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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Part-time employment drives increase in formal jobs in second quarter BL Premium reports that the number of South Africans with jobs rose 0.4% quarter on quarter in the three months to end-June, driven mainly by an increase in part-time jobs. Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) shows total formal employment rose by 39,000, to 10.078-million from 10.039-million at the end of March, mainly as a result of increases in the community services, business services, mining, and electricity sectors. However, the manufacturing, transport and construction sectors experienced a decline in employment. The manufacturing sector shed 10,000 jobs during the quarter, with persistent load-shedding, logistical constraints and subdued global demand weighing on production. According to Stats SA, part-time employment was the driver of overall formal employment in the second quarter, rising by 64,000 jobs to reach 1.287-million from 1.223-million in March. Full-time employment declined by 25,000 employees in the review quarter, falling to 8.791-million from 8.816-million in the prior three months. The data shows the decrease was mainly due to declines in community services, manufacturing, construction, and transport sectors. Regular salary and wages paid to employees rose by 2.6% or R19.3bn in the second quarter, reaching R757.8bn from R738.5bn in March. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thuletho Zwane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Electricity jobs help push total employment up by 0.4%, at The Citizen. And also, Despite positive Q2 job figures, economy shedding full-time jobs, at EWN
'We are still expected to make miracles', laments SA Navy chief as he calls on government to stop budget cuts News24 reports that in a bid to prevent more deaths at sea, the Chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, has called on the government to stop cutting the navy budget. In a moving memorial service for the three mariners who lost their lives after being swept off the SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie while carrying out a routine training exercise last week, Lobese said the government had to intervene. Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Wynberg Military Indoor Sports Centre to pay their respects to the fallen sailors. Lobese said the tragedy must be a wake-up call to the SA Navy, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), and to the government. "The SANDF and the SA Navy have for too long suffered with constant reductions in our budget. Although our budget is cut every year, our constitutional mandate is not reduced in any way. We are still expected to make miracles with the little money that we have," Lobese lamented. “We have these vessels that we are doing our best to look after, but we need the money to maintain them effectively," he pointed out. The SA Navy said if there were continued budget cuts, it feared tragedies would become more common. "And that is a toll on human life and sacrifice that will be very costly to bear, not only for the navy but for the SANDF and the country as a whole," Lobese said. His pleas were greeted by applause and a loud "yes" from the many at the memorial. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Read too, Submariners’ last moments relived, at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Samwu hopes meeting held with ActionSA will pave way to discussion with Tshwane over wage dispute Pretoria News reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Tshwane has expressed hope that its meeting held on Tuesday with ActionSA will pave a way to a round-table discussion with the metro over the impasse about salary increases. Some members affiliated to Samwu have been on an unprotected strike for more than three months, resulting in disruption of service delivery such as refuse collection and withdrawal of Tshwane Bus Services. Samwu’s Precious Theledi indicated that the meeting with ActionSA had been fruitful in the sense that “we wanted political parties in council to understand where we are coming from”. Theledi said the way forward was for ActionSA to try to get the city and unions to a round-table discussion “because the executive mayor is saying he is not going to have a round-table with Samwu – as if not having a round-table is a victory to him”. She added that Brink must stop overstepping on administrative matters and allow city manager Johann Mettler to have a round-table with the unions. ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni also hailed the meeting as successful, saying it was meant to assist in ending the strike action in the city, which “negatively affects service delivery to all residents in the capital city”. He said the party had already raised concerns at the multi-party coalition management committee, where it had engaged Brink, “urging a departure from the dismissal of municipal workers’ concerns and rather to engage proactively with unions in the best interest of the residents of the city”. That did not find agreement and therefore the matter has been referred to the national coalition oversight group. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rapula Moatshe at Pretoria News EFF supporters block entrance to Tshwane House in support of dismissed workers EWN reported on Thursday afternoon that some Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters who were protesting over the City of Tshwane’s wage dispute had completely blocked the entrance to the municipality’s offices in the CBD. The party said it wanted Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink, who was at that time attending a council sitting, to reinstate the municipal workers who were fired nearly two months ago. Over 100 workers, who were calling for a 5.4% wage increase, were dismissed for leading violent and unlawful protests. Hundreds of EFF supporters vowed to keep the entrance to Tshwane House blocked until Brink addressed the dismissed workers. While there was a heavy police presence at the building on Thursday afternoon, EFF supporters were seemingly undeterred as they picketed outside the basement parking. The EFF meanwhile requested the council to adjourn Thursday’s meeting in support of the dismissed employees. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN. Read too, EFF march to put pressure on Tshwane to reinstate municipal workers dismissed for strike action, at Pretoria News
Ramaphosa welcomes Lesotho’s commitment to curb illegal mining in SA The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed Lesotho’s commitment to cooperate with South Africa to deal with the challenges of illegal mining. On Wednesday, he hosted Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Samuel Matekane, for the inaugural session of the South Africa–Lesotho bi-national commission. Ramaphosa noted that illegal mining carried a great social and economic cost for both countries. Earlier this year, 31 illegal miners died after accessing a disused mine shaft on property owned by Harmony Gold Mine in Welkom, Free State. Three bodies were reportedly retrieved. Ramaphosa said the respective governments were working with the mining company on the best methods and plan of retrieving the bodies of the miners without endangering the rescue personnel. Ramaphosa went on to state: “We welcome the commitment made by the prime minister to prioritise the implementation and completion of the comprehensive National Reforms Process. We commend the government and people of the Kingdom of Lesotho for finalising the Action Plan to monitor the completion of the reforms process.” He also welcomed Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, saying it was a vital development to enhance water security in Gauteng and other parts of the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at The Citizen SA and Lesotho join forces to fight illegal mining TimesLIVE reports that SA and Lesotho on Thursday promised to fight illegal mining and the two neighbours undertook to work together to improve their trade and other relations. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Samuel Matekane spoke at the inaugural session of the binational commission in Pretoria on Thursday. Referring to the deaths of 31 illegal miners earlier this year, Ramaphosa said: “We were deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of lives of illegal miners in Harmony Gold Mine in Welkom. Our respective governments are working with the mining company on the best methods‚ as well as the plan that has been put in place‚ to retrieve the remains of the miners without endangering the rescue personnel.” He went on to indicate that the matter was highly sensitive and “emotive”‚ particularly for the people of Lesotho‚ so SA would “do everything we can to make sure this whole challenge ... is properly handled”. Both leaders were aware of the “sensitivity and complexity” of the matter‚ said Ramaphosa. According to the SA President, the elevation of the bilateral commission of co-operation between the two countries to a binational commission was testament to the unwavering commitment to bolster relations. Matekane said his visit to SA was not only about strengthening ties between the two countries but also to celebrate the launch of the binational commission agreement, which ushered in a new beginning in the relationship between the two countries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Amanda Khoza at BusinessLive Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Invest in research and capacity, say Brics labour federations BL Premium reports that labour federations from the Brics bloc have called for investment in policy and research capacity to advance industrial, scientific and technological innovations in a bid to enhance workers’ skills and create jobs. The union federations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA held the 12th Brics Trade Union Forum in Durban on Tuesday and Wednesday to deliberate on issues aimed at advancing social justice, peace and dignity for the working class. The forum also dealt with targeted investment in people for inclusive development, job creation, elimination of income inequalities, and advancing social protection for workers and their communities. In its declaration, the forum noted the fast-paced global transformation processes under way, which were driven by major scientific breakthroughs that had changed economic and workplace skills. “However, these developments leave many workers, communities and societies behind. The struggle for inclusivity, participation and shared benefit require deliberate integration, capacity and strategies,” the forum said. Speaking on behalf of the forum at the employment & labour ministerial meeting in Durban on Thursday, Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi said: “Brics has an important role to play in geopolitics, but we need it to evolve as a forum for economic development, infrastructure investment and job creation.” This, she said, must include the expansion of tourism and transport connections, and the promotion of trade and investment, and educational exchange programmes. “We must be sensitive to the differing economic needs of our countries and find ways to complement each other,” Losi noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Chicken and egg prices set to soar ahead of festive season Moneyweb reports that industry insiders and economists have confirmed that South African shoppers will have to stomach higher poultry meat and egg prices as the sector battles its worst highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak yet. The severity of the anticipated price shocks is as yet unclear, but Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) says that shortages could last well into the festive season as the industry tries to gain control over the situation. “We are already seeing shortages in commercial table eggs in the marketplace and that will put upwards pressure on the price of table eggs. The second one is obviously chicken meat – we forecast that we will see a shortage of chicken meat going into the festive season and that will also put upwards pressure on the prices of chicken meat,” said Breitenbach. There is however hope that the implementation of some mitigating measures will help soften the pricing blow. One of these is the possible importing of some 11.5 million fertilised eggs to offset local shortages. These eggs will help plug the shortfall of broiler chickens. Also, the industry expects to rely a lot more on chicken imports and total imports leading up to the December period will see a significant uptick. But, FNB agricultural economist Paul Makube points out that the decision by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) to impose anti-dumping duties on chicken imports this year might now hurt consumers since the duties push up the cost of imported poultry meat. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Akhona Matshoba at Moneyweb Rainbow culls 410,000 chickens amid bird flu outbreak Reuters reports that RCL Foods said on Thursday that its poultry unit Rainbow had culled 410,000 chickens due to SA’s worst outbreak of avian flu, heightening fears of chicken meat and egg shortages. The outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a bird flu which spreads rapidly in an infected flock causing a high death rate, has already impacted table egg supplies in the country and producers have warned of chicken meat shortages in the coming weeks. Rainbow is one of SA’s largest chicken producers, supplying retailers and fast food businesses. The company said it was taking steps to avert supply disruptions, but “there is tension in the supply chain.” On Wednesday, Namibia suspended poultry imports from SA, citing the bird flu outbreak. However, SA only exports between 1% and 2% of its production, according to the country’s poultry producers’ association. Last week, RCL’s peers, including the country’s largest integrated poultry processor Astral Foods and Quantum Foods, said the bird flu outbreak was ravaging a sector that was already burdened by SA’s electricity crisis and rising costs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nelson Banya at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Union boss wants Unisa Vice-Chancellor to apologise publicly for ‘rape’ slur The Star reports that the general secretary of the National Association of South African Workers (Nasa), Mpho Morolane, has unleashed his lawyers on Unisa vice-chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula, who is reported to have verbally abused him and called him a rapist. In a letter dated 22 September to LenkaBula, Morolane’s lawyers, England Slabbert Attorneys, indicated: “It has come to our client’s attention that you have recently made defamatory and/or intimidatory and/or harassing statements regarding our client. These statements were made over social media, being WhatsApp messages on August 19, 2023.” It is not clear what might have caused the feud between the two. Among the defamatory statements alleged to have been made by the VC were the following: “You will be happy that you are a wolf (sic) in sheep skin, violently assaulting, raping, harming women, and digging their graves as you rejoice ... Your ongoing extortions of money, favours, and silencing women may make you feel strong ... You know people who claim you have raped them or assaulted them.” The letter further noted: Nasa workers on August 21, 2023, were recently granted organisational rights within Unisa, which rights you are avoiding and attempting to prevent from being exercised. You are accordingly accusing our client, as you have done, in an attempt to distract workers from insisting on the implementation of the rights granted to Nasa to represent them.” Morolane’s lawyers gave the VC until the close of business on Wednesday to apologise and withdraw her statements. They also wanted her to make a public statement on social media platforms. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star
IFP calls for KZN Education MEC to investigate allegations of bribery in awarding of school posts The Mercury reports that the IFP has called on KwaZulu-Natal Education (KZN) MEC Mbali Frazer to investigate allegations of bribery in the appointment of a principal at a school in northern KZN. The call was made by IFP Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa during a sitting of the house on Thursday where she expressed the party’s unhappiness over such reports. “The allegations made by a school governing body member on how a principal landed his job by offering a bribe of three cattle and R120,000 in cash to the SGB members is evidence that the process of selecting candidates for appointment in the education sector is riddled with inconsistencies,” claimed the MPL. She noted that it had been further alleged that a post of a deputy principal had been sold for R80,000, adding that this also warranted probing. The KZN Department of Education said it had been made aware of the matter through the media. “The matter is being investigated by the Departments Employee Relations both at Head Office and District Level,” it indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibusiso Mboto at The Mercury
FF+ shocked over the increase in police arrests for various crimes The Star reports that Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader Pieter Groenewald is worried about the increase in the number of police arrests since 2019. On Tuesday, Groenewald said he had learnt with shock from the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that more than 5,489 police members had been arrested for various crimes, including murder and rape, since the 2019/2020 financial year. According to Groenewald, the figures painted a grim picture of how bad crime was in South Africa. “The fact that a total of 5,489 police members have been arrested for criminal offences since the 2019/20 financial year demonstrates just how deeply rooted criminality is in the police force. Of the 5,489 cases, 383 arrests were made for serious crimes including murder, rape and livestock theft,” he pointed out. According to the minister, no policeman was arrested for alleged involvement in a farm murder. Groenewald said getting the figures was a difficult undertaking, with Cele only disclosing them to the FF+ after several weeks of being unable to produce them as the relevant information system was reportedly faulty. “These figures clearly show that there is a serious problem with criminality in the police force, and the public cannot be blamed for increasingly losing faith in a police service that is run by incompetent people,” Groenewald said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor's report explains why City manager must be suspended immediately News24 reports that according to a report tabled by the Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, Gary van Niekerk, at a special council meeting in the metro on Wednesday, it was imperative that the fraud-accused city manager be suspended immediately, otherwise, important documents and evidence she had access to might disappear. The report recommends that Noxolo Nqwazi be placed on special leave, with full pay, with immediate effect. She is currently on trial in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, facing charges of fraud and corruption. The charges stem from her alleged involvement in a toilet tender of more than R24 million, which was fraudulently awarded by the municipality a few years ago. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana highlighted Nqwazi's removal as one of the conditions to disburse more than R700 million in Equitable Share Grant funding owed to the municipality since July. Last week, Godongwana told Van Niekerk the funds would be released if the municipality took action against Nqwazi. Van Niekerk subsequently drafted the report and gave a list of reasons why Nqwazi should go. However, the DA's Retief Odendaal wanted to know whether the disciplinary board could investigate Nqwazi because she had already been cleared of all wrongdoing by the same board at the beginning of the year. According to the metro's chief operations officer, Christopher Dyani, charges against Nqwazi can be referred to the disciplinary board for investigation, but only if the charges are fresh. The matter will be revisited in the next council meeting, scheduled for 12 October. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Candice Bezuidenhout at News24
Commuter who had legs amputated after fall from crowded train to get half of R1.2m damages awarded by court Pretoria News reports that a train commuter who lost his legs after he fell out of a crowded train while trying to disembark at Johannesburg Station, claimed more than R8.6 million from the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa). Khathutshelo Mogano turned to the South Gauteng High Court, where he blamed Prasa for the fact that he now has to use a wheelchair. His legal action arose from an incident that took place 10 years ago. He told the court that on the day, he had boarded a train from Soweto, where he lived, heading to Johannesburg Station. The train had arrived safely but had been crowded. As Mogano had been about to disembark, the train had moved, causing him to lose his balance. He had been dislodged from the train, and as a result, had fallen underneath it and between the platform and the train. He blamed Prasa for the incident and said the rail operator had failed to ensure the safety of the commuters by not deploying enough guards to oversee things. Prasa, however, settled the issue of liability with Mogano and it was agreed that both parties were equally negligent. Under the agreement, Mogano, who was 23 when the accident happened, would be entitled to 50% of the damages he could prove he had suffered. The judge ordered Prasa to pay Mogano R1.2m in general damages. He is due to receive half the amount because of the agreement on shared negligence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at Pretoria News
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