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 have appeared since
midday on Tuesday, 2 May 2017.
|
Shot‚ intimidated and harassed - journalists under fire TimesLive writes that press freedom is being increasingly compromised in southern Africa‚ where journalists and media owners are being targeted for exposing the truth. Amnesty International‚ in marking World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday‚ said the intimidation of journalists sent a frightening message to their colleagues‚ causing them to self-censor. It cited cases where journalists in southern Africa have been shot‚ intimidated‚ harassed and criminally charged for investigative reporting. SA has witnessed two such high-profile incidents in the past month alone. Sunday Times investigative journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika was threatened for his reporting on lucrative tenders awarded by state power utility Eskom. Katharine Child‚ a journalist for The Times newspaper‚ was bruised after being manhandled by a person who identified himself as a policeman at a religious event hosted by the controversial Gupta family. And last year eight SABC journalists were dismissed for questioning editorial interference by the broadcaster’s executives. Although seven of them were later reinstated after challenging their dismissal‚ some have since received threatening messages. Read this report by Shenaaz Jamal in full at TimesLive. See too, Harber betreur aanvalle op joernaliste, at Netwerk24 (limit on access) Truck driver fatally shot by ‘hitchhikers’ in KZN The Citizen reports that a truck driver was shot and killed by three men pretending to be hitchhikers in the Mfekayi area of KwaZulu-Natal. According to the Zululand Observer, Harry Bhengu, a Cepaki Warehouse employee transporting manure from Pongola to Richards Bay, stopped to pick up men hitchhiking at the Mfekayi area, and along the way, the men attacked him. According to an eyewitness, truck veered off the road into nearby bushes. When it came to a halt, three men jumped out and ran into the forest. The witness then found the shot truck driver slumped forward with his head leaning on the steering wheel. A short report by Steven Makhanya is at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Chamber’s coal members in stand-off with unions over decentralised wage talks David McKay reports that discussions regarding how wage talks will be held in SA’s coal industry remain deadlocked, raising the risk that unions might embark on a national strike. Motsamai Motlhamme, head of employment relations at the Chamber of Mines (COM), said there had been no movement from the position last month in which the Chamber rejected recommendations by the CCMA that wage talks be centralised for another year. The COM’s coal members, which include Glencore, Anglo American, Exxaro Resources, Kangra Coal and Delmas Colleries, decided on 10 February to decentralise wage negotiations so that companies could discuss wages on mine-by-mine basis – a development that unions flatly rejected. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) called a dispute with the COM, which led to arbitration hearings under the auspices of the CCMA. The union had earlier threatened to call a strike of all members working in the coal sector. Gideon du Plessis of Solidarity said the likelihood of a strike occurring in the coal sector had increased, but he hoped “sanity would prevail”. The coal companies are scheduled to begin fresh wage discussions later this year as the previous two-year wage COM agreement of 2015 expires on 30 June. Read this report in full at Miningmx Other general internet posting(s) on mining
Cabin crew union due to head to court on Wednesday for resumption of SAA action BusinessLive reports that the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) is expected to go to court on Wednesday to seek the immediate resumption of industrial action at SA Airways (SAA). Workers downed tools in April, demanding that the airline address their demands, primarily an increase in the daily meal allowance, from $131 a day to $170. SAA then won an interdict against the strike — until 23 June — but the union maintains this was merely the result of a failure by the union to prepare its legal arguments in time. SAA management and the union met on Tuesday evening. Sacca general secretary Mpho Moikangoa said on Tuesday that the union was committed to engagement, but would proceed with a review should no agreement be reached. SAA has proposed a facilitated process which must, within two months, present solutions that all parties find "reasonable and acceptable." Read this report by Karl Gernetzky in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Sacca hopes to meet Myeni to resolve grievances with SAA, at EWN. And also, SAA cabin crew strike heads back to court, at Business Report
Saftu mulls formation of workers’ party Daily News reports that the newly formed South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) is exploring the possibility of forming a new political party, which would participate in future elections on behalf of workers. Zwelinzima Vavi, Saftu general secretary, Irvin Jim, National Union of Metal Workers of SA (Numsa) general secretary, and other senior leaders of the new federation spoke about the idea of the new “workers’ party” at two events held in Durban, namely Numsa’s 30th anniversary on Sunday night, and the Workers’ Day march on Monday. Jim said the idea of the workers’ party was because under the ANC black people had not secured economic power, while the ANC government had repeatedly refused to break the backbone of apartheid and colonialism. He explained that the process of forming the new political party included negotiations with like-minded opposition parties such as the EFF and the Pan African Congress. Read this report by Bongani Hans in full at Daily News ANC angry at those who prevented Zuma from speaking at Cosatu rally TMG Digital/BusinessLive report that the ANC has accused those who prevented President Jacob Zuma from speaking at Cosatu’s main Workers’ Day rally on Monday of reducing the significance of the day by their "unacceptable behaviour". "As a result‚ the important issues of workers’ rights‚ the advancement of the living wage and decent work were overshadowed by narrow factional interests‚" ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said on Tuesday. Speeches at the labour federation’s rally‚ held in Bloemfontein, were cancelled after workers heckled and booed Zuma and also Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini. ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and chairwoman Baleka Mbete were also heckled at rallies held in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal respectively. But, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa was given a warm reception in Mpumalanga. Cosatu has officially endorsed Ramaphosa to take over as president of the ANC. In April‚ it called on Zuma to step down. Read this report by Genevieve Quintal in full at TimesLive. Read the ANC’s press statement in this regard at ANC online. See too, Zuma heckling an embarrassment, says Cosatu's Dlamini, at EWN Tensions at workers’ rally ‘expected’ and ‘healthy’, ANC tells Parliament The Citizen reports that the ANC in Parliament on Tuesday tried its best to assure the public that President Jacob Zuma having been heckled, shunned and booed away from addressing Cosatu’s workers’ rally in Bloemfontein on Monday was “healthy”. During a workers’ debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Landulile Catherine Dlamini said the ANC had expected Zuma might not get the happiest of receptions. “We were expecting that, as the ANC. There will be tensions and those tensions are healthy tensions,” Dlamini said of the alliance partnership between the ANC and labour federation Cosatu. Under the ANC government, Dlamini argued, headway was being made in employment. Another ANC MP, Boingotlo Nthebe, charged it was not Zuma’s job alone to create jobs. He said to heckling from opposition benches that Zuma, as the head of government, drove policy to create an environment for the private sector to implement it. Read this report by Denise Williams in full at The Citizen. Read too, Not Zuma's responsibility to create jobs, ANC MP says, at News24. And also, Nxesi plays down Zuma heckling at Cosatu rally, at EWN. As well as, Boos against president should be celebrated, says deputy labour minister, at News24 Cosatu unions reject Zuma again, this time for central committee meeting The Star reports that Cosatu affiliates have warned the ANC not to even think about deploying President Jacob Zuma to address or attend the labour federation’s important mid-term meeting scheduled for later this month. Cosatu’s largest union, Nehawu, is again leading the charge to stop Zuma from giving a speech at the meeting, where he is expected to speak as leader of the tripartite alliance. On Monday, Zuma suffered embarrassment when booing and heckling Cosatu members forced the May Day rally in Bloemfontein he was due to address to collapse before he could speak. The NUM, which was part of the unions that pushed for Zuma to address the May Day rally despite objections, warned it would be “reckless” for the ANC to send the president to Cosatu’s central committee (CC). The CC meeting, which runs from 29 May to 1 June, is a mid-term gathering at which the federation assesses the progress of implementation of its policies adopted at an elective conference. Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said they still had to finalise the programme and had not invited people as yet. Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane, Thami Magubane and Noni Mokati in full at The Star. See too, Zuma 'was not invited' to address Cosatu rally, says Ntshalintshali, at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Servest set to double its Cape Town staff complement within next three years Business Report writes that integrated facilities management firm Servest is confident it can double its workforce of 4,500 in Cape Town within the next three years. This was indicated by CE Steve Wallbanks on Tuesday at the launch of the firm’s new head office in Ndabeni, Cape Town. Servest chose to open its new offices in Ndabeni as part of the Pinelands Development corridor and believes the new office development will assist in making the area safer and stimulate local economic development by creating jobs. All the fittings and fixtures for the new building were completed by local small, medium and micro enterprises and craftsmen. The firm employs more than 50,000 people around the world, about 25,000 in SA and another 25,000 mainly in the UK and 11 countries in Africa. Alex Berndl, Servest’s newly appointed director for coastal regions, said the firm had noticed within the business environment and within its own organisation a shift with a lot of new businesses moving to Cape Town, as a destination of choice. Read this report by Joseph Booysen in full at Business Report
Solidarity and AfriForum challenge racial sports quotas in court BusinessTech reports that Solidarity and AfriForum have challenged the SA Rugby Union (SARU), Cricket SA (CSA), Athletics SA (ASA) and Netball SA (NSA) to defend their agreed racial quotas relating to team selection before the Labour Court. Their court papers were served on Tuesday. The organisations claim that the quotas in question do not conform to local and international legislation and agreed upon norms. “We request an order that the court declare that the Transformation Charter insofar as it pertains to demographic profiling as invalid, and of no force and effect,” said Johan Kruger, Deputy CE of Solidarity. “We further request that the court declare the agreements between the parties insofar as it pertains to quotas, as invalid and of no force and effect, and that sporting bodies are interdicted from applying quotas in determining team selection at a national, provincial, club or school level.” This was echoed by Kallie Kriel, CE of AfriForum, who said that that merit should be the only criterion in the compilation of sports teams. Read this report in full at BusinessTech. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online. See too, ‘Epiese stryd’ kom oor kwotas in sport, at Netwerk24 (limit on access). And also, Hofstryd kom oor sportkwotas, at Maroela Media
New energy minister lashes PetroSA over executive bonuses Business Report writes that Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has lashed out at the executives of PetroSA for paying themselves millions of rands in bonuses after the entity had suffered a financial loss of R14.5 billion. In December it was revealed they paid themselves R17.3 million in bonuses despite the huge losses the state-owned entity suffered on Project Ikhwezi. Kubayi, who was briefing the parliamentary portfolio committee on energy on Tuesday, said PetroSA needed to be brought into line to improve its performance and stop the losses. But, the minister advised that the law did not allow her to intervene at PetroSA and that she could only do so through the Strategic Fuel Fund. DA MP Gordon McKay said he supported the minister’s decision to take action against the executives for the loss. The R14.5 billion loss led the committee to call for a forensic probe to rein in those responsible. Read this report by Siyabonga Mkhwanazi in full at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Group Five retrenches following restructuring of loss-making cluster Business Report writes that listed construction company Group Five is going through a restructuring process and is set to retrench. In a statement on Wednesday, the company said most of its changes were aimed at unlocking shareholder value and addressing mainly the loss-making Engineering & Construction (E&C) cluster. The E&C Cluster has now been split into Construction: South Africa, Construction: Rest of Africa and engineer, procure and construct (EPC) sector businesses. This change, the company indicated, has led to the implementation of voluntary and forced retrenchments, which are set to conclude at the end of June. Group Five did not indicate how many people were affected by the retrenchments. The South African and Rest of Africa Construction businesses will be led by the executive director of Construction, Mark Humphreys, while Peter de Vries will lead the EPC / sector-driven business. Read this report in full at Business Report
Second Nkandla ‘fall guy’ will fight another day after another disciplinary postponement TimesLive reports that disciplinary hearing for the second Nkandla "fall guy” in Durban on Wednesday morning was postponed after only six minutes. The hearing would have seen the public works department's Durban-based director of key accounts management‚ Rakesh Dhaniram‚ taking the stand to testify. He is one of 10 department officials charged with flouting tender procedures in the R246-million refurbishment to President Jacob Zuma's homestead. Last week‚ Sibusiso Chonco had his hearing postponed due to ill-heath. Dhaniram’s lawyer Aslam Moolla requested a postponement‚ saying that some documents had not yet been handed over to him. Without this documentation‚ he argued‚ his client would be prejudiced. Panel chair Adv Nhlanhla Mfeka granted an indefinite postponement. The Nkandla hearings commenced in 2014 but had to be suspended following a legal dispute over whether the media should have access to the proceedings. Read this report by Nathi Olifant in full at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Tuesday, 2 May 2017 at SA Labour News
|
Get South African labour news reports at SA Labour News