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 appeared since
midafternoon on Tuesday, 17 October 2017.
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Man seriously burnt in Ekurhuleni factory electrocution IOL News reports that a man sustained serious burn wounds after he was electrocuted at a factory in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday afternoon. The incident took place at a factory on Langkloof road in Alrode. ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said that when paramedics arrived on the scene, they assessed the man and found him to have sustained serious burn wounds to his left hand. They treated the man for his injuries and thereafter transported him to a private hospital for further treatment. Meiring confirmed that an internal investigation would be conducted by the company. A short report is at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Chamber of Mines ‘extremely concerned’ as latest murder of miner takes toll to seven TimesLive reports that a miner was killed on Tuesday on the North West platinum belt‚ bringing the number of murdered workers in the industry to seven since July. Chamber of Mines spokesperson Charmane Russell said: “The Chamber of Mines is extremely concerned about the incidences of violence in various mining communities. In recent weeks, we have seen the appalling killings, many in assassination-style incidents where the victims were shot and killed, of a reported six trade unionists on the western limb of the platinum belt. The latest incident occurring as recently as last night. We have also witnessed the tragic murder of the general manager of Harmony’s Tshepong mine in the Free State.” Russell said the Chamber has held discussions with police structures and has conveyed its serious concern to the relevant authorities in government. This report by Nomahlubi Jordaan at TimesLive. Read the Chamber’s press statement at SA Labour News Mining industry on alert over violence on the platinum belt Mail & Guardian reports that with the recent spate of killings on the North West platinum belt mirroring the murders that happened before the Marikana massacre in August 2012, mining unions have raised red flags about the heightened tension. Now the Chamber of Mines has met the national security cluster in a bid to prevent more violence. This year, five Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members have been murdered at the Lonmin and Impala mines near Rustenburg. Amcu blamed hired killers and speculated about whether rival unions, the government or state security could be involved. But with an internal rebellion afoot, Amcu finds itself in a similar situation to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) before the Marikana massacre. While its members may have different reasons for their dissent, Amcu acknowledged the problem and dispatched national leaders to all branches on the platinum belt. This year’s killings appear to be linked to the perks of being elected into the union. So, a permanent Amcu branch official earns about R18,000 a month at Lonmin — double the wage of an underground worker. Allegations of corruption against the Amcu leadership and branch officials on the platinum belt have also been blamed for the latest killings. In the chaos, the NUM claims to be drawing members back to its ranks in Rustenburg, but this is unsubstantiated. Read this report by Govan Whittles, which also deals with violence on gold mines campaign in the Free State and Gauteng, in full at Mail & Guardian Pan African concludes wage agreement at Barberton Mines with NUM and Uasa Mining Weekly reports that Pan African Resources’ Mpumalanga-based Barberton Mines has successfully concluded a one-year wage agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the United Association of SA (Uasa). The average wage increase for all of the mine’s employees will be about 8%, effective from July. Barberton Mines experienced a two-and-a-half-day stoppage during the negotiation period. “The stoppage is not expected to affect the group’s production guidance of 190 000 oz for the financial year ending June 30, 2018,” Pan African said in a statement on Wednesday. This short report is at Mining Weekly Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Postings on Mining Charter
Mango wage strike continues, as Solidarity and airline resume talks ANA reports that trade union Solidarity was due on Wednesday to return to the negotiating table with low-cost carrier Mango Airline amid an ongoing pilots' strike over wage hikes. Mango’s flight crews downed tools on Monday morning after wage negotiations with Solidarity collapsed on Sunday. Solidarity is demanding an 8.5% wage hike, but Mango is only offering 6%. The airline said several of its flights had been affected by the strike and it has been forced to use alternative operators to cater for passengers. Solidarity, which represents 95% of Mango's pilots, said management on Tuesday requested the union to return to the discussion table in an attempt to break the crippling impasse. Solidarity’s Deon Reyneke commented: "As we said from the outset, we have been willing to negotiate all along but the company was the one who turned its back on the collective bargaining process." Read this report in full at Business Report. Read Solidarity press statement at Solidarity online. See too, Mango 'accommodating' passengers as strike continues, at Traveller24. And also, Mango pilot: Pay strike was our absolute last resort, at Fin24. As well as, Mango-staking: Mango versoek ʼn gesprek met vakbond, at Maroela Media Work at MTO sawmills in George suspended after wage strike violence Netwerk24 reports that operations at MTO Forestry’s sawmills in George have been temporarily suspended. This came about after workers who were unwilling to take part in a strike conducted by the National Certified Fishing and Allied Workers’ Union (NCFAWU) were attacked and assaulted. Most of the workers who were not on strike did not report for work on Tuesday, according to a statement put out by the company. On Monday, four workers were apparently attacked during the course of the day and are being treated in hospital. No violence occurred on Tuesday. MTO requested a meeting with NCFAWU and it was due to be held on Tuesday afternoon. Lawrence Polkinghorne, CEO of MTO, commented: “I am very sorry about the violence by NCFAWU members. It was totally unnecessary and not in the spirit of the strike. The victims are being treated in hospital and we are doing everything possible to protect our employees.” The strike relates to a wage dispute and other disagreements. It has been referred to the CCMA for conciliation. (Loosely translated from Afrikaans) Read this report by Eugene Gunning and Jackie Kruger in full in Afrikaans at Netwerk24
Thursday’s taxi protest march in Pretoria suspended Pretoria News reports that the protest march by the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) scheduled for Thursday in Pretoria has been officially suspended. That announcement was made by Acting Director-General Mathabatha Mokonyama of the Department of Transport, alongside NTA representatives, at a media briefing at the department’s offices in Pretoria on Tuesday. This followed meetings between Minister Joe Maswanganyi and the leadership of the NTA. Challenges raised by the industry related to the public transport subsidy, the taxi recapitalisation programme and compensation for operators surrendering operating licenses, amongst other issues. The NTA said that if nothing came by 8 November of engagements with the department then the protest action would resume. A short report by Goitsemang Tlhabye is at Pretoria News
Cosatu ‘not convinced’ cabinet reshuffle will strengthen government ANA reports that labour federation Cosatu on Tuesday said it was “not convinced” that President Jacob Zuma’s latest Cabinet reshuffle was in the best interests of the country as the president had retained some of his most ineffectual ministers. A statement from the ruling ANC’s alliance partner said: “Cosatu expects Cabinet reshuffles to be about strengthening the capacity of government in order to help government to better implement its developmental agenda and deliver on its promises. We are not convinced that this reshuffle is informed by that [agenda], considering that some of the most ineffectual ministers like Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, and Minister Mosebenzi Zwane are still part of the national executive.” While confirming it received a courtesy call from Zuma before announcing the reshuffle, Cosatu said it found the “frequency” of Cabinet reshuffles unsettling and contributing towards instability at key government departments. Read this report in full at The Citizen. See too, Cosatu asks why underperforming ministers are still in cabinet, at eNCA. Cosatu’s press statement on the reshuffle is at Cosatu Today Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Consumer inflation picks up to 5.1% in September BusinessLive reports that consumer inflation, as measured by the annual change in the consumer price index (CPI), accelerated to 5.1% year-on-year in September, from 4.8% in August. This was worse than the economists’ consensus of 4.9%, but remained comfortably within the Reserve Bank’s target range of 3% to 6%. Food inflation continued to moderate. Food and nonalcoholic prices rose 5.5% in September from a year earlier, after a 5.7% increase in August and a 6.8% rise in July. Many economists expect inflation to fall to the midpoint of the inflation target range in early 2018 before stabilising at about 5.5% in the second half of the year. A short report by Sunita Menon is at BusinessLive. See too, SA's consumer inflation is up to 5.1%, at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Labour demands representation of workers on PIC board The Star reports that labour federations and unions on Tuesday set aside their differences and spoke with one voice in demanding worker representation on the board of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The PIC invests the funds of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). During presentations to Parliament’s finance standing committee, labour also vehemently opposed the use of PIC funds to bail out ailing state-owned enterprises that have been bedevilled by charges of maladministration and corruption. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks said no decision could be allowed to be made about public servants’ pensions without the involvement and agreement of his federation and its unions. Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said public servants feared the PIC would be used for bailouts. “We demand a worker director on the PIC board,” George told MPs. The Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) Tahir Maepa said fears about bailouts were well founded. Zwelinzima Vavi of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) claimed there was a queue seeking to borrow from the PIC to bail out SOEs. He said: “This is the workers’ money. People to give such a mandate should be the workers.” Read this report by Mayibongwe Maqhina at SA Labour News. See too, Unions vow to resist bailing out 'bankrupt' state-owned firms, at Fin24. And also, Cosatu cautions against using PIC as 'slush fund' for struggling SOEs, at EWN GEPF looking for Eastern Cape beneficiaries of unclaimed pension benefits DispatchLive reports that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is looking for hundreds of people in the Eastern Cape who left the public service without claiming their government pensions. GEPF finance administrator Rhulani Macheke said they were working with various stakeholders to distribute the list of the names of beneficiaries, whom he said needed to call them immediately. He added: “We have a lot of unclaimed pension funds and we need to get these members. We are now also publishing the names of these people on the newspapers and we ask members of the public if they know anyone who is not aware to kindly tell them about this.” He also indicated that since they started with the process in the past two years, they have been getting pension beneficiaries daily. “But the numbers are coming at a slow pace, which is why we are extending our way of communication.” This short report by Bhongo Jacob is at DispatchLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
CCMA partners with labour department for office space as it buckles under caseload Business Report writes that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) is so overwhelmed with cases it has to deal with that it has partnered with the Department of Labour (DOL) for office space as it buckles under pressure. This is despite the CCMA's footprint of 22 offices spread across SA’s nine provinces. This was revealed by CCMA director Cameron Morajane as he delivered the agency’s 2016/2017 annual report on Tuesday. He indicated that the partnership with the DOL was because of the “strain as we are above the threshold of what our offices can handle as a result of the caseload”. CCMA acting chairperson Sifiso Lukhele said despite the case-load of the commission registering at 188,449 during the period under review, “the CCMA ensured that expeditious dispute resolution was delivered”. On average the CCMA took 24 days to complete the conciliation process from the date of referral, against a legislated target of 30 days. With companies axing employees to mitigate the economic downturn, Morajane advised that the commission had saved 25,196 jobs, which was 52% of the 48,448 jobs at stake. The CCMA recorded total revenue of R794 038m for theyear , compared to R755 217m the previous year. Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane in full at Business Report
Judgment reserved in suspended DG Apleni’s legal bid for re-instatement TimesLive suspended Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni has argued that, according to the Public Service Act (PSA)‚ only the President has the power to suspend or dismiss him. His lawyer‚ William Mokhari‚ told the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday that the senior management service booklet made it clear that the source of power in the appointment of heads of departments was the PSA. He argued that only the President‚ as the executive authority‚ had the power to suspend Apleni and that his suspension by former Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize was unlawful and should be set aside. At the crux of Mokhari’s argument was that the PSA stipulated that the Minister could suspend or dismiss a head of department only if the President had delegated his powers. Mokhari said President Jacob Zuma had not delegated such powers‚ and the Minister could not assume such powers without a delegation. Apleni approached the court last month‚ after he was placed on precautionary suspension on 18 September. Judge Hans Fabricius reserved judgment in the matter. Read this report by Sipho Mabena in full at TimesLive. See too, DG Apleni refuses to lie down, as Home Affairs gets new minister, at The Citizen. And also, Cabinet reshuffle confuses court hearing application to lift Apleni’s suspension, at News24
Soweto school guard accused of sexual assault of 87 pupils to appear in court on Wednesday News24 reports that a security guard accused of sexually assaulting up to 87 girls at a Soweto primary school where he worked was expected to appear in the Protea North Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. When the news broke last week, the number of pupils alleged to have been sexually assaulted stood at 54, however the number has since risen to 87. The man was arrested 9 October after a case was opened by two pupils - one in Grade 2 and another in Grade 6 – who reported that they had been subjected to the assaults since February 2016. Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona said social workers and a team from the Gauteng education department had been deployed to the school. Read this report by Jeanette Chabalala in full at News24. Read too, Gauteng MEC to attend court hearing for alleged school guard sex predator, at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Tuesday, 17 October 2017 at SA Labour News
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