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, 13 June 2017.
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Taxi drivers’ strike on Thursday will leave Joburg commuters stranded TimesLive reports that Johannesburg taxi commuters will be stranded on Thursday as the South African Taxi Council (Santaco) will be embarking on a strike. Santaco Gauteng chairperson Ralph Jones said the taxi industry will march to the SA Taxi Finance offices in Midrand. “This is to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the directors of the company. Some members of the taxi industry have been hard hit by the high interest rate of 28% and blacklisting due to payment of R15‚000 per month over 72 months. We can't take it anymore‚” Jones said. He apologised for any inconvenience that will be caused and advised commuters to seek alternative transport. This short report by Nomahlubi Jordaan is at TimesLive
Hlaudi Motsoeneng gets a month’s notice to serve and no golden handshake BusinessLive reports that axed SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng will not receive a golden handshake, but will instead serve a month’s notice before permanently exiting the public broadcaster. His dismissal for holding a media conference at which he attacked the interim board and MPs was announced on Monday. The chairperson of the SABC interim board, Khanyisile Kweyama, said on Tuesday that Motsoeneng had not been dismissed with immediate effect because the SABC wanted to finalise the separate disciplinary process around findings of the Public Protector. The board has issued Motsoeneng with the relevant charges and has given him 10 days in which to respond. But Kweyama added that it was "unlikely that process will be concluded". Asked about whether Motsoeneng would be paid out for the remaining one year on his contract‚ Kweyama said they were under "no obligation to pay out a contract when the person is found guilty of misconduct". Read this report by Bianca Capazorio in full at BusinessLive Hlaudi Motsoeneng to challenge his SABC axing TimesLive reports that former SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng intends to challenge the outcome of a disciplinary enquiry which resulted in him being fired by the public broadcaster. Hlaudi's lawyer Zola Majavu indicated that he had been contacted by Motsoeneng and had been instructed to prepare a challenge against the ruling. He said that Hlaudi was "aggrieved" by the ruling and would meet with his legal team on Monday to discuss in what form they would challenge it. Motsoeneng was officially fired from the public broadcaster on Monday after being found guilty of misconduct relating to comments he made at a media briefing in April. Read this report by Kyle Zeeman in full at TimesLive Special Investigative Unit to probe Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s R11m bonus BusinessLive reports that the troubles of axed SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng are far from over, with the interim board now scrutinising the R11m bonus payment he received for orchestrating a controversial deal with pay TV company MultiChoice. The R533m deal gave the private broadcaster access to the SABC’s entire archive. Motsoeneng, who was dismissed from the public broadcaster on Monday following a disciplinary hearing, might be compelled to pay back the money. Briefing MPs on Tuesday, SABC interim board chairwoman Khanyisile Kweyama said the bonus paid to Motsoeneng and various others had been referred to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). She indicated that the bonus payment, initially meant to be R30m, was highly irregular and was not ratified by the board at the time. The payment was seen as a "finder’s fee". Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo told MPs the bonus payments were "problematic" because there was no performance-management system or agreements in place. Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BusinessLive. See too, Hlaudi 'to blame' for R509 million loss at SABC, at BusinessLive Numsa calls for an independent investigation into former Eskom chair Ngubane ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has said that Ben Ngubane’s resignation from the board of Eskom was a positive development, and called for an independent investigation into the former chairperson. Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown announced on Monday evening that Ngubane had tendered his resignation effective immediately. Numsa second deputy president, Ruth Ntlokotse, said in a statement that the nightmare at the power utility was far from over. “Whilst we note and acknowledge Ben Ngubane’s departure from the Eskom board, he must be held to account for his role as chairperson of Eskom. His resignation should not exonerate from taking responsibility. We call for an independent investigation into tenders awarded during his tenure, and that where necessary, heads must roll,” Ntlokose said. Ngubane’s resignation took place against a decision by Parliament to investigate the power utility, for allegations of mismanagement in issuing government tenders. Read this report in full at The Citizen
Uber does not care about our safety, spokesperson for drivers claims BusinessLive reports that, in the wake of reports of attacks on Uber drivers‚ the drivers say they do not feel safe or protected by Uber itself or by the police. "The problem is that we are not safe‚ Uber does not care about our safety‚ they are doing nothing even though they are aware of the criminality directed at the drivers." said Zweli Ngwenya‚ a spokesperson for the Uber drivers. "You don’t know when they will strike. It is getting complicated‚ we are attacked from many sides. I know about at least 20 Uber cars that were smashed in Gauteng‚ and nothing was done about that. In fact‚ from my eyewitness account‚ the police ignore these crimes even when they occur in their vicinity." Ngwenya added that when about 200 Uber drivers operating around Eastgate Mall had protested against ongoing intimidation and attacks‚ allegedly by meter-taxi drivers‚ Uber had called the mall management to say that Uber did not recognise the drivers. On Tuesday, Uber SA said that it was "devastated" to confirm the brutal attack of a driver in Pretoria this past weekend. According to a Gauteng police spokesperson, they are not aware of Uber attack hotspots, and have urged the public to report any such places. Read this report by Kgaugelo Masweneng in full at BusinessLive Rude nurses putting young women off HIV testing and treatment Times Live reports that nasty nurses are largely responsible for people refusing to go to clinics to get tested and treated for HIV. That's according to research from the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) undertaken in 2016. It showed that in SA‚ 49% of people visited clinics to get an HIV test‚ while only 5% went for HIV treatment. The survey was conducted nationally among 650 young women between the ages of 16 and 24. The research that‚ among other objectives‚ aimed to evaluate methods for increasing the use of clinics to access HIV treatment reported that “the number of mentions of rude‚ untrustworthy and unsupportive care from nurses is notable and very worrying”. As one of the research respondents said when asked why she hadn’t been to a clinic to have her status checked‚ “because I'm scared to be insulted by the nurses if ever I'm positive”. Read this report in full at Sunday Times. Read too, A sex worker’s view on South Africa’s latest plans to beat HIV, at TimesLive
Gauteng officials blame 'poor implementation of legislation' for illegal mining EWN reports that the Gauteng Community Safety Department says one of the problems that contribute to illegal mining is the failure by the Mineral Resources Department (DMR) to properly implement mining legislation. Illegal mining has been identified as a national threat, with government battling to stop it. Provincial Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane hosted a roundtable discussion with mine management, mine owners, researchers and police in Kempton Park on Tuesday to address the dangers of illegal mining in Gauteng. There are about 6,000 abandoned mines across SA, with some 600 of these in Gauteng. Community Safety Department senior researcher Arnold Phala said the national government needed to do more. “The Department of Mineral Resources, as a custodian of mineral resources in the country, we believe is not adequate or sufficient. It is there, but it’s not adequate in terms of making sure that mining companies adhere to legislation.” The DMR’s Mpho Ditlhakanyane has admitted that there are problems with implementation. Based on a short report by Masego Rahlaga at EWN Other general internet posting(s) on mining
Samwu members in Mangaung not yet back at work despite court ruling Netwerk24 reports that striking Mangaung metro employees are apparently under an obligation to return to their posts after the Labour Court on Friday declared the industrial action by members of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) unlawful. This was according to Dr Elizabeth Snyman-Van Deventer, FF Plus metro councillor, who said that it was now the responsibility of the union to persuade its members, for their own good and the good of residents, to return to work. She said that the points of difference between the metro, as employer, and the union, as representative of the workers, should instead be settled in an alternative manner, such as through mediation. Pule Molalenyane, national president of Samwu, indicated on Tuesday that the strikers had not yet returned to work and were still conducting discussions with the mayor, Olly Mlamleli, and her management team. Discussions were apparently scheduled to continue at 16h00 on Tuesday. (Loosely translated from Afrikaans) Read this report by Marietjie Gericke in full in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (limit on access) Strike by Gauteng forensic pathology officers continues ANA reports that the ongoing strike by workers across mortuaries in Gauteng has put the brakes on the release of postmortem results and burials. Forensic pathology assistants in the province downed tools over salaries and working conditions. Angry protesters gathered outside the Diepkloof facility on Friday, demanding that the provincial health department accede to their demands. Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesman Jack Bloom indicated in a statement on Wednesday: “Families are suffering extreme distress by the delay in releasing the bodies of their loved ones for burial. Diepkloof mortuary (in Soweto) is the worst affected. We cannot have a situation where bodies pile up in mortuaries, causing further anguish to bereaved families.” The Gauteng Department of Health said talks to end the strike were continuing this week. Read this report in full at eNCA. Read the DA’s press statement at Politicsweb. Read the Gauteng Department of Health’s press statement at SA Govt online Army called in as bodies pile up at Gauteng mortuaries due to strike ANA reports that members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) have been sent to Gauteng mortuaries to help with the backlog as the strike by assistant pathologists rages on. Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on health Jack Bloom welcomed the move, indicating that at least 200 postmortems still had to be performed across the province. The two-week long strike by workers across mortuaries in Gauteng has delayed the release of postmortem results and burials as bodies remain stuck at the mortuaries. Forensic pathology assistants downed tools over salaries and working conditions. Mortuaries in Diepkloof, Hillbrow, Germiston and Roodepoort have been seriously affected. The provincial department of health said talks with labour continued in a bid to end the crippling strike. Bloom urged Premier David Makhura to intervene and resolve the strike. Read this report in full at The Citizen D-day for Home Affairs to find out if strike over working hours can go ahead EWN reports that Wednesday is D-day for the Department of Home Affairs to find out if unions will embark on a potentially crippling strike at its offices. The dispute is over work on Saturdays and whether staff should be paid overtime for such work or receive a day off instead. The department said it met with unions at arbitration at the bargaining council on Monday. The parties were scheduled to make a submission to the arbitrator, but while the department presented its offer, the unions were not ready and were given until Wednesday to make their submission. The arbitrator is scheduled to make a decision today (Wednesday), which will indicate whether the unions may proceed with their intended strike. Director-General Mkuseli Apleni said last week that all Home Affairs offices would be affected, included ports of entry and refugee centres. A short report by Barry Bateman is at EWN. Read too, Vakbond wil binnelandse sake tot stilstand bring, at Netwerk24 (limit on access) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nedlac has reached its sell-buy date, analyst reckons Fin24 reports on the view that the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) has reached its sell-buy date and a new organisation, consisting of a loser formation of business, government and labour, should be formed in its place. This is according to Mzukisi Qobo, associate professor at the University of Johannesburg and one of the authors of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) 2016 Transformation Audit. “There are tensions among the social partners and a trust deficit which means the mechanisms put in place, such as Nedlac, are no longer relevant. It was a transitional arrangement, but we now need a new social compact,” Qobo said. According to him, Nedlac is weak and sectoral-driven and is not driving social change or economic reform. He also thinks Cosatu has too much power in Nedlac, while by contrast the Black Business Council does not have a Nedlac seat. Read this report by Liesl Peyper in full at Fin24
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