Today's Labour News

TOP STORY - SEXUAL ABUSE BY TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS

Lesufi promises action against Reiger Park principal accused of sexual assault

ANA reports that Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, expressed his disappointment and disgust on Friday after pictures emerged on social media allegedly involving a school principal in a compromised position with pupils in his office.  The school concerned is apparently Reiger Park High School in Boksburg.  The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said in a statement:  "Our enquiry revealed that the principal resigned in October 2017; and as such his last day was 15 January 2018.  It must be noted that he is no longer in the employment of the department; however we will report him to the South African Council of Educators (SACE) to be struck of the roll with immediate effect."  The department said it was ready to support all pupils and parents and indicated that that it has a zero-tolerance stance on allegations of sexual assault and has never hesitated to act.

Read this report in full at eNCA. See too, Reiger Park principal resigns after sex video with pupils emerges, at EWN. And also, Gauteng education department condemns acts of sexual misconduct in schools, at EWN

Commission of inquiry urgently needed to probe extent of sexual abuse in Gauteng schools, says DA

ANA reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has repeated its call for a commission of inquiry to probe the extent of sexual abuse in Gauteng schools and to establish a toll-free line for pupils to report instances of such abuse.  DA Gauteng MPL Khume Ramulifho said on Saturday that the party strongly condemned the “disgusting behaviour” displayed by a Reiger Park high school principal after videos and photos went viral on social media of him allegedly having sex with pupils in his office.  He went on to say:  “We welcome this sex-pest principal’s immediate resignation from his post.  However, he must not go unpunished for stripping these learners of their innocence and needs to face the full might of the law.”  Accordingly, the principal should be named and shamed, should be registered as a sexual offender and should be banned from ever working with children again.  The DA made the call for a commission of inquiry last year after more than 87 pupils were allegedly sexually abused by patrollers in Soweto schools.  “This problem is clearly far bigger than what we initially thought and requires greater intervention than the premier’s task team,” Ramulifho said.

Read this report in full at The Citizen

Sanco calls for action against school principal allegedly caught on sex video with pupils

ANA reports that according to the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), criminal charges should be pursued against the Reiger Park High School principal who resigned after “his alleged sex video with pupils” emerged on social media last week.  Sanco expressed disappointment that education authorities had allowed the alleged perpetrator the space to resign without punishment commensurate with his “atrocious and despicable” conduct.  Sanco national spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said:  “Failure to institute disciplinary action against the said individual has allowed him to cash in on resignation benefits that he would have forfeited had he been dismissed.”  In his view, disciplinary procedures should adhere to the provisions of the Public Service Act, which directed that when an official resigned after disciplinary action had been instituted against them he or she would be deemed to have been fired.

Read this report in full at The Citizen

Parents accuse teachers at Parktown Boys High of victimising sexual assault victims

EWN reports that the Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of victimisation of some pupils by teachers at Parktown Boys High School following a sexual assault scandal at the school.  A group of concerned parents approached the department, saying boys who were victims of sexual abuse by a staff member were being victimised in class by a number of teachers.  In 2017, a water polo coach was accused of sexually assaulting at least 20 learners after evidence of these acts surfaced.  It is understood that parents have accused teachers of being insensitive to the boys’ experiences by making jokes and inappropriate comments in class.  The department’s Steve Mabona said:  “It’s sad that these allegations came to our attention.  We’ve already instituted an investigation with the help of an independent firm.”

This short report by Tendani Mulaudzi is at EWN

MINING LABOUR

Amcu man in court on Friday for alleged illegal possession of firearm, ammunition

ANA reports that a member of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) charged with unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition briefly appeared in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Friday.  The case against William Nyenyane, 29, was postponed to 9 February.  He previously denied the charge against him and claimed the police planted a firearm on him when he was arrested on 6 January, on a separate charge of murder.  Nyenyane was apparently arrested at Lonmin’s Hossy shaft in Bapong.  He is also facing a separate charge of murder, as he is one of the 14 Marikana men accused of hacking Sabata Chale to death in Marikana on 8 December 2016, allegedly over the allocation of low cost (RDP) houses at Marikana West Extension 2.  They are due to appear in the North West High Court on 19 February for trial.

Read this report in full at The Citizen

Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining

• Guptas se Optimum myn ‘stort in duie’, at Rapport (limit on access)

Postings on Mining Charter

• Cyril Ramaphosa to tackle Mining Charter impasse, at BusinessLive
• Mining industry hopes that the new broom sweeps clean on Mining Charter and MPRDA, at Moneyweb

FARMING LABOUR

Agri SA can't say if new minimum wage for farmworkers is fair as it doesn’t represent workers

Business Report writes that agricultural sector association Agri SA on Wednesday said that it could not say whether the recent increase in minimum wages for farm and forestry workers was fair or not.  This was after the Department of Labour on Tuesday released the minimum wage rates for the farm and forestry sector for the 2018/2019 year.  The new rates, which come into effect on 1 March 2018, will see a significant increase.  Employees in the farm and forestry sectors are set to benefit from a 5.6% increase.  Calculated on a 9 hour daily shift, the new monthly rate will be R3,169.19 (R731.41 weekly, R146.28 daily and R16.25 hourly).  When asked whether the new hourly rate of R16.25 was enough for a farmworker to sustain himself or herself plus family, Agri SA said that because it did not represent workers, but organised agriculture, it would be unfair for it to offer an opinion as requested.  “We believe in the balance between commercial sustainability of a farming venture and the interests of workers", the association said.  It went on to state that farming was hard, intensive work, and “we are truly thankful to each farmer and worker who ensure that we have food to eat.”

Read this report by Zeenat Vallie in full at Business Report. See too, Minimum wage for farm workers increased to R3,169 per month, at Business Report. And also, Só styg minimum loon op plase en in winkels, at Netwerk24 (limit on access). As well as, Mixed reaction to minimum wage on farms, at SA Labour News

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Farmer tells why SA wine industry is losing out on opportunities, at Fin24
• Agro-ecology unit to create jobs in Durban, on page 8 of The New Age of 25 January 2018

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Strike called off after Unisa, unions reach wage agreement on Friday

ANA reports that the strike at the University of SA (Unisa) has been called off with immediate effect, the university has indicated in a statement.  An agreement facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was reached on Friday, Unisa said, adding that the process had been conducted taking into account the financial situation of the university and the realities experienced by the sector.  Unisa indicated that permanent and fixed-term employees would receive a differentiated salary increase of 7.5% and there would be a special dispensation for the insourced employees.  In a separate statement, the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) said that the agreed wage increases were on a sliding scale from 6.5% to 8.5% for the lowest paid workers.  The union also said the deal included “a massive increase on salaries for security personnel and cleaners with a salary increase of 20% and 18% respectively.”  The deal also covered bonus issues and there was agreement on a process to absorb ICT workers who have been on contract for 15 years by no later than the 31 of March 2018.

Read this report in full at IOL News. Read Unisa’s press statement at Unisa online. Read Nehawu’s press statement at Polity

Numsa vows to intensify its Wits University wage strike

EWN reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has vowed to intensify its strike at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), calling for a wage increase and an end to temporary workers.  Numsa is one of four union on strike at Wits.  The union indicated that it was aware that learning at the institution was set to begin on Monday, but said this was a situation created by “stubborn management”.  The union is demanding a 12% pay increase across the board, while the university is offering 8%.  Numsa's Phakamile Hlubi-Majola commented:  “Wits University is shamelessly perpetuating inequality and exploitation by refusing to pay workers a living wage.  Our members are some of the lowest earners at the institution and they had no choice but to go on strike.  Furthermore, we do accept their claims of poverty.”

This short report by Hitekani Magwedze is at EWN. See too, Numsa vows to intensify Wits University strike, at News24

With lectures starting on Monday, talks to resolve Wits strike continue on Sunday

EWN reports that the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has denied accusations of employee exploitation as wage negotiations with unions continue without resolution.  Staff at the institution affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) are on strike calling for a 12% hike, while Wits claims it can only offer 8%.  Numsa indicated that it was aware that learning at the institution was set to begin on Monday, but said this was a situation created by what the union called ‘stubborn management’.  The university’s Shirona Patel pointed out that the 8% offer was above the current inflation rate.  But, Numsa’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said that wasn’t enough and added:  “As Numsa, we’ll be intensifying the strike and from Sunday we’ll be staging a picket on campus to highlight our demands.”  Further negotiations with university management started on Saturday and were due to continue on Sunday.

This report by Hitekani Magwedze is at EWN

Wits University lecturer to be probed for calling striking workers 'monkeys'

The New Age reports that the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) said on Sunday that it would probe the incident of a white lecturer from the School of Mechanical Engineering who referred in email correspondence to striking workers at the institution as ‘monkeys’.  The lecturer was allegedly referring to National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) members who were protesting at the university over a salary dispute on Thursday.  “Oh no, they are singing outside my window now. urgh. Monkeys. Biggest. Jungle. Connect the dots,” the email read.  Upon realising the mishap, the lecturer allegedly attempted to correct the message and later apologised for the incident.  “I completely concede that this was not funny and you have my apology.  Unreserved.  The line was crossed,” he indicated in a further email.  Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said the university would investigate the allegations and, if true, expeditious disciplinary action would be taken against the lecturer in question.

Read this report in full at The New Age

Formal sit-down with mediator needed to end ‘toxic’ DUT strike, says management

Daily News reports that management at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) said on Thursday they were only prepared to meet disgruntled strikers if unions agreed to a formal sit-down with a mediator.  With classes starting on Monday, there appears to be no end in sight to the ongoing industrial action at the institution.  According to Wiseman Madinane, DUT council chairperson, the unions were not budging from their 10% salary increase demands.  He went on to say:  “We now have a stalemate.  We are of the view that the negotiations between the unions and management are somewhat toxic.  There are peripheral issues at play.  We do not believe that (given) the way these negotiations are being handled, that it would yield any result.  We have revised the mandate for management to engage with unions, but that mandate is on condition that future negotiations take place under professional, skilled mediation.”  Earlier this month members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), the Tertiary Education National Union of SA (Tenusa) and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) embarked on protest action.  Nehawu’s Milton Estrice disputed management’s claims that they were refusing to negotiate.

Read this report by Se-Anne Rall in full at Daily News. Read too, Acceding to salary demands would compromise teaching and learning, says DUT management, at TimesLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Staff strike disrupts Wits registration on Friday, at IOL News

BASIC EDUCATION

Teacher union and DA call for SAHRC probe of Hoërskool Overvaal hate speech

IOL News reports that a teacher union has turned to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), asking that it probe complaints of hate speech and racism emanating from protests at the Hoërskool Overvaal.  Since reopening last week, teaching at the Afrikaans-medium school has been marred by protests because it did not accept 55 English-speaking pupils.  On Thursday, teachers aligned to the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), supported by union federation Cosatu, left their pupils in class to hand over a memorandum to the school governing body (SGB) demanding the acceptance of the excluded pupils.  There was singing of the song, ‘Kill The Boer’, which was previously deemed as hate speech by the Equality Court.  There were also reports of postings by social media user Aubery Mabele, which included “one bullet, een Boere kind”.  This prompted the Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU), as well as the Democratic Alliance (DA), to lay complaints with the SAHRC on Friday.  The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said the formal charge of hate speech and racism laid by its affiliate, SAOU, was necessitated by Mabele’s post on social media.  SAOU also asked the Public Protector to audit the leave records of those teachers who had joined the protest and were on unauthorised leave.

Read this report by Mayibongwe Maqhina in full at IOL News. Read too, Department condemns disruptions, on page 10 of Sowetan of 26 January 2018. And also, Sadtu to intensify protest at Hoërskool Overvaal in coming week, at SABC News

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Trial of ex-pupil accused of spitting on Pretoria school cleaner postponed, at Pretoria News

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT / TRAINING / QUALIFICATIONS

Artisan training in aviation field to benefit over 40 North West youth

SABC News reports that over 40 previously disadvantaged students from villages, townships and small towns in the North West have been granted an opportunity to further their technical and aviation skills at the Denel Technical Academy in Kempton Park.  The youngsters will receive training in aviation and technical skills to qualify as artisans in aircraft maintenance, welding, fitting and turning and electrical engineering.  Dipuo Diphoko is excited about the opportunity which will allow her to break into the male dominated sector.  “Studying with Denel is going to give me a lot of opportunities because a lot of women are not involved in fitting and turning.  So I am very proud, I will be able to work with bigger companies and I can even start my own company.”  The youth will venture into fields with scarce skills, most of which are not available in the province.  “There aren’t any places to get practical training and without practical training you can’t get any job.   I am very happy because Denel is going to offer me the experience I need to apply my diploma,” said one trainee.  Upon finishing their theoretical training, students will complete their practical training at the Mahikeng Airport.

Read this report in full at SABC News. See too, North West Premier to attend ceremony for new aviation technical students, at HTSyndication (The New Age)

RETIREMENT AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS

Public Servants Association and PIC plan R17bn class action against Steinhoff

Business Report writes that the Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) announced on Thursday that they would be pursuing a class action lawsuit against Steinhoff International.  The aim would be to recoup around R17bn of pensioners’ money wiped out in the wake of an accounting scandal in December last year.  The PIC is the investment agent on behalf of a number of state funds, including the Government Employers Pension Fund (GEPF), whose members include PSA members.  The PIC is the second largest shareholder in Steinhoff with an 8.5% stake.  The troubled retailer has seen its share price decline by 85% and R200bn wiped off its market capitalisation since it admitted to accounting irregularities last year.  PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks confirmed that they were going ahead with the claim “because it is clear from our side that there was a maladministration that took place at Steinhoff,” which he said pointed to issues of bad corporate governance by the former chief executive Markus Jooste and some of the directors.  "Steinhoff is slowly becoming a shell.  We want to try and recoup losses before it is too late," the PSA’s Tahir Maepa indicated.  On 19 January, PSA members marched on Steinhoff’s offices in Stellenbosch to demand access to company documents.

Read this report by Sandile Mchunu in full at Business Report. Read too, PSA union in legal steps against Steinhoff, at BusinessLive. And also, Steinhoff CEO Jooste repeatedly lied to authorities, says PSA union, at eNCA

Cosatu scraps Sun Met protest on Saturday after assurance about Jooste

BusinessLive reports that Cosatu had threatened to demonstrate at the Sun Met‚ in Kenilworth‚ on Saturday if horses owned by disgraced former Steinhoff boss Markus Jooste were to run, but the planned protest was called off.  The labour federation’s Western Cape head‚ Tony Ehrenreich‚ described Jooste as "nothing but a looter" who had collapsed Steinhoff‚ "taking billions of rands from poor people’s pension funds".  But on Thursday‚ National Horse Racing Authority CEO Lyndon Barends said no horses would be racing in Jooste’s colours and the fallen tycoon would not be earning a cent at the Sun Met.  Ehrenreich said on Saturday:  "We will not be protesting today.  We feel satisfied that no horses are running for Jooste.  There are just a few horses left in the race in which he has a very small stake‚ but it has been agreed that by March even those stakes won’t exist anymore."

A short report by Tanya Farber is at BusinessLive. See too, Terry Bell’s Inside Labour: Jooste, Sun Met and union pickets, at Fin24

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• PSA says Steinhoff files show Jooste 'repeatedly lied' to investors and regulators, at Fin24

DISMISSALS / UNFAIR LABOUR PRACTICES / GRIEVANCES

Koko’s job safe (for now) as Labour Court blocks move by Eskom to fire him

Moneyweb reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg issued an interim order on Friday, restraining Eskom from unlawfully terminating its head of generation Matshela Koko’s contract of employment.  The order was based on a breach of the terms of conditions of his employment and a directive issued to Eskom by government in a statement put out on 21 January 2018 stating:  “The board is directed to immediately remove all Eskom executives who are facing allegations of serious corruption and other acts of impropriety, including Mr. Matshela Koko …”.  An ultimatum was put to Koko on 25 January to resign before 10:00 on the next day because he was seen as “the face of corruption” at Eskom, or be dismissed.  Koko then applied for an interdict to prevent Eskom from firing him.  In an affidavit in support of his application, Koko pointed out that he had been found not guilty in an Eskom disciplinary process and was not facing any other charges.  He also referred to three other managers at Eskom who were given similar ultimatums as his and who were subsequently fired on 24 January.  The return date to court has been set for 6 February.

Read this report by Antoinette Slabbert in full at Moneyweb. See too, Reprieve for Koko as court blocks Eskom’s move to boot him out, on page 2 of Saturday Star of 27 January 2018. And also, Eskom executive axed over Koko tender allegations, at TimesLive

COMMUTING / TRANSPORT SERVICES

Tshwane bus services suspended on Friday afternoon after 'acts of intimidation aimed at bus drivers'

News24 reports that the City of Tshwane suspended its bus services on Friday following protest action in the Pretoria CBD.  City's spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said in a statement:  "The City has decided to withdraw its buses by suspending the shift operations for this afternoon.  This decision was taken based on reported acts of intimidation aimed at bus drivers around the City and advice by the law enforcement agencies."  He said the decision had been made to safeguard the assets of the Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) and the lives of its drivers as well as those of the commuters and that he anticipated that normal operations would resume on Saturday.  

Read this report by Mxolisi Mngadi in full at News24. See too, Tshwane bus service back to normal after ‘Vat Alles’ protest on Friday, at EWN

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• No trains, late trains, trains which stop in the middle of nowhere: that’s Metrorail, at GroundUp
• Metrorail's Central Line suspension means budget frustration for commuters, at Business Report
• Metrorail security plan sees more arrests in Cape Town for cable theft, at EWN
• Metrorail theft tip-offs ‘show public attitude shift’, at Cape Argus
• Vermeende kabeldief skok hom dood op treinspoor in Kaapstad, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
• Vehicles torched, shops damaged in Pietermaritzburg as taxi drivers go on rampage on Thursday, at The Mercury

OTHER REPORTS

Limpopo police officer honoured for commitment at SAPS National Excellence Awards

News24 reports that a Limpopo police officer, who was shot six times, was honoured for his commitment to the police during the 5th National Excellence Awards held in Durban on Friday evening.  The awards event was held to recognise and reward "outstanding performance, exceptional devotion to community relations and extraordinary courage" within the South African Police Service (SAPS).  This year's awards boasted 30 categories, which included five special categories awarded by the Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula and the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole.  Colonel David Mahlaola, 57, was given the Laureate Award, receiving a new vehicle, sponsored by Old Mutual.  Mahlaola, a warrant officer at the time, was followed to his home in Tzaneen by criminals in 1990 and shot six times.  He survived the ordeal, but suffered spinal injuries and was paralysed from the waist down.  The full list of award recipients is contained in this report.

Read this report by Derrick Spies in full at News24

Days that employees will want off in 2018 to pair with public holidays to create long weekends

BusinessTech writes that the Day of Reconciliation (16 December) is the only public holiday that falls on a Sunday in 2018, thus making the next day a public holiday as well.  However, just two consecutive public holidays can still have a significant impact on working arrangements and shifts, especially in workplaces that run a ’24/7/365′ operation.  This is according to Faan Coetzee, employment director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, who said that employers should consider the effect on the workplace and implement measures to address the impact on work.  “Employers can expect requests for additional days off on Monday, 30 April, Friday, 10 August, Monday, 24 December and Monday, 31 December as these dates are convenient for employees to create long weekends,” he said.  Coetzee advised employers to timeously make arrangements with employees who wish to take extra days off to work in those days.  Employers should also consider collective agreements and bargaining council agreements that impact public holidays, working arrangements and shifts.  This report also lists all the remaining public holidays in 2018.

Read this report in full at BusinessTech

WEB LINKS TO LABOUR NEWS ARTICLES FROM FRIDAY, 26 JANUARY TO SUNDAY, 28 JANUARY 2018

See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet from Friday, 26 January to Sunday, 28 January 2018 at SA Labour News

CAPE TOWN WATER CRISIS

Plea by Cosatu for Ramaphosa to intervene in Cape Town’s water crisis

TimesLive reports that the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Western Cape has called on Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the water crisis faced by the City of Cape Town.  In an open letter written to Ramaphosa and the water minister, Cosatu said the water crisis was a threat not just to Cape Town but the entire country.  “This crisis is due to the less than adequate management of water in the Western Cape‚ by all levels of government.  The new water situation in the country is causing serious challenges in many provinces‚ with Western Cape‚ Eastern Cape and Free State the worse affected at the moment.  The situation in the Western Cape is however the most desperate with the management thereof leaving much to be desired,” wrote Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich.  Noting that the water would likely run out, he went on to state:  “The economy will be severely affected with many jobs being lost‚ due to water supply instability.  The sanitation system is water based and when the water runs out‚ the drains will overflow and the spillage will lead to disease and deaths.”

Read this report by Penwell Dlamini in full at TimesLive. Read Cosatu’s open letter at Cosatu Today. See too, Remove Cape Town government over water crisis: SA First Forum, at eNCA

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Maimane 'not satisfied' with City of Cape Town’s handling of drought crisis, at EWN
• Security plans in place if Western Cape water runs out, says Zille, at The Citizen
• WWF calls for emergency laws on water-sharing in Cape Town, at eNCA
• Cape water crisis: Spotlight on groundwater as Day Zero moves up nine days, at Traveller24

MINING LABOUR

Ekurhuleni toughens up against illegal mining

SABC News reports that Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina says they are pulling together all law enforcement agencies, including the Metro Police and SAPS intelligence, to assist with the on-going turf war among illegal miners on the East Rand.  They would like to call upon the Defence task team in this regard.  This comes after more than a dozen people, including four women related to illegal miners, lost their lives during bloody wars in the past two weeks.  It has been reported that the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster Community Policing Forum (CPF) will be taking action and petitioning relevant parties to take responsibility and come up with solutions to end the war.  “We need all social partners to come together.  There is a bit of irresponsibility on the mining houses side because they don’t ensure that they stick to social labour plans that are agreed to by government, hence we have a number of these shafts that are easily opened by illegal miners.”

This short report is at SABC News. Read too, Action needed against illegal mining, says Ekurhuleni community policing forum, at The New Age

Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining

• Man suspected of firearms trade with zama zamas arrested, at HTSyndication (The New Age)
• Rustenburg mayor calls for calm following wave of unrest, at IOL News

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Unisa wage strike prompts prospective students to blockade Durban road

TimesLive reports that a strike by University of South Africa (Unisa) staff sparked renewed protest action by prospective students in Durban on Wednesday.  A group of nearly 100 student hopefuls blockaded Stalwart Simelane Street outside the city campus‚ using rocks and overturned bins.  Protracted wage negotiations between the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and Unisa remain deadlocked.  Unisa SRC representative Msizi Mbotho said the impasse between Nehawu and Unisa management negatively affected the prospective students.  After a brief standoff and negotiations between eThekwini metro police and SRC members‚ the debris was cleared and the road opened.

A short report by Jeff Wicks is at TimesLive

Meeting between DUT and unions on Tuesday failed to end wage strike

ANA reports that staff at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) on Tuesday continued their wage strike, after failing to reach an agreement with management.  DUT spokesperson, Noxolo Memela indicated in a statement:  “After a meeting between the management of the Durban University of Technology and the three labour unions [National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), Tertiary Education National Union of SA (Tenusa) and National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)] on Tuesday, 23 January 2017, sadly no agreement was reached between both parties.”  She added that despite the deadlock, DUT remained committed to continuously engaging with labour representatives in order to reach an amicable solution to the staff strike.  Apparently at Tuesday’s meeting, DUT management offered a ‘without prejudice’ offer of 6% on basic salary and 6% on the housing allowance valid for the course of the meeting.  Apparently, the representatives of the three unions then walked out of the meeting without committing to any other further engagement.

Read this report in full at The Citizen

DUT management claims it’s business as usual as wage strike enters eighth day

TimesLive reports that the Durban University of Technology (DUT) insists that it is business as usual at the institution‚ despite a deadlock with striking staffers.  The strike over wage increases entered its eighth day on Wednesday‚ with determined academic and administration workers refusing to budge on their 10% wage increase demand.  The action has hampered the registration of students‚ but DUT has called on students to register online.  DUT’s Alan Khan said:  “Despite the deadlock‚ DUT remains committed to continuously engaging with our labour representatives‚ in order to reach an amicable solution to the staff strike.”  He indicated that two options were on the table:  “The first option was a revised offer of 5.5% increase on basic salary and a R200 housing allowance increase‚ with no once-off bonus.  The second option was a 5.75% increase on basic salary and a 5.75% housing allowance increase‚ with no once-off bonus.”  At a meeting with the three unions concerned on Tuesday, DUT offered a ‘without prejudice’ offer of 6% on basic salary and 6% on the housing allowance.  It was only valid for the course of the meeting, but was not accepted.  Nehawu KwaZulu-Natal spokesman Khaya Xaba said:  “We are not finding common ground and the strike continues.”

Read this report by Suthentira Govender in full at TimesLive

ECONOMY / PRICES

Consumer inflation stabilised at 4.7% in December despite leap in fuel prices

BusinessLive reports that consumer inflation edged up as expected in December, as a hefty fuel price increase took a chunk out of consumers’ wallets but was counterbalanced by lower inflation elsewhere, including food.  The consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.7% in December 2017 compared with December 2016, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.  That follows a 4.6% year-on-year increase in November.  That meant inflation for all of last year averaged 5.3%, down significantly from 6.3% in 2016.  Investec’s Kamilla Kaplan expects consumer inflation to average 4.8% in 2018 — and with an economy in desperate need of some impetus, all eyes are on whether the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates at its March meeting.  One of the main factors in SA’s tamer inflation rate has been a sharp fall-off in food inflation.  Food price increases ran to double digits for most of 2016, but since August 2017 they have remained comfortably below 6%.  Food inflation in December came in at 4.9% year-on-year.  Fuel prices have been more volatile.

Read this report by Tammy Foyn in full at BusinessLive

RECRUITMENT / STAFFING / VACANCIES

'Conditional offer' made to Chris Maroleng, SABC board chairperson confirms

News24 reports that the chairperson of the board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Bongumusa Makhathini, has confirmed that a conditional offer has been made to journalist Chris Maroleng to become the public broadcaster's new Chief Operating Officer (COO).  The process, however, has yet to be finalised, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications heard on Tuesday.  Makhathini and Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane appeared before MPs to account for media reports that Kubayi-Ngubane had tried to "interfere" with the appointment.  A Sunday World report last week revealed that Maroleng would be appointed to the position.  Makhathini told MPs:  “As the board, we did not sanction that media report.  We extended a conditional appointment, subject to vetting.  The process is currently being finalised."  He also indicated that there had been ample consultation between the board and the minister.  "There were meetings between me and the minister, and meetings with some of the board members.  We had letters indicating every step, so there was consultation and discussion."  Kubayi-Ngubane faced public criticism last week for saying that "all appointments of the COO, CEO and CFO of state-owned entities are done through Cabinet processes, and therefore the announcement of the outcome is made by Cabinet".

Read this report by Paul Herman in full at News24

Chris Maroleng ‘not vetted’ for SABC top job, claims Communications Minister

The Citizen reports that Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane was in the hot seat before parliament’s oversight committee on Tuesday.  She struggled to explain why she was contesting the appointment of Chris Maroleng as the chief operating officer (COO) of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).  She said Maroleng had not been fully vetted and therefore his appointment was in essence null and void pending that process being carried out.  “It [the vetting process] has not been finalised … I don’t want to appoint, I don’t want to fire.  There is a process,” she stated.  Since the vetting process had yet to be concluded, Maroleng jumped the gun in publicly accepting a congratulatory message, Kubayi-Ngubane added.  She was summoned to appear before the portfolio committee in light of the Pretoria High Court ruling last year which found the board was entitled to appoint non-executive members without the go-ahead from the minister.  The committee agreed to hold a special committee meeting to deliberate on what exactly the powers of the minister were regarding the appointment of the non-executives.

Read this report by Denise Williams in full at The Citizen. Read too, I have no interest in interfering or bullying SABC board over appointments, says Minister, at EWN. And also, Minister wants to interfere with SABC board positions, opposition parties say, at BusinessLive

Mbombela politicians accused of ‘handpicking’ traffic officer trainees

City Press reports that City of Mbombela politicians and officials are under fire for allegedly handpicking 47 individuals to be trained as traffic officers.  The 47 people were hurriedly interviewed on Monday in order to ensure that the municipality met a deadline to send them to the Mpumalanga Traffic College in Bushbuckridge.  The municipality advertised the posts in October last year, but apparently did not shortlist and interview applicants at that time.  The politicians and officials allegedly supplied a list of individuals to be considered – shutting out the unemployed members of the public.  Meantime, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has written to the municipality complaining about irregularities.  “It [should] be noted that the recruitment policy of the City of Mbombela requires that all people within the city, the province and the country be given equal opportunity regardless of their political affiliation,” the party’s chief whip, Cosas Maseko wrote in a letter to the council speaker.  Maseko demanded that the interviews be stopped and the recruitment process be started afresh, but the interviews went ahead regardless.  EFF provincial leader, Collen Sedibe, said the party was preparing to apply for a court interdict against the municipality.

Read this report by Sizwe Sama Yende in full at City Press

REMUNERATION / NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

National Minimum Wage Initiative objects to bill’s exclusion of contractors

BusinessLive reports that there is mounting fear that the national minimum wage (NMW) legislation will exclude even more vulnerable workers than stipulated due to its design.  The proposed legislation defines a "worker" as an employee in accordance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, which does not cover "independent contractors" who perform "task-based work, piecework, homework, subcontracting and contract work".  Wits University’s National Minimum Wage Initiative has objected to the exclusions in its submission to Parliament, arguing that applying the existing definition of "employee" posed a significant risk to workers who were in "danger of working long hours with the equivalent of low hourly wages".  It noted that the move was contrary to international trends, existing agreements and recommendations of a panel of experts that researched the feasibility of NMW policy.  If implemented, the policy would fail to address changing trends in the workplace, with experts pointing to an increase in outsourcing by employers.

Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

New minimum wages for farm, forestry employees from 1 March 2018

The Department of Labour has announced that minimum wages for employees in the farm and forestry sectors are set to increase by 5.6% from 1 March 2018.  In terms of the applicable sectoral determination, the minimum wage will increase to R3,169.19 per month, up from the R3,001.13 in 2017/18.  The weekly minimum wage will henceforth be R731.41.  The daily minimum wage for employees will be R146.28, while the hourly minimum wage will be R16.25 – an increase from R15.39 in 2017/18.

This short report is at SA Govt News Agency

Councillors in Buffalo City Metro in line for 6% salary boost, backdated to July 2017

DispatchLive reports that Buffalo City Metro councillors are in line to get salary increases of up to 6%, backdated to July last year.  At a special meeting on Wednesday mayor Xola Pakati is expected to urge council to approve the recently gazetted salary increases, as well as allowances and benefits for its 100 councillors.  The increase was published in a government gazette notice on 15 December by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Des Van Rooyen.

This short report by Mamela Gowa is at DispatchLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Domestics' pay hike woes, at Daily News
• Nxasana files appeal papers in golden handshake saga, at News24

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT / TRAINING / HIGHER EDUCATION

Tshwane ordered by court to give Soshanguve man job training

The Citizen reports that an unemployed Soshanguve man was so desperate to get training and a job that he obtained a court order forcing the City of Tshwane’s economic development department to take him on as a trainee.  However, Oupa Magoro is still waiting for the city to furnish him and the court with particulars of its available training programmes.  The High Court in Pretoria last month granted an order to Magoro declaring that the notice in 2013 that he received from the city accepting him as a candidate for training in the city’s Tshepo 10 000 programme was valid and binding on the city.  The judge ordered the city to allow Magoro to undergo training for 12 months.  In the case that the particular programme no longer existed, the court gave the city time to supply details of its available comparable training programmes for which Magoro would qualify.  This week the court gave the city until 14 February to come up with a plan to comply with its order.  In 2013, Magoro applied for acceptance in the city’s programme and received a text message that he had been successful.  This was followed by a letter saying he had been accepted and that he would be called.  When he didn’t receive a call and after many inquiries, Magoro went to court.  The city opposed his application, claiming he had ignored a text message to report for training.  But the court accepted his statement that he had never received such a message.

Read this report by Ilse de Lange in full at The Citizen

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Student fund boss urges graduates to repay loan billions, at BusinessLive
• Beware of bogus colleges, warns deputy minister of higher education, at Business Report

MISCONDUCT / DISCIPLINARY ACTION / CORRUPTION

Eskom's Koko breached his suspension conditions by contacting colleagues

BusinessLive reports that embattled Eskom executive Matshela Koko, who escaped dismissal through a sham disciplinary process, broke the strict conditions of his suspension by regularly contacting Eskom employees.  Koko is due to appear before Parliament’s portfolio committee inquiry into corruption and state capture at Eskom on Wednesday, where he is expected to protest his innocence.  Business Day came into possession of phone records that show that Koko was in touch with at least five other Eskom employees in the weeks immediately after his suspension on 2 August 2017, despite his suspension letter making it clear that contacting Eskom employees could "interfere with or jeopardise" his disciplinary hearing.  His suspension notice expressly prohibited any contact with Eskom staff or suppliers.  Koko was suspended after his division awarded his step-daughter’s company contracts worth R640m, but was cleared of all wrongdoing at a disciplinary hearing.  The hearing was marred by allegations that it had been rigged in his favour.  Asked this week to comment on the evidence that Koko had violated his suspension conditions, Eskom said that it needed more time to investigate.  But, these disclosures are likely to add to mounting pressure for Eskom to act against Koko as the new board embarks on a process to rescue the power utility and restore governance.

Read this detailed report by Kyle Cowan and Stephan Hofstatter in full at BusinessLive

Ten Limpopo traffic cops arrested for taking bribes from motorists

TimesLive reports that ten traffic officers have been arrested in Polokwane for allegedly taking bribes from motorists who had committed offences.  The arrests took place on Tuesday.  The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said:  "The number of suspects arrested in Limpopo in connection with bribery and corruption since December now stands at 30.  Last month 20 suspects‚ including traffic officers‚ licensing officers and their civilian collaborators‚ were arrested in Tzaneen and surrounding areas."  More arrests could be made as authorities embark on an anti-corruption drive.

A short report is at TimesLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Judge Motata's fate now in tribunal's hands, at Pretoria News
• Durban policeman in court for murder, armed robbery, at Daily News
• Corrupt cop colleagues prevent police from operating as normal‚ Cape Town court told, at SowetanLive

WEB LINKS TO LABOUR NEWS ARTICLES ON TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY 2018

See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Tuesday, 23 January 2018 at SA Labour News

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Six months ago after losing his arm at work, worker still waiting for compensation

GroundUp reports on the case of Ntongenzani Ngidi (57) from KwaSithebe in Mandeni, north of Durban, who has not received any compensation after losing his arm in a work accident in August and is finding it difficult to look after himself and his family.  He had been cleaning machines used to manufacture sacks at Tufbag when his arm got stuck inside and ended up being cut off by the machine.  Forms were filled in, but compensation has not been paid nearly six months later.  Until the compensation comes through, he is getting half his monthly salary from the company, but he claims that is paid late.  Tufbag’s HR manager said all their employees were covered by the Department of Labour’s (DOL’s) Compensation Fund should they incur any injury on duty and the fund should be approached for further information.  Ngidi still has to submit forms to the Provident Fund to claim disability benefits.  DOL spokesman Lungelo Mkamba said they had accepted Ngidi’s claim.  “However, Ngidi is still undergoing medical treatment and among other things we are waiting for the progress reports from his doctor, physiotherapy report, resumption report from the employer stating his salary, an affidavit from the employer stating for how many months was he paid for after the injury,” Mkamba indicated.  He added that for assistance with an artificial arm, the doctor who was treating Ngidi should write a referral to an orthotist requesting an artificial arm.  Neither Tufbag nor the DOL could say how much longer Ngidi would have to wait until he received compensated because the process involved a lot of paperwork.

Read this report by Zimbili Vilakazi in full at GroundUp

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Werker val boer glo met knopkierie aan, at Maroela Media
• Aanranding op KZN-boer werkverwant, nie plaasaanval, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)

MINING LABOUR

Worker dies allegedly helping boss at illegal mine to get rid of explosives

News24 reports that a 53-year-old man has died after allegedly trying to get rid of explosives for his boss, who had been arrested on a charge of illegal operating a chrome mining in Limpopo.  Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the man and two other colleagues at the chrome mine near Burgersfort were allegedly asked by their boss to destroy the explosives.  This was soon after three mine managers were arrested on Friday during an operation to shut down illegal mining.  In addition to the arrests, police also seized expensive equipment.  However, the bosses apparently asked some of the miners to help get rid of some explosives.  As they were doing this, an explosive device detonated and two of the workers were injured.  One miner, Bright Chirongoma, was critically injured and died in hospital on Saturday night.  The other employee was treated and discharged on the same day.

Read this report by Jenni Evans in full at News24. See too, Worker at illegal Burgersfort mine dies while destroying explosives, at TimesLive. And also, Limpopo police probe illegal miner's death following explosion, at EWN

Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining

• Northern Cape meeting aims to tackle illegal mining, at SABC News

Postings on Mining Charter

• Cyril Ramaphosa must deliver on Mining Charter III opposition, at Miningmx

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Nehawu’s wage strike at Unisa may spread to UP

Pretoria News reports that workers at the University of Pretoria (UP) could join their Unisa counterparts in a strike for higher wages, the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) said on Monday.  As the strike at Unisa (University of SA) entered its fourth day, Nehawu threatened to intensify its strike and mobilise members at other universities.  The union’s Ntsako Nombelani said this was not Unisa’s fight alone and next on the list to strike would be its members at UP.  They too, according to Nombelani, were at loggerheads with the university over their wage rates.  “In the next couple of weeks the strike will hit Tuks (UP),” he stated.  At Unisa, registering students were yet again hit on Monday as staff continued to strike for higher wages.  Nombelani said if Unisa did not concede to the union’s demand for a 9% increase across the board (revised down from 12%), the workers would continue the shutdown of all campuses.  Unisa is apparently offering 7%.  Nombelani said salaries were not the only issue and that there were also transformation issues, including the ‘“de-Guptarisation’ of the university council.

Read this report by Sakhile Ndlazi in full at Pretoria News. Read Nehawu’s press statement on the situation at Unisa, UP and Wits at Cosatu Today

Wits University workers to down tools on Tuesday over wage dispute

SABC News reports that workers at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) were expected to go on strike on Tuesday following a wage dispute with management.  The National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is demanding an 8% wage increase, while the university is apparently offering 6%.  Nehawu represents almost 1,000 of the more than 5,000 employees at the institution.  Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said management was still willing to negotiate with the trade union and added:  For this week, we’re doing mostly online registrations, so the registration process won’t be affected too much.  We will have contingency plans in place to ensure university processes continue.”

Read this report by Nomsa Mdhluli in full at SABC News. Read too, Nehawu members at Wits strike over salary dispute, at TimesLive

Durban University of Technology's staff strike threatens start of lectures

TimesLive reports that striking staffers at the embattled Durban University of Technology (DUT) have vowed to continue with their industrial action despite the prospect of "no work‚ no pay".  Determined academic and administration workers entered day six of their strike action on Tuesday‚ refusing to budge on their 10% wage increase demand.  DUT has apparently offered its staff 4%.  The National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) said on Tuesday that the strike action would continue.  The strike action has reportedly hampered the registration of students‚ but DUT has called on students to register online.  One unnamed staffer said that if management did not meet the demands lectures - due to start next week - would also be delayed.

Read this report by Suthentira Govender in full at TimesLive. See too, DUT registration still on hold due to Nehawu industrial action, at The Mercury

PROTESTS / MARCHES / CAMPAIGNS

Torching of Tshwane waste depot by former EPWP employees condemned

Pretoria News reports that the City of Tshwane has strongly condemned the torching of its depot in Mabopane on Monday by a group of disgruntled former Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers.  At about 8am, about 45 people descended on the waste management depot, broke down the security gate, and burnt the stock of waste bins, an asbestos office and a kitchen.  They also damaged the security cubicle and toilet windows.  The Rosslyn fire division was quickly dispatched to extinguish the fire.  City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said:  “The former employees have been responsible for a series of disruptions of services and causing chaos across the city since the beginning of this year after the expiry of their contracts.  We call upon law enforcement to take action against those who have been vandalising the City’s assets and intimidating our employees.”  A case docket has been registered with the police.  The EPWP is a national initiative aimed at reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty through the creation of short-term work opportunities and the use of labour-intensive methods.  In 2017, Tshwane revised its EPWP recruitment policy framework.  Then in December, the executive mayor oversaw a lottery of over 3,000 beneficiaries for the EPWP, some of whom commenced their duties at the beginning of the year.

Read this report in full at Pretoria News. See too, Former EPWP workers set Tshwane waste management depot alight, at SowetanLive

Tshwane metro yet to decide on ‘Vat Alles’ march on Friday

Pretoria North Rekord reports that Tshwane metro police are still mulling over whether to give dismissed “operation Vat Alles” workers permission to march on Friday or not.  “Vat Alles” was the name given to the government’s extended public works programme (EPWP) in Tshwane until last year.  The former employees are seeking permission to “shut down” the city this Friday for their march to mayor Solly Msimanga’s office to demand their jobs back after their contracts were not renewed at the end of December.  Mayoral spokesperson Sam Mgobozi confirmed that the metro had received an application for permission to march.  He added:  “They have a democratic right to march as long as it is done peacefully and within the confines of the law, but one thing we will not tolerate is damage to property.”  On Monday, a group of about 45 former EPWP workers burned down the metro’s waste management depot in Mabopane.

Read this report by David Matsena in full at Pretoria North Rekord

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES / STANDARDS

Denosa KZN stops its nurses from escorting patients from one health care facility to another

Daily News reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) branch of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) is stopping its members from escorting patients from one health care facility to another.  The union said its members had been exploited and overworked for too long, with the Health Department “dragging its feet” on employing paramedics qualified to handle referrals and transfers.  Mandla Shabangu, Denosa provincial secretary, indicated:  “We told the department to stop this by the end of this month, but in a circular issued on January 10, the department said it would do away with the practice by May.  This practice forces nurses to work outside of their professional scope and has been unfair to both nurses and staffing levels at health facilities.  It is paramedics who should be doing this task as they are trained to do so.”  He also said this practice undermined the nursing profession.  Dr Imran Keeka, DA spokesperson for health, confirmed that the problem was the shortage of paramedics in the province.  A department spokesperson did not address specific questions regarding the number of paramedics needed in the province.

Read this report by Chris Ndaliso in full at Daily News

ECONOMICS / INEQUALITY /WEALTH GAP

Oxfam urges South Africa to reduce widening wealth gap

BusinessLive writes that according to Oxfam’s new report titled ‘Reward Work, Not Wealth’, the amount of wealth concentrated in the top 1% of society’s richest individuals came at a great cost to the working class and the poor, who were now worse off than before with the rise in inequality levels.  In the report released on Monday to coincide with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Oxfam shared alarming statistics of wage gaps between employers and workers.  It showed by way of an example that it took the best-paid executive at retail giant Shoprite only 4.58 days to earn what a seasonal farm worker in the country earned in 50 years.  Wage inequality has been considered the biggest contributor to SA’s inequality crisis.  As Oxfam SA leaders called for action to alleviate the inequality gap, they also conceded that some interventions by the SA government — such as the national minimum wage — could help narrow the gap.  National minimum wage expert Dr Gilad Isaacs said that although there were some reservations about certain parts of the bill, which is expected to come into effect in May, it had potential to reduce inequality.

Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Fat cats are getting fatter, at The Star

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Fedusa comes up with ways to stimulate the SA economy, at SA Labour News
• SA aims to patch up threadbare clothing industry, at Fin24
• Focus on digital skills; technology to reignite SA’s manufacturing sector, at Moneyweb
• IMF cuts SA’s growth rate for next two years, at BusinessLive
• Job creation, transformation top priorities, says ANC, at eNCA

STAFFING / RECRUITMENT / PLACEMENTS / VACANCIES

Communications minister to weigh in on SABC executive appointments saga

BusinessLive reports that Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane will have the opportunity on Tuesday to present her side of the story to the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications in the SABC executive appointments saga.  It emerged earlier in January that the SABC (SA Broadcasting Corporation) was set to hire MTN group chief Chris Maroleng pending vetting by the State Security Agency despite claims by the minister that she was not consulted.  The broadcaster has also re-advertised the position of CEO and chief financial officer.  A court order in December stated that the board would make any permanent or interim appointment of any executive member "only after consultation with the minister of communications".  Kubayi-Ngubane’s spokeswoman Ireen Magwai said on Monday the minister had not been consulted.  "She must be consulted in that process… she does not want to appoint or fire executives, but due process has to be followed," said Magwai.  SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the process to appoint the executives has yet to be finalised.

Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BusinessLive

Health department shows incompetence with the placement of nurses, says Solidarity

Maroela Media reports that in a letter addressed to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Monday, trade union Solidarity cautioned the department to comply with its statutory duty to place nurses for their community service year.  It said that if the department failed to meet its obligations, then it should exempt nurses from their community service year.  This came after Solidarity received several complaints from candidate nurses who have not yet been placed.  According to Anton van der Bijl, head of Solidarity’s Centre for Fair Labour Practices, the fact that the placement process has become so dragged out was proof of the department’s incompetence to make the placements.  He stated:  “What is particularly disturbing is that this is the very department that has, on many an occasion, pointed out that it was experiencing skills shortages on the ground, yet the placement of qualified nurses is not their first priority.”  Van der Bijl also cautioned that should the department not heed Solidarity’s warning, the union would not hesitate to resort to litigation.

Read this report in full in Afrikaans at Maroela Media. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online

CORRUPTION / STATE CAPTURE

Saftu welcomes Singh’s resignation from Eskom, calls for him and Koko to be criminally charged

ANA reports that the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) on Tuesday welcomed the resignation of Eskom’s chief financial officer, Anoj Singh, and called for him to be criminally charged for corruption and impropriety.  This came after Singh, through his attorneys, resigned with immediate effect from Eskom on Monday night.  He was placed on special leave in July following serious allegations of improper financial dealings by the power utility with companies in the Gupta stable.  Saftu called on Eskom's head of generation, Matshela Koko, to also resign and said in a statement:  "Saftu further calls for both of them, who are facing allegations of serious corruption and other acts of impropriety, to be criminally charged for crimes against the people of this country.  They and others have brought the country's power provider to the brink of bankruptcy, which would have devastating consequences for all South Africans and the country’s economy."

Read this report in full at IOL News. Read Saftu’s press statement at Saftu online. See too, Eskom's suspended finance chief Anoj Singh resigns, at BusinessLive. And also, Pressure on Koko to follow Singh in quitting Eskom, at EWN. As well as, Anoj Singh due at state capture inquiry‚ despite resignation from Eskom, at TimesLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Vervolg korruptes genadeloos, vra Cosatu, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
• Two Tshwane metro cops in court for kidnapping‚ robbery and extortion, at TimesLive
• Transport Department seeks to stop fraud and corruption at car and driver testing centres, at BusinessLive
• Head of Integrity and Investigations (CIIU) at eThekwini probed for wife’s alleged tendering for city jobs, at Sunday Tribune

COMMUTING / TRANSPORT SERVICES

Metrorail advises Cape Town central line to remain suspended until further notice

News24 reports that Cape Town train commuters have no option but to rely on alternative transport until the central line is operational.  Vandalism, derailments and violence appear to have resulted in the indefinite suspension of the central line, Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said on Monday.  She stated:  "The central line remains suspended until further notice - at this stage engineers cannot confirm when the line will be ready for use.  Every effort continues to ensure that engineers complete repairs soonest and that all requisite operational safety checks follow after the system is declared ready." Both the Passenger Railway Agency of SA (Prasa) and Metrorail have received scathing criticism from various organisations, such as labour federation Cosatu and UniteBehind for alleged mismanagement and poor safety conditions.

Read this report by Christina Pitt in full at News24. See too, Cape Town’s central rail line still not operational, at EWN

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Metrorail train derails in Benoni on Tuesday, with no injuries, at News24
• Train crime railroading Prasa services, says United National Transport Union, at SA Labour News
• Golden Arrow bus torched in Philippi protest, at EWN
• No end in sight to Mpumalanga taxi strike between White River and Hazyview, at SABC News

WEB LINKS TO LABOUR NEWS ARTICLES ON MONDAY, 22 JANUARY 2018

See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Monday, 22 January 2018 at SA Labour News

TOP STORY – 2018 IR CLIMATE

Solidarity’s Gideon du Plessis says the public sector wage outcome will set tone for other sectors

Gideon du Plessis, general secretary of trade union Solidarity, writes that the outcome of the current public sector negotiations, where public service unions and the government are heading for confrontation, may determine the labour relations climate for 2018.  A negotiated settlement would be a victory for collective bargaining, but a strike by 300,000 public servants would be catastrophic.  At beleaguered Telkom and ArcelorMittal, negotiations will kick off in February.  Telkom has already indicated that it may not be able to grant an increase and a strike is therefore a real possibility.  Salary negotiations at ArcelorMittal will follow on the heels of a retrenchment process.  Eskom’s salary negotiations will start in April.  Negotiations in the gold mining sector are set to commence in June, providing once again a platform where the NUM and Amcu can continue their rivalry.  Negotiations in the petroleum sector of the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry will start in the second week of May and are expected to be tough.  The fight by the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) to get a seat at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) will also come to a head in 2018.  Du Plessis concludes by noting that, while 2018 could be a tough one for labour relations, credit ratings agencies could bring ideologically driven players in the labour relations environment back to reality with a further downgrade.

Read this informative article in full at BusinessLive

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING / INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Sadtu and PSA reject state’s salary increase offer

The Star reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has slammed the government’s offer of an inflation-based salary increase of up to 5.3% for the lowest-paid public servants, saying politicians gave themselves more than that as a pay hike.  Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke stated that the offer did not take into account that the standard of living of public servants would be affected by a negative increase.  Public sector wage negotiations continued on Wednesday at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) in Tshwane.  The talks took place under the facilitation of two CCMA commissioners.  The government is currently offering employees in the lowest 10 salary levels a consumer price index (CPI) salary increase, while it has proposed that the two levels of middle management get pay hikes of CPI minus 1%.  The University of Stellenbosch’s Bureau for Economic Research (BER) has forecast 5% inflation this year and expects it to increase to 5.3% next year.  The unions representing public servants are demanding salary increases of between 10% and 12% depending on the salary level.  The Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) Tahir Maepa warned that if the talks were not concluded by a 31 March deadline, government employees might go on strike.  He added that the government’s wage offer was ridiculous and unions would not even bother taking it to their members.  According to Maepa, unions expect a revised and improved offer next week when negotiations resume and several concessions are expected to be made.  The government has already acceded to some of the unions’ other demands.

Read an extended version of this report by Loyiso Sidimba at SA Labour News

Wits vice-chancellor Adam Habib calls for compromise as staff rejects wage offer

BusinessLive reports that University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) vice-chancellor Adam Habib on Wednesday urged labour unions to exercise restraint in their wage demands.  Saying the institution had a responsibility to ensure that salary increases did not compromise the university’s financial stability, he called on all role players “to start looking at the bigger picture” and compromise.  Wits’ offer of a 6.8% increase was the second-highest offer in the higher education sector, and was 1.8% points above inflation, he noted.  Four unions, namely Asawu‚ Nehawu, ALTSA and Numsa, have threatened to strike over salary increases, the university’s new performance management system and medical aid benefits.  They are seeking an 8% increase, and an additional 1% to cover increased medical scheme premiums.  The unions on Wednesday agreed to enter into talks with management facilitated by the CCMA, a development which means that a threatened strike from Monday is now on hold.

Read this report by Tamar Kahn in full at BusinessLive

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Dis-Chem initiates discussions with 760 strikers at distribution centre, head office

ANA reports that retail firm Dis-Chem said on Thursday that approximately 760 employees had gone on strike at its Midrand distribution centre and head office but trading and operations at its 131 stores were not affected.  The company claimed that the strikers, who were affiliated to the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), comprised less than 6% of its workforce.  The company stated:  “Their dispute relates primarily to union organisational rights as well as disagreement on decisions relating to discretionary bonus payments to a portion of its members.  Dis-Chem has initiated discussions with the affected employees in an effort to arrive at a common understanding of certain issues and agree on a suitable resolution.”

This short report is at The Citizen. See too, Dis-Chem target of union’s anger, at The Citizen. And also, Striking Dis-Chem workers demand bonuses, at eNCA

Fawu concerned over protracted wage strike at Tongaat Hulett Starch Division

The New Age reports that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) is deeply concerned about the protracted strike at Tongaat Hulett Starch Division, as it does not see any end in sight.  Tongaat Hulett is an agriculture and agri-processing business focussing on sugar cane and maize.  With 15 days having passed since it commenced, the strike is mainly over wages.  Fawu is demanding a 10.5% wage increase, while Tongaat Hulett offered 6.25% during a meeting of the parties facilitated by the CCMA.  Fawu’s other demands relate to long service awards and overtime pay.  "We are deeply concerned about the situation, this has badly impacted about 300 of our members," Fawu’s Thabo Khota said.  According to the union, production has come at a standstill.  Tongaat Hulett's Michelle Jean-Louis said:  "Fawu representatives and Tongaat Hulett management will meet again on Friday to find a satisfactory outcome for all stakeholders."

Read this report by Refilwe Magashule in full at HTSyndication (The New Age)

DUT students encouraged to register online due to Nehawu strike

Business Report writes that Durban University of Technology (DUT) employees went on strike this week demanding a 10% annual salary increase.  DUT is offering a 4% annual salary increase, which the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has described as an insult.  In a press statement, the union expressed its strong view that the management of DUT, and especially the Vice-Chancellor Professor Thandwa Mthembu, has been treating the employees with disdain.  DUT’s communications manager Noxolo Memela commented that management remained committed to resolving the issues and making sure that the university and its operations went back to normal as soon as possible.  Regarding the salary negotiations, Memela noted that DUT management engaged with the labour unions and representatives on an ongoing basis.  Union leadership will apparently be invited to a meeting scheduled to take place this week, where there will be more talks to resolve the stalemate.  At present, student registration is underway at the university and according to Memela, registration has been slightly affected.  The university has encouraged all students to register online because of the strike.

Read this report by Dhivana Rajgopaul in full at Business Report. Read Nehawu’s press statement at Cosatu Today

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Students turned away at Unisa Pietermaritzburg campus due to strike, at GroundUp

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Police officer shot and killed in Brakpan after withdrawing money from ATM

EWN reports that a police officer has been shot and killed in Brakpan, on the East Rand, after he withdrew a large amount of money from an ATM machine.  It is understood the officer was followed from the ATM at Carnival City to his home where he was attacked by three gunmen.  The police's Lungelo Dlamini said:  “Apparently, he drew money at Carnival City whilst he arrived at his home, he was attacked by three suspects.  They shot him and he was taken to hospital where he died.  At this stage, we have launched a manhunt for these three suspects.”

This short report by Katleho Sekhotho is at EWN

MINING LABOUR

Dead illegal miners found near Benoni shaft all Lesotho nationals

The New Age reports that the seven suspected illegal miners (zama zamas) whose bodies were found in Benoni on Sunday have all been identified as Lesotho nationals.  Their families are arranging for their funerals.  The police confirmed this on Wednesday but said no arrests had yet been made in connection with the deaths.  They were, however, following leads which could lead to the arrests of people who might also be involved in illegal mining.  The seven decomposing bodies were found scattered in the veld in Benoni in an area where violence regularly breaks out between rival illegal miners fighting over access to disused mine shafts.  It is suspected that the men were killed elsewhere and their bodies later dumped in the veld.  The families believe that the killings were the result of violence between two groups of illegal miners, one of them being Basotho, on Friday at one of the mine shafts that has been a scene of conflict.  "The two groups fought at the mine shaft and started shooting at each other.  One illegal miner who survived told us that we might find our cousin among the dead," a family member who had arrived to identify one of the bodies said.  The war between illegal miners has been ongoing in the Benoni and Boksburg areas for some time.

Read this report by Dikeledi Molobela in full at HTSyndication (The New Age)

EXECUTIVE PAY / PERKS

Eskom in secret talks on golden handshake for Matshela Koko

BusinessLive reports that embattled state-owned power utility Eskom, which has described its financial situation as "very dire", is in secret discussions to terminate the employment of controversial executive Matshela Koko.  The parties are apparently close to a separation agreement as the talks are now centred on the amount the head of generation would take to agree to leave.  Talks are at a sensitive stage, according to three informed sources.  Last week, Koko was replaced by Willy Majola as interim head of generation, a move Eskom said was "a mutual agreement" for Koko "to settle in" following his reinstatement after a disciplinary hearing cleared him of various charges including conflict of interest.  Two senior government officials outside Eskom, however, confirmed there were plans to remove Koko within days.  Asked detailed questions about the negotiations and the legality of any proposed golden handshake, Eskom skirted the questions, instead only confirming Koko’s "current status" as an employee.

A short report by Sikonathi Mantshantsha is at BusinessLive. See too, Singh, Koko to face parliamentary inquiry next week, at The New Age

RESTRUCTURING / MERGERS / RETRENCHMENTS

In merger with UFO, Competition Tribunal bars Lewis from retrenching for two years

Fin24 reports that the merger between furniture companies Lewis and United Furniture Outlets (UFO) has been granted by the Competition Tribunal, on condition that there are no merger-related retrenchments for the next two years.  Following a hearing on 10 January, the matter was stood down to give time for further submissions to be made by the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu), which was concerned that the merger would lead to layoffs.  According to the union, Lewis had embarked on retrenchments in anticipation of the merger as an attempt to reduce the duplication of functions.  Previously the Competition Commission had concluded that retrenchments were unlikely to happen, but referred the matter to the Tribunal to make a final ruling.  The R320m merger, announced by Lewis in October 2017, will see the company acquire UFO in an effort to diversify its offering.  The merger will come into effect from 1 February 2018.

Read this report by Lameez Omarjee in full at Fin24

HIGHER EDUCATION / TRAINING / QUALIFICATIONS

Gauteng first-year nursing candidates to begin academic year in April

EWN reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has advised that first-year nursing candidates will begin their academic year in April and not in January as initially planned.  The department announced in December that it could no longer afford to fund the nearly 700 prospective students this year, despite having informed them that they qualified for the course and promising to fund them.  This triggered criticism, with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) activists occupying nursing colleges on Monday, calling on the students to study by force.  Chief director of nursing in the department, Johanna More, indicated:  “Their programme won’t start in January, instead it will start in April.  And therefore, the completion time will also be appropriate.  We are going to discuss with the South African Nursing Council, we will discuss with the universities, the National Department of Health.  So that we are assisted to re-adjust the programme.”

A short report by Koketšo Motau is at EWN

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Needy nursing students urged to beware of bogus institutions, at HTSyndication (The New Age)

RETIREMENT AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS

DA proposes PIC chair be appointed by Cabinet, with board to have union representative

BusinessLive reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has proposed that the chairperson of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) should be appointed by Cabinet on the recommendation of the National Assembly.  The PIC manages about R1.9-trillion in assets on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and other statutory funds.  The proposal was contained in a private member’s bill — the Public Investment Corporation Amendment Draft Bill — which DA finance spokesman David Maynier submitted to the speaker of the National Assembly for introduction into the house.  In terms of the bill, the chairperson of the PIC (currently appointed by the Finance Minister) would be appointed by the minister on the recommendation of the National Assembly.  The 10 non-executive members of the board appointed by the minister would, in terms of the bill, include one representative of Treasury, each major depositor of the PIC (such as the GEPF and the Compensation Fund) and a registered trade union that represents the majority of GEPF members.  The draft bill, if enacted, would also require the PIC to disclose all its investments — both listed and unlisted — on an annual basis.

Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Parliament’s finance committee hopes to finalise PIC bill ‘reasonably soon’, at BusinessLive

Fedusa and PSA head to Steinhoff offices to get access to company records

BusinessLive reports that the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) and its largest affiliate, the Public Servants Association (PSA), will be visiting the Stellenbosch offices of troubled global retailer Steinhoff on Friday.  They will be demanding access to the company's records in terms of section 26 of the Companies Act.  The two organisations have an interest in protecting the pension fund investments of their members, the majority of whom are public servants and members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), which invested in Steinhoff through the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).  “Our attorneys already informed Steinhoff in the prescribed manner and in writing according to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 about our intended inspection," Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said in a statement on Thursday.  He went on to note that it would be an offence for Steinhoff “to fail to accommodate any reasonable request for access, or to unreasonably refuse access, to any record that a person has a right to inspect or copy in terms of section 20 of the Companies Act.”

Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive. Read Fedusa’s press statement in this regard at SA Labour News

COMMUTING / TRANSPORT SERVICES

Resumption of service on Cape Town’s Central Line halted by train derailment

ANA reports that the resumption of Metrorail services on Thursday morning was marred when a train came off the rails along the notorious Central Line in Cape Town.  The train service on the line had been suspended for nearly two weeks because of safety concerns sparked by the shooting of a security guard on the platform of the Chris Hani Station.  The United National Transport Union (UNTU) reported:  “Early this morning an empty train with a train driver, metro guard and a section manager went out on the route to do a final check before the service resumes this morning.  This train derailed just after 04:00 between the Netreg Station and the Heideveld Station.  Nobody was injured, but the train has been severely damaged.”  The derailment was apparently caused by the absence of “rail clips” that had been stolen.  UNTU’s Steve Harris said that as a result of the derailment the Central Line “has once again been suspended due to the vandalism of infrastructure”.  The incident on Thursday in Cape Town comes after another Prasa train derailed in Germiston in Gauteng on Wednesday, where it was established that the rail clips had also been stolen.

Read this report in full at The Citizen. Read too, Metrorail suffers setback after train derails on Cape Town’s Central Line, at Cape Times. And also, Train derailment scuppers plans to reopen Cape Town central line, at EWN. As well as, Vandalism causes train derailment in Germiston, at EWN

TOP STORY

Transport union UNTU scores big victory for workers on Cape Town’s Central Line

ANA reports that the United National Transport Union (UNTU) has scored a significant victory with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) agreeing to provide police escorts for its staff members on Cape Town’s Central Line.  UNTU and Prasa were locked in meetings until late on Tuesday, negotiating terms under which to reopen the notorious line which runs between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to the CBD.  The busy line was suspended last week following the murder of a security guard at a station in Khayelitsha.  Tens of thousands of commuters were left stranded and forced to make alternative transport arrangements after UNTU said its staff were not prepared to work on the line following the murder.  In terms the agreement, UNTU said its members would only operate on the Central Line if, among other things, there were two police officers escorting the train driver, two police officers escorting the metro train guard, a police officer in the middle cab as back up, and armed guards at turnaround stations.  UNTU’s Steve Harris said if Prasa or the SA Police Service failed to adhere to the agreement, the train service on the Central Line would be suspended again.  The service was scheduled to resume on Wednesday afternoon.

Read this report in full at The Citizen. See too, Prasa and UNTU reach an agreement over Metrorail's Cape Town’s Central Line, at Business Report. Read UNTU’s press statement in this regard at SA Labour News

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Four die, ten hospitalised as two farmers' bakkies collide near East London

DispatchLive reports that ten farm workers who survived a horrible accident that claimed the lives of four of their colleagues were rushed to various East London hospitals on Tuesday evening.  Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo indicated that four workers died on the scene - and not six‚ as had been initially reported.  “Paramedics have now confirmed that four workers died on the scene.  Others sustained minor and serious injuries and have been taken to hospitals‚” he said.  The four died when the bakkies belonging to farmers they are working for collided head-on on the R72 near Kidds Beach outside East London.  Kupelo said it was not yet clear what had caused the accident.

This short report is by Sino Majangaza is at DispatchLive

Three Pollsmoor warders and three prisoners seriously injured in fight

Cape Times reports that three Pollsmoor warders and three prisoners are recovering in hospital following a fight at the correctional centre on Tuesday morning.  Both the warders and inmates sustained serious injuries.  Correctional Services Commissioner Delekile Klaas said the warders received information that inmates were using a cellphone in their cell.  When they attempted to retrieve the cellphone some inmates threw boiled water on them, resulting in their injuries.  “Our Emergency Support Team (EST) were deployed to the cell in question and they used minimum force and the inmates were injured in the process,” said Klaas.  “Boiling water and use (of) it against officials is rare and is new here.  They (inmates) are forcing us to take these kettles away from them,” Klaas added.  He indicated that he would only know the extent of the injuries of both the inmates and the officials once a doctor had provided medical reports.

Read this report by Sandiso Phaliso in full at Cape Times

Four injured in yet another train crash, inside depot in Ermelo

TimesLive reports that four people have been injured in yet another train crash.  This time‚ two goods trains collided while inside a depot in Ermelo‚ Mpumalanga‚ on Tuesday morning.  ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring indicated that four passengers had sustained minor to moderate injuries.  He said it was not understood what had led to the collision.  Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) general manager Madelein Williams confirmed the accident and said the RSR was waiting for investigators to conclude their investigation.  Tuesday’s crash comes after 19 people died and over 250 people were injured when a train‚ en route from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg‚ collided with truck‚ causing several carriages to derail and catch alight‚ on 4 January.  It also follows a train collision in Germiston on 9 January which left 30 people injured.

Read this report in full at TimesLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• LUR by skool van verdagte wat onderwyser moor, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
• Boy accused of killing teacher makes first court appearance, at TimesLive

MINING LABOUR

Man in Brits court on charge of attempted murder of Amcu leader

ANA reports that a 36-year-old taxi driver accused of the attempted murder of an Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) leader appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.  The case against Simphiwe Silwane was postponed to 1 February, for a bail application to be heard before a new magistrate.  The magistrate recused himself because he became aware that Silwane was linked to a case he had previously presided over.  Silwane is accused of shooting at Amcu branch chairman at Western Platinum, Malibongwe Mdazo, on 22 July, in Mooinooi near Brits.  Silwane was arrested in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape in December.  Silwane has been charged together with Nkosinathi Mantashe and Samkelo Mkhutshwa.  Mantashe is out on R10,000 bail and Mkhutshwa on R2,500 bail.  They are expected to again appear in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on 31 January.  A large number of Amcu members in their green union T-shirts attended the court proceeding.

Read this report in full at The Citizen. Read this report in Afrikaans at Maroela Media

Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining

• Letter to Editor: Silicosis issue not solved, at BusinessLive

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Striking Dis-Chem workers demonstrate in Midrand

EWN reports that Dis-Chem employees affiliated to National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) were protesting outside the retailer's head offices in Midrand on Wednesday morning.  About 500 workers were demonstrating over organisational rights for union affiliation.  The union's Solly Malema said that members were being discriminated against, with some being denied a 13th cheque.  “Company’s refusing to grant us the organisational rights in terms of Section 21 and during December when the company was paying annual bonuses, they completely refused to pay union members annual bonuses.”  Police indicated that some roads in the area have been closed off.

This short report by Kgomotso Modise is at EWN

Nehawu members to go on strike at Unisa from Wednesday

ANA reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) indicated that it would go on strike at the University of South Africa (Unisa) from Wednesday after wage negotiations deadlocked.  The union is demanding salary increase of 12% across the board, while Unisa management is offering 6.5%.  Nehawu also wants the university to absorb all contract workers with immediate effect and to stop the outsourcing of workers from labour brokers.  Another demand is that all council members stop doing business with the university with immediate effect.  Nehawu commented:  “Our view is that they are being disingenuous when they plead poverty.  In this regard, the national union has taken a decision to go on a full-blown strike in all campuses across the country until our demands are met."

Read this report in full at eNCA. See too, Nehawu members to go on strike at all Unisa campuses, at EWN

Nehawu and Sasco jointly shut down Unisa

TimesLive reports that the SA Students Congress (Sasco) and the National Health Education and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) have joined forces to shut down the University of SA (Unisa).  This forced potential students to abandon their applications and registrations at the university's Sunnyside campus in Pretoria on Wednesday.  The two organisations have consolidated their myriad of demands to the university‚ with Sasco saying it was practical for students to be in solidarity with the union as the workers were their parents.  Nehawu has deadlocked with Unisa management on the union’s demand for a 12% wage increase‚ with the university management offering 4.5%.  Sasco is demanding‚ among other things‚ the scrapping of students’ historic debt and the abolishment of application and registration fees.  Nehawu’s Ntsako Nombelane claimed that they had shut down all campuses of the university‚ saying the campuses would remain shut until their demands were met.  He said they were willing to settle for 9% if the university management was willing to negotiate in good faith‚ adding that the attitude of management was to stick to its 4.5% offer.

Read this report by Sipho Mabena in full at TimesLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• NSFAS in talks to prevent strike, at HTSyndication (The New Age)
• Transnet pas loonaanbod aan vir behuisingstoelae, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)

REMUNERATION / SALARY ADMINISTRATION

Still no liquidity plan in place, but Denel’s sure it can pay staff in January

BusinessLive reports that cash-strapped, state-owned arms manufacturer Denel says that although it is still finalising a plan to tackle its liquidity challenges, it will pay salaries and suppliers in January.  With the deadline for the company’s payroll looming, staff and service providers are concerned that salaries and bills will not be paid.  Denel received an emergency government loan guarantee of R580m in December to pay its 4,000 employees and suppliers.  However, it is unclear how the company will raise funds to fulfil its obligations.  The Treasury provided the guarantee to Denel to resolve its "immediate funding crisis", but required that parastatal needed to put a credible strategy in place.  The United Association of SA’s Willie van Eeden has requested a meeting with the company’s management to hear how it plans to pay workers and suppliers.  He said the union was in the dark about where Denel would get the funds.  Although Denel did not answer questions, spokeswoman Pamela Malinda did say it would pay salaries and suppliers "within agreed terms".

Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

Hard-pressed domestic workers reject minimum pay increase

Cape Times reports that the union representing domestic workers has rejected the government’s increase in the minimum wage for domestic workers as contained in the recent amendment to the applicable sectoral determination.  According to the figures set out by the Department of Labour (DOL) in the government gazette, domestic workers who work 27 hours a week or more must be paid a monthly minimum of R2,545.22 (Area A) or R2317.75 (Area ).  This is a 5% increase on the 2017’s rates.  The SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union’s Gloria Kente said:  “Why must we earn less than other sectors?  Domestic workers always get a small increase.  We want the National Minimum Wage of R3,500.  We work hard.”  Kente added that it was good the department recognised domestic workers, but they were not giving the increase workers expected.  She also said the department was not enforcing compliance from employers.  The DOL’s deputy director for employment standards, Mathilda Bergmann, said: “Due to the introduction of the National Minimum Wage which will be implemented on May 1, 2018, the Employment Conditions Commission recommended that the minimum wage levels for domestic workers be increased by the headline CPI.”

Read this report by Nicola Daniels in full at Cape Times. See too, How much you should be paying your domestic worker in 2018, at BusinessTech

CORRUPTION / STATE CAPTURE

Cosatu hopes freezing of assets, commission is 'beginning of end' of Gupta patronage network

News24 reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday that it hoped freezing the assets of Gupta-linked companies McKinsey and Trillian, combined with the Commission of Inquiry into state capture, would signify the "beginning of the end of the Gupta patronage network that has wreaked havoc on our economy".  The federation said in a statement:  “The endemic corruption that is eating at the fabric of our society and that robs us of services needs to be cleaned up without fear or favour.  We are encouraged by the ANC national executive committee's firm commitment to the fight against corruption and agree with the assertion that law enforcement agencies need to be strengthened in order to lead the fight against corruption and crime in general."

Read this report by Tammy Petersen in full at News24. Read Cosatu’s press statement at Cosatu Today

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Fired Joburg MMC for finance in graft dogbox, at The Star

SEXUAL ABUSE

State opposes bid for man accused of rape of domestic worker to be sent for observation

Pretoria News reports that the prosecutor in the case of a Bronkhorstspruit man accused of sexually assaulting his parent's domestic worker and then forcing her to perform sexual acts on his dogs argued on Tuesday that he was trying to be declared mentally challenged to avoid prosecution.  Prosecutor Solly Ledallo opposed an application by the accused's family who wanted the court to send the accused to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for observation, which could influence his criminal case.  Police arrested the accused late last year for alleged crimes that attracted protest action from angry EFF and ANC members.  According to the charge sheet, the suspect first held the woman against her will in a room on 23 October and damaged her cellphone.  He then forced her to perform a sexual act on him before raping her.  The accused also allegedly instructed the woman to have sex with the pet dogs.  The accused faces 10 counts which could all be scrapped should he be declared mentally unstable.  The prosecutor advised that the accused had already been seen by a psychiatrist, who, after observing him, wrote a professional medical report indicating that he was not insane.  The case was postponed to 15 February for the psychiatrist to give testimony about the accused’s metal state.

Read this report by James Mahlokwane in full at Pretoria News. See too, Ouers ‘weet ek het seks met huiswerker’, at Netwerk24

WEB LINKS TO LABOUR NEWS ARTICLES ON TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2018

See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Tuesday, 16 January 2018 at SA Labour News