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 Friday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Thursday, 9 March 2017.
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Pietermaritzburg tissue factory worker shot dead by security guard ANA reports that a man was shot dead by a security guard following an argument at a tissue factory in the Willowton industrial area in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday. The 39-year-old factory worker and the security guard became embroiled in an argument. The victim allegedly attempted to stab the security guard, who then shot and killed the victim. The guard’s weapon was seized and he is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Bricks flung at ambulance in Nyanga on Tuesday, injuring a medic News24 reports that an attack on an ambulance in Nyanga that left a paramedic injured is being investigated, Western Cape police said on Wednesday. Bricks were flung at the provincial health EMS vehicle just after noon on Tuesday, on the corner of Eisleben and Lansdowne Roads. One of the bricks flung at the ambulance entered the cabin and hit the emergency medical practitioner in her back. The other crew member was left uninjured but traumatised. Department spokesperson Robert Daniels said the crew members were removed from duty, received medical attention and were offered counselling. Nyanga has been declared a red zone, which means no EMS vehicle can enter the area without a police escort until 07:00. A short report by Jenna Etheridge is at News24 Twelve hospitalised following ammonia leak at Tzaneen avo packing house News24 reports that at least 12 people had to be hospitalised after inhaling ammonia at an avocado packing house in Politsi, just outside of Tzaneen, on Thursday. ER24 spokesperson Annine Dormehl said paramedics arrived at the packing house and found three workers lying on the ground, while the rest of the workers were being evacuated from the building. She added: "It is believed that there was an ammonia leakage during the night and when the workers arrived this morning, they had difficulty breathing. Eight patients were given oxygen by ER24 and then transported to hospital." About four other people were treated by other emergency services and transported to nearby hospitals. A short report by Kaveel Singh is at News24 Limpopo farmer shoots and wounds worker after 'mistaking him for monkey' News24 reports that a farmer allegedly shot and wounded a farm worker with a pellet gun in Letsitele, after allegedly mistaking him for a monkey, Limpopo police said on Thursday. Mathanene Ishmael, 55, was returning from a store room on his bicycle on Wednesday when the farmer allegedly shot him in the head with a pellet gun. Ishmael was rushed to a nearby hospital with a head injury. The 47-year-old farmer was arrested and was due to appear in the Ritavi Magistrate's Court on Friday on a charge of attempted murder. Meanwhile, an 87-year-old man appeared in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday for allegedly shooting and killing a 12-year-old boy he apparently mistook for a monkey. The boy had been climbing a guava tree on the man's property on Sunday when he was shot in the head and upper body. Read this report by James de Villiers in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Coal mining managers express concern over fatalities Mining Weekly reports that SA Coal Managers’ Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’. The plea came as Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) acting chief inspector of mines Mthokozisi Zondi on Thursday confirmed a 31% year-on-year increase in the number of fatalities recorded between 1 January and 6 March. Zond told delegates at the Sacma 2017 CoalSafe conference that there had been 17 fatalities over that period, compared with 13 fatalities in the comparable period of 2016. The coal sector, which had recorded no fatalities during the same period in 2016, has recorded two fatalities in 2017. “The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Mining with a conscience’ and Mattison asserted that “it is these values that must motivate us as industry leaders to reduce the negative impact that our operations have on the health of our workers, the communities in which we operate and the environment.” Zondi also called on miners to reduce the number of employees exposed to noise and airborne pollutants. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly. Read too, Rising mining fatalities disconcerting, says Solidarity, at Mining Weekly Another eight bodies of illegal miners found in Benoni News24 reports that a further eight bodies believed to be illegal miners were found in Benoni on Monday afternoon, police said. This came after six others were found on Sunday. Police said gang rivalry was believed to have been the motive behind the killings. In a statement, police said it appeared as though the victims were either killed with a sharp object or shot before their bodies were dumped. It is unknown where they were killed. On Sunday, it was reported that the first six bodies were found with gunshot wounds next to a railway line in Benoni. Read this report by James de Villiers in full at News24. See too, Preliminary investigations reveal Benoni illegal miners were stabbed, shot, at EWN. And also, Phahlane slams murder of illegal miners in Benoni, at SABC News Global syndicates behind illegal miner mass killings The Times writes that turf wars between international crime syndicates are behind the deaths of more than 200 illegal miners murdered in the killing fields of SA’s mines over the past four years. The latest casualties are 14 illegal miners, known as zama zamas, who were killed at the weekend on Gauteng's East Rand. The area has become the epicentre of a global battle between gangs for control of tons of precious metal in disused mine shafts. At the centre of the war are an estimated 30,000 illegal miners who, say the UN's inter-regional crime and justice research institute and the Mineral Resources Department, are used by syndicates to steal about R7-billion worth of gold a year from SA. Behind the violence are armies of heavily armed thugs, allegedly including police, who help syndicates wage a war for control of the highly lucrative underground turf. Shootouts often occur. Wits University‘s illegal mining expert, Robert Thornton, said a “smorgasbord of international characters were involved in illicit mining, including Israelis, Chinese, Indians and Pakistanis”. Read this report by Jan Bornman, Graeme Hosken, Kyle Cowan and Shenaaz Jamal in full at BusinessLive. See too, Hell breaks loose in zama zama raid in Benoni, at The Star Oxfam SA calls for decriminalising informal mining TMG Digital reports that Oxfam SA has called on the government to decriminalise informal mining‚ which it says is largely misunderstood. The charitable organisation made the statement after 14 illegal miners were found dead this week in derelict mines in Benoni on Gauteng’s East Rand. The organisation wants the government to acknowledge the role of artisanal mining in macro-economic development‚ in household income‚ job creation and securing livelihoods for the majority of the poor and unemployed. It said it was a myth that "all informal miners are non-nationals‚ illegal migrants‚ part of syndicates, or [mine] with the intention to become part of the wider syndicates and underground gangs. Naturally, when under threat these unregulated miners respond by defending and arming themselves. Lawlessness will mount if this issue and related issues are not addressed properly". Read this report in full at BusinessLive Mabuza commits to building 1,000 RDP houses for Lily Mine community 013News reports that Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has committed to the building of 1,000 RDP houses for the Louisville mining community living near the Barberton Lily Mine in an effort to create opportunities for employment. The houses would be built by the local people in the period up until 2019 and would serve as a start-up for the community estimated to be around 6,000 families, who had previously relied mainly on working at the local mines. Mabuza visited the area on Thursday and held a two hour-long meeting with the local community members, where he expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of government services and economic activities. He learnt about the plight of the Louisville community after visiting the area following the mine accident last year, which left three workers trapped underground when a shaft collapsed. Mabuza also wants the local people to pave the local roads and do maintenance of the available and dilapidated infrastructure. “We definitely want the mine to open for operations, but at the same time we are committed to changing the lives of the people,” said Mabuza. Read this report by Zibonele Mncwango, who is Premier Mabuza’s spoksman, at 013News. See too, Lily Mine will be re-opened, says Mpuma Premier, at SABC News North West Premier warns of CV scam promising linkup to training at mines ANA reports that the Premier of North West on Thursday issued a warning for young people in the Rustenburg and Mahikeng areas to be wary of a scam targeting youth desperate for employment. A woman claiming to have been appointed by the Premier's Office through its Youth Entrepreneurship Unit and the Provincial Department of Education and Sports Development, was going around collect Curricula Vitae (CVs) of unemployed youth, who were then promised to be linked to local mines for training and skills development. The woman, whose identity is known to the Office of the Premier, and a team of her accomplices then ask for people to R20 before their CVs can be submitted. The provincial government said it would under no circumstances appoint service providers who solicit money from members of the public. Read this report by Tamaryn Africa in full at IOL News Other labour posting(s) in this news category
Other general internet posting(s) on mining
Numsa wage dispute in bus passenger sector goes to CCMA mediation ANA reports that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Monday began facilitating mediation between the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the Bus Passenger Council. This came after the union last month declared a dispute with the employers after wage negotiations broke down. Numsa is demanding a wage increase of 30% across the board, as well as a living wage of R15,000 per month for all workers. It has also demanded a R1,500 housing allowance, a R1,200 sleeping out allowance, and for overtime to be paid at 1.5 times normal rate and double time if employees are obliged to to work on their day off. Employers in the sector have apparently not moved off their offer of a 4.5% wage increase across the board. The CCMA mediation will end on Thursday. Read this report in full at The Citizen Nehawu up in arms over ‘militarisation’ of University of Pretoria campus The Citizen reports that the University of Pretoria (UP) has allegedly started “militarising” its campus by installing barbed wire fencing in front of the main administration building and deploying extra private security guards in anticipation of Nehawu industrial action. Nehawu (National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union) has told university management to remove the barbed wire and to get rid of the extra guards, or face the consequences. UP Nehawu chairperson Joseph Makasa denied they were planning protest action, saying they have not applied for permission for a strike or to march. He said the barbed wire was installed on Tuesday afternoon after their meeting with the university management regarding wages for 2017. In reaction, a UP spokesperson said they had become aware of threats of possible protest action by the #OutsourcingMustFall movement. Makasa also said UP had until Monday to revert on the union’s wage demands, which included a 10% increase across the board, a 100% 13th cheque and a 20% medical aid contribution increase from the university. Read this report by Virginia Keppler in full at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nehawu plans to strike next week in public social development sector ANA reports that that the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) said on Tuesday that it would be convening a national meeting of the Public Social Development sector as part of its final preparations for a nationwide strike next week. The strike comes as a result of the failure by the Department of Social Development to table meaningful responses to the union’s reasonable demands, since August 2015. Last month, Nehawu mounted a nation-wide protest action where it delivered a memorandum of demands, but a solution to the dispute has not yet been reached. The union is demanding, among other things, the occupation specific dispensation for Social Service Professionals and Occupations, the introduction of a rural allowance, the absorption of unemployed social workers on a permanent basis and a number of other issues. Nehawu also said it would be exploring the possibility of a secondary strike in the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) Read this report in full at IOL News. Read Nehawu’s press statement in this regard at SA Labour News Violent Samwu-led strike continues in Kouga local municipality RNews reports that a strike by Kouga Local Municipality staff affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) continued into a second day on Tuesday, with more reported damage to municipal offices. On Monday, the municipality had to close its Jeffreys Bay offices after the strike turned violent. There has apparently been further damage to Council property, including the entrance gate to the Municipal building in Jeffreys Bay being broken open and human faeces being thrown onto a building in Humansdorp. The streets in Hankey have reportedly also seen trashed. The municipality said that the workers' grievance revolved around a number of Expanded Public Work Program (EPWP) workers, whose temporary contracts ended on 28 February and were not renewed. Read this report in full at RNews Strike at KZN’s Park Rynie State Mortuary 'disrespects the dead' Daily News reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Funeral Directors’ Association has urged the Health Department to take drastic action against staff at the Park Rynie State Mortuary, who downed tools leaving 17 bodies unattended. Dhayalan Moodley, the association’s representative, said this was a “lack of respect” for the dead. Moodley claimed that mortuary staff downing tools was also prevalent in Durban and Pinetown. On Monday, mortuary staff at Park Rynie all reported in ill, forcing the department to move the 17 bodies to Port Shepstone. Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, assisted with conducting post-mortems in Port Shepstone on Tuesday and Wednesday. Six staff members at the Port Shepstone mortuary also called in sick on Wednesday. According to Dr Imran Keeka of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the staff grievances included disputes over roster times, days off and leave. Phakama Ndunakazi of union Nehawu said there was no strike at the Park Rynie facility, but staff members were on a go-slow. Read this report by Samkelo Mtshali in full at Daily News
Chaos as metered taxi drivers block R24 near OR Tambo over Uber EWN reports that there were heavy traffic delays on Friday morning in Ekurhuleni with metered taxi drivers blocking parts of the R24 highway in both directions and affecting those bound for various destinations, including OR Tambo International Airport. Taxi drivers parked their vehicles near the Barbara Road off-ramp, protesting against cab hailing service Uber. One driver said: “We need to get clarity. Today we’re prepared to die here. The police are usually shooting people who are demonstrating for their rights. So they must kill us for our own rights.” Meanwhile, motorists complained of heavy traffic delays, with some saying that they had missed their flights as a result of the protest. Airport Company SA said all affected passengers could be accommodated by negotiating with airlines to see how best to deal with the situation. Read this report by Mia Lindeque in full at EWN. See too, Taxi drivers block highway in Uber protest, at eNCA Uber drivers protest in Joburg on Friday over 'unsafe working conditions' TimesLive reports that Uber drivers gathered in Parktown North‚ Johannesburg‚ on Friday morning to protest what they called unsafe working conditions. Under the umbrella of ‘The Movement’‚ Uber drivers went on a go-slow and blocked the intersection of Seventh and Third avenues. Two drivers allegedly had their cars stoned and were assaulted by meter taxi drivers earlier in Parktown. The Movement’s spokesperson Teresa Munchick said: "Ask any one of the drivers or partners here. They don't have a voice. Uber globally does not recognise unions or guilds‚ but insists on dealing with people individually. You are called up to speak to a panel of people who just stonewall you." When The Movement’s convoy of drivers and partners arrived at Uber's Parkhurst offices‚ it was locked‚ with armed guards posted at the door. At around 11am‚ the drivers agreed to disperse. Read this report by Kyle Cowan in full at TimesLive
Vavi: New labour federation to launch at inaugural congress on 21 to 23 April 2017 Fin24 reports that a new trade union federation will host its inaugural congress in April, its steering committee convenor, Zwelinzima Vavi, said on Wednesday. He indicated that 21 unions would be represented by 1,800 delegates for the gathering set for April 21 - 23. He added that 17 other unions had not yet received a mandate to become part of the new federation. Vavi, who was expelled from labour federation Cosatu in 2016, said workers needed unions that were independent of their bosses and political parties. According to Vavi, 76% of the workers in the country were not union members and this was a sign that they had given up on the organisations meant to represent their rights. Read this report by Tshidi Madia at Fin24 Vavi’s new federation wants its independence TimesLive reports that former Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi says the new workers' federation which he is involved in establishing will keep the government at arms' length. Speaking to The Times on Thursday, Vavi made it clear that it would be necessary to forge a working relationship with the government to influence policies for the benefit of workers, but the federation wanted to avoid the influence of political parties, bosses and government. The federation is due to be launched at its inaugural congress set for 21-23 April, where 21 trade unions are expected. Several former Cosatu affiliates, such as metalworkers' union Numsa and food workers' union Fawu, are expected to form part of the new federation. Read this report by Olebogeng Molatlhwa in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Government in need of moral turnaround, says Solidarity News24 reports that according to trade union Solidarity, the SA government needed to "reassess its moral direction" after it was forced this week to revoke its intent to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). A senior government official on Wednesday confirmed that a letter had been sent to the United Nations citing the North Gauteng High Court’s judgment on 22 February as its reason for the reversal. Solidarity Research Institute political analyst Dr Eugene Brink on Thursday said it was encouraging that, in its attempt to withdraw from the ICC, the government had encountered opposition from the courts, the media, opposition parties and civil society. "The fact that the courts had to be used once again to stop the ANC government under the leadership of President [Jacob] Zuma from taking unlawful action is a sad reality," Brink said. Read this report by Kaveel Singh in full at News24. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online
Three job recruitment specialists charged by Competition Commission for price fixing Fin24 reports that the Competition Commission has referred three recruitment specialists to the Competition Tribunal on charges of price fixing. “The Competition Commission has decided to prosecute three advertising practitioners specialising in recruitment advertising services for price fixing, market division and collusive tendering,” it said in a statement on Thursday. The action follows an investigation by the commission, which found that Human Communications, Kone Staffing and Jobvest discussed and agreed on prices at which to quote their customers. Their services include linking job seekers to potential employers and assisting their clients to place advertisements in newspapers, the commission said. The respondents were engaged in horizontal restrictive practices (a relationship between competitors at the same level), according to the commission. Read this report in full at Fin24. See too, Three recruitment ad agencies in trouble with competition authorities, at BusinessLive Correctional Services warns of fresh jobs scam The Mercury reports that the Department of Correctional Services has warned of a fresh scam where desperate job seekers are being fleeced out of hundreds or even thousands of rands by con artists promising them posts at prisons in exchange for the cash. The department’s spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Thulani Mdluli, said that a number of people had fallen victim to the scammers over the past few months. Their normal modus operandi involved phoning people and, under the guise of being senior managers at the department, promising them jobs in exchange for cash in the amount of R500 to R5,000. Mdluli said the scammers had even managed to secure adverts in some print media to lure victims in this way. Read this report by Bernadette Wolhuter in full at The Mercury Other internet posting(s) in this news category
MPs welcome judges sacrificing their 2016/17 salary increases TMG Digital reports that judges will be sacrificing their salary increases for the 2016-17 financial year‚ a move that on Thursday was "welcomed and commended" by MPs in the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services. Committee chairperson, Dr Mathole Motshekga, said the decision “shows not only the responsibility of the judiciary‚ but also [its] sensitivity. The judiciary is leading the way in belt-tightening to save resources in favour of the masses and the poorest of the poor." Motshekga added that the move showed a responsible judiciary providing leadership "to other institutions, including the private sector". Depending on their seniority‚ judges’ salaries range from R1.7m a year up to R2.7m for the chief justice‚ according to pay scales published in March 2016. Constitutional Court judges earn R2.1m. Read this report in full at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eskom could shed 6,000 jobs with closure of aging coal stations HeraldLive reports that about 6,000 jobs could be lost if Eskom closes down its four ageing coal power stations, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown has said. Briefing Parliament, she indicated that the power utility had posted a R4.6-billion profit, but faced some challenges‚ particularly as SA continued to generate excess electricity capacity and moved towards greener energy. Brown said policy decisions such as the Independent Power Producers programme – in which Eskom would be obliged to buy power from small producers at a much higher cost than coal generation – had the ability to crash its balance sheet within the next 20 years. She added that the process needed to be properly managed to ensure workers were reskilled. Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla lashed out on Tuesday‚ saying: “It appears Eskom makes decisions with no vision‚ no planning‚ and no care about consequences. If we have surplus electricity then we must cancel nuclear‚ reduce prices‚ export more to Africa and invest in building electric cars.” Read this report by Bianca Capazorio in full at HeraldLive. See too, Thousands of jobs at risk as Eskom to phase out four power stations, at EWN. And also, Cosatu accuses Eskom of 'hostile act of provocation', at Sunday Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Backlog with issuing of TVET certificates being cleared, says department BusinessLive reports that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) said on Thursday that major steps had been taken to clear the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) examination results and certificates backlog. The number of outstanding certificates has been reduced significantly from the 236,821 recorded in August 2015, to 29,583. The DHET said the issuing of outstanding certificates was being hampered by data problems at TVET colleges. These included data-capturing errors, authentication of identity numbers and other personal information. TVET college principals had been engaged in a process to validate and to confirm all preliminary examination data from the examination centres. Two-million subject results for the November 2016 exams have been processed and released. The final outstanding and pending results were released to TVET colleges earlier in March. Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BusinessLive. See too, TVET results coming, at last, at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Govt anti-corruption hotline yields R410m & 1,700 dismissals from Sept 2004 to Jan 2017 ANA reports that a total of 3,600 government officials were found guilty of misconduct as a result of information received through the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH), a statement from the governance and administration cluster of ministers indicated on Thursday. This resulted in the recovery of R410m from guilty parties between 1 September 2004 and 31 January 2017. Of the 3,600 disciplined for misconduct, 1,700 officials were dismissed from the public service, 447 officials were fined (many by not receiving three months’ salary), 137 officials were demoted, 921 officials were given final written warnings and 395 officials were prosecuted. “It is, therefore, evident that the NACH has yielded positive results, not only in terms of monetary value but also in terms of disciplinary action taken against perpetrators,” reads the statement. The Public Service Commission (PSC), on behalf of the government, manages the NACH. Read this report in full at eNCA Joburg’s Metrobus investigates claims of drivers pocketing cash EWN reports that a metro bus commuter has described to Eyewitness News how Metrobus drivers pocket money from passengers who pay with cash and don’t use the regular bus tag. Since then an investigation into the pocketing of money by bus drivers has been launched. The City of Johannesburg’s forensic investigations services said Metrobus was losing an estimated R6 million a month due to drivers pocketing money from commuters who pay with cash. Metrobus acting MD Sabata Mokoele said they were continuing with bus inspections to check if bus drivers were pocketing money from commuters and should any further irregularities be found, there would be suspensions. In the long-term, Metrobus is looking at improving systems whereby cash transactions are done away with. Read this report by Katleho Sekhotho in full at EWN Honeymoon over for government employees doing business with state News24 reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) is intent on bringing government employees doing business with the state to book. At a briefing on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said the transitional period for public servants to declare their activities and choose a side was over. The 2016 public service regulations came into effect in August 2016, but the transitional period meant that employees doing business with an organ of state had until 1 January 2017 to make a decision to resign either from their business, or from government. The department is still compiling a list of employees who failed to comply with the new regulations. Once this process is completed, disciplinary processes will be instituted, the DPSA said on Thursday. Public Service Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodo said failure to resign from either the business or government would not be taken lightly. Read this report by Thulani Gqirana in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SAA Pilots Association, Outa want ‘delinquent’ Myeni removed as SAA chairperson The Citizen reports that the SAA Pilots Association (Saapa) and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) on Wednesday fired a legal broadside at South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson, Dudu Myeni. The move to apply for a court order by the two bodies was in a bid to have Myeni declared a delinquent director, who has grossly abused her position. If successful, Myeni would be disqualified from her directorship, or holding a senior or executive position within any SA company for a minimum of seven years. Saapa chairperson Captain Jimmy Conroy said SAA was approaching a point where its “very survival is in question”. Read this report by Amanda Watson in full at The Citizen. See too, Pilots go to court seeking Myeni ouster, at Business Report
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