In our Tuesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Monday, 18 September 2017.
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Fire truck stoned in Nyanga on Monday night EWN reports that a fire truck came under attack in Nyanga on Monday night. Cape Town fire and rescue services said the tanker was stoned while returning from an incident. According to the service's Theo Lane, such attacks were becoming more frequent. He added: “Staff members were not injured, but they were traumatised. Both staff members had to be taken off duty for the remainder of the shift.” This short report by Regan Thaw is at EWN
Mines fail to improve death rates from 2014 to 2016 BusinessLive reports that according to the mine health and safety inspectorate’s 2016-17 annual report tabled in Parliament on Monday, there has been no improvement in mine fatality rates from 2014 to 2016. The report showed the fatality rate per million hours worked was 0.08 in 2016, the same rate as in the two previous years. Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for health and safety, Paul Mardon, said the 2017 figures were likely to be worse, as it has so far been a particularly difficult year for the industry. Mine owners were distracted by the challenges posed by the Mining Charter, production pressures and retrenchments, and were not prioritising the health and safety of workers, he said. "There should be an extra effort in health and safety, but it’s not happening," Mardon noted. Rock falls and falls of ground killed 24 workers (33% of all fatalities) in 2016. Machinery and transportation was the second leading cause of death, responsible for 23 fatalities in 2016. The report shows the overall injury rate fell 4% year-on-year, with a 6% drop in the gold mining industry and an 8% drop in platinum mines. Read this report by Tamar Kahn in full at BusinessLive Impala says 2.500 jobs at risk in what could be just first round of job cuts BusinessLive reports that Impala Platinum (Impala) could lay off up to 2,500 of its 31,000-strong workforce at its Rustenburg mining operations to cope with low metal prices and declining production. CEO Nico Muller said on Monday that the platinum producer had informed unions, government authorities and other stakeholders at its Rustenburg mines that it had started a so-called ‘Section 189’ process in terms of the Labour Relations Act to restructure those mines, meaning that jobs could be lost. "It is expected that some 2,500 people could be affected near term, but this does not preclude further optimisation processes that may be required in future to ensure the continued sustainability of the operation," Muller stated. He added that "no final decision has been taken as regards the proposed restructuring, and no final decision will be taken prior to full and proper consultation with affected employees, and their representatives.” Read this report by Allan Seccombe in full at BusinessLive. See too, 2,500 jobs at risk at lossmaking Impala Rustenburg, at Mining Weekly. And also, 2,500 jobs at risk as Implats begins Rustenburg restructure, at Miningmx. Read Impala’s press statement on this matter at Impala online Labour disruption flares up at diamond producer Petra’s Finsch, Ekapa mines Miningmx reports that production at Petra Diamonds’ Finsch mine and its Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture in the Northern Cape has been interrupted by labour disruptions that might be related to wage negotiations. Petra on Tuesday described the labour relations as “volatile”. “Although underground and surface mining have been affected, plant treatment is continuing at near normal capacity at both operations treating surface material and available stockpiles,” the company said in a statement. Petra added that it was in ongoing discussions with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in order to resolve the situation. Normal operations were continuing at the Cullinan and Koffiefontein mines. With wage talks to renew the previous three-year deal that expired in June underway, the NUM has accepted an offer in respect of Cullinan. Petra CEO Johan Dippenaar said: “We see the Cullinan deal as a positive sign and we are well down the line negotiating a new deal [elsewhere].” He added that the company expected to pay wage increases of between 7.5% and 10% in a new three-year compact. Read this report by David McKay at Miningmx Mineworkers at Gupta-owned mines protest at banks that will shut Gupta accounts BusinessLive reports that mineworkers employed by Gupta-owned mines in Mpumalanga and the North West were due on Tuesday morning to march on banks in various towns to protest the closure of company bank accounts. According to the Gupta-linked news channel, ANN7, thousands were expected to march in Hartebeestfontein‚ Klerksdorp‚ Delmas‚ Hendrina and Middelburg. Mining communities were apparently saying the banks must not let ordinary workers and their families suffer because of their own "political agendas". Reportedly, the communities were going to give the banks seven days to respond to their demands. The Bank of Baroda is the only remaining bank in SA that still has active bank accounts with Gupta family businesses. The Guptas launched an urgent court application for an interim interdict in the High Court in Pretoria in August to stop the closure of the accounts. However‚ it emerged in court papers that the employees of more than 20 Gupta businesses had always been paid via an agent, and salaries were never distributed from the Baroda accounts. Legal counsel for Baroda argued that the money for salaries could easily be paid from an overseas bank. Read this report by Kyle Cowan in full at BusinessLive
PSA likely to table 12% wage demand in public sector wage talks starting in October BDLive reports on proceedings at the annual general meeting on Monday of the Public Service Association (PSA), where former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas was a speaker. The PSA, which represents more than 230,000 public service workers, has been vocal in its opposition to state capture and corruption. SA had to build an immune system against corruption on all fronts, in both the public and private sectors, Jonas told delegates. General secretary Ivan Fredericks said the union had started a process to ensure that its members were informed about whistle-blowing. The PSA also announced it would be tabling a 12% salary increase demand when public sector wage negotiations get under way on 16 October. The figure had to still be discussed with other trade unions, including Cosatu affiliates, before a final demand was agreed on for presentation to the government by the labour caucus, but it was unlikely to be lower. Fredericks said workers would use the billions of rand lost to wasteful and irregular expenditure and corruption in the government as a benchmark of the state’s ability to offer workers an increase well above the inflation-targeted hike the Department of Finance has punted. Earlier this month, senior managers received a 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment, backdated to April. Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
Cape Town taxi strike suspended after day of protest action marred by violence GroundUp reports that after hours of strike action by taxi drivers and incidents of violence across Cape Town on Monday, the protest action was called off for a period of mediation. Several people were injured, some of whom had to be hospitalised. Buses were stoned and some were set alight. The strike affected a wide area including Khayelitsha, Philippi, Mitchells Plain, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Nyanga, Fisantekraal, Wynberg, Delft and Dunoon, leaving commuters stranded. Achmat Dyason, spokesperson for the Provincial Minibus Taxi Task Team, said that taxi operators were dissatisfied with the current leaders of the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco), which, he claimed, had become distanced from members. The Task Team wanted the provincial government to no longer consult the leadership of Santaco. In a statement, MEC Donald Grant said he had met the Task Team and Santaco and the Task Team had agreed to a mediation process to be facilitated by the Departments of Transport and Public Works, and run by someone “with a legal background”. According to Dyason, the MEC’s office would give feedback In two weeks. Read this report in full at GroundUp. Read MEC Donald Grant’s press statement at SA Govt online
HPCSA pursues bogus health practitioners with special investigative unit BusinessLive reports that a rise in bogus health practitioners has forced the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) and medical schemes to strengthen their forensics units to curb fraud. A team at the HPCSA is conducting about 400 investigations into bogus practitioners. Bogus practitioners include those who had previously been registered with the HPCSA, but were struck off for various infractions, while others had no medical qualifications or experience and used practice numbers belonging to registered healthcare practitioners. To date, just more than 40 arrests have been made, but prosecutions are slow. Data from this special investigation unit suggest that about 7% of all medical aid claims in SA are fraudulent and stem from both bogus practitioners and unscrupulous ones. Estimates are that this type of fraud costs the private sector R22bn a year. Eric Mphaphuli, a senior inspector at the council, indicated that arrests were being made every other week, while recently a practitioner was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for practising illegally. Read this report by Michelle Gumede in full at BusinessLive
SACP and Cosatu express 'deep concern' over state of ANC-led alliance ANA reports that the SA Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday expressed concern over the state of the African National Congress (ANC)-led alliance, saying divisions have intensified. The SACP and Cosatu held a bilateral meeting on Monday, attended by national officials and office bearers. “The meeting expressed deep concern about the state of the ANC-headed alliance. Alliance Secretariat and Political Council meetings have collapsed. In the process, divisions in our broader movement have intensified,” a joint statement indicated. The two bodies also warned that the ANC leadership at all levels needed to protect the credibility of the party’s forthcoming December elective conference and ensure that it was not derailed. “These problems require bold and decisive leadership! The nation needs an inspiring leadership that has the capacity to look beyond narrow selfish interests. It is very clear radical action is required,” the statement read. It also advised that if the current situation continued, the SACP and Cosatu would consult with Sanco (SA National Civic Organisation) to convene the alliance with or without the ANC. The bilateral meeting also discussed the South African economy. Read this detailed report in full at eNCA. Read the SACP-Cosatu joint statement at Cosatu Today. See too, Cosatu and SACP 'lose patience with ANC', at News24
Solidarity wins appeal over SAA excluding white males from cadet programme Business Report writes that Solidarity has won an appeal made to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) about SA Airways (SAA) excluding white males from their cadet programme. According to a statement from the trade union, the finding reverses a previous one made by the HRC’s Gauteng provincial office to the effect that the programme did not appear to be unlawful. In its ruling the HRC cautions that a fine balance has to be maintained when it comes to the design and implementation of affirmative action programmes so as to prevent unfair harm being done to white South Africans. According to the HRC, affirmative action must promote social cohesion and reconciliation, and not deepen division. Solidarity’s contention was that SAA’s cadet programme was not flexible and represented a rigid quota system. According to union’s appeal, the SAA programme was neither rational nor fair, and due to its inflexibility the programme did not pass the test of fairness. According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, the appeal ruling was a major victory. Read this report in full at Business Report. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online
Review of National Certificate Vocational (NCV) training scheme drags on BusinessLive reports that the review of the National Certificate Vocational (NCV), which could result in the qualification being overhauled, is due to be completed by the end of 2017, after a process starting in 2010. The NCV is aimed at tackling the economy’s skills demand and offers programmes of study at levels 2, 3 and 4 designed to provide theory and practical experience in specific industry fields. But, many programmes duplicate each other and they have also been criticised for not adequately preparing students to enter occupations. Answering a question in parliament, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande said the review was considering the selection of students, programme delivery (theory and practical plus the manner in which the curricula were delivered), quality of practitioners and resources. Costing and funding flows, student support and career guidance were also being considered. Furthermore, said Nzimande, the review was exploring the opportunities students were able to exploit upon completion of the programme. Also, the review team was looking at which factors enabled students or hindered them from accessing particular opportunities Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BusinessLive
Despite auditor-general’s negative findings, the Compensation Fund is upbeat BusinessLive reports that Vuyo Mafata, commissioner of the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund, maintains that the fund is "turning the corner and service delivery has improved immensely". But this did not prevent the auditor-general from issuing yet another disclaimer on the fund’s 2016-17 financial statements because there was insufficient audit evidence on which to base an audit opinion. The fund, which compensates workers who are injured or made sick at work, has been plagued by inefficiencies, backlogs and unpaid claims going back many years. "Management did not maintain proper accounting records and adequate controls over assessment of revenue and debtors," the auditor-general’s report noted. Nonetheless, the backlog of outstanding claims, which has been a huge source of frustration for claimants, has been reduced and the turnaround time for the processing and payment of medical invoices has improved. Mafata pointed out that during the year under review, the fund adjudicated 145,922 out of 155,472 claims received. Of these, 130,800 claims were adjudicated within 60 days of receipt. Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive
Home Affairs director-general to challenge his suspension News24 reports that Home Affairs Director-General, Mkuseli Apleni, will be challenging his suspension by Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize, his lawyer said on Monday. Mkhize announced Apleni’s precautionary suspension in a short statement on Monday afternoon No reasons were given. Apleni was appointed to the position in 2010. His lawyer said there were a “number of grounds” on which they would challenge the suspension and that Apleni could only be placed on suspension by the president, who ultimately hired him. Repeatedly saying that it was a "very worrying move", Home Affairs Portfolio Committee chair Lemias Mashile commented that the decision to suspend Apleni was "a bitter pill to swallow". The minister was in Parliament earlier in the day to answer questions regarding the granting of citizenship to members of the Gupta family. Read this report in full at News24. See too, Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize suspends top official Mkuseli Apleni, at BusinessLive. And also, No clarity from minister on Apleni suspension, at EWN
Case of murder of Eskom employee Yende postponed to 15 November SABC News reports that the murder case of slain Eskom employee Thembisile Yende has been postponed to 15 November for further investigations. Yende was found beaten and suffocated in her Eskom office in Springs on the East Rand a week after she had been reported missing. Chief suspect and Eskom technician, 43-year-old David Ngwenya, faces a murder charge. He made a brief court appearance on Monday morning and remains in custody. Ngwenya's defence team believes that DNA evidence could exonerate him. The postponement is a further blow to the bereaved family who want answers. Read this report in full at SABC News. See too, DNA results will exonerate Yende's murder accused, claims defence lawyer, at News24. And also, Accused in Eskom employee murder case wants new bail application, at TimesLive
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