In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 7 September 2018.
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Scores of Gauteng government workers don’t know where to report on Monday for duty City Press reports that scores of government workers in Gauteng do not know whether or not to report for duty today – or where to report to. And it is unclear what will happen to the hundreds of employees housed at nine dangerous government buildings belonging to the Gauteng government. According to a report commissioned by the department of infrastructure development last year, which was presented to the province last month, none of the nine buildings in the Johannesburg CBD achieved 50% compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Gauteng provincial government spokesperson Thabo Masebe said heads of departments would reveal decisions on plans regarding whether or not to move the workers from non-compliant buildings at a meeting on Monday (the City Press report lists the nine non-complying buildings). He said departments would decide, in accordance with what was detailed in the report, on what could be done to address issues raised. Factors to be decided on included what could be fixed in the short term that would entail not moving workers or whether workers would be required to be moved to fix issues. Details about the report surfaced after the Bank of Lisbon Building, situated at 37 Sauer Street in the Johannesburg CBD, housing the departments of health and human settlements, caught fire on Wednesday, claiming the lives of three firefighters. Read this report by Msindisi Fengu & Nompumelelo Magagula in full at News24. Read too, Basic safety measures were absent at Bank of Lisbon Building, at The Star. And also, Joburg firefighters died heroes, lament relatives, at SowetanLive Health department calls for police to act on sabotage at its Civitas HQ building Timeslive reports that the national health department on Friday condemned acts of sabotage at its Civitas Building head office in Pretoria. The department indicated: “There were two arson attempts this week‚ with the most recent yesterday afternoon with a fire set on the 14th floor [on Thursday afternoon] whilst there were still people in the building. Fortunately‚ the alarms went off and staff [members] were able to extinguish the blaze – otherwise the results might have been lethal.” Other examples of sabotage included disabling smoke detectors‚ disabling security cameras‚ breaking locks and forced entry to the building and its control rooms and wiring cut soon after contractors had repaired air-conditioning units. The department condemned these life-threatening acts and called on law enforcement agencies to investigate these criminal activities. Since April this year‚ department employees in Civitas have protested over their working conditions. The department said its head office‚ although poorly maintained‚ was not a death trap as Civitas had never been declared uninhabitable by all authorities that had assessed the building. When people said the building was uninhabitable‚ they were mostly referring to the heat‚ ventilation and cooling system‚ according to the department. It said poor maintenance by the department of public works had resulted in the air-conditioner malfunctioning. Read this report by Ernest Mabuza in full at Timeslive. Read too, Two fires at Civitas building in Pretoria were arson, say Motsoaledi and Nxesi, at BusinessLive. And also, Joburg's buildings of death: Public servants refuse to enter unsafe offices, at The Star Pikitup resumes refuse collections with police escorts News24 reports that Pikitup has resumed refuse collection around Johannesburg and Soweto with armed escorts protecting employees who had their lives threatened last week amid a row over hiring practices. Pikitup trucks are now being escorted by Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the SA Police Service. Spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi indicated that services had resumed on Friday by agreement with Pikitup employees, who had had a terrifying week after one staffer was even doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight. Five people were arrested in connection with that incident. Three trucks were also torched. The company's depots from Soweto to as far afield as Midrand had to close after staff were being threatened following claims that the only way to get a job there was to pay somebody off. Mkhwanazi said another claim was that people from outside the region were being hired through pay offs. "Let them bring evidence so that this can be dealt with," he stated and added that Pikitup was being audited so, if the claims were true, they would be detected. Read this report by Jenni Evans in full at News24. Read Pikitup’s press statement at Polity Rheinmetall Denel Munition reassures community about safety of Somerset West site Timeslive reports that Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has reassured residents that the company’s Somerset West site‚ where eight people were killed in an explosion last Monday‚ presents “absolutely no risk” to the surrounding area and communities. “In all instances RDM complies with and exceeds national (Department of Labour) and international safety standards‚” the manufacturer and supplier of munitions and explosive-related products said in a statement on Saturday. It stated that the building where the blast occurred was used to make a propellant as part of the production process. “Importantly‚ the chemicals which are used in this process are present in the air and therefore will not negatively affect air quality.” It added that there were about 400 buildings on the Somerset West site‚ each designed in such a way that if there was an incident‚ it would not affect the surroundings. The company also indicated that staff members were continuing to receive trauma counselling and had been sharing messages for the affected families in a condolences book that had been placed in the Somerset West site’s foyer. The names of the deceased will only be released once the identification process has been concluded and only after consultation with the individual families who have been affected. Read this report in full at Timeslive. See too, Prayers, black armbands as munitions plant workers mourn colleagues, at News24. And also, Tears and anger at memorial for Denel blast victims, at Timeslive
Unprotected strike halts production at Vametco vanadium mine Mining Weekly reports that Bushveld Minerals reported on Friday that production had been temporarily stopped at the Vametco vanadium mine, near Brits, in the North West, owing to unprotected industrial action. The industrial action, which started on 5 September, was in relation to historic legacy issues and compensation structures that preceded Bushveld’s acquisition of Vametco in December last year. Bushveld said on Friday that it continued to engage with union representatives and that it was hopeful of a speedy resolution and resumption of operations. A short report is at Mining Weekly Barberton Mines concludes wage negotiations with two unions Mining Weekly reports that gold mining group Pan African Resources’ Barberton Mines has successfully concluded a three-year wage agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Uasa. The agreement provides for an average yearly wage increase of about 6.5% and 5.5% for NUM and Uasa members, respectively. These unions represent the majority of employees at Pan African’s Barberton operations, in Mpumalanga. Barberton Mines does not participate in the collective bargaining process under the Minerals Council SA, where negotiations between unions and AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye-Stillwater, Harmony Gold and Village Main Reef are currently under way. This short report is at Mining Weekly Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Postings on Mining Charter
Other general posting(s) relating to mining
CCMA seeks to intercede in Solidarity’s strike at Sasol Fin24 reports that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) wants to assist in defusing the strike by trade union Solidarity at Sasol over the company’s empowerment share scheme. According to a statement issued by Solidarity on Friday, the CCMA addressed a letter to both the trade union and the energy and chemical company, stating its intentions to intervene. The CCMA indicated that it would appoint a special commissioner to assist the parties. “Solidarity has since formally informed the CCMA that the trade union would participate in the process,” the union said. Solidarity’s chief executive Dirk Hermann added that, although Solidarity welcomed the CCMA’s intervention, the trade union would continue with the strike. Solidarity, which represents 6,300 workers at Sasol, last week launched the strike over Sasol’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment share scheme – Sasol Khanyisa Phase 2. Solidarity has based its strike on the fact that the share scheme is not inclusive of all Sasol’s employees regardless of race. Solidarity has also sent a letter of complaint to the New York Stock Exchange, stating that the scheme violated a section in the US Civil Rights Act. Read this report by Lameez Omarjee in full at Fin24. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity News. Read too, Solidarity lodges compliant with NYSE that Sasol Khanyisa violates Civil Rights Act, at Fin24
Wild Coast special economic zone in Mthatha could create thousands of jobs City Press reports that thousands of jobs are on the cards for the Eastern Cape, with plans to develop the Wild Coast special economic zone in Mthatha now gaining momentum. The zone will be developed at the Mthatha Airport development precinct, just 10km away from Mthatha, the seat of the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality, which covers Mthatha and Mqanduli towns. The project, which will take advantage of the newly revamped Mthatha Airport, will result in a number of government departments and entities, including the private sector, working together to make it a reality. The zone falls under the trade and industry department’s Coega Development Corporation, the economic development department, the environmental development and tourism department, the King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality and the OR Tambo district municipality. Nero Lisani, spokesperson for the economic development, environmental affairs and tourism department, said in the first phase of construction it was anticipated that 6,420 direct job opportunities would be created and then 2,578 operational jobs. The zone would focus on developing value chains in the agro sector taking into account the comparative and competitive advantage of the region, Lisani indicated. All that was left now was for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism department MEC Oscar Mabuyane to submit a final application for the economic zone to Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies for consideration. Read this report by Lubabalo Ngcukana in full at Fin24
Sasol executives score R106m in share options Moneyweb reports that petrochemicals giant Sasol has granted executives share options under its long-term incentive plan worth over R106 million at current prices. The grants, made to 15 directors of the parent company as well as major subsidiaries, were disclosed to the market on Wednesday last week. Joint presidents and chief executive officers Bongani Nqwababa and Stephen Cornell received shares worth around R22.5 million and $1.7 million respectively, with Cornell receiving US-listed American depository receipts (ADRs). Chief financial officer Paul Victor received shares worth R12 million. The options vest in two tranches: the first 50% after three years, and the balance after five years. The shares (and ADRs) were awarded on 3 September, at a strike price of nil. For the 2018 financial year, the long-term incentive programme saw executives measured against three Corporate Performance Targets (CPTs): increase in tons produced per head, growth in attributable earnings, and total shareholder return (against three different indices, including the JSE Resi 10). In 2018, they achieved a CPT score of 69%. They under-performed on the TSR (Total Shareholder Return) as well as growth in earnings measures. Read this report by Hilton Tarrant in full at Moneyweb
Jobs at MultiChoice on the line as DStv struggles Business Times reports that MultiChoice, grappling with new competition in the form of streaming services such as Netflix, is considering job cuts as part of its plan to create a "leaner" business. According to an (unnamed) person familiar with the matter, the company has asked a large number of people to reapply for their positions and as many as 200 jobs could be on the line. The business has about 7,000 employees across Africa. A MultiChoice spokesperson said: "We are creating a leaner and more agile organisation in order to remain globally competitive. We are looking at different ways to transform our business into a more agile and digitally focused company." MultiChoice's satellite TV business, DStv, faces its biggest existential threat since its launch 23 years ago as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming giants wade into the local market. The new competition is taking its toll on DStv's premium subscriber base. In the year ended March, MultiChoice lost 41,000 premium subscribers across all its African markets. While the total subscriber base grew - MultiChoice added 563,000 in SA in the year to March - it came from far less profitable lower-cost packages. World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck commented that a downsizing of MultiChoice was inevitable. Read more of this Sunday Times Business Times report by Nick Hedley at SA Labour News
Protect our teachers from pupils‚ says Sadtu Timeslive reports that a principal at a secondary school in the Eastern Cape suffered a large gash on the forehead‚ above his left eye‚ after being attacked by a pupil. This was the latest in a string of attacks on teachers in the Eastern Cape and action must be taken‚ the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in the Eastern Cape said in a statement last week. “Our member continued to display commitment by remaining at the school despite this vicious attack by his learners‚ as he insisted that they continue with their studies on that fateful Friday night last week. Parents of the learners who are refusing to cooperate with the teachers at the school must assist (to alleviate) the situation,” the union indicated. Sadtu complained about a lack of discipline in classrooms and an apparent lack of disciplinary action being taken against pupils “who continue to assault and violate the rights of teachers in schools”. It called upon the employer (government) “to exercise enough vigilance in dealing with this matter so as to ensure that the situation at the school is monitored in pursuit of quality public education.” Read this report in full at Timeslive. Read Sadtu’s press statement at Polity Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Older doctors walk away from public health service City Press reports that the public health sector is bleeding older healthcare professional providers (HPPs), who are leaving the state to practice in the private sector. But they aren’t staying too long in the private sector either, with many opting to deregister their practice numbers and hang up their white coats before they reach the age of 50. This is according to the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa’s latest report on the distribution of HPPs registered on the practice code numbering system (PCNS) during the period between January 2000 to December last year. For a healthcare provider to claim from a medical scheme they need to be registered on the PCNS. The report noted an increasing number of healthcare professionals registering on the PCNS, from 36,000 in 2000 to 54,800 last year, representing a 52% increase. This has greatly increased the proportion of HPPs per patient in the private sector. Surprisingly, however, this increase of professionals was in tandem with an increase in their average age in most disciplines. This unexpected observation was “worrying” to the report’s author, Charlton Murove; as he said it suggested that there had been an increase in the number of older professionals moving from state facilities to the private sector. The report noted a disproportionate number of HPPs practising in the private sector compared with the public sector, particularly in terms of geographical location and population needs. This disproportionate distribution was acute in more specialised disciplines. Read this detailed report by Vuyo Mkize in full at News24
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