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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related reports.
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Ten teachers among 13 killed in Limpopo horror crash IOL News reports that a road accident claimed the lives of thirteen individuals, ten of whom were teachers, in a devastating crash that occurred in Limpopo during the early hours of Tuesday morning. The head-on collision, involving a Toyota Minibus and a Hyundai flatbed truck, took place on the R521 between Polokwane and Dendron. The Limpopo Department of Education said the teachers were stationed in the Capricorn North Education District. Vongani Chauke, spokesperson for Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Florence Radzilani, confirmed that thirteen people were killed in the crash – both drivers as well as nine female and two male taxi passengers. It is believed that the teachers were on their way to school. Chauke said the cause of the accident was "reckless driving" on the part of the truck driver, who was reportedly on the wrong side of the road. "It's possible at that time in the morning that there was mist on the road," he said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL News. Read too, Thirteen killed in Limpopo horror crash between truck and taxi transporting teachers, at News24. En ook, 10 onderwysers onder 13 wat in Limpopo sterf, by Maroela Media IEC officials at two Eastern Cape voting stations quit due to intimidation TimesLIVE reports that intimidation of Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) staff in Ntabankulu in the Eastern Cape led to the resignation of officials at two voting stations. IEC Eastern Cape electoral officer Kayakazi Magudumana advised that police had had to take over the running of the two stations, which only opened at 2.30pm. “There are two stations in Ntabankulu, in ward 17, and those two stations are where we received resignations [of IEC officials] ... [there were] people intimidating voting station staff. It’s people that have their own issues about service delivery and because of their unhappiness about the whole issue of voting they started intimidating staff working in those two stations. We had to release them and the two stations now are manned by [an] SAPS contingency,” said Magudumana on Wednesday. She added: “They [protesters] are still outside the stations to intimidate people not to go in.” According to Magudumana, even if no-one from the community came to vote at the two stations they would remain open. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aphiwe DeKlerk at TimesLIVE
SG Convenience employees’ wage strike enters second week Daily News reports that about 600 employees of Super Group Convenience (SG Convenience) across the country have been protesting since 20 May to secure a 15% salary increase and a better working environment. The branches include Durban, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Nelspruit. Mashudu Raphetha, general secretary of the Dynamic Peoples’ Union of SA (Dypusa), said that nothing had changed since last week and the employer was still not engaging with the protesting staff. One employee, Mandisa Modise, said there have been false accusations from the employer that the strikers had become violent. “What we are upset about is that the employer has accused us of intimidating their staff and carrying sugarcane sticks as weapons. We have never done anything of that sort even as the operations have continued as normal. And they have also brought back nine employees who were part of the protest into the company,” she stated. Modise added that a disciplinary hearing had been called by the employer, but the union had refused for the members to be disciplined while on strike. According to the company’s notice to the union, video footage showed individuals “acting collectively and or associating themselves with unlawful conduct, threatening behaviour making use of, but not limited, sticks and bricks, obstruction of road to and from premises.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phindile Nqumako at Daily News Defiant Numsa continues ‘illegal’ protest outside steel company offices The Star reports that on Tuesday, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) held yet another “unlawful” picket outside the offices of SA Steel Mills (SASM) in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg. The action was in defiance of last Thursday’s court order. Tuesday’s protest took place on the back of a series of events that resulted in industrial action in April after the new management of SASM (now Alfeco Holdings) refused to implement the demands of several Numsa shop stewards. Also last week, Acting Judge Ntsoane declared that the strike in which Numsa’s members were participating was not in compliance with the Labour Relations Act. The court ruled that gathering at any of SASM’s entrances or blocking any entrances was illegal. The court also reportedly declared that Numsa should neither encourage nor incite any of SASM’s employees to participate in the strike. The court cautioned against any form of intimidation. Numsa regional secretary-general in the region, Kabelo Ramokhathali, said in a statement that said the reason its members were embarking on protests was to ensure that the company was prevented from firing its 165 employees for exercising their democratic right to protest for better working conditions. Numsa claimed that some of its workers were assaulted and brutally beaten by the private security employed by the steel company. Last week, union members were accused of beating up a woman by the name of Lindiwe Nsibande. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
BHP walks away from its Anglo American takeover deal Reuters reports that mining group BHP on Wednesday walked away from its $49bn plan to take over rival Anglo American, which rejected a last-ditch request for more time. That ended, for now, BHP’s six-week pursuit of its rival. Anglo had granted BHP a one-week extension until 4pm on Wednesday to its original 22 May deadline to submit a binding offer, after rejecting a third takeover proposal that it dismissed as difficult to execute. “While we believed that our proposal for Anglo American was a compelling opportunity to effectively grow the pie of value for both sets of shareholders, we were unable to reach agreement with Anglo American on our specific views in respect of South African regulatory risk and cost,” BHP said in a statement. Anglo had agreed to hold talks with BHP to try to iron out concerns over the structure of the proposed deal, namely its condition that Anglo unbundle its SA platinum and iron ore units before the takeover. In an earlier statement, BHP said it needed more time to engage with Anglo, while outlining commitments to minimise regulatory risk in SA and saying it would offer a break fee if the deal failed to gain regulatory approvals. Those commitments included job security for employees in SA. BHP also said it would shoulder the costs of increased SA employee ownership that was expected to be required in any demerger. But Anglo said those commitments were not enough. Anglo, meanwhile, has outlined its own plan to divest less profitable assets and focus on expanding copper output. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Clara Denina, Felix Njini & Melanie Burton at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Household food basket prices for low-income consumers slightly lower in May The Citizen reports that the average prices for the household food basket for low-income consumers were slightly lower in May, although the basket still cost substantially more than a year ago. The household basket is part of the Household Affordability Index compiled by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group based on prices collected by women in low-income communities at 47 supermarkets and 32 butcheries. The survey conducted at supermarkets and butcheries in Joburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Mtubatuba and Springbok showed that in May the average cost of the Household Food Basket was R5,330.30, a decrease of R6.01 from R5,336.31 in April The basket was R258.70 more expensive than in May 2023, when it cost R5,071.59. Mervyn Abrahams, programme coordinator for the group, commented that the data was starting to show an easing in the annual rate of inflation on the household food basket of 5.1%, however, “while the rate of inflation is coming down it is important to note that inflation on food is still 5.1% higher now than it was a year ago.” In addition, Abrahams noted, the Rand-value cost of the basket was still very high compared to the low baseline wage of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), that stood at R4,633.44 this month. He pointed out that the wage workers earned was not just to sustain themselves alone but to support the entire family. “For black South African workers, one wage typically supports four people. Dispersed in a worker’s family of four, the NMW is R1,158.36 per person, far below the upper-bound poverty line of R1,558 per person per month.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen. Read too, South Africa’s consumer food inflation slows further, at Mail & Guardian
Ster-Kinekor staying alive, says CEO MyBroadband reports that Ster-Kinekor CEO Mark Sardi believes cinema has a bright future in SA despite headwinds like the popularity of streaming services, load-shedding, and the effect of the Hollywood actor’s strike. Ster-Kinekor entered voluntary business rescue proceedings in January 2021. It exited business rescue in November 2022. However, it recently announced plans to slash a large portion of its workforce and shutter several cinemas nationwide. It noted that factors like the challenging economic environment in SA, load-shedding, and the Hollywood strikes had led to significantly lower attendance. “As these are forces largely out of the business’s control and the financial impact is likely to endure for some time, Ster-Kinekor Theatres has had to review its cost structure to ensure the continued survival and sustainability of its business,” the company indicated. On 13 February 2024, it issued affected staff with so-called section 189(3) notices. It plans to retrench 236 of its 728 employees. Affected positions include those in the CEO’s office, marketing, sales, human capital, business operations, content, finance, head office, regional operations, and information technology. It also revealed plans to close up to nine cinemas in SA’s most populous provinces. It is also reviewing plans to close another eight cinemas. Some commentators have suggested that the cinema chain exited business rescue prematurely. In an interview with 702, Sardi, acknowledged that some aspects of the business should have been evaluated more closely. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Myles Illidge at MyBroadband
Guild of Actors looking into alleged exploitation of extras on the set of second season of ‘Shaka Ilembe’ Sunday Tribune reports that SA Guild of Actors (SAGA) is looking into a case of gross exploitation after receiving complaints from numerous extras on the set of the second season of “Shaka Ilembe”. According to SAGA chairman Jack Devnarain, since the end of April, more than a hundred individuals were brought at their own cost to Joburg from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga to work on the second season of the popular production. Devnarain reported further: “Last Wednesday (22 May), I went out to one of the houses in Kempton Park, where more than 30 people were staying. There was a particular extra, a 55-year-old woman, who told us that they had no food, so we took food to her. She was terrified to speak to us. She said that the agent is there and watching her and she is afraid of what is going to happen if she’s seen talking to us.” Later that night, Devnarain received a call from the woman, saying that she had been kicked out of the accommodation and everyone was being put into taxis and taken to an undisclosed location in Tembisa, but she was not among them. “She was fired and she spent the night outside in a veld,” said Devnarain. She revealed that there are other houses and an entire tented camp in Cosmo City, which was built in a open veld. After the message was shared on social media, well over a hundred people came forward. “It was astounding to me that you have well over a hundred people being housed in different places and it seemed ridiculous to me that the production company itself, Bomb Production, apparently had no knowledge of the conditions they were being kept in,” said Devnarain. Meanwhile, Bomb Productions is investigating the matter. It said: “Our investigation found people had paid the casting agency for accommodation but were living in what we deemed an unsafe and undignified makeshift camp-site. Bomb management acted swiftly, demanding Becky Casting address the worrying situation and disband, we also informed the local authorities.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alyssia Birjalal at Sunday Tribune
Solidarity hails judgment on race at Eskom as a ‘major breakthrough’ Solidarity expressed the hope on Tuesday that a Labour Court victory on behalf of one of its members, whose application for a management position at Eskom was refused because of his skin colour, would send a strong message to the outside world. Judge Hilary Rabkin-Naicker, in a judgment handed down in the Labour Court in Cape Town, found that Alwyn Erasmus was discriminated against when, after 30 years of employment at Eskom, he was not appointed to an essential position for which he had applied. A directive by employment equity officials at Eskom that only “black men as well as women of any race group should be given preference” prejudiced Erasmus’ application. After an unsuccessful application at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Solidarity approached the Labour Court on behalf of Erasmus. In its judgment, the court ruled that the inflexible manner based on race by which the shortlist of candidates was compiled, amounted to an absolute barrier for members of non-designated groups and that a nuanced approach was not followed at all. According to the judgment, this was contrary to affirmative action legislation and an offense against the applicant’s right to dignity and equality. The trade union pointed out that the judgment was also “clearly in line with Solidarity’s 2023 settlement with the government, in terms of which race may not be the sole criterion in affirmative action.” Solidarity Deputy Chief Executive Anton van der Bijl commented: “They (Eskom employees) are expected to add value to the company on a daily basis – regardless of their race. But then, when their value must be weighed, they are judged based on their race. We simply cannot and will not tolerate such blatant racism.” Read Solidarity’s press statement on the judgment at Politicsweb. Lees ook, Uitspraak oor ras by Eskom ‘groot deurbraak’, by Maroela Media
‘Race obsessed’ Gauteng DSD's mismanagement a ‘serious threat’ to welfare organisations In a letter to the Department of Social Development (DSD) on Tuesday, Solidarity condemned “in the strongest terms” the non-payment of funds to welfare organisations that provide social services in Gauteng. Solidarity demanded that the DSD should address the crisis that was unfolding in Gauteng as a matter of urgency, and to abandon any racial prejudice that might play a role in the payment of subsidies. According to the trade union, it has received numerous complaints from organisations with ties to Solidarity’s Social Workers’ Network that failed to receive subsidies from the DSD as had been promised. Earlier, the Gauteng DSD had undertaken to pay subsidies to those and other welfare organisations by 24 May. Bianca Smit, network coordinator for the Solidarity Social Workers’ Network, indicated: “The DSD is posing a serious threat to welfare organisations that focus on uplifting the most vulnerable persons in our communities. While these organisations are trying to empower those among us who have the least, the department wants to drag the same organisations into abyss.” It is Smit’s belief that the Gauteng DSD could also be withholding subsidies due to recent statements made by the acting Head of Department, Bongani Ngomane, when he threatened to withhold subsidies from “welfare organisations that are too white.” Solidarity further believes the effect of unpaid subsidies would be felt much wider than just by welfare organisations. Read Solidarity’s press statement as well as its letter to the DSD at Politicsweb. Read too, Gauteng Premier breaks promise to pay organisations by 24 May, at The Citizen
‘Extra’ public holiday on 17 June BusinessTech reports that of the 12 public holidays provided for by the Public Holidays Act of 1994 (the Act), Youth Day on 16 June falls on a Sunday, meaning that the following day, Monday, 17 June 2024, will be a public holiday. According to section 2(1) of the Act, “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”. While this sounds like great news for employees, under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) the public holiday will have cost implications for businesses. If an employee works on a public holiday, their employer must consider the provisions of the BCEA when determining the amount to pay them. If the public holiday falls on a day on which the employee would ordinarily work, and the employee works on that public holiday, then the employee is entitled to double their ordinary wage for the day. If the amount earned by the employee for the time worked on that day is greater than double their ordinary wage, they should be paid that amount instead. The debate over whether a public holiday benefits or harms an economy is contentious. Some argue that it promotes extra spending by boosting domestic tourism, retail sales, and hospitality industries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malcolm Libera at BusinessTech
Cyber security sector must do more to address skills shortage ITWeb reports that experts have expressed concern over a shortage of cyber security skills, and have stressed the need for collaboration between government, academia, and the private and public sectors to support learnerships and internships. During a panel discussion at the 2024 ITWeb Security Summit in Cape Town, Conrad Roos, head of GRC, The Foschini Group, said there are many statistics that reflect an industry under increasing pressure. He pointed out that according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 71% of global organisations have unfilled cyber security positions. Professor Elmarie Biermann, director of the Cyber Security Institute, said the issue was not specifically about a lack of skills, but often related to a lack of experience. “Organisations have difficulty in recruiting people with the ability to hit the ground running … they have the theory, but don’t have the experience and that is what companies are looking for, because it’s expensive to train people,” said Biermann. The panel agreed that the situation was exacerbated by unrealistic expectations on the part of businesses, with some setting the bar for entry into the industry at an unattainable level. Consultant De Wit Coetsee noted that the increasing levels of burnout among cyber security professionals compounded the challenge to recruit and retain talent. Dale Simons of the MiDO Group said that despite a 40% graduate dropout rate and SA’s high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, there was an obvious opportunity with the projected exponential growth of the cyber security industry. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Christopher Tredger at ITWeb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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