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
Tuesday, 26 February 2019.
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Police meet with family of metro cop killed on Monday in deadly Durban mass shooting ANA reports that a police delegation met on Tuesday with the family of the metro police officer who was killed in a mass shooting in Durban on Monday. The off-duty constable’s role in the shooting, which took place at a block of flats near the city’s high court, has yet to be ascertained, Durban Metro Police spokesperson, senior superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, said. Sewpersad confirmed that the officer lived in the flat where the shooting took place. Three people were killed – the officer, another man and one woman - and five were injured in the incident, which took place just before midday. According to paramedics, one of the injured was in a “critical condition”. When they arrived at the scene earlier, paramedics described the flat where the killings took place as “a blood bath”. Witnesses said there appeared to be some sort of gathering there before multiple shots were heard. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Read the original of the report on this story at Independent News
Wage strike at Premier’s Blue Ribbon bread in Salt River enters fourth month GroundUp reports that Premier employees at Blue Ribbon bread in Salt River have been on a protected strike since 28 November over wages and working conditions. Their grievances include the withdrawal of a paid lunch hour and reducing Sunday rates from double pay to one and half times normal rate. The employees, who are represented by the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), maintain they will continue with the strike. According to Premier’s Siobhan O’Sullivan, the strike has been marked by violence and intimidation of employees, traders and consumers. She said the company had no evidence to support an accusation that the “K” word had been used by management. Regarding the other grievances, O’Sullivan said the changes were to align the Salt River operations with the rest of Premier’s businesses and they were all in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Management will apparently be meeting Fawu at the CCMA on 4 March. Premier has offered a three-year, 8% wage increase. Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said the workers had initially demanded 9%, and would accept 8%, but only in a one-year deal. He threatened a national solidarity strike at all Premier bakeries and milling operations. “They are ready and just waiting for us to announce the date,” he said. Read the original version of Tariro Washinyira’s report in full at GroundUp
CCMA conciliation of PSA’s wage dispute with Sars to take place on 8 March Fin24 reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) said on Monday that it would be putting forward its case in its wage dispute with the SA Revenue Service (Sars) at a Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) meeting on 8 March. The union said that while it had duly submitted to SARS its wage demands for annual increases, the tax agency had shown no commitment to meeting them. The PSA, which is the largest labour representative at the agency, declared a dispute with SARS in January 2019 over the reduction of staff and wage increases. The PSA’s Ruben Maleka said their current wage demands included a 12% wage increase, an increase in long service awards, and the introduction of a "retirement exit gift". The union has also made various demands relating to leave benefits, including the introduction of a three-year cycle for family responsibility leave, increased study leave, an expanded definition for discretionary leave and the introduction of pre-natal and vaccination leave. Maleka indicated that the parties have already agreed that certain items would be further discussed by a task team, to be concluded within a specific time frame after an agreement was signed. Read the original version of Khulekani Magubane’s report on this story in full at Fin24
Workers protest at Cell C headquarters over bonus payments Business Report writes that mobile network operator Cell C was in the spotlight after its head office in Johannesburg was shut down on Tuesday morning when staff protested over bonuses that were not paid. According to an eNCA report, the protest came as a result of alleged non-payment of bonuses after employees were promised a 25% bonus by Cell C management. A discretionary amount was paid instead. An ICTU member who was interviewed by eNCA at the protest said bonuses were promised to staff if Cell C met certain performance targets, but these were not paid. Cell C said in a statement: “This relates to bonus payments made in 2018 for work-related performance in 2017. Cell C is engaging with the ICTU leadership and its members to work towards a positive outcome. Plans to minimise disruptions to both Cell C’s business and its service to customers are in place. As a business Cell C respects the rights of its unionised employees to take part in a peaceful strike." The original of this short report appeared at Business Report. View eNCA’s video report here
Cosatu braced for tense CEC meeting as more affiliates want to withdraw election support for ANC BL Premium reports that Cosatu affiliates are bracing themselves for a tense central executive committee (CEC) meeting as more unions want to withdraw their support of the ANC in the upcoming general elections. The unity of the tripartite alliance of the ANC, the labour federation and the SA Communist Party has been fragile for years over the governing party’s failure to consult on policy decisions and its departure from the grouping’s resolutions. At its congress in 2018 Cosatu resolved it would support the ANC as it heads to the polls in May, though this would only be done on condition that it adopted a pro-worker stance. On Monday, Cosatu affiliates said the time had come for the CEC to have a frank discussion about whether the party had decided in the best interest of workers. If not, a decision needed to be taken on cutting ties with the ANC. The unbundling of Eskom — which Cosatu opposes — and plans to reduce the public sector headcount through natural attrition are among the issues union leaders want to take the ANC to task over. At a meeting last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa could not convince Cosatu’s national office-bearers that the plan to unbundle Eskom by splitting it into three entities was in the best interest of workers and the company. It was agreed that Cosatu would meet Ramaphosa once more after the CEC meeting, with the federation’s leaders saying they wanted the government to present more proposals to save Eskom, other than unbundling. The CEC meeting will end on Wednesday. Read the original of Theto Mahlakoana’s report on the above in full at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Mara Group’s new smartphone factory at Dube TradePort SEZ to create 500 jobs Moneyweb reports that SA’s first fully-fledged smartphone factory is to open at Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ) north of Durban. Pan-African investment conglomerate Mara Group plans to invest R1.5 billion into the project. The group’s decision to locate the high-tech factory at Dube TradePort was revealed by Sihle Zikalala, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for economic development and tourism, who pointed out that the group pledged the investment during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment summit in October. Zikalala said the company had signed a lease agreement and was “proceeding with the implementation of this investment”, which is anticipated to create some 500 jobs. The ‘Maraphone’ factory will apparently be in operation later this year. Phase One of the TradeZone is virtually full, and work on a new 45 hectare site known as TradeZone 2 has commenced. Dube TradePort CEO Hamish Erskine reported: “We are targeting electronics and pharmaceutical investors for this site. It is part of our overall plan to lure R18 billion worth of investment over the next five years into Dube TradePort.” Read the original version of Suren Naidoo’s report on this story in full at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Gauteng community health care workers reject contracts of R3,500 a month GroundUp reported on Friday that community health care workers across Gauteng had, since the day before, been involved in shutting down contract signing centres. This came despite Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni announcing in his budget speech on Wednesday that “R1 billion has been added to raise the wages of community health care workers to R3,500 per month”. On Friday, Zama Mthunzi from the Gauteng Community Health Care Forum said: “We are targeting all contract signing centres in Gauteng. We do not want to continue signing contracts. We want the Minister of Health to keep his promise and make us permanent employees.” After shutting down the Community Health Care centre in Hilbrow, workers headed to the Department of Health in Johannesburg and demanded to see Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi. “We were surprised when our superiors announced that we were to sign a 12-month contract and continue earning the R3,500 stipend. How does that happen when Motsoaledi announced last year in November that we are now going to be earning R6,000 as permanent workers?” asked Zoleka Mbotshelwa from Westrand. Five worker representatives were allowed into the building to present their grievances. The health department promised to forward the matter to the Minister and revert in seven days. Read the original version of Kimberly Mutandiro’s report on this story in full at GroundUp Ball has begun rolling on plans to cut public service wage bill City Press reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has begun mooted plans to cut the public service wage bill starting in the new financial year in April. The move is expected to save about R20.3 billion of the public purse in the next two years. However, the plan will cost the government an estimated R16 billion over the medium-term expenditure framework, with savings to be realised as departments fill the vacant posts by bringing in a younger and less-costly employee cohort. The department said last week that the penalty-free early retirement enticement to public servants aged between 55 and 60 years would run from April until the end of September, targeting up to 30,000 of those who met the criteria. The savings would be unlocked, the department said, if each sector managed its human resources efficiently by filling the resultant vacancies “to yield these savings according to the guidelines provided”. In a bid to allay union concerns, the department claimed that early retirement without penalty was different from a voluntary severance package because the vacancies would still remain after the process and would need to be filled. “As this is not a severance package, there is no provision for it to go to collective bargaining.” Nonetheless, the department will, out of goodwill, share information with the unions. Read the original version of Setumo Stone’s report on this story in full at City Press
Up to 500 jobs on the chopping block to keep South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter afloat BL Premium reports that a high wage bill and low productivity at South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter have led the diversified miner to start a retrenchment process that could affect up to 500 jobs. COO Mike Fraser said on Monday that the Richards Bay smelter had “burnt quite a lot of cash” in the six months ended December. Absolute salary levels on site are “very high” while productivity is “too low” compared to the rest of the world, he stated. The so-called ‘section 189’ retrenchment consultation process, as required in terms of the Labour Relations Act, was launched on Monday last week. Trade union Solidarity said the restructuring process at the smelter appeared highly complex as it would involve retrenchments, reorganisation and salary adjustments at the same time. “They intend to achieve those three goals by means of one process, which is going to be a difficult task,” Solidarity’s Marius Croucamp said in a statement. Aside from the restructuring, another matter which is key to the smelter’s sustainability is the renegotiation of a power supply contract with Eskom. Croucamp also expressed concern over the general state of the SA steel industry and the 8,000 jobs lost in 2018. Read more of the BL Premium report by Lisa Steyn at SA Labour News
Pregnant Witbank teacher who locked up pupil overnight in strongroom granted bail TimesLIVE reports that the 30-year-old Witbank teacher alleged to have locked a grade 1 learner in a strongroom at Blackhill Primary School and forgetting him there overnight is four months pregnant. The teacher has been charged with a schedule five offence for child neglect and kidnapping. Submitting her bail application before the Witbank Magistrate's Court on Monday, Fikile Nkambule said in her affidavit that she was also a mother to a nine-year-old child and a positive contributor to society. Her lawyer requested that she be granted bail on the basis that she was a first-time offender, was formally employed, had a fixed address, was pregnant and co-operated with police upon learning of the pending charges. Magistrate Mdumiseni Mavuso granted her bail of R2,000, saying there was no reason to deny the request. But, Mavuso imposed strict bail conditions that Nkambule not contact the child, nor set foot near the school until the matter was finalised. The case was postponed to 26 April. The report from the counsellors who dealt with the child will be entered into evidence when court resumes in April. The six-year-old pupil was locked in the strongroom last Wednesday from 1.30pm, when the school day ended, until around 9.30am the following morning, when he was eventually found. Read the full original version of Naledi Shange’s report on this story at TimesLIVE. Read too, Teacher released on bail after locking 6-year-old child in room overnight, at Independent News Murder case stonewalls teacher’s bid for police clearance certificate SowetanLive reports that a school teacher with a criminal record for murder was among those whose applications for a police clearance certificate was turned down. This emerged following 2,983 teachers having applied for registration status with the SA Council of Educators (Sace) or for an update thereof. Sace previously announced that teachers registering with it would have to produce police clearance certificates as a way for the organisation to keep sex pests out of the classrooms. Between April 2016 and March 2017 there were reportedly 99 incidents of sexual misconduct involving teachers, including rape. Themba Ndhlovu of Sace said three teachers out of the 2,983 applicants were turned down. "There were three educators who were found to have been charged with murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and assault cases. They will be called into a committee where they will be subjected to a hearing," Ndhlovu said. He indicated that the committee would establish their rehabilitation status and their fitness to take up the teaching positions. Ndhlovu could not rule out the possibilities of the teachers being allowed to teach again. "At Sace we don't have dustbins for human beings, that is why we are giving them a second chance." Read the full original version by Yoliswa Sobuwa of this story at SowetanLive. Read too, Department guns for teachers with criminal records, at Independent News
Family ordered by Equality Court to pay R200,000 to worker who was force-fed faeces TimesLIVE reports that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has welcomed a decision by the Equality Court ordering a Springs family to pay a former worker R200,000 in damages after force-feeding him faeces. Joseph Mona was called a "useless k****r" by his employer‚ Harry Leicester‚ in December 2017 after he failed to switch on a septic tank pump. Leicester’s son Chris allegedly held his hands and dragged Mona towards the sewer hole. The farmer took a big jug‚ dipped it in the sewer hole and forced him to drink its contents while calling him a "k****r". The family members, including wife Maria, also forced Mona into the sewer hole, where he almost drowned. Magistrate Pravina Lazarus said it was clear that Mona had suffered the lowest form of humiliation and had been treated as sub-human. The court found that that utterances by each of the three family members were hate speech as defined in the Equality Act. It ordered the family members to make a written unconditional apology to Mona by 11 March. They were also ordered to attend a programme on race relations for three months at the SAHRC. The judge also ordered them to pay damages of R200,000 to Mona for the impairment of his dignity and for causing him pain and emotional and psychological suffering. Read Ernest Mabuza’s original version of this story in full at TimesLIVE
ANC tells Zizi Kodwa and Pule Mabe to 'step aside' amid sex harassment allegations News24 reports that the ANC's national working committee (NWC) has decided that its spokesperson Pule Mabe and its acting spokesperson Zizi Kodwa should "step aside". The two have each faced allegations of sexual violence, with Mabe having been accused of sexual harassment by his former personal assistant Kgoerano Kekana, while claims of rape have been made against Kodwa, who is also head of the ANC's presidency office. "Although the ANC has cleared Pule, remember that his matter is not closed. His former PA went to the police," said a member of the NWC. Mabe's PA, who has expressed some dissatisfaction with how the ANC handled her sexual harassment complaint, has already indicated she would be taking more steps, including approaching the CCMA. "Zizi just simply can't continue in this role, given these claims, how would he be able to assist? You must also remember he is not a spokesperson. He was acting, only Dakota (Legoete) will continue there" said the ANC insider. Kodwa has vehemently denied the claims, labelling them as factional. He also said he would be consulting with his lawyers on a way forward. Read the original version of Tshidi Madia’s report on this matter in full at News24. Read too, ANC to explain why it removed Mabe & Kodwa as party spokespersons, at EWN. And also, Analysts say no criminal case in Kodwa rape saga may expose victim to more abuse, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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