This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 28 March 2019.
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Scandal of excessive executive salaries at publicly-funded bodies GroundUp reports that top executives in at least 24 government-funded agencies were paid more than R3 million in the 2017/18 financial year, namely more than the salary allocated to Jacob Zuma in what was his final year as state president. Five of the 24 executives were paid more than R5 million each, while three received packages worth over R7m. GroundUp used official reports to analyse executive pay at more than 100 “Schedule 3A” entities, namely bodies such as SARS, the National Lotteries Commission and SA National Parks. At the 111 agencies analysed, the average top executive was paid nearly R2.5m in 2017/18 — more than the average salaries of the ministers to whom they reported. Executive pay packages often included lavish bonuses, and sometimes significant allowances for everyday expenses, such as mobile phone use. The highest-paid 3A executive was Samson Moraba, CEO of the National Housing Finance Corporation, who was paid almost R9m in 2017/18, inclusive of a R4.1m bonus. Makhosini Msibi, CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation, was paid just under R8m in 2017/18, including a R2.7m bonus. Before any bonuses were taken into account, Dube Tshidi, the former head of the Financial Services Board, was paid R5.6m in 2017/18. With bonuses, his pay rose to R7.3m. Some top 3A staff got huge pay packets despite problems at their agencies. The GroundUp report includes a table of the top executives who earned more than R3m in 2017/18: Read this informative report by Jon Allsop in full at GroundUp
Santam CEO’s total remuneration halved in 2018 to R16.6m due to absence of cash bonuses BusinessLive reports that despite short-term insurer Santam reporting a much stronger performance than the previous year, CEO Lize Lambrechts saw her total remuneration halve in 2018 as a result of the nonpayment of a cash bonuses. In 2018, Santam’s headline earnings shot up 47%, but the absence of cash bonuses in that year saw Lambrechts take a 50% cut in total remuneration to R16.6m from the previous year’s R33m, according to the group’s recently released remuneration report. Lambrechts’ total remuneration of R16.6m for 2018 included a guaranteed package of R5.5m, a bonus of R6.9m and long-term incentives of R4.2m. In 2017, Lambrechts’ remuneration package was boosted by the payment of R19m made in terms of the group’s Outperformance Plan (OPP). A note in the report indicated that Lambrechts did not participate in the group’s OPP in 2018, but the report did not explain why she was no longer participating. Company secretary Masood Allie indicated that a new OPP for Ms Lambrechts might be put in place in future. The OPP bonus payment for 2017 meant Lambrechts was the highest-paid SA executive among listed insurance companies and provoked criticism from shareholder activist Theo Botha. Read the full original of Ann Crotty’s report on the above story at BusinessLive
Health MEC condemns fatal shooting of nurse outside KZN clinic TimesLIVE reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo has condemned the killing of a young nurse outside a local clinic north of Durban on Wednesday. The woman, who cannot yet be publicly identified, was gunned down outside a health facility in Verulam. She was found inside her car with multiple gunshot wounds and taken to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Dhlomo said in a statement: "The senseless murder of this young nurse is absolutely shocking and sad. It is unthinkable that anyone would deem it fitting to take away a life in such a callous manner. For us as healthcare professionals, it is always a sad day when we lose a staff member due to unnatural causes and in such violent fashion." The nurse, who had an 18-month-old child, was a leader of a school health team at Osindisweni Hospital. A police spokesperson confirmed that a case of murder had been opened at the Verulam police station. Read the original of Lwandile Bhengu’s report on this story at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
NUM calls for tough government action after worker dies at Limpopo platinum mine ANA reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Thursday urged the government to hold the mining industry accountable for its safety failures, after a worker died at Modikwa Platinum Mine in Limpopo due to a fall of ground. NUM North East regional secretary Phillip Mankge said in a statement: "One death is too many and we call on the department of mineral resources to start implementing the Mine Health and Safety Act to its fullest. We appeal to the lawmakers to propose a long sentencing and heavy penalty to any mine that kills a person." Mankge went on to indicate that drastic action was needed to compel the mining industry to comply with safety standards and procedures. He also said that the state needed to undertake a technical audit into the mining industry, looking at ageing and ailing infrastructure that continued to fail hundreds of miners and left thousands of people orphaned. The original of this short report is at Mining Weekly NUM ‘deeply concerned’ about nonpayment of Koornfontein workers since November 2018 Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday said it was “deeply concerned” that its members and contractors at Koornfontein Colliery, in Mpumalanga, have not received their salaries since November 2018. NUM Highveld regional secretary Tshilidzi Mathavha advised that the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for the mine had paid Optimum employees after the sale of some equipment, following which the union had been informed that the Optimum and Koornfontein operations were detached from one another. This was despite both Optimum and Koornfontein having been placed under business rescue as part of the Gupta-owned Tegeta mines. The union further alleged that the BRPs then continued to pay one month’s salary to Optimum employees, despite an objection from the NUM that it would bring about division among employees of the two mines. "The NUM’s position was clear that BRPs should mobilise enough resources to accommodate all employees before any payment could be made,” Mathavha observed. He went on to indicate that Koornfontein employees were now calling for Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to intervene and resolve the challenges and problems that were facing workers at the mine. Read the full original of the report on this story at Mining Weekly. Read the NUM’s press statement on this matter at Cosatu News Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
SARS closes several branches due to wage strike ANA reports that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) closed several of its branches on Thursday after employees went on strike across the country to press for higher wages. Thousands of workers affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and the Public Servants Association (PSA) downed tools demanding an 11.5% increase. SARS is offering 7%. The employees have rejected a proposal put forward by the CCMA of an 8% increase across the board. Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba said workers would not back down on their demands. According to the tax agency, it has put necessary contingency measures in place to minimise the disruption to taxpayer services across its branches and ports of entry. But, the strike could disrupt customs operations at national ports of entry and enable the flow of drugs and illicit goods. An Airports Company of SA (Acsa) spokesperson could not immediately indicate whether or not SARS officials at airports had been instructed not to join the strike as these were national key points. Read the full original of Siphelele Dludla’s report on the strike at Business Report. Read too, Workers go on strike at SARS, at Independent News. And also, SARS closes several branches as workers down tools, at Fin24 Numsa vows to press on with Foskor strike after court declares it protected ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) in KwaZulu-Natal has urged chemical manufacturer Foskor to meet the demands of workers who have been on strike for more than a week. Numsa regional secretary Mbuso Ngubane observed: "The management is refusing to engage workers, instead, they keep rushing to court in an attempt to block the strike. On Tuesday the Labour Court finally ruled in our favour by rejecting an application to interdict the strike. This is a legally protected strike for all workers at Foskor." Workers are demanding pay progression for every qualification obtained, and a safe and healthy working environment, after some workers fell ill. They are apparently also angry over alleged corruption and mismanagement at the company, particularly after Foskor was reported to have ‘lost’ a train. Ngubane also said that workers wanted payments due to them from the Esops Ownership Scheme and he accused the company of trying to impose an agreement which would not benefit workers. Read the original of the report on the Foskor strike at Engineering News
Gauteng-KZN N3 route near Mooi River shut on Thursday after trucks burnt in protest by drivers TimesLIVE reports that the N3 freeway near Mooi River was closed on Thursday morning following another round of protests by truck drivers. Both the Durban-bound and Johannesburg-bound lanes were affected, according to a traffic official. A number of trucks were reported to have been set alight. This followed the mayhem that erupted on Sunday when another truck protest along the N3 also brought traffic to a standstill. That incident was strongly condemned by transport minister Blade Nzimande. It is understood that truckers were protesting over working conditions and the employment of foreign drivers. The exact nature of the latest protest action was not immediately apparent. Read the full original of Suthentira Govender’s report on the protest and view a video at TimesLIVE Western Cape community healthcare workers march to demand recognition as public servants GroundUp reports that about 200 community health workers marched to the Western Cape Health Department in Cape Town on Tuesday. The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) organised the protest and pointed out in a memorandum that the national health department had committed to integrating community health workers. “We note with great concern that our members in the Western Cape have not yet enjoyed even the smallest benefits they should be enjoying under the agreement,” the union claimed. Noting that NGOs paid health workers R2,400 per month, it said its members were made to suffer “unjustifiable, irresponsible and unfair treatment” from NGOs and non-profit companies “whose main interest is to milk more money out of government through our members’ sweat and literally their blood”. Omar Parker, Western Cape Nupsaw manager, said that because of pressure from the union, the Western Cape Health Department had finally agreed that the workers should be paid R3,500 from 1 April. “We demand back-pay … and a moratorium on retrenchments. We want community health workers to be recognised as public servants because they are the first line in the delivery of health care to poor people,” said Parker. Nupsaw provincial organiser Zama Sonjica warned: “If need be, we will put tools down.” Read the full original of Vincent Lali’s report on the march at GroundUp. Read too, Cape Town community healthcare workers fear losing their jobs, at GroundUp
Sadtu determined to halt vital reforms, Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer charges TimesLIVE reports that according to Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) was determined to undermine attempts to improve schools in the province. Delivering her final budget speech in the provincial legislature on Wednesday, Schäfer said Sadtu was variously opposing departmental plans to publish assessments of schools; open more collaboration schools with private-sector partners; and establish a schools evaluation authority. The MEC indicated that Sadtu had gone to court to challenge the bill that introduced school assessments and collaboration schools, and was also attempting to stop classroom observations by the new evaluation authority. She also said the arrival of 20,000 pupils this year from other provinces was putting her department under financial strain, because government funding did not follow the children to the Western Cape. Read the original of this short report by Dave Chambers at TimesLIVE
CCMA awards backpay to two SABC staffers unfairly bypassed for top post Sowetan reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been ordered to provide backpay to two senior employees in Limpopo for 10 months after they were overlooked for a post in 2017. Sello Sam Mochichila, a current affairs executive producer at Thobela FM, and Rudzani Bologo, an assignment editor at Munghana Lonene in Polokwane, had applied for the post of regional editor in 2017. Instead, a person without the necessary qualifications was appointed. The pair approached the CCMA, which found that the position had been irregularly awarded to Jubie Matlou, who had no journalism qualification and had also failed a vetting process. In the ruling delivered this week, CCMA commissioner Piet Shai found the SABC had committed an unfair labour practice as it had failed to convene a meeting with parties within three days after grievances were lodged and had also breached its policy of preference for internal candidates before going externally. The SABC further appointed Matlou even though he did not qualify in respect of qualifications and vetting. Shai said the manner in which Matlou had been appointed gave the impression that the position was reserved for him regardless. Mochichila stated he had been told by a senior manager that policies at the SABC were not followed due to political interference. SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu was not able to immediately respond to enquiries about the ruling. Read more of this Sowetan report by Peter Ramothwala at SA Labour News
Prasa's beefed up commuter train security in Western Cape yields 347 arrests in 365 days News24 reports that a year after the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) in the Western Cape took on more security resources to stem the tide of criminality on commuter trains, their data shows tangible progress. In 365 days, security personnel responded to 258 incidents, which resulted in 347 arrests. Of the 186 cases presented to court, bail was denied in every case and 27 successful convictions were secured leading to a combined total of 171 years and 6 months in prison. Moreover, since October 2018, the spate of burning of trains had been stopped. According to Richard Walker, Prasa’s regional manager, the problems the agency and commuters faced were multifaceted and interconnected. In order to build on the province's success, there needed to be greater enforcement of legislation, traceable copper transactions, improved criminal convictions and specialist security and forensic services. Walker explained that beyond issues of petty crime aboard trains, the aspect that most afflicted rail operations, and commuters, was the issue of underground signal cable theft - which was lucrative because of its copper content. In the last 12 months alone, R22.6m worth of rail infrastructure had been stolen. On Wednesday, Prasa's security assets were bolstered when they received 19 new security vehicles. Read the full original of Ethan Van Diemen’s informative report on this story at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Moja Cafe waitress strip-searched in dispute over R3,000 restaurant bill TimesLIVE reports that a waitress from popular Soweto hang-out spot, Moja Café, has told how she was forced to strip naked while she was searched by one of her female managers on suspicion that she had stolen from the establishment. In a voice note that has been doing the rounds on social media, the menstruating woman said she was forced to even remove the sanitary towel from her underwear during the search. She said the incident occurred after some of her customers walked out of the establishment without paying their bill. The waitress said on the voice note: "I was harassed [by my manager] because they thought I had the money with me. I was taken to a storeroom and I had to remove all my clothes and they didn't find anything. Worst part, I was on my period and that girl also requested that my pad must be out. She is a colleague of mine, someone that I work with. How will I work with her tomorrow after that?" The woman claimed that the owner of the eatery was aware of the incident, but there had been no sincere apology offered. Following the incident, she was required to continue with her work as normal. Moja Café commented on its social media account: "We acknowledge this matter [and] the sensitivities thereof [and] are investigating it thoroughly.” Read the full original of Naledi Shange report on this story at TimesLIVE. Read too, Moja Café says waitress initiated "humiliating" strip search, at The Star
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