In our Friday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Thursday, 19 January 2017.
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Limpopo game lodge worker dies after lion attack TimesLive reports that a Limpopo game lodge worker has died after he was attacked by lions that escaped from a neighbouring reserve. Justice Cebekhulu and a colleague were cutting wood near the Lion Treetop Lodge in Hoedspruit when two white lions escaped from their enclosure. Lion Treetop Lodge is renowned for its "walking with white lions" experience. The lions escaped after climbing a tree and jumping over the fence of their enclosure. Lion Treetop Lodge owner, West Mathewson, said the attack, which he said occurred because the lions wanted to play, was the first of its kind at his establishment. An Mpumalanga health department spokesman advised that Cebekhulu had died from natural causes, not from the injuries sustained in the lion attack. Read this report by Graeme Hosken in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
AngloGold in talks with stakeholders, unions to tackle challenges, with job cuts a last resort Mining Weekly reports that gold producer AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) on Thursday said that, while it was in talks with certain stakeholders, including unions and authorities to address challenges facing its local operations, “job cuts will always be a last resort”. This comes after earlier media reports noted that the company was looking to lay off more than 800 workers. In a statement released to Mining Weekly Online, AGA spokesperson Chris Nthite noted that the business was marred by maturing operations, a declining production profile, cost escalations and frequent regulatory disruptions, which hampered its ability to build and sustain volumes. “Part of this process of engagement entails the necessary creation of a more sustainable and cost effective South African business that better reflects the realities of the operating environment,” he added. This short report is at Mining Weekly Online. Read too, Meer as 800 dalk uit diens gestel by AngloGold, at Netwerk24 (limited access). And also, AngloGold plan to axe 800 staff, at Business Report Zwane assures gold producers that DMR is not at war with them over safety stoppages BusinessLive reports that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on Thursday that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) was not "at war" with Sibanye Gold or AngloGold Ashanti, despite the differences that have been aired in court and comments. In 2016 AngloGold won a Labour Court case in which the judge agreed that a DMR-ordered safety stoppage at the Kopanang mine was out of proportion to the offence. Sources say Sibanye plans to sue DMR officials in their individual capacities for the way they had implemented a section 54 notice to stop operations because of safety violations. Zwane said: "If someone is approaching the court it means the department is doing something, we are at work to save the lives of people of SA. Our differences should not be taken as people at war with each other. We are not. We are not at war with Sibanye, or AngloGold or any other person. We are engaging to ensure the real beneficiaries of our laws in SA do benefit." The NUM’s Peter Bailey said they would never support any litigation against the DMR in the implementation of section 54 notices, which were intended to save lives and improve safety. Read this report by Allan Seccombe in full at BusinessLive Unions unite over mine safety as mine fatalities decrease marginally Business Report writes that the Minerals Resources Minister said on Thursday the number of miners killed in mines last year fell 5% to a record low of 73 from 77 the prior year. At the same time trade unions called for an end to rivalry among themselves so that they could work together to eradicate deaths and injuries. The industry recorded 2,662 injuries in 2016, which was a decrease by 15% from the 3,138 injuries reported in 2015. The three major mining unions on Thursday united in calling for an end to bitter rivalry among themselves and work together to eradicate deaths and injuries in the sector. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and Solidarity said the contestation among the unions had led to employers relaxing their health and safety standards, to the detriment of the workers. Read this report by Kabelo Khumalo in full at Business Report. Read too, Mining death stats worry unions, Chamber of Mines, at Fin24 Mining fatalities still unacceptably high, says Solidarity ANA reports that trade union Solidarity on Thursday said that the number of mining fatalities recorded in 2016 had shown no significant improvement compared with those of 2015. According to data announced by the Minister of Mineral Resources, 73 miners died in SA mines in 2016, compared with the 77 miners who had died in 2015. The three mineworkers whose bodies remain trapped underground at Lily Mine were not included in the statistics because “an inquiry is still underway”. Also not available were statistics of fatalities that occurred as part of illegal mining activities. Solidarity’s Paul Mardon said that 2016 was a disappointing year as far as health and safety in mines was concerned and that the number of fatalities and injuries remained unacceptably high. He also said it appeared that the mining industry was losing its focus and commitment as far as health and safety was concerned. Read this report in full at eNCA. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online Other labour posting(s) in this news category
Investment the cure for SA's unemployment, says Fedusa ANA writes that all sectors in South Africa needed to pull in the same direction if the country was to attract investment which could break the back of unemployment. This was according to Dennis George of the Federation of Unions of Sa (Fedusa), the second largest trade union federation in the country, who is attending the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, as part of Team SA. George, who represents a portion of SA’s labour component of the triumvirate which includes government and business, said it was critical that the three main players worked together to send the message that SA was working and indeed open for business. He pointed out that investment was the most important ingredient for inclusive growth and said the focus was to boost investor confidence and to "remove obstacles and the constraints to business". Read this report by Lindiz van Zilla in full at Business Report
CGE tells SA universities: Employ women or face sanctions Rebecca Davis reports that for the past two years, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has been meeting with South African institutes of higher learning to hear what they are doing in terms of gender transformation. The investigation is still ongoing, but in a number of cases the commission isn’t satisfied that change is coming quickly enough. Some of the excuses that the CGE has heard from university managements to explain why the number of female academics in the country continues to lag so far behind that of male academics are that campuses are too remote, women are off having babies and that there are few jobs for husbands and partners. On Thursday, the commission heard that at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), male academics outnumber females by almost three to one. This is despite the fact that the university is turning out around 9,000 more female graduates than male each year. And UKZN is not alone. Among the measures that could lie ahead are ring-fenced positions for female academics, with legal action for non-compliance. Read this report in full at Daily Maverick. See too, Gender transformation at UKZN needs 'drastic' measures, at TimesLive
Trainee doctors rush to marry ‘to avoid rural postings’ TimesLive reports that according to Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, final year medical students marry in November to ensure they are not sent to far-flung posts in rural areas or other provinces. Motsoaledi was addressing reports on Thursday that doctors and pharmacists had not been placed in community service or intern positions‚ which prevented them from completing their studies. He noted a spike in marriages‚ especially in KwaZulu-Natal‚ at the end of a student’s six years of studying before full-time work began. Doctors who are married can ask to be placed in certain cities for community service or internship to be near spouses. "I am not being cynical. It is like that … this is a societal issue," Motsoaledi said about the rushed marriages. Read this report by Katharine Child in full at TimesLive. Read too, No shortage of posts for healthcare workers, claims Motsoaledi, at News24 Doctors fume over health minister’s claims about vacant posts TimesLive reports that doctors are furious with Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi for blaming them for being without jobs and saying doctors “can't claim to be unemployed”. On Thursday he held a press conference to correct media reports about what he called “so-called lists” of unemployed doctors who cannot find community service‚ internship and job posts. He said there were 147 vacancies in the state sector for newly qualified doctors who could not find work and that “the 135 doctors quoted in the media who are said to be without jobs may contact us because we don't know them… It is up to them to choose from amongst these [posts] but they can't claim to be unemployed.” In the minister’s view, unplaced doctors preferred not to accept employment. Speaking for the SA Medical Association (Sama), Mark Sonderup said: “Sama is deeply disappointed with the minister’s response and his comments in general are an affront to all doctors.” One doctor called the minister's comments “blatant lies” as he had called health spokesman Joe Maila for the list of the 147 jobs and the latter had been unable to provide it. Read this report by Katharine Child in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City of Tshwane workers lodge compliant over alleged racial slurs by acting director News24 reports that City of Tshwane workers have lodged a formal complaint against the acting energy director claiming he called them ka**rs and baboons, the ANC in Tshwane said on Thursday. The complaint against Frans du Toit was lodged with the city's management last Friday. Du Toit declined to comment. City spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi said: "The accused maintains the quarrel is a direct result of the introduction of new management systems to deal with excessive overtime claims and other procedural practices." He said the matter had been referred for further investigation, but that a group of workers had since gone on an unprotected strike and intimidated other employees. "We are in the process of sourcing an urgent court interdict against them to return to work or face disciplinary hearings. In the meantime, the city is making use of contractors and employees from other regions to ensure that service delivery is uninterrupted." Read this report by Jeanette Chabalala & Tshidi Madia in full at News24
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