In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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PSA wage strike at Sita from Wednesday will disrupt Home Affairs and Sassa BL Premium reports that services at government departments and state agencies, including home affairs, employment & labour and the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), could be affected when a public service union embarks on a "total shutdown" for above-inflation wage increases on Wednesday. The Public Service Association (PSA), which represents 80% of about 3,000 staff at the State Information Technology Agency (Sita), said it issued the agency with a strike notice on Monday, after wage talks deadlocked. Sita provides IT services to national, provincial and local government departments. PSA assistant GM Reuben Maleka said the union was demanding a 7.5% wage hike, while the employer had moved from 4.5% to 5%. "The PSA is conscious of the implications of the total shutdown, which could adversely affect network connectivity, operations in most government sectors and service delivery. The employer continues to show no interest to resolve the impasse. Employees have been mobilised and are preparing to participate in a total shutdown," Maleka said. He called on communications & digital technologies minister Mondli Gungubele to intervene to resolve the impasse and "instruct the Sita board of directors to improve the salary offer to 7.5%. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). See too, Sassa services at risk as state-run IT firm faces strike, at Moneyweb Sita confident wage strike will be averted, says government IT systems won’t be impacted Fin24 reports that State Information Technology Agency (Sita) employees affiliated to the Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) are planning a nationwide shutdown from Wednesday after salary negotiations reached a deadlock. The shutdown is aimed to create "inconvenience" for government departments, which will be without technical support, and impact government services. The PSA said workers would not return to work unless their demand for a 7.5% salary increases was met. The union represents a majority of Sita employees. PSA general manager Reuben Maleka said the shutdown would aim to create "inconvenience" for government departments because there would a lack of employees to restore any system that experienced technical glitches or shut downs. But, Sita expressed confidence that the planned shutdown would be averted and said it was intent on breaking the deadlock between itself and the PSA. Spokesperson Tlali Tlali indicated: “We have reached out to the union on a number of occasions and presented options which both sides could explore aimed at enabling us to move beyond the disputed issues." He also claimed that industrial action would not affect Sita’s IT systems and said: "Sita activated its contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the industrial action on service delivery to government. The plans include reconstituting structures responsible for operational oversight and business continuity. To date, there has not been any service delivery failure occasioned by the industrial action." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Samwu urges City of Tshwane to return to negotiation table The Citizen reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has called the City of Tshwane back to the negotiating table to resolve an ongoing illegal strike. Samwu’s Papikie Mohale said: “The challenges in Tshwane cannot be resolved through arrogance, political manoeuvring, political opportunism, finger-pointing or violence. Instead, they require respectful and meaningful discussions, which the city has regrettably neglected. In the interest of normalcy, stability, and service delivery, we call on the city to return to the negotiation table.” He added that the union was deeply concerned by the statement made by Tshwanr mayor Cilliers Brink last week that the city had evidence linking a senior Samwu leader in Tshwane to the torching of a waste truck several weeks ago. Mohale said Samwu had not received any communication from the city in that regard, but it “will not tolerate any form of violence against municipal infrastructure or attacks on workers.” He added that in the spirit of transparency and accountability, the union would cooperate with law enforcement authorities and if any of its members were found to have used the union’s name in committing violence, they would face a disciplinary process. According to Brink, the evidence was handed over to the police and the investigation was still ongoing, “but regrettably, no arrests have been made.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen. Read too, Samwu lambastes Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink for implicating union leader in violence, at Pretoria News
Police are zooming in on zama zama ‘big guns’, says Bheki Cele TimesLIVE reports that Police Minister Bheki Cele says the justice, crime prevention and security cluster is not only targeting illegal mining’s foot soldiers, but the focus has shifted to the big guns who benefit from the proceeds of this illegal activity. Addressing journalists on Monday on the sidelines of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, he indicated: “We have moved up to the middle level. We have arrested nine people who are middle class of some form in the zama zamas and those people own beautiful houses. When we visited their houses in Carletonville, all their furniture is imported. (It’s) Italian furniture. In the yard, there are a few Lamborghinis parked there. Then you realise these are the big guns.” Six of the nine are foreign nationals while three are South African. Cele said the Special Investigating Unit had attached 51 of the nine’s cars and seven properties with a combined value of about R38m. He explained that, on the instruction of President Cyril Ramaphosa who wanted a concerted effort to deal with the scourge, various government departments, including the police, state security, home affairs and defence, were working on an integrated approach. Cele also said the courts were getting tougher and that 18 illegal miners arrested in the North West were given six months' imprisonment or R12,000 bail. Generally, the zama zamas were released on a warning, he pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisiwe Makinana at TimesLIVE North West Hawks bust eleven suspects for possession of platinum material and illegal mining equipment IOL News reports that on Sunday in Rustenburg, the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit arrested eleven suspects who were in possession of platinum material and illegal mining equipment. The unit, together with Rustenburg Local Criminal Record Centre, arrested the suspects, aged between 19 and 39, during a disruptive operation. The team was following up on information regarding illegal mining activities that were allegedly taking place at a house in Boitekong. A Hawks spokesperson reported: "Upon arrival, the house was searched, and bags containing platinum material were found. Illegal mining equipment, including compressors, gas bottles, cutting torches, hammers, iron balls, cutting discs, a welding machine, a grinder, and a generator, was seized." The owner of the house was arrested and charged with illegal possession of platinum, while the other ten suspects were arrested and charged with contravention of the Immigration Act. All suspects will make their first appearance in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Sibuliso Duba at IOL News
Emalahleni municipality won't be employing traffic officers who cost taxpayers R2m to train City Press reports that none of the 20 traffic officers that the Emalahleni Local Municipality’s officials and politicians in Mpumalanga irregularly handpicked for training three years ago will be employed as the municipality looks to fill 14 vacancies. The municipality caused a community outcry when the Emalahleni branch of the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) pointed out that unscrupulous officials and councillors abused their powers to ensure that their children, relatives and girlfriends were selected to be trained at the Mpumalanga Traffic College in 2020. It cost the municipality R2 million to train the youngsters. The council has, however, been reluctant to take any decisive action since then about the irregular process. This week, Emalahleni advertised 14 posts, but said none of the 20 officers would be employed even though they had obtained their qualifications. Municipal spokesperson Lebohang Mofokeng said: “The municipality never recruited (the) traffic officers. What we did, we gave the young people of Emalahleni an opportunity to gain qualifications and skills in order for them to be employable.” However, a Sanco member who blew the whistle on the scandal, George Lukhele, said that the municipality would be wasting more if it did not employ the officers it spent money to train. “We understand that the process to select these youngsters was irregular, but since they have now been trained and money was spent, why don’t they absorb them?” Lukhele asked. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sizwe sama Yende at City Press (subscriber access only)
Solidarity heading to UN to put an end to ‘race laws’ Solidarity announced on Monday that it was heading to the United Nations (UN) to demand that the SA government set a definite end date when its policy of “race counting, as well as all concomitant race laws” would be terminated. In a statement, the trade union indicated that the aim of this intensified UN campaign was “to put an end to the government’s obsession with racial legislation which is contrary to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).” Both the SA government and Solidarity will appear before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in late November. Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann indicated: “Earlier this year, the government also wanted to push through legislation that would measure the private sector against race quotas. Those insane racial plans were stopped by the community – thanks to a settlement. However, the great battle has not yet been won and we are continuing the fight. We are fighting even harder. We aim to stifle race laws altogether, and our message is supported by hundreds of thousands of people. The message is that race laws must come to an end. And the time for that is now.” Solidarity said that during the UN visit, it would emphasise that, in terms of international guidelines and conventions, affirmative action must be temporary in nature and it would insist that the SA government set an end date for it. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Polity. Lees ook, Solidariteit na VN: ‘Rasstellende aksie’ moet tydelik wees, by Maroela Media
Transgender pilot’s wings clipped by aviation authority, on ‘medical grounds’ News24 reports that a transgender pilot has had his wings clipped after the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) revoked his licence "on medical grounds". Kailer Smit, from Centurion in Gauteng, who holds a pilot licence, was informed by the SACAA in March this year about the decision to revoke his licence, deeming him "medically temporarily unfit". Smit takes a dose of testosterone weekly. According to the letter sent by the SACAA to Smit, signed by Fatima Alli, the senior aviation medical assessor, the medical evidence revealed a history of "gender affirmation treatment". "Based on the complete review of the available medical evidence, the panel found you to be medically temporarily unfit to exercise the privileges of the class of licence you applied for," the letter stated. Smit had applied for a Class 1 medical certificate, which is required for airline transport pilots and which has the most restrictive medical standards. Smit obtained his pilot's licence in 2011 and has worked professionally since 2015. He claimed he was discriminated against because he was transgender. Referring to a series of blatantly offensive testing – including an IQ test – as a requirement for the reinstatement of his medical certificate, Smit asked: "What are the reasons for such intensive psychological testing? If hormonal imbalance is the only concern, why are people – menopausal, older men, persons on birth control – not subject to the same assessments? Is it not hormonal, after all? Or are you insinuating that transgender people are unwell?" SACAA spokesperson Sisa Majola said that all medical decisions were made in line with applicable regulations and protocols that aligned with international best practices. "There are no regulations or protocols specific to an individual’s sexual orientation," he indicated. Majola confirmed that Smit had appealed against the decision of the Aeromedical Committee and the appeal process was under way. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 (subscriber access only)
No jail time for former Thulamela municipal manager who made unlawful VBS investment TimesLIVE reports that former Thulamela municipality manager Hlengani Emmanuel Maluleke has been sentenced to five years in jail, suspended for the same period, for his role in the approval of an unlawful investment of municipal funds in VBS Mutual Bank. The state entered into a plea and sentence agreement with Maluleke in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Maluleke was out on R30,000 bail after he was arrested by the Hawks in February 2022 for his role in the approval of an unlawful investment of R30m in VBS. The MFMA does not permit municipalities to bank with a mutual bank. Investigations revealed that the CFO did not recommend that the money be invested with VBS and recommended Standard Bank instead. However, in December 2016, Maluleke overruled the recommendation and authorised the opening of an interest-bearing three-month fixed deposit account in the name of Thulamela municipality “as a result of political pressure”. But, according to NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the municipality did not suffer any loss or prejudice as the investment and the interest were paid back to the municipality. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at BusinessLive
Former University of Johannesburg council chair arrested for alleged R14 million graft The Citizen reports that the former chairperson of council at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) was arrested last week by the Hawks on allegations of collusion involving more than R14 million. Professor Roy David Marcus, 76, handed himself over on Friday. Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said that Marcus and his two accomplices, the vice chancellor of finance Andries van Schoor and Adreas Spilhaus, a director at Clarify Investment Corporation, allegedly colluded by submitting invoices to the university for services that were not rendered by the service provider. During his tenure as chairperson of the council, Marcus was the director of the companies that were awarded tenders without due processes having been followed. “Marcus, subsequent to his arrest, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court … and the matter has been postponed to 4 December for docket disclosure. Marcus was released on a warning and will be joined by van Schoor and Spilhaus,” Mogale indicated. Van Schoor and Spilhaus were arrested on 30 August and, after appearing appeared in court, were released on R10,000 bail each. Meanwhile, in August 2018 Marcus and Van Schoor were ordered to pay the university back the R14 million they allegedly siphoned off. Marcus resigned from his position in September 2017, and Van Schoor was fired after disciplinary proceedings in 2017 found that he had breached his employment contract with UJ. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Citizen. See too, Former UJ professor arrested for allegedly defrauding the institution of R14m, at EWN Three Free State traffic officers arrested for corruption after 'asking for bribe' from truck driver TimesLIVE reports that three female traffic officers who allegedly demanded a bribe from a truck driver in the Free State were arrested by the Hawks on Saturday. It is alleged the officers, aged 43, 44, and 45, stopped a truck between Hennenman and Kroonstad for a roadside inspection. “They discovered an apparent Road Traffic Act transgression but made demands for a R2,000 gratification instead of issuing a fine,” a Hawks spokesperson indicated. The employer alerted the police after the driver informed his company. The three were arrested following a sting operation. They are expected to appear in court soon on charges of corruption. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by TimesLIVE SIU freezes R14m worth of assets, including Rolls Royce Phantom, belonging to former senior Lotto staff EWN reports that a Rolls Royce Phantom is among the many luxury vehicles and properties frozen for allegedly having been bought with stolen Lotto money. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to freeze assets worth R14 million belonging to former senior employees of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). This stems from an investigation by the SIU that found corruption at the NLC amounting to approximately R334 million. The SIU uncovered that senior Lotto officials were enriching themselves, their friends and family members through grant money that was earmarked to assist poor communities. The modus operandi of the Lotto officials was to apply for grant funding using non-profit organisations they had ties to. Little of the money went into the projects, with officials using most of it to purchase fixed properties and luxury vehicles. Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana pointed out that the SIU and the Asset Forfeiture Unit had previously obtained two preservation orders for 14 immovable properties worth R67 million in the same case. Mahanjana said the assets would be preserved pending an application for a forfeiture order, in terms of which the State would be looking to have them surrendered as proceeds of crime. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Thabiso Goba at EWN
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