rape claims. Shabangu said government was hard at work fighting violence and abuse through various measures. Read this report by Alex Mitchley in full at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
IMD report shows SA lagging globally in developing employee talent Fin24 reports that a lack of development of employees beyond schooling was one of the weaknesses that dragged down SA’s competitiveness in the IMD World Talent Ranking report for 2017. SA dropped five places to rank 48 out of 63 countries in the report released this week. The report assessed the methods countries used to attract and retain talent in their businesses out of a score of 100. IMD director Arturo Bris commented that although SA invested in education, more so than its African counterparts, the outcomes have not yet been realised. He also pointed out that companies needed to prepare employees in the labour force, explaining that: “Once the student graduates from college or from school, companies need to make a bigger effort of investment in people to develop individuals within the companies.” Another weakness was the availability of skilled labour, which ranked 60, the capacity of the educational system to meet the talent needs of the economy (60) and emphasis on science in schools (60). Contributing factors to the country’s low ranking was the health infrastructure (52), worker motivation (57) and the availability of competent senior managers (50), among other things. Read this report by Lameez Omarjee in full at Fin24
Hawks probing claims about Brian Molefe's R30m pension payout Engineering News reports that trade Union Solidarity announced on Thursday that it would launch legal proceedings to force former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe to repay the "unlawful" R30-million pension payout he received. "Unlawful actions must bear consequences. An apology and even pay back [from Molefe], is not enough," Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann told reporters at a press briefing in Pretoria. The union's legal battle is expected to take place in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 29 November. Solidarity has asked the court to order that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should investigate the matter. The NPA confirmed that the office of the Hawks was probing those involved in the alleged pension fund saga. Earlier this year, the union filed an affidavit in which it asked the court to overturn Eskom’s decision to reappoint Molefe as CEO, as well as the approval of the payout. Hermann said Solidarity believed there was a prima facie case against those who made the pension award decision. Read this report in full at Engineering News Auditor-General eyes corrupt officials’ pensions City Press reports that corrupt officials may soon find themselves personally liable for losses incurred by the state if Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu has his way. Makwetu has proposed that a review of the Public Audit Act be conducted to enable his office to refer undesirable audit outcomes for further investigation by appropriate investigative agencies, such as the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority. Where financial losses were incurred through flagrant mismanagement, a debt would be raised against the officials fingered. Speaking to the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants on the Public Finance Management Act audit outcomes, Makwetu said his office wanted the reviewed legislation to raise a debt in the state pension funds of those officials who had acted recklessly, to ensure that the debt incurred was settled by the guilty party. According to Makwetu’s spokesperson, the procedures to support Makwetu’s proposal to Parliament to grant him extended powers have yet to be determined and will be articulated in a set of regulations after the amendments to the act have been promulgated. Read this report by Lesetja Malope in full at City Press
UIF to visit employers in various towns in the Northern Cape The Department of Labour reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will be conducting a door-to-door campaign in Olifantshoek, Postmasburg, Danielskuil, Lime Acres and Kathu in the Northern Cape from Monday, 27 November. The point of the campaign will be to visit employers and assess the level of compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act (UIA) and Unemployment Insurance Contribution Act (UICA), as well as to promote on-line declaration through U-Filing. The team of UIF employees, accompanied by employer audits inspectors, will be knocking on doors at various workplaces to assist employers on all aspects of registration and compliance as well as to resolve UIF enquiries. The campaign will end on Friday, 1 December. Read this report in full at SA Govt News Agency
Timor-Leste embassy claims diplomatic immunity over unfair sacking of pregnant employee The Citizen reports that a young mother is struggling despite winning a court battle for unfair dismissal against the Timor-Leste embassy in Pretoria. She was seemingly fired her because she was pregnant, only for the embassy to hide behind diplomatic immunity. Noma Dlamalala, a SA citizen, started working for the embassy as a secretary in 2014 and went on four months’ maternity leave in May 2016. A week after she gave birth she was informed that her services were no longer required. She was paid four months’ salary until August, but has been unable to find a job since. The embassy insisted it was protected by diplomatic immunity, but the Labour Court ruled in August that Dlamalala’s dismissal, without a disciplinary hearing, had been unfair and ordered the embassy to pay her almost R200 000. The embassy’s attorney said the embassy had been dissatisfied with Dlamalala’s conduct and she wasn’t fired because she was pregnant. The embassy will apparently be applying to have the judgment in Dlamalala’s favour set aside. Read this report by Ilse de Lange in full at The Citizen
Former public works official and four alleged accomplices in court in R3.6m fraud case BusinessLive reports that a former public works official was due appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of fraud‚ corruption and money laundering. The official and four other people were arrested at their homes in Bloemfontein and East London on Thursday morning following a lengthy inquiry into their dealings. The five suspects are alleged to have stolen some R3.6m from the Department of Public Works (DPW) by colluding with service providers to lodge fraudulent claims between 2014 and 2015 for the payment of water and electricity. The Hawks’ investigation into the case is continuing and there could be more arrests. Read this report by Petru Saal in full at BusinessLive Five North West officials accused of pilfering R1.2m from Klerksdorp hospital ANA reports that the North West health department has officially suspended, with immediate effect, five officials who allegedly defrauded the Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital complex of more than R1.2m from May to November this year. The department said on Sunday that their suspected criminal activities were detected during the course of last week and have been reported to the Klerksdorp police. North West Health MEC Magome Masike reassured the public that the matter would be properly investigated by the relevant state authorities and decisive action would be taken against whoever was found to be on the wrong side of the law. The department reiterated its anti-corruption stance and warned its officials that engaging in criminal activities would result in possible imprisonment and immediate dismissal from the public service. Read this report in full at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cosatu links ‘Black Friday’ to history of slavery Business Report that labour federation Cosatu has taken offence at the words ‘Black Friday’, claiming that it originates from the time when slaves were sold on a Friday. Black Friday is an informal name for the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States (the fourth Thursday of November), which is regarded as the beginning of the country's Christmas shopping season. The tradition has spread to SA and many other parts of the world. According to Cosatu, the predominantly white retail sector is insensitive to the fact that black South Africans were subjected to slavery and slave-like abuse under colonialism and apartheid. "Cosatu demands an apology for the use of this insensitive name for the sale promotion and the developing of an alternative word for advertising that does not offend," a Cosatu statement reads. The federation also noted the right and freedom of SA retailers to promote sales and offer discounts to their consumers. Read this report by Nkosemntu Stuurman in full at Business Report. See too, NBCC calls #BlackFriday an emotional black mail, at Business Report
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet from Friday, 24 November to Sunday, 26 November 2017 at SA Labour News
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