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.
|
By majority vote, commission recommends increase of CPI plus 3% in national minimum wage TimesLIVE reports that a majority of the commissioners on the National Minimum Wage Commission has recommended that the national minimum wage (NMW) should increase next year by Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 3%. The commission comprises representatives from organised labour, business, community and experts in the field of labour market and conditions of employment. It published a report in the Government Gazette ahead of presenting its recommendations on the annual review of the NMW and invited written comments from the public. While a majority of commissioners favoured the CPI plus 3% proposal, the business constituency recommended an increase equivalent to CPI, while an independent expert recommended CPI plus 0.75%. In 2023, the hourly NMW rose by 9.6% from R23.19 to R25.42 per hour. The public has until 8 January next year to make written representations. Employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi will announce in February the new adjusted rate, which will come into operation from 1 March. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE. See too, Commission recommends above-inflation increase to minimum wage, at Fin24
Dan Marokane set to be appointed as new Eskom CEO Fin24 reports that Dan Marokane, who is currently at the helm of sugar producer Tongaat-Hulett and was previously head of group capital at Eskom, is set to be appointed as chief executive officer of Eskom. A special Cabinet meeting has apparently been called for Friday to approve the appointment, with an announcement imminent. Eskom declined to give details on Thursday evening, with spokesperson Daphne Mokwena indicating: "Eskom would like to reiterate that the process of the appointment of the group chief executive is with the shareholder and once the decision is made, an announcement will be made public." Former chief executive André de Ruyter gave notice of his resignation a year ago, in December, 2022, and abruptly exited his post early in February, 2023, after an explosive television interview. However, the process to find a new CEO then hit a lengthy roadblock. Calib Cassim, the company’s chief financial officer, has been the interim head since De Ruyter left. Meantime, Tshepo Monaheng is set to be appointed as CEO of embattled state-owned arms manufacturer Denel. Mohaneng is currently CEO at the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) – one of the few SOEs in SA that was profitable in the last financial year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24. Read too, Dan Marokane to be picked as new Eskom CEO, at Moneyweb
Durban cop shot several times entering his driveway IOL News reports that an off-duty cop survived a shooting in the Pinetown area on Wednesday night. The incident took place on Gumtree Road in Nazareth just before 10pm. According to police, the 35-year-old man had just got out of his car to open the gate when he noticed a motor vehicle, with four unknown suspects, who opened fire on him. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the victim retaliated, firing shots at the suspects and wounding two of them, aged 35 and 38. They were taken to hospital where they are under police guard. They will appear in court once they are discharged from hospital. The policeman was apparently shot in his stomach and arm and was taken to hospital for further care. A case of attempted murder is being investigated by Pinetown police. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL News
Over 250 Bakubung Platinum Mine workers stage illegal sit-in underground The Citizen reported on Thursday that a group of Wesizwe Platinum workers believed to be more than 250 miners staged an illegal sit-in underground over wages at the company’s Bakubung Platinum Mine outside Rustenburg. Wesizwe did not indicated how many employees were involved, but said they refused to surface at the end of their shift on Wednesday. “Demands have been made by the participating employees. Management together with local union representatives are engaging with the purpose of returning all employees to surface,” the company advised. July Radibe, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Rustenburg Regional Chairperson said they wanted to engage with mine management over their demands. The miners were apparently demanding salary increases and a review of the mine’s pregnancy policy. Radibe added that the union’s members wanted the basic salary of miners to start at R16,000. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen. See too, Mining labour unrest hits Wesizwe's Bakubung platinum mine, at EWN. And also, 250 NUM members stage illegal underground sit-in at Wesizwe Platinum, at Fin24 Implats shaft accident survivor recalls free-falling nightmare TimesLIVE reports that Zaphalala Mzo, who survived the shaft accident that claimed the lives of 13 of his colleagues at an Impala Platinum (Implats) mine in Rustenburg in the North West, does not think he will ever go back to work underground. Mzo started working at the mine as a machine operator in 2005. Speaking on Wednesday, he described how the deadly 27 November lift conveyance accident unfolded. Mzo said they were still inside the conveyance, when they heard a sound and that was when the lift went down. “We heard that it has cut off. We could feel it went off [from the rope controlling the lift]. From the way it moved, it was free-falling. We were crying and screaming while holding each other saying ‘what is happening, how can the lift go off with us inside?’” They heard a sound on top of the conveyance and assumed it was the sound of the rope. The conveyance landed at the bottom section. “People who were working at the bottom section came as we were screaming. We were all injured. The lift was full of blood. We asked [a co-worker] to open it for us. He tried to open it, but he was unable to,” Mzo said. The top of the conveyance was opened and two colleagues – including a female safety rep – pulled them up as they raised their arms to be lifted out. “We then sat on the ground. They cut open [the lift] with the cutting torch and then took out the rest of us. This was the moment when they realised that some of the people had died,” Mzo added. Implats on Wednesday held a memorial service for the miners who had died. Some of the relatives of the deceased complained that the accident was due to negligence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phathu Luvhengo at BusinessLive Implats pledges financial support for families of deceased workers EWN reports that Impala Platinum (Implats) has assured families of the 13 mineworkers who died at one of its shafts that their children’s school fees and financial needs would be taken care of. The mineworkers died last week after a conveyance carrying them to the surface plunged to the bottom of the shaft due to a mechanic fault. Speaking at the memorial service held at the mine on Wednesday afternoon, the company’s CEO Moses Motlhageng urged the families not to worry. He said the mine would ensure employment opportunities were made available to the deceased workers' children on top of a promise to settle their tuition fees. Motlhageng said plans would also be made to ensure the affected families have a stable income on a monthly basis. "Implants Group We Care programme will be assisting families with immediate needs such as counselling, arrangement for transport or accommodation for funeral arrangements," he explained. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said it was time mining companies stopped maximising profits while undermining safety. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN Jobs of hundreds of Gold One miners at stake after 'hostage' drama EWN reports that hundreds of jobs are on the line at the Gold One Modder East mine. This as the mining company takes stock of the effects of a hostage drama that unfolded there over a month ago. A labour dispute over organisational rights at the mine, in Springs, saw over 500 workers failing to resurface from an underground shaft. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) claimed it was a hostage situation, while rival union Amcu (Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) classified it as a voluntary sit-in. Management at Gold One has confirmed that it is in the process of concluding disciplinary hearings for all of the mineworkers who were involved in the three-day event. They’re all accused of staging a wildcat strike at the mine, endangering lives in the process and costing the company millions of rands. NUM is representing close to 200 workers in the hearings, and it contends that some workers were held against their will and, therefore, should not have been charged. “It wouldn’t be fair that all of them are then facing the same charge. We believe the company must do a proper investigation and charge those that are responsible for that crime" said NUM's regional organiser Victor Ngwane. He added that some workers have snubbed the process. Meanwhile, Gold One said it expected that workers brought before the disciplinary committee would know their fate in the next few days. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Nokukhanya Mntambo at EWN
Business rescuer confirms six thousand Post Office employees to be retrenched SABC News reports that Business Rescue Practitioner Anoosh Rooplal has confirmed that they are going ahead with the retrenchment of almost 6,000 employees at the SA Post Office (Sapo). Creditors have voted to approve a business rescue plan that is aimed at rescuing the ailing state owned entity, which includes retrenching 6,000 of the company’s 11,000 employees. Around 420 Sapo branches will also be closed. The rescue plan, first published by joint business rescue practitioners Rooplal and Juanito Damons last month, is contingent on a new R3.8 billion state-funded bailout. Rooplal commented: “Unfortunately, it’s not a great thing, we have to retrench 6 000 employees the formal process will now commence.” Listen to an interview with Anoosh Rooplal at SABC News
Workers under Barbara Creecy’s “cleaning and greening” project in Gqeberha demand unpaid wages and protective gloves GroundUp reports that disgruntled workers employed by the Municipal Cleaning and Greening Programme (MCGP) launched by Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs (DFFE) Minister Barbara Creecy protested on Thursday in Gqeberha. They were demanding unpaid wages, and that they be provided with cleaning items such as gloves. About 50 workers dressed in blue overalls held placards and chanted outside a council meeting of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. They help the municipality improve its waste collection, ensure landfill compliance and promote recycling. Creecy gave a speech about the employment programme in Motherwell on 10 November. It is in partnership with provinces and municipalities, who assist in recruiting public works participants for the programme, provide protective clothing and cleaning materials. Creecy’s department pays them their stipends. On Thursday, workers who have been on the job since October claimed they had not been paid. They apparently work eight hours a day at R16 per hour. They also complained that they have been picking up human faeces without gloves. Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki promised he would escalate the workers’ complaints to the relevant department. DFFE spokesperson Peter Mbelengwa promised to follow up with the project managers and get back to the workers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thamsanqa Mbovane at GroundUp
'Exodus' of doctors if NHI bill is signed into law, healthcare bodies warn Fin24 reports that numerous healthcare associations say SA will see an "exodus" of doctors, while the country’s struggling poor and middle-class will suffer through higher taxes if President Cyril Ramaphosa signs the 'unconstitutional' National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law in its current form. The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) voted on Wednesday in favour of the bill. It aims to establish universal healthcare for all South Africans by abolishing the "two-tier" system, in which the bulk of healthcare spending is made in the private sector for the benefit of the few, while the mass of the population is relegated to the "underfunded" public sector. While the SA Medical Association (SAMA), the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) and the Hospital Association of SA (HASA), all expressed their commitment to universal health coverage, they said the legislation suffered from fundamental problems, including a lack of input or participation from the industry during the process. SAMA, which represents nearly 13,000 doctors in both the public and private sectors, specifically warned of an exodus of skilled professionals. "SAMA notes with concern the exclusion of medical doctors and other healthcare professionals from significant contributions to the practical aspects of the NHI Bill. The absence of their input in decision-making processes, including the composition of the NHI board, poses a risk of a healthcare workforce exodus. In order to ensure the success of the NHI, it is imperative to include healthcare professionals in all relevant boards and decision-making processes," the association said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Ahmed Areff at Fin24. Read too, Business groups set to petition Ramaphosa not to sign NHI Bill into law, at City Press (subscriber access only)
Evidence against murder-accused head of Fort Hare investigations is inadmissible, defence argues News24 reports that the defence team of the University of Fort Hare's (UFH’s) head of investigations and vetting, Isaac Plaatjies, told the court that it intended to challenge the admissibility of the evidence against him. Plaatjies was arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder by the SAPS national task team, which is probing the killings at the university. The State alleges that Plaatjies is part of the syndicate that killed the university's fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and Mboneni Vesele, who was Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu's bodyguard. On Wednesday, the national task team's lead investigator, Sergeant Metla Mokoena, told the court that investigators were shocked when they analysed the cellphone data of Thamsanqa Mgwetyana, who is accused number nine. He said the data showed that Mgwetyana and Plaatjies had been in constant contact with each other. However, Plaatjies' senior counsel, Danie Dörfling, argued that communication between his client and Mgwetyana did not prove any crime. He said the State had yet to prove Mgwetyana was a hitman. Dörfling said the other evidence the State was relying on had been unlawfully obtained from Plaatjies' cellphone. He alleged that the investigating team was given the wrong search and seizure warrant. It was through Plaatjies' cellphone that they established his links to other hitmen, according to investigators. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Johnnie Isaacs at News24
Four senior executives suspended at SA Institute of Professional Accountants Moneyweb reports that four members of the executive of the SA Institute of Professional Accountants (Saipa) have been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of a forensic investigation. The investigation was initiated by the Saipa board following governance concerns and serious allegations relating to irregular expenditure, costs associated with the development of an unapproved strategy, and other unaccounted spending. After chief executive Shahied Daniels and operations executive Gavin Isaacs were suspended, it was discovered that fellow executives Nosheena Mansoor and Thomas Nyamvura were attempting to disrupt the investigation, so they were suspended too. Saipa chair Prem Govender pointed out in her communication to members that the precautionary suspensions did not suggest or presume wrongdoing or guilt. Tia van der Sandt, the institute’s risk and compliance committee chair, has been appointed acting chief executive. Govender said Saipa had identified a “suitable service provider” to conduct the forensic investigation, which is expected to be concluded early next year. Meanwhile, a group of “concerned members” wrote a letter to the board requesting a special general meeting of Saipa members. In the letter, the group claimed the appointment of Van der Sandt as acting chief executive was “unconstitutional and inappropriate”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Amanda Visser at Moneyweb
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge to face tribunal over sexual harassment allegation News24 reports that Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge will be tried by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal regarding his alleged sexual harassment of Makhanda High Court official Andiswa Mengo. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed that the complaint had been referred to a Judicial Conduct Tribunal for further investigation. Mbenenge was not immediately recommended for suspension while the tribunal does its work, because the JSC deferred a decision on that matter. Instead, he sought special leave from Chief Justice Raymond Zondo from 4 December 2023 until next March. The JSC's decision came almost three months after the Judicial Conduct Committee recommended that a tribunal be constituted, after it found that Mengo had "a prima facie case, which, if substantiated, would likely result in a finding of gross misconduct" against Mbenenge. The law requires that the committee's recommendation be confirmed by the JSC. Zondo has to constitute the tribunal and provide the terms of reference. The tribunal will collect evidence, conduct a formal hearing, make findings of fact, and make a determination on the merits of the allegations brought against Mbenenge by Mengo. If the tribunal finds Mbenenge guilty of the charge brought against him, and the JSC accepts that finding, the judge president could face impeachment by Parliament and eventual removal from office. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ray Hartle at News24
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page