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 Wednesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Tuesday, 25 June 2017.
|
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital executives return under guard amid death threats BusinessLive reports that patients at a Durban hospital were surprised when two top managers of the institution turned up for work on Monday morning accompanied by a phalanx of bodyguards. Last week, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital’s acting CEO Dr Linda Sobekwa and HR manager Nokulunga Mthombeni fled the hospital fearing for their lives after receiving anonymous death threats. The hospital, in Phoenix township, has long been beset by turmoil. The institution’s labour relations manager, Themba Zulu, is on the mend after being shot earlier this month. Soon after this, Sobekwa and Mthombeni found notes stuck under their office doors which read: "You are next." Sobekwa, Mthombeni and Zulu have been at the forefront of an internal investigation involving members of the hospital security team accused of corruption. On Monday, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, justified his department’s decision to hire bodyguards for the trio and said “We don’t want to lose them, hence we have decided to arrange bodyguards for them. We take these threats seriously." Read this report by Nce Mkhize in full at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Chamber of Mines lodges urgent interdict application against Zwane's rights moratorium BusinessLive reports that the Chamber of Mines of SA lodged an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday to stop Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane’s proposed restriction on granting new mining and prospecting rights applied for after 19 July. The lobby organisation cited the gazetted proposal as unlawful and beyond the minister’s powers. Zwane shocked the mining industry when his gazetted notice appeared inviting stakeholders to submit comments before 4 August on his proposal to restrict the granting of new mining and prospecting rights, as well as to halt the transfer of mineral rights between companies. This would effectively bring deal-making in the SA mining sector to a standstill for an indefinite period. Zwane said the moratorium was related to the interdict brought by the Chamber to halt and review the third iteration of the Mining Charter gazetted in June. By earlier agreement between the Chamber and Zwane, the revised Charter will not be brought into operation until after the case has been heard. The new interdict application will be heard on 4 August. Read this report by Allan Seccombe in full at BusinessLive. See too, Court action is to ensure Zwane acts within law, says Chamber of Mines, at EWN. And also, Legal challenges to Zwane pile up thick and fast, at BusinessLive Zwane didn’t consult me on mining licenses moratorium, says Deputy Minister Oliphant EWN reports that Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant says he was not consulted by Minister Mosebenzi Zwane before a notice of intention to stop new prospecting and mining licenses was issued. Speaking on the 702 Xolani Gwala Show, Oliphant said he was not always consulted by Zwane despite having a vast knowledge of the sector. "Sometimes it’s uncomfortable but those are the times I accept that the Constitution gives powers to ministers to do certain things and he does not have to consult with the deputy minister. But clearly, it’s better if we consult." The deputy minister also expressed concerns about issues facing the mining sector, including massive job cuts. A short report by Mia Lindeque is at EWN Stop mining rights moratorium now, NUM instructs Mineral Resources Department Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Wednesday that it was deeply concerned by the current consideration by Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, of the putting in place a mineral rights moratorium. The moratorium is intended to apply until the finalisation of court challenges of the Mining Charter III brought by the Chamber of Mines. The union said such a moratorium would negatively impact its members through job losses, as there would be no ‘Section 11’ approvals relating to changes of ownership and new mining or prospecting rights. "All of this is taking place while we are faced with enormous job losses in various operations amounting to close to 20,000 affected employees," the union said. The NUM stated that it would be submitting a request to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to desist from implementing the envisaged moratorium, with immediate effect, as the move would "definitely be found wanting by the court of law". The NUM said it was adamant the current impasse over the implementation of the Charter had reached alarming levels and it wanted an urgent meeting of all stakeholders to be convened in order to find an amicable solution. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly Harmony reports fatality at its Target mine in Free State Mining Weekly reports that Harmony Gold advised on Tuesday that an employee had been killed in an accident at its Target mine, near Welkom. The accident on Tuesday occurred during the performance of maintenance work at the underground refrigeration plant. An investigation is under way. This short report is at Mining Weekly
Workers at National Health Lab Services to strike until demands are met, says Nehawu Members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) employed at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) downed tools on Wednesday. The strike could result in blood test backlogs. Nehawu, which represents the majority of NHLS employees, said its members were refusing to work until their demands were met. Nehawu’s Khaya Xaba indicated that, while they have accepted a 7.3% salary increase, other issues, including provision of a R2,000 housing allowance, danger pay and insourcing, have not been resolved. The NHLS provides diagnostic pathology services such as blood tests to the government. It is also responsible for the majority of laboratory testing regarding HIV and tuberculosis in the country and plays a major role in cervical cancer testing. Based on reports at EWN and eNCA. Read too, National Health Laboratory workers down tools, at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Vavi and Saftu gear up membership recruitment drive ANA reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who is on a recruitment drive, has sarcastically “thanked” the rival Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for expelling him. Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) were expelled from Cosatu over two years ago, which led in turn to the formation of Saftu. “Maybe if they did not expel us we will be still be living in false hope,” Vavi said on Tuesday while addressing members of the SA Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (Salipswu) in Potchefstroom. On an apparent recruiting mission, the former Cosatu general secretary welcomed workers who left Cosatu-affiliate Nehawu to join Salipswu. Separately, the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers of SA (Demawusa) and the Municipal and Allied Trade Union of SA (Matusa), which both serve municipal workers and are affiliated to Saftu, will be merged. Vavi also said three more unions have shown interest in joining Saftu. Read this report in full at eNCA. Read too, Rousing welcome for Vavi at Potch hospital, at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Massive growth in IT, tech and telecoms job postings BusinessTech reports that according to jobs portal Careers24 there was a big increase in jobs posted for the IT, technology and telecommunications sectors during the second quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2016. This was despite the economic downturn. The second quarter stats show a massive 154% year-on-year increase in jobs posted for these sectors. The IT, tech and telecoms sectors were also responsible for 32% of all jobs posted on the site during the second quarter. Yet, the stats also showed a 30% decline in applications for jobs in this sector, “meaning that candidates are being more selective due to the increase in available jobs”. Among the other significant trends were a 125% increase in job postings in the government and parastatal sectors; a 1% increase in job postings in engineering; and a good growth of 30% in banking and insurance postings. Read this report in full at BusinessTech
Executive packages cost Telkom R200m in year to March BusinessLive reports that the remuneration of Telkom’s executive management team came to R200m in the year to March, according to the company’s latest annual report. The company has 47 employees in executive management positions. In 2016, 41 executive managers shared about R167.6m in salaries and other benefits. The total package of CEO Sipho Maseko increased to R25.9m from R14.5m in 2016. His remuneration includes a R7.4m guaranteed package and R9.6m in vested shares. Telkom has recorded operational improvements since Maseko took over about four years ago. The group reduced its high costs through, among other things, outsourcing some units, retrenching staff and the selling off of noncore assets. Mergence Investment Managers portfolio manager Peter Takaendesa commented that the Telkom executive team had delivered outstanding results for shareholders in a very tough operating environment over the past few years. Read this report by Thabiso Mochiko in full at BusinessLive. See too, Telkom chief scores over R25m payday, at Business Report. And also, Highest paid bosses: MTN vs Telkom vs Vodacom, at BusinessTech Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Medical students who studied in India and China blocked at hospitals over qualifications Daily News writes that medical students who have studied in India and China have been dealt a major blow after a moratorium was placed on them being placed at state hospitals. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) apparently put this moratorium in place because it believed the students were not properly qualified. When questioned, the DHET denied issuing the moratorium, saying it was a Department of Health (DoH) initiative. But the DoH said it supported the DHET’s moratorium. After four years of studies, students return to SA, where they are placed in local hospitals to complete a four-month practical course. Some parents of SA students studying abroad said they were issued a letter by the DHET stating that returning students have insufficient practice experience so universities have to hire more staff to train them; that there was insufficient funding to support the additional staff and learning tools; and that most of the students failed the board exam set by the Health Professions Council of SA. Dr Mzukisi Grootboom, SA Medical Association (SAMA) chairperson, said this was an ongoing problem. Read this report by Se-Anne Rall in full at Daily News
Gigaba advises that downgrades had minimal impact on GEPF EWN reports that according to Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, credit rating downgrades have had a “minimal” impact on the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). His statement was in response to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA). Earlier this year, South Africa was downgraded by three major agencies, with Fitch downgrading the country’s rand denominated debt to junk status. In his reply, Gigaba explained that according to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages the GEPF’s assets valued at R1.6 trillion, the performance of the fund has not suffered following the downgrades. However, the PIC has warned that the probability of more downgrades for rand denominated debt into junk territory remained high. A short report by Ilze-Marie Le Roux is at EWN. Read too, SA’s pension funds grow but national savings rate flounders, at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
LRA and Nedlac code of good practice key in determining status of Uber drivers TimesLive reports that in determining that Uber drivers were not contractors but employees of Uber SA‚ the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration’s (CCMA’s) starting point was the Labour Relations Act (LRA). The CCMA made a ruling on the status of eight Uber drivers earlier this month after the company raised a preliminary point that the CCMA had no jurisdiction to hear unfair dismissal disputes referred to the commission by the drivers. The drivers had been “deactivated” by Uber‚ meaning they could not work for Uber, it was argued. The starting point for commissioner Winnie Everett’s analysis was Section 213 of the LRA. Everett also relied on the “Code of Good Practice: Who is an Employee?” The code was issued by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) and sets out guidelines for determining whether persons are employees or not. In her analysis‚ Everett found that Uber drivers were subject to the control of Uber. She said this and other factors indicated the drivers were by no means independent or running their own transportation businesses. Read this report by Ernest Mabuza in full at TimesLive
Mixed reactions to closure of a number of Sowetan taxi ranks and routes The New Age that some school pupils returning to school after the winter holidays were frustrated by the lack of taxis due to the closure of a number of ranks and routes in Soweto. But, other commuters were using different modes of transport and welcomed the closures because they brought peace to their communities. The routes and taxi ranks were closed until 13 August by Transport MEC Ismail Vadi due to ongoing violence between the Witwatersrand Taxi Association and the Nancefield Dube Taxi Association that left about 28 people dead. National Taxi Alliance (NTA) spokesperson Theo Malele said efforts were under way to ensure the closed routes and taxi ranks would be reopened soon. He stated: “The government and NTA are working closely to see such results. We are working behind closed doors to bring strategies on a way forward and ensure both parties see eye to eye.’ He was not in a position to divulge any more information. Read this report by Thabiso Machaka in full at The New Age Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Tuesday, 25 July 2017 at SA Labour News
|
Get South African labour news reports at SA Labour News