Details

Wednesday, 29 May 2019 11:11

The Sunday Independent writes that with the ANC being rocked by rape allegations levelled against some of its senior leaders ahead of the elections, the party has been urged to involve the police instead of resorting to internal party processes.

The rape allegations against Zizi Kodwa, against whom the complaint was laid in February, and Pule Mabe, whose personal assistant accused him of sexual harassment, led to the ANC Women’s League calling for the protection of women and the duo to be removed.

Last month, Mabe’s accuser, 26-year-old Kgoerano Kekana, reached a settlement with the ANC, while Kodwa’s accuser withdrew the charges earlier this month.

Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst, said that such cases were better subjected to police investigation instead of internal party processes.

“South African Police Services should investigate these cases, people should rely on the police instead of undergoing internal processes because internal processes sometimes fall short,” he said.

“Internally, people have got power and there will always be the suspicion that things are not done right so the best way to remove that doubt is to ensure that these things are dealt with outside the party with investigations involving the police because those are that ones that can actually establish what happened.”

He said it was difficult to tell whether rape allegations were used to drive political agendas within the ruling party, but that regardless of the source, the police should investigate.

Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, a political analyst based at UCT, said that there had been a string of rape allegations including that of Kodwa, Mabe and former president Jacob Zuma before them in which suggestions of political meddling have been made.

In Zuma’s case, on rape charges by the late Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, better known as Khwezi, the Women’s League staunchly supported Zuma.

Mngomezulu said this might be because the league could have been privy to information that would have indicated that there might have been a political plot against Zuma.

“My understanding is that at the time Msholozi (Zuma) was being set up for political reasons because the relationship between him and then president Mbeki was not good.

“They suspected that Khwezi was being used in order to push a particular political agenda,” said Mngomezulu.

Attempts to get comment from the ANC Women’s League’s secretary-general Meokgo Matuba and spokesperson Toko Xasa were unsuccessful as both had not responded to phone calls and questions sent via text by the time of going to print.

• The original of this report by Samkelo Mtshali appeared on page 9 of The Sunday Independent of 26 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page

Details

Monday, 27 May 2019 10:31

City Press reports that an investigation has been launched into widespread allegations of racism and arbitrary torture of black staff in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

In March City Press reported on the state of affairs in the park where black employees had been complaining about being assaulted, maimed and internally charged on baseless allegations of rhino poaching by their white superiors.

No white employee, according to the complainants, had been accused of rhino poaching and subjected to the same torture or disciplinary action. They alleged white employees were often let off the hook for serious offences while their black colleagues were often roasted for minor or baseless issues.

SANParks had repeatedly denied that black rangers and other black employees were being targeted. It defended its disciplinary actions, saying they were properly done with every procedure followed.

This week SANParks’ spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla, confirmed that an investigation had been commissioned but declined to give more details.

However, City Press can confirm that SANParks has appointed advocate Boyce Mkhize to probe these allegations.

“Yes there is an independent investigation commissioned by SANParks to verify the allegations and your source is correct, there have been interviews with employees,” Phaahla said.

He said he could not comment further because the investigation was an internal matter between employees and the employer.

“It would be improper and prejudicial to comment on this matter. As stated before, these are highly regulated processes which are confidential. The privacy of the parties involved has to be respected,” Phaahla said.

“SANParks is therefore not at liberty to discuss any aspects related to the ongoing process with any third party, including the media. As explained above, SANParks does not aim to compromise this highly regulated process and render it either procedurally or substantially flawed by disclosing any information related to the probe,” he said.

Mkhize declined to comment and referred questions to SANParks.  “We are not at liberty to make any comments to the media regarding the investigation at KNP. Please kindly direct your enquiries to SANParks.”

In March City Press reported about letters that concerned black employees had written to Parliament and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The alleged racism incidents, which employees told City Press about, included:

• Norman Lubisi (29), a field ranger, who was strangled and smothered with a refuse bag put over his head when he was coerced to confess to being a rhino poacher in January. The Bushbuckridge Magistrates’ Court dismissed his case but he was suspended from work.
• Tommy Mokgakane was assaulted in 2015 and suspended for more than 12 months after being accused of stealing an R1 rifle and two rhino horns. Mokgakane successfully sued the police for R350 000 for unlawful arrest, detention and assault on December 20 2017.
• Jabulani Hlavangwani, a general worker, was dismissed for finding a missing pillow while he was busy emptying bins. Hlavangwani was fired after handing it over to management, who accused him of stealing it.
• Tshepo Chabane was targeted on suspicion of being a rhino poacher. When his official residence was searched, no rhino horns were found. Chabane was dismissed for theft after a bundle of toilet paper was found in his house.
• Gideon Sibuyi was assaulted after he was implicated in rhino poaching last year, but no evidence was found against him.
• Eubert Chabane, an employee benefits officer, claims that he was sacked on March 27 2017 for allowing his friend’s family to sleep at his official residence in Skukuza camp. Chabane is fighting his case in the labour court because he claims he did not benefit nor did he defraud SANParks by hosting the family.

Some employees at the park told City Press they were happy now that their complaints were finally being taken seriously. “This is finally happening after such a long time of denial by SANParks,” said one employee. “We would like to see all the racist people being dealt with,” he said.

The original of this report by Sizwe Sama Yende appeared on page 12 of City Press of 26 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page

Details

Monday, 27 May 2019 06:37

The Sunday Independent more job losses in the banking sector are on the cards after Standard Bank this week said it would not rule out further branch closures as more of its customers bank through digital platforms.

The bank’s chief executive for personal and business banking, Funeka Montjane, said Standard Bank had seen a double digit decline in transactions in the last five years while digital transactions showed a double digit upscale in usage.

“The number of transactions that happen in our branches now makes up less than 1 percent. In terms of how many branches will be closed going forward will be made on a case by case basis based on whether customers are using that branch or not,” Montjane said.

“It will be irresponsible to keep branches opened and ask customers to pay for them while they don’t use them. Our people (employees) understand that the nature of work in the banking industry is changing because the servicing jobs are going away.”

In March, Standard Bank said more than 1 000 jobs were on the line as the group closed 91 branches across the country.

The announcement preceded the restructuring of its IT division which saw more than 500 workers sacrificed.

Last week Statistics South Africa said 94 000 people lost their jobs in the finance industry in the first quarter of this year.

South Africa’s big banks have been forced to change their service delivery with the entrants of tech savvy banks. TymeBank, SA’s first fully digital-driven bank, went live last month, while Discovery is expected to unleash its banking offering this year. Bank Zero, run by former FNB chief executive Michael Jordaan, is expected to launch later this year.

Bardien Pienaar, general manager at Merchants, said the new entrants and fintechs were threatening the fee structures and business-as-usual approach of traditional banks.

“It is a battle for survival in the banking space as digitally savvy entrants challenge traditional banks.  Traditional banks are closing down their walk-in branches at a rapid pace, in favour of the convenience and cost benefits of digital solutions. It makes business sense and helps them remain competitive,” Pienaar said.

“At the same time, digital banks are looking to increase innovation and improve customer experience but should not do that at the expense of less than great human interaction.”

The Patrice Motsepe-backed TymeBank went live in February with a target to capture the majority of the 21 million potential customers in the middle-income band.

Cheslyn Jacobs, head of sales and service at TymeBank, said the financial services industry has to evolve with customer needs.

“We are excited to be part of this evolution with our branchless digital banking model, but are cognisant that the digital experience must be augmented with human interaction through our contact centre – especially in our industry where building trust is so paramount,” Jacobs said.

The original of this report by Kabelo Khumalo appeared on page 18 of The Sunday Independent of 26 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page

Details

Monday, 27 May 2019 05:09

ANA reports that the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria handed down a ruling that the exclusion of domestic workers in the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida) was unconstitutional, the United Domestic Workers of SA (Udwosa) said yesterday.

This came after Maria Mahlangu’s family were told they could not be compensated as Mahlangu’s dependants because domestic workers were excluded from the benefits of the act.

Mahlangu was a domestic worker for 22 years when she drowned in her employer’s pool.

Her employers offered her daughter, Bongi Mahlangu, R5 000 as compensation.

The co-founder of Udwosa, Pinky Langa, said the exclusion of domestic workers from the act was essentially about the exclusion of and disregard for the value of domestic labour and the dignity and rights of workers.

“The victory at the high court today signalled the beginning of positive change for over 1 million workers in South Africa,” she said.

Langa said, with the union’s help, domestic workers were finally getting justice.

“While we celebrate the inclusion of domestic workers in Coida, the journey is still long as we look toward a positive ruling on retrospectivity.  The Constitutional Court of South Africa will hand down the final ruling on it.  We forge ahead with the struggle for equality, equity and justice for all domestic workers.  We invite organisations to pledge support in helping to amplify the upcoming case on retrospectivity and for compliance the inclusion in Coida,” said Langa.

The original of the above report appeared on page 4 of Saturday Star of 25 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page

Details

Wednesday, 15 May 2019 12:39

The Star reports that the troubles facing the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu) have deepened, with labour relations registrar Lehlohonolo Molefe demanding that it account for millions of rand in subscription income and unsecured and interest-free loans.

In a strongly-worded letter sent to suspended general secretary Katishi Masemola, his deputy Mayoyo Mngomezulu, and other Fawu officials on Tuesday, Molefe threatened to remove the union from the register of trade unions or apply to the Labour Court to have it placed under administration.

At the heart of Molefe’s threats is the union’s failure to submit its annual financial statements for the 2017 and 2018 financial years, and also only submitting the 2015 and 2016 documents in April last year.

Fawu’s auditors gave the union a disclaimer of opinion, the worst possible audit outcome, in 2015 and 2016 due to its failure to put in place a system of internal control over more than R73.7 million in subscription fees.

The auditors found that a major part of the union’s revenue comprised subscription income received from employers for its members.

“There was no system of internal control over subscription income of R73.6m on which we could rely for the purpose of our audit, and there were no satisfactory auditing procedures we could perform to obtain reasonable assurance that all subscription income was properly recorded.  Consequently, we were unable to satisfy ourselves as to the completeness and accuracy of the accounting records relating to subscription income,” the auditors declared.

Fawu, which is the SA Federation of Trade Unions’ second-biggest affiliate, has also failed to submit its VAT returns to the SA Revenue Service.

Molefe has also taken issue with several unsecured and interest-free loans to entities linked to the union, ranging from R11 000 to almost R17m.

He wants Fawu to disclose the names of the companies’ directors, how they benefit members, their funding structures since inception, and the salaries drawn by the directors.

Molefe is also demanding Fawu submit audited financial statements for 2017 and 2018, which it promised to hand to him in April last year.

Fawu must also submit the 2017 and 2018 audited financial statements for its investment company Basebenzi Investment Group, agency shop and Building Trust.

Agency shop agreements allow employers to deduct agreed agency fees from the wages of identified employees who are not union members, but are eligible for membership and benefit from a union’s bargaining efforts.

Molefe has also demanded an explanation for Fawu’s decision to suspend Masemola over the writing off of R19.2m in Basebenzi Investment Group, as reported by Independent Media earlier this month.

Fawu has until the end of June to respond to Molefe.

Masemola, also executive chairperson of the Basebenzi Investment Group, did not responded to requests for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, Fawu president Atwell Nazo has told union structures to ignore Masemola’s instruction that they continue to co-operate with him because he decided to defy his purported and unlawful suspension.

“This serves to instruct all staff members to ignore his instruction and further refrain from listening to or entertaining any communication from Masemola, because he is still suspended,” reads Nazo’s letter to Fawu employees and leaders.

The original of this report by Loyiso Sidimba appeared on page 13 of The Star of 15 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page