In our Monday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Friday, 18 August 2017.
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Numsa condemns rape of security guard while on duty patrolling Metrorail yard ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has condemned violent attacks against workers on duty. It said on Sunday it would intensify pressure on the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and Chuma Security company to "force them to do what is necessary" to improve the safety of members. This came after a Numsa member employed by Chuma was recently raped while on duty. Her male colleague who was with her at the time was also attacked. Numsa Western Cape regional secretary Vuyo Lufele said: "This shocking incident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning on the 12th August 2017 while our members were patrolling the train coaches at Strand Metrorail New Yard in the Western Cape. They were confronted by knife-wielding thugs who tied them up before robbing them and raping one of our members.” Numsa said it believed such crimes could be prevented if more security guards were deployed to patrol dangerous zones. Read this report in full at IOL News Study finds high TB risk for Cape Town medical students Cape Times reports that undergraduate medical students in Cape Town are at high risk of occupationally acquired TB, with an unmet need for comprehensive occupational health services and support. These were the findings of a study conducted by experts from Stellenbosch University and NGO, TB Proof, and published in the SA Medical Journal. Medical students acquired latent tuberculosis (TB) infection at a rate of 23 cases/100 person-years, the study indicated. Most participants cited poor TB infection-control practices at their training hospitals as a major risk factor for occupational TB. UCT health sciences faculty spokesperson Linda Rhoda said that since 2014, the faculty has had 11 students who were reported to have had TB. “All of the students diagnosed with TB were successfully treated with the appropriate medication and protocols. A provincial health department spokesperson said if a student contracted TB, one could not automatically conclude that he or she contracted it at a health facility. Read this report by Lisa Isaacs in full at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Fear in Marikana after two union leaders assassinated over alleged Amcu graft The Star writes that the Marikana community in North West is living in fear after two leaders linked to alleged union corruption were assassinated. Zingisa Mzendana, who was among 28 people that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) recently fired, was gunned down on Thursday morning at a car-wash. He had been Amcu’s 4 Shaft branch secretary and a Lonmin engineering assistant before the union expelled him and 27 others last month, for bringing the union into disrepute. This was after they exposed alleged corruption committed by Amcu’s shop steward Malibongwe Mdazo, who was killed in Mooinooi two weeks ago. Mzendana had uncovered the alleged corruption by illegally gaining access to Mdazo’s work e-mails at Lonmin, where they were employed. The company fired him in June and he allegedly rejoined the rival National Union of Mineworkers. No one has yet been arrested. The expulsions and the killings have created uneasiness, fear and divisions among Amcu members in Marikana, with many refusing to speak out, fearing victimisation. One of the expelled members stated: “Amcu is now divided between people opposing corruption, who were also behind Mzendana, and those at head office who supported Mdazo. This has created a splinter group. Amcu’s leadership is aware of this, but they seem to have chosen Mdazo’s side in the matter.” Read this report by Lindile Sifile in full at IOL News. See too, Another Marikana miner killed in Amcu-NUM battle, at The New Age Other labour / community posting(s) related to mining
Postings on Mining Charter
Green blanket to serve as symbol for Marikana memorial project undertaken by Lonmin City Press writes that the green blanket that one of the prominent striking mine workers wore shortly before the Marikana massacre five years ago is to be immortalised by Lonmin through a planned themed memorial park at Marikana. The plans were revealed by the platinum producer during a memorial ceremony last week attended by some of the deceased mine workers’ families and other stakeholders. The four-phase plan, which will include a park and soccer field, museum, restaurant and the Green Blanket Memorial Park, has not yet been valuated. According to Lonmin CEO Ben Magara, there is still a lot of planning to be done before the estimated cost is established. He went on to indicate: “The memorial project is still in its infancy, and the company will consult with employees and stakeholders on the proposed design that is developed around the concept of a green blanket, emblematic of the garment worn by the late strike leader Mgcineni Noki.” Read this report by Lesetja Malope in full at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Only half of South Africans of working age with Matric are employed TimesLive reports that a dramatic increase in the number of unemployed people is quantified in the 2017 South Africa Survey‚ published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) on Monday. IRR employment analyst‚ Gabriela Mackay‚ said: “Just 43.3% of South Africans of working age are employed. The figure is lowest for black South Africans‚ who demonstrate a labour market absorption rate of just 40.4%. These figures are low‚ especially when compared to many similar economies." The labour market absorption rate measures the proportion of people of working age who are employed and the IRR found that SA’s absorption rate depends largely on a person’s level of education. The absorption rate for people with a tertiary education is 75.6%‚ while for people with matric as their highest level of education it is 50.3%. This report outlines more of the findings of the IRR’s South Africa Survey, which was based on Stats SA data. Read this report in full at TimesLive. Read too, New approaches needed to fight youth unemployment or consequences will be dire, at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Wheels come off Cape Town’s free rides for job seekers plan Weekend Argus reports that nearly three months after announcing a grand plan involving free MyCiTi bus rides for Cape Town’s unemployed job seekers, the city has admitted that it still has no idea how it will work. The idea was that job hunters would be able to get a Myconnect card and ride the buses between 10am and 3.30pm without being charged for the trips. The R6.6 million plan was meant to be rolled out next month, but when pushed for answers, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, was vague about the mechanics of the project, when it would get off the ground and how the budgeted money would be spent. Herron pointed out that there were no precedents to work from as this hadn’t been done anywhere in SA before, but the rules and mechanics were being worked out. He added: “We’re making good progress and will announce how we will go about it soon.” Read this report by Luke Folb in full at Weekend Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Solidarity’s case against Radebe over failure to promote magistrate in court on Monday News24 reports that trade union Solidarity’s case of racial discrimination against former justice minister Jeff Radebe over his failure in 2014 to promote a magistrate to a senior magistrate will be heard in the High Court in Pretoria on Monday. The Court will be sitting as an Equality Court. Solidarity contends that Radebe wrongly ignored the Magistrate’s Commission’s recommendation on the basis that Martin Kroukamp's promotion at the Alberton Magistrate's Court would not promote transformation. According to Anton van der Bijl, head of Solidarity’s Centre for Fair Labour Practices, “this case is a typical example of the government’s thoughtless pursuit of transformation targets at the expense of merits.” Read this report by Lizeka Tandwa in full at News24. See too, Minister Jeff Radebe subpoenaed over magistrate's promotion, at EWN. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online Six firms set for court over employment equity and ‘misrepresentation’ breaches ANA reports that the Department of Labour (DOL) on Monday said it was taking six companies to court over breaches of the Employment Equity Act (EEA). The department’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch is taking the companies to court for prosecution for failure to prepare employment equity plans as per the provisions of s20 (1) of the (EEA). In addition, the department alleges that Gooderson, Clientele Legal, Clientele Life, Mazor Aluminium, Mazor Steel and Spanjaard Limited reported to the director-general on “plans that do not exist which amounts to misrepresentation”. The companies will be taken to the Labour Court for prosecution in relation to the employment equity breaches and the matter of “misrepresentation” will be heard at a magistrate court. Letters of intention to prosecute have been sent to affected companies. Read this report in full at IOL News. Read the DOL’s press statement in this regard at DOL online
Eskom considering R150m 'winter challenge bonus' for staff Sunday Times reports that cash-strapped Eskom is considering paying its employees a R150-million "winter challenge" bonus for avoiding power cuts, a move that has been slammed by Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown. The submission by Eskom's HR executive Elsie Pule excludes senior management. Should the proposal be approved, Eskom would pay an amount of R149.8-million for sharing out among 47,053 employees. Last week Brown said: "I cannot think of any reason to pay bonuses to Eskom employees for doing their job: keeping the lights on. And particularly not in the current economic environment. It is an operational matter and therefore not the shareholders' call, but I would like to believe Eskom's interim leadership will take prudent financial decisions." Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said no decision had been made at the last executive committee meeting, on Thursday. The Democratic Alliance has called for the board to stop all bonuses. Read this report by Sabelo Skiti in full at Sunday Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Staff at New Age and ANN7 told their jobs are safe after Guptas sell to Manyi BusinessLive reports that staff at the Gupta-owned ANN7 and The New Age have been told that their jobs are safe following the announcement that Oakbay Investments is offloading its media interests. Management, which included spokesman for the family Gary Naidoo, New Age editor Ricky Naidoo and editor-in-chief of TNA and ANN7, Moegsien Williams, addressed staff at a meeting on Monday. Apparently, management could not answer some of the questions employees asked, saying they were still in negotiations, but as soon as they had been concluded they would be in a better position to provide information. According to Oakbay, Lodidox — owned by Gupta-ally Mzwanele Manyi — and management would purchase the media companies. Four major banks in SA closed the family’s accounts in 2016, with the Bank of China recently following suit. Recently the Bank of Baroda indicated that it too would close the accounts of the controversial family, at the end of August. A staff member said they were hopeful that with the announcement of the sale a "new bank" would come on board and salaries would be paid. Staff salaries were currently being paid through Bank of Baroda, but this would be the final month. Read this report by Genevieve Quintal in full at BusinessLive
Enormous piles of unpaid retirement and other benefits a national crisis needing multilateral action Rosemary Hunter, former deputy registrar of pension funds, writes that the scale of unpaid amounts due to members of the public by retirement and other funds represents a national crisis. In 2016 pension and provident funds registered in terms the Pension Funds Act (PFA) were holding unclaimed benefits with an aggregate value of about R41.7bn. That did not include unpaid benefits of retirement funds not subject to the PFA, such as the Government Employees Pension Fund and the Transnet funds. Then there are also unpaid benefits due by medical schemes, bargaining council and union benefit funds, dormant bank deposits and unpaid proceeds of insurance policies and investments in investment funds. Furthermore, there are unpaid amounts due by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Road Accident Fund and funds for the compensation of occupational injuries and diseases, in addition to maintenance payments held by the Department of Justice and amounts held by the Guardian’s Fund. Hunter says the problem demands substantive measures to tackle it, but no one institution alone has the power and capacity properly to do this. She argues that new institutions, new regulatory measures and greater collaboration between various interested parties including the state, regulators and the private sector are needed. In particular, a national register of all unpaid amounts due to the public is needed. This article goes on to suggest how such institutions could be set up and work. Read this article in full at BusinessLive
Two employees suspended from Durban school for alleged racism The Mercury reports that two employees at George Campbell Technical High School, in Durban, have been temporarily suspended following unrest at the city centre school last week, when pupils protested against various issues, including racism. They claimed they had been called "monkeys" and the K-word. On Thursday and Friday, they brought teaching and learning to a halt and demanded that the Department of Education address the problems at the school. On Sunday night, Education spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa said there had been a meeting at the school and that they had resolved to suspend a school governing body-employed teacher who allegedly called the pupils "monkeys" and another SGB employee who had allegedly assaulted pupils, pending investigations. Mlotshwa said all racist comments were to be referred to the SA Human Rights Commission. All other issues raised were also being investigated. A short report by Bernadette Wolhuter is at The Mercury. See too, KZN education department to conduct race probe at Durban school, at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Metrorail on track for two more years of misery for Western Cape commuters Weekend Argus reports that Metrorail commuters in Cape Town will have to put up with delayed and overcrowded trains for at least another two years before some sort of normality returns to the city's buckling rail transport system. Metrorail officials outlined their turnaround strategy for a system that is on the verge of collapse in the Western Cape to the provincial parliament’s standing committee on transport last week . Since October 2015, train punctuality has dropped from 80% to a little over 60% and the number of cancellations has rocketing from 3% to over 15%. The torching of 101 carriages in the past two years at a cost of R312m also contributed to the cancellation of trains. As part of a turnaround strategy, Metrorail indicated that it would, over a short to long-term period, gradually increase train availability from 60 sets to 65 in the next three months until it reached the required 88 sets in 18 months to 24 months. Brett Herron, the city's mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, said that the city was still keen on taking over the operations of Metrorail in order to provide stability to the system. Read this report by Tshego Lepule in full at Weekend Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet from Friday, 18 August to Sunday, 20 August 2017 at SA Labour News
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