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 afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 25 February 2019.
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Bosasa liquidator 'can't answer' whether employees will be paid next month TimesLIVE reports that the liquidator of controversial state contractor Bosasa (now known as African Global Operations - AGO) said on Friday he was unsure whether workers would be paid until the end of March, as claimed by a union representative. Cloete Murray, who took over as liquidator a week ago, was speaking outside the company's headquarters in Krugersdorp, where the SA Revenue Service was busy collecting information. Employees had downed tools and were leaving the company premises on Friday afternoon following a meeting with the liquidator earlier in the morning. They had arrived at work in the morning to find the gates locked. "We didn't know what was happening and private security people barred us from entering," one employee stated. He indicated that they were only allowed to enter the premises after 10am when the liquidator arrived. Union representative Obakeng Moagi said the liquidator had assured them that workers would be paid at the end of March. However, Murray could not confirm how long operations would continue at the company. On Monday last week, the company announced that it was voluntarily applying for liquidation after banks had given notification that they would cut ties with it. Read the original of Belinda Pheto’s report on this story in full at TimesLIVE. Read too, 'How will I pay my rent?', asks sobbing Bosasa employee, at TimesLIVE Bosasa workers turn to Correctional Services for jobs as firm sinks Sunday Tribune reports that workers at African Global Operations (AGO), formerly known as Bosasa, have appealed to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to employ them. Three employees who work at Westville Prison said they were in limbo after AGO was provisionally liquidated last week. AGO, which provides services to the DSC, came under the spotlight during the State Capture Commission of Inquiry when the operation’s former chief financial officer, Angelo Agrizzi, alleged the company was involved in widespread bribery and corruption. FNB and Absa then closed the company’s bank accounts, which led to AGO filing for voluntary liquidation, which was granted last week. A total of 4,500 employees will be affected by the liquidation. The workers said they have been ridiculed and marginalised since Agrizzi’s testimony. Mathew Ndlovu, KZN provincial secretary of the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu), confirmed that they were representing the workers at a national level. “The idea is to save their jobs. We cannot afford to shed more jobs in the tough economic situation we find ourselves in. We need strong intervention from the Department of Correctional Services,” Ndlovu said. AGO spokesperson Papa Leshabane said as he was no longer involved after the liquidator was appointed and thus could not comment on behalf of the company any more . Read the original of Nkululeko Nene’s report in the above regard in full at Sunday Tribune Popcru calls on correctional services department to absorb Bosasa employees News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for Bosasa employees working at Department of Correctional Services (DCS) facilities to be absorbed by the department. In a statement on Sunday, the union said the company's voluntary liquidation should not affect staff members. "They must all be absorbed by the DCS and continue doing the important work that they have been carrying out as they cannot be sacrificial lambs over an unfortunate situation not out of their own making. They will impart the necessary skills to inmates that will contribute to their rehabilitation. We want to categorically mention that no current DCS correctional officials must be diverted to work within kitchens as we have understaffing and overcrowding. This self-made dilemma should not result in any uncertainty and changes," Popcru said. The union also indicated that it had learned "with concerns" about alleged plans by some DCS area commissioners to change the shift patterns of employees to compensate for the loss of the Bosasa workers. Bosasa, now called African Global Operations, went into voluntary liquidation last week after its bank accounts were closed. Justice Minister Michael Masutha was due to "shed more light" on the Bosasa contracts at a briefing on Monday. Read the original of Sarah Evans’ report on this story in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Security officers attacked on Saturday at Gupta-owned Gloria mine in Mpumalanga TimesLIVE reports that on Saturday unidentified men stormed into the Gupta-owned Gloria mine in Mpumalanga and attacked security officers on duty. This happened as efforts continued to bring illegal miners trapped underground for more than two weeks to the surface. The attack happened just a day after more bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 18. Police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said: "A group of approximately 15 men stormed into the premises, attacking security officers who were on duty and in the process inflicted an injury on one of them by senselessly kicking him in the face, before damaging their reaction vehicle’s windscreen. Police had to be called and on their arrival, the group scattered in different directions. At this stage it is not clear why these men were at the mine but cable theft cannot be ruled out." Those trapped underground were allegedly involved in stripping the mine of copper cables when a gas explosion occurred. The mine, which has been non-operational for several months, forms part of the Optimum Coal assets bought by the Gupta family in 2016. The assets were put into business rescue early in 2018. Read the original of Naledi Shange’s report on this story in full at TimesLIVE Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Eight people arrested on Friday as Nehawu members, TVET students storm Durban ICC Sunday Tribune reports that the police arrested at least eight people on Friday afternoon when union members and students protested outside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) members and students from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges had descended on the Durban ICC in anticipation of Higher Education Minister Naledi Pandor’s presence. When it was learnt that she was not present, the crowd reacted violently, causing traffic to be affected in the area. eThekwini metro police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parbhoo Sewpersad, confirmed the police had arrested eight suspects and charged them with public violence. He indicated that when union members and students were told Pandor was not at the ICC, they tried to forcefully enter the premises. Read the original of the report on the story at Sunday Tribune
SACP to ‘mobilise’ if jobs are lost through Eskom unbundling Independent News reports that the SA Communist Party (SACP) has vowed to mobilise trade unions, especially Cosatu, to ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intended unbundling of Eskom does not lead to job losses. The party made the call as it formally endorsed the move to unbundle Eskom, saying it was part of Ramaphosa’s plan to clean state-owned enterprises from corruption. On Sunday, SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande was adamant that his party’s priority was to retain the jobs of thousands of those employed by the entity. “We are going to mobilise workers in the country to ensure that the unbundling of Eskom does not lead to its privatisation. We want government to commit that privatisation does not actually happen,” Nzimande said. He also stated that his party wanted Eskom to play a central role in the generation of cleaner and renewable power. Nzimande commented that, within its severe budgetary constraints, the state had to continue to provide financial and other support to stabilise and strengthen Eskom. Read the original of Baldwin Ndaba’s report on the above in full at Independent News. Read too, Eskom unbundling won't cause job losses, privatisation, says ANC, at EWN Radebe denies Eskom losses through IPP deals ANA writes that Energy Minister Jeff Radebe said on Sunday that the assertion that Eskom was incurring losses as a result of the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme was without foundation, misleading, and false. “Since 2013, Eskom has not incurred a cent in buying electricity from the IPPs which they have not been able to recover through the tariff allowance. This treatment of Reippp (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme) cost applies to Cahora Bassa as well, and this is long established practice,” he said at a media briefing. Radebe went on to indicate: “It is true that coal jobs are at risk in South Africa, but this is not as a result of the Reippp programme. Eskom has as early as in the IRP 2010 (Integrated Resources Plan) reported that it will be decommissioning some of the older coal-fired power stations which are reaching the end of their commercial and operational life. According to Eskom, by 2030, 13,000MW of coal-fired capacity is scheduled for decommissioning.” Renewable IPPs had already created 38,701 job years for youth, women and citizens from the surrounding communities. This meant that 38,701 people had had a full-time job for one year, Radebe pointed out. He also noted that local communities had already benefited from more than R1bn spent by IPPs. Read the original of this report in full at Business Report. Read too, IPPs not to blame for Eskom’s financial woes, says Jeff Radebe, at BusinessLive. And also, IPPs will not led to job losses in coal industry, says Radebe, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA Canegrowers Association to brief parliamentary portfolio committee on sugar industry crisis ANA reports that the South African Canegrowers Association said on Monday it would be briefing Parliament's trade and industry portfolio committee on the crisis facing the sugar industry due to drought, falling prices and the impact of cheap imports. The association had sent a letter to the committee's chairperson on 14 February outlining the dire situation faced by canegrowers, including small-scale growers, those that have benefited from land reform and farmworkers. The letter detailed the impact of a severe drought in KwaZulu-Natal, plunging sugar prices, weak protection against cheap imports and a sugar tax implemented last April. The canegrowers’ body said all of these factors taken together were a "clear and present danger to the sustainability of the sugar industry which provides employment to 350,000 people". It estimated that a 5.2% increase on the sugar tax announced by the finance minister could in itself cause up to 10,000 job losses in the industry. Read the original of a short report in the above regard at Engineering News
Staff push-back against changes at Parliament’s Financial and Fiscal Commission BusinessLive reports that the drive by the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) to change the systems, culture and productivity of the parliamentary research body has allegedly met with strong resistance by some staff members. The FFC employs 32 people. It is mandated by the constitution to advise the state on intergovernmental fiscal relations and has recently been the subject of negative media reports that have highlighted complaints by staff alleging victimisation, wastage of financial resources and sexual harassment. But according to FFC chair Daniel Plaatjies, these complaints were a “push-back” by staff resisting the changes, especially those related to the salary structure, which he said was out of kilter with those of the public service and similar research organisations. The turnaround strategy being implemented at the FFC is based on the findings of a forensic report commissioned by the Treasury, which found widespread irregularities, and a lack of proper remuneration, human resource, supply chain and financial management systems. Plaatjies was employed in July 2017 as full-time chair with the mandate of implementing the recommendations of the report, which he said implicated about a third of the FFC staff. Staff members reportedly claim he is doing this with an iron fist, but he says he is determined to root out the improprieties. Read the original of Linda Ensor’s report on this story in full at BusinessLive
Police arrest Witbank teacher who 'forgot' about grade 1 boy locked in strongroom overnight TimesLIVE reports that Mpumalanga's education department confirmed on Sunday that a Witbank teacher who was suspended for allegedly locking a grade 1 learner in a strongroom overnight had been arrested. A department spokesperson said the 30-year-old female teacher from Blackhill Primary School was arrested on Friday. Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed the arrest and indicated: "She has been charged with child neglect and kidnapping." The teacher was scheduled to appear in the Witbank Magistrate's Court on Monday. The child spent the night locked in the strongroom after the teacher "forgot" about him. His parents started getting worried after he was not home at the usual time on Wednesday and searched in vain before telling police their child was missing. The following morning, they were told that the teacher had forgotten the learner in the strongroom. The department is investigating the incident and has offered counselling to the learner and family. Read the original of Naledi Shange’s short report on this story at TimesLIVE North West mom arrested for 'assaulting' son's teacher with umbrella to 'teach a lesson' News24 reports that a North West mother was due to appear in the Mogwase Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly assaulting her son's teacher with an umbrella. The incident allegedly took place at a primary school in Tlhatlaganyane near Sun City on Friday. Police spokesperson Captain Sam Tselanyane said the mother, 40, assaulted the teacher, 52, with an umbrella at the school at around 07:00 after she accused the teacher of ill-treating her son. The perpetrator allegedly told the educator that she would teach her a lesson. The victim was repeatedly assaulted on the head and hands and sustained injuries including open wounds, said Tselanyane. The suspect then fled the scene and the victim was later taken to a local clinic for medical treatment. Police were called to the school and while they were still obtaining the victim's statement, members of the community brought the suspect to the school. She was then arrested. Read the original of Ntwaagae Seleka’s on this story in full at News24
Blame SA’s financial woes on corruption, not the public wage bill, says PSA ANA reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) on Monday slammed what it called government attempts to blame the country’s financial woes on the public wage bill despite revelations during various inquiries of corrupt activities by senior officials. The union said wage negotiations at the SA Revenue Service (SARS) had been seriously hampered as a result. “The effects of mismanagement of finances and human resources, not only at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) but also at SARS are blatantly apparent as the PSA continues to engage SARS to negotiate fair wages and improvement in the working conditions for employees,” PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks pointed out. He went on to say: “Whilst SARS has been filling posts in top management, employees who must ensure service delivery are negatively impacted by under-staffing, heavy workloads and uncertainty surrounding the wage negotiations.” If government was at all serious about bringing about an economic turn-around, the situation at SARS regarding human resources and infrastructure was in need of serious and priority attention, Fredericks indicated. Read the original of the report on the above in full at The Citizen
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