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 Tuesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Monday, 19 June 2017.
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Thembisile Yende murder accused could possibly be a senior Eskom employee The Star writes that conflicting reports on whether the man accused of killing Thembisile Yende was a senior Eskom employee have emerged following a breakthrough in the murder case. David Ngwenya was arrested on Thursday in Carletonville and appeared in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of premeditated murder for Yende’s death. This comes as police confirmed that Yende might have been murdered elsewhere and brought to the Eskom substation in Springs where she worked. Phakamile Hlubi, spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) indicated that, according to a preliminary report the union had carried out, it appeared Ngwenya was an employee of Eskom. But a police spokesperson could not confirm whether or not Ngwenya was an employee at Eskom, adding that the ongoing investigation would determine his links to the power utility. Yende’s decomposing body was found in an office at the Eskom plant with her head covered in a black plastic bag, almost two weeks after she went missing on her way to work. Read this report by Khaya Koko in full at The Star. Read too, Suspect appears in court in connection with murder of Eskom employee, at TimesLive. And also, Alleged killer of Eskom employee Thembisile Yende denied bail, at News24 Construction worker feared dead after falling into hole in Daveyton TimesLive reports that a construction worker is believed to be dead after falling into a hole he and his colleagues had dug in Etwatwa‚ Daveyton, on Monday morning. Ekurhuleni Metro Police spokesman Clifford Shongwe said the worker‚ who was on the scaffolding‚ fell into the six metre hole dug for piping‚ reportedly after the ground became unstable. Shongwe went on to explain: "According to the emergency services they tried to assist but had to run as the ground was unstable. Just as they got (there) a second collapse (occurred)." This left the man's body covered in even more soil. Rescue services were doing their best to dig the man out. A probe would be conducted to verify whether safety precautions were taken by the contractor. A short report by Naledi Shange is at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
ANC to meet Chamber of Mines on Tuesday, as Fitch slams Mining Charter Fin24 reports that the African National Congress (ANC) was expected to meet the Chamber of Mines (COM) on Tuesday concerning the amended Mining Charter. The meeting follows allegations that the Chamber was not properly consulted by Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, who gazetted the revised Charter last week. Among other new obligations, the Charter will force mining firms to restructure their ownership to ensure they have 30% black ownership within 12 months. According to Business Day, the ANC’s economic transformation committee will meet with the COM, which is set to take the matter to court over a lack of consultation. The meeting will apparently include Zwane, former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte, ANC treasurer Zweli Mkhize and ANC national executive committee members Enoch Godongwana, Ebrahim Patel and Gugile Nkwinti. The meeting comes as Fitch Ratings criticised the new regulations, saying they would will deter investment. Read this report by Matthew le Cordeur in full at Fin24. Read too, Fitch says South Africa's new mining rules may deter investment, at Mining Weekly Mining Charter set to worsen stakeholder relations, warns Bench Marks Foundation Mining Weekly reports that the Board of the Bench Marks Foundation (BMF) said on Tuesday that the new Mining Charter was the flawed outcome of inadequate consultation with communities and warned that the document was poised to worsen stakeholder relations. BMF executive director John Capel condemned the new charter and said it would result in more protest action. The foundation accused the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) of being entirely disingenuous in its claim that it had consulted. “It boggles the mind that the DMR believes that speaking to a small number of chiefs in one mining area is representative of the views of mining-affected communities in South Africa,” Capel said. The new charter’s approach to mineworker housing was also criticised for being seriously deficient. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly. Read too, Where is the voice of mining-affected communities over Mining Charter? at BusinessLive Other postings regarding Mining Charter
Other labour/community mining postings
Bodies pile up as Gauteng mortuary strike enters second week Caxton News Service reports that the strike by mortuary employees that began on 8 June in Johannesburg, subsequently spreading into various parts of Gauteng, has continued into its second week. There is now a backlog of more than 200 bodies. About 180 forensic assistants across 10 state mortuaries downed tools over an apparent pay grievance and resorted to the ‘working-to-rule’ action, which requires that an employee executes duties only for which they are explicitly mandated. The DA’s Jack Bloom, however, labelled the strike action illegal and went on to say that the claim that it was not a strike but a ‘working-to-rule’ process was false. He believes that an urgent court order should be brought against the illegal strikers “who disrespect the dead and are causing incredible anguish to relatives waiting more than 10 days, in some instances, to bury loved ones.” But Bloom did add that the workers had legitimate pay grievances. The worst-affected mortuaries are Hillbrow, Germiston, Diepkloof and Germiston. The SA Military Health Services has been roped in to assist at the worst-hit facilities. Read this report in full at The Citizen. Read too, Gauteng mortuary staff claim they are being underpaid, at BusinessLive. And also, Forensic pathologists strike forces families to halt burials, at SABC News. As well as, Military doctors deployed to clear mortuary backlog as strike continues, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
New labour federation Saftu calls for nationalisation of SA Reserve Bank Fin24 reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) said on Tuesday that changing the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB’s) mandate to support growth was not a viable solution and it should be nationalised instead. This followed Public Protector (PP) Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s recommendation, which formed part of a report on the alleged failure of the bank to recover R1.125bn in misappropriated funds that served as a lifeboat for Bankorp (now Absa), for a constitutional amendment to the SARB’s powers. Saftu acknowledged that Mkhwebane’s proposal for the SARB to promote “balanced and sustainable economic growth” while ensuring the protection of citizens' socio-economic wellbeing would improve matters. However, the federation called for the nationalisation of the bank, and for it to become a public service rather than a profit-making company. SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago has previously pointed out that the bank does not have a profit-making objective. The SARB has resolved to urgently bring proceedings to have the PP’s remedial action set aside. Read this report by Lameez Omarjee and Matthew le Cordeur in full at Fin24. Read Saftu’s press statement in this regard at Saftu online. See too, Public Protector’s recommendation unlawful, says SARB, at Moneyweb
Judges’ clerks win case against Office of the Chief Justice over posts Netwerk24 reports that 17 judges’ clerks have succeeded with their urgent application in the Labour Court in Johannesburg to get their posts declared full-time. Last Thursday, the court prevented the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) from holding interviews with candidates or making appointments in the 17 posts located in the Labour Courts and in the Labour Appeal Court. In the past, the OCJ appointed the clerks on a fixed-term basis. Some of the contracts were renewed once and others more than once. In June 2016, the clerks received a questionnaire in which they were asked whether they wished to be appointed on a full-time basis. Following further developments, the OCJ advertised the 17 posts on 6 April and then shortlisted 41 candidates. The clerks then made their application on 23 May on the basis that they had a reasonable expectation of further employment. They also averred that in any case the advertised posts were not vacant because they were full-time employees. Their application was granted. (Loosely translated from Afrikaans) Read this report by Jeanne-Marié Versluis in full in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
Deported Satawu leader was in SA illegally eNCA reports that the Department of Home Affairs has presented evidence proving that Zenzo Mahlangu, general secretary of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), had been in South Africa illegally. He was deported to Zimbabwe last month and was escorted by immigration officials to the airport ensure he left the country. Home Affairs Director General, Mkuseli Apleni, indicated that, if Mahlangu were to be found in South Africa within the next five years, he would be arrested. Satawu's umbrella body, Cosatu, said that if Mahlangu were to be proven to have obtained South African citizenship fraudulently, he must be jailed. Cosatu spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla also said that talks between Satawu and Cosatu leaders were ongoing to find a resolution to the crises the transport union currently faced. Read this report in full at eNCA
SAA was barely able to pay May salaries, with doubts about what will happen in June Moneyweb writes that it has established that SA Airways (SAA) paid managers’ salaries on 25 May from a VAT refund, while the rest of staff were paid on 27 May from a loan the airline secured. There is said to be considerable doubt as to whether the airline will be able to pay staff and suppliers in June. This follows a report in the Sunday Times that Standard Chartered Bank rejected a request by SAA to extend a loan facility that matures at the end of June. “We remain optimistic that the company will meet its loan obligations as these become due through negotiations with lenders and other initiatives,” said Musa Zwane, SAA Acting CEO. There has been speculation that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is putting together a recapitalisation plan, despite the Government Employee Pension Fund (the PIC’s biggest source of funds) issuing a statement denying this last month. The GEPF reiterated this on Monday, saying that its position with regards to funding SAA “still stands as per the media statement that was issued by the fund, however, if there are any changes the GEPF will engage with the PIC on this matter as we always do.” Read this report by Warren Thompson in full at Moneyweb
SA Policing Union issues ultimatum over crime intelligence restructuring BusinessLive reports that the South African Policing Union (Sapu) has urged acting crime-intelligence chief Maj-Gen Pat Mokushane to withdraw a directive moving crime intelligence officers to police stations. The contested decision, which was communicated to police officers at a meeting in Pretoria last Wednesday, is regarded widely as constituting a severe blow to the country’s crime-fighting strategy. Sapu general secretary Oscar Skommere said the union’s lawyers had sent a "letter of demand" to Mokushane on Monday afternoon. He indicated that Sapu would file for an urgent interdict at the Labour Court if the directive was not withdrawn within 48 hours. Skommere also said there had been no adequate consultation between SAPS management, the officers concerned and their unions before the decision to move them and to restructure the unit was taken. Read this report by Claudi Mailovich in full at BusinessLive
SABC paid Hlaudi R1.7m while he was on suspension from January The Citizen reports that fired SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng was paid R1.7 million by the public broadcaster while he was on suspension since January this year. This was revealed on Monday in a written reply by Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo in response to a parliamentary question. “The former acting operations officer had been suspended in accordance with the SABC policy from 1 January 2017. The policy also makes provision for payment of suspended employees. An amount of R1,713,865.24 has been paid,” Dlodlo indicated. Last Monday, Motsoeneng was dismissed from his job after an internal disciplinary hearing found him guilty of misconduct. Motsoeneng plans to challenge his axing from the SABC in court. Read this report by Thapelo Lekabe in full at The Citizen. See too, Hlaudi’s future is bright, says Hlaudi, at SowetanLive
Take action over corruption at Prasa or we’ll strike, NTM and Saftu warn News24 reports that the National Transport Movement (NTM) and the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) have warned of mass action unless those implicated in a web of corruption at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) are brought to book. Speaking on Monday, NTM's general secretary, Ephraim Mphahlele, called for the arrest of those implicated in crooked contracts, tenders, and corruption at the state-owned entity (SOE). He also called for the resignations of President Jacob Zuma, transport minister Joe Maswanganyi, and deputy finance minister Sfiso Buthelezi. Mphahlele said that Prasa's board should be allowed to conduct its investigation into the siphoning off of billions of rands without being dissolved by Maswangayi. "The Prasa board is reportedly investigating 142 contracts, worth R24bn, for possible corruption. Yet the transport minister, Joe Maswangayi, has now written to its members terminating their membership," Mphahlele noted. Saftu's acting spokesperson, Patrick Craven, commented that "there is strong evidence that there is movement behind the scenes from government to make sure that these allegations are never properly investigated." Read this report by Nation Nyoka in full at News24. Read too, NTM threatens mass action over Prasa corruption, at Business Report. And also, National Transport Movement wants Prasa to face the corruption music, at BusinessLive. The joint NTM/Sasftu press statement in this regard can be read at Politicsweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
'Commuter anger' results in another torched Metrorail train in Cape Town News24 reports that Metrorail confirmed on Tuesday that another train has been torched in Cape Town due to apparent commuter frustration. The train was set alight at Nyanga Junction at 17:00 on Monday, gutting three carriages. Spokesperson Riana Scott advised that the fire brigade managed to douse the flames and no injuries were reported. "The action appeared to have been in response to trains having to temporarily terminate at Nyanga while Metrorail technicians were in the process of fixing defective track circuits on the Chris Hani and Kapteinsklip routes," Scott said. Trains bound for Chris Hani and Kapteinsklip were delayed by more than 60 minutes while technicians repaired the circuits. Read this report by Jenna Etheridge in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Monday, 19 June 2017 at SA Labour News
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Get South African labour news reports at SA Labour News