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 roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 15 March 2019.
|
Commencement date for no-penalty early retirement scheme for GEPF members set for 1 April City Press reports that state employees will soon be able to retire early with no penalties, but conditions will apply. In his budget speech on 20 February, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced an early retirement scheme for public servants, where members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) could take early retirement without penalties. According to the public service early retirement framework, the offer for early retirement will begin on 1 April and will stand until 30 September. At that time, Treasury will assess whether there are sufficient resources to continue with the offer for the remaining two years of the medium-term expenditure framework. The process to apply for early retirement will be open to all public servants between the ages of 55 and 59. Employees in the police, correctional services, defence and intelligence sectors will qualify in terms of their own legislation. Each application will be considered on its merits and it does not automatically mean a member will qualify. Firstly, it is limited to 30,000 applications, which will be filtered based on skills, efficiency and personal circumstances. Efficiencies in each sector will be considered. The framework document makes it clear that this is not a retrenchment process. The early retirement scheme will cost government approximately R16 billion, but will save about R20.3 billion on the wage bill over the three years Read more of this City Press report by Maya Fisher-French at SA Labour News
National police chief slams killing of two off-duty KZN cops in separate incidents News24 reports that National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole has condemned the killing of two off-duty police officers in two separate incidents in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in less than 24 hours. In the first incident, a warrant officer from the KwaMakutha police station was in his private vehicle on the N2 near the Seadoone off-ramp, about 30km south of Durban, when gunmen travelling in an Audi A3 opened fire on him on Friday afternoon. His bullet-riddled bakkie was left stationary on the side of the road and his body was found in the middle of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. In the second shooting on Friday night, a detective constable was investigating a suspicious vehicle driving up and down a street in Kranskop when he was met with bullets from the occupant of the vehicle. Another off-duty officer responded to the sounds of gunfire and two of the suspects were shot and wounded. Their accomplices managed to drag them into the car and they fled the scene. The stray bullets from the incident left one dead, while another man and woman were taken to hospital and are reportedly in a stable condition. Two bodies of perpetrators believed to have been involved in the Kranskop shootout were traced and found in Seven Oaks, as well as the vehicle used as a getaway car from the scene. Read the full original of Canny Maphanga’s report on the killings at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Amcu’s secondary strike bid ruled “unreasonable” in resounding Labour Court judgement Miningmx reports that the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union’s (Amcu’s) efforts to broaden industrial action failed after the Labour Court on Friday judged a secondary strike bid to be unprotected, thereby preventing the union and its members from undertaking such action. Amcu called the secondary strike in support of union members out on strike since November at the Driefontein and Beatrix gold mines owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. The applicants who sought to stop the secondary strike included gold producers AngloGold Ashanti and Harmony Gold, as well as Lonmin and Northam Platinum. In her ruling, over which she deliberated for more than two weeks after reserving judgement on 28 February, Judge Connie Prinsloo said Amcu’s proposed secondary strike would have “a major effect” on the SA economy, far outweighing the “negligible” benefits it would have in compelling Sibanye-Stillwater to accede to Amcu’s gold wage demands. It was therefore “unreasonable”. Seemingly, comments made by Amcu president, Joseph Mathunjwa that the secondary strike would bring the mining sector to a standstill worked against him. Judge Prinsloo said the purpose of the secondary strike should be to pressurise the primary employer only. Read the full original of David McKay’s report on the court ruling at Miningmx. See too, Labour Court blocks Amcu’s plans for industry-wide strike, at Mining Weekly. And also, Court stops platinum workers joining strike, at City Press Labour Court ruling on Amcu secondary strike welcome In its Monday editorial, Business Day writes that the Labour Court’s decision on Friday to prevent the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) from extending its nearly four-month strike at Sibanye-Stillwater to other companies in the mining industry should be welcomed. The strike at the gold operations has been mired with violence and intimidation, with nine people dead so far and more than 60 houses burnt down in Carletonville. Judge Connie Prinsloo, in her ruling on Friday, had no kind words for Amcu, highlighting the union’s track record of violence and intimidation during strikes. The editorial also says that it is a sad reflection that it has taken such levels of violence and three months before mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe showed up in the gold mining town to pacify parties and push for a settlement. The question now is whether Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa will take his members on an unprotected strike at other companies in solidarity with members at Sibanye. It wouldn’t be a first — the 2012 strikes were unprotected, leading to the dismissal (and later reinstatement) of thousands of workers. But it would be a risky move on Amcu’s part. Meantime, the hard truth, which no mining company will admit to, is that Sibanye’s fellow Mineral Council SA members are silently hoping that Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman won’t blink and that the gold strike will be the one that breaks the camel’s back. Read the editorial in full at BusinessLive Sibanye nonexecutive director Barry Davison retires in May Mining Weekly reports that precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater on Friday announced the retirement of independent nonexecutive director Barry Davison, effective from 28 May 2019. The company stated that Davison has been an integral part of the board since the company’s inception in 2013 and has served as chairperson of Sibanye’s health and safety committee since then. Harry Kenyon-Slaney will succeed Davison as committee chair. This short report appeared at Mining Weekly Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Planned strike at Tiso Blackstar called off, for now Independent News reports that Tiso Blackstar has come to an agreement with the Information Communication Technology Union (ICTU) to temporarily halt the strike that had been planned to commence last Thursday. About 200 employees from the media group had been expected to embark on a protected strike over "exploitation" and poor pay for journalists, among other issues. However, the two parties were expected instead to go into negotiations. According to a source, the union, represented by Moeketsi Lepheana, Zwelinzima Vavi of the South African Federation of Trade Unions and other representatives met with Tiso Blackstar's Andy Gill and Moshoeshoe. The Tiso Blackstar group owns a number of newspapers including the Sunday Times, the Financial Mail, Business Day, and The Sowetan. The original of this short report is at Business Report
Group Five budgets for R233m in retrenchment pay as it enters business rescue Fin24 reports that Group Five, which is conducting retrenchment proceedings, has estimated that it would need to pay out R233m in severance pay as it enters business rescue. The group's board did not say how many of its employees would be affected. The construction and engineering group also confirmed on Thursday that it had received confirmation from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) of the registration of resolutions placing it and Group Five Construction into business rescue. Group Five announced on Tuesday that the boards of Group Five and Group Five Construction had resolved to place each of these companies into business rescue in accordance with the Companies Act. Group Five Construction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Group Five, is facing a cash shortfall of R2.39bn. The company reported that Group Five Construction was "financially distressed and it was reasonably unlikely that G5 Construction would be able to pay all of its debts". It added that the construction company was not able to itself generate sufficient working capital or raise it from other Group Five companies or third parties. Read a short report by Jan Cronje at Fin24 Unions react to closure of 91 branches and potential loss of 1,200 jobs at Standard Bank Business Report writes that labour unions have reacted negatively to news that Standard Bank plans to close down 91 branches across the country, which might result in 1,200 people losing their jobs. Eugene Ebersohn, assistant general secretary at Sasbo, said the finance union would not condone any action by the employer that could place any of its members at risk. “What is happening in the bank right now is of serious concern given our country’s high unemployment rate. Any job losses based on operational requirements will inadvertently suppress the sustainability and growth of our economy and this we cannot afford,” said Ebersohn. According to the bank, a shift in customer behaviour meant its clients were using its branches less. Sasbo advised that Standard Bank had conceded to its demands that retrenched staff be able to make use of training and upskilling opportunities provided by the bank in order to commence careers in the finance sector and outside and to encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment. SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said job losses in the banking sector were a race to the bottom. “The fact that Standard Bank sees the digitizing of their branches to be in line with 4th Industrial Revolution is communicating a message to workers that Industrial Revolution is a threat not a programme to up-skill and empower workers,” Vavi commented. The original of this short report by Kabelo Khumalo is at Business Report. Read too, Standard Bank to lay off 1,200 employees, on page 8 of Sowetan of 15 March 2019
Sans Souci teacher in 'slap video' to return to work with sanction of fine, final warning and anger management sessions Fin24 reports that Clarissa Venter, the Afrikaans teacher who was captured on video when she slapped a Grade 9 pupil, will return to work in the second term. Venter, 34, had slapped the pupil after the child shoved her during an altercation over a book at Sans Souci Girls' High School in Cape Town. They laid assault charges against each other and their criminal cases are running separately in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court. Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said on Friday that the disciplinary process against Venter had concluded. "The SGB (school governing body) has ratified its decision that the teacher receives a fine, final warning and anger management sessions," she said. Venter is expected to return to work on 2 April. Her criminal case has been postponed to 18 April for further investigation. At the beginning of the month, the mother of the pupil announced that she had decided to withdraw her child from the school. Read the original of Jenna Etheridge’s report on this story at News24
Prasa places four executives on special leave, suspension Fin24 reports that the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has placed various executives on special leave or suspension. According to a statement issued on Friday, the board decided to act on allegations of improper, irregular, corrupt, fruitless and wasteful expenditure against the implicated employees. Company secretary Lindikaya Zide, chief information officer Chris Mbatha and CEO of Prasa corporate real estate solutions Tara Ngubane were placed on special leave. Tumi Mohube, general manager of enterprise risk, was suspended. "The suspension or putting on special leave of four executives is to ensure a fair process based on a principle of innocent until proven guilty," interim CEO Dr Nkosinathi Sishi indicated. Board chairperson Khanyisile Kweyama said the decisions had been taken to strengthen Prasa as non-compliance with laws had impacted commuters and passengers and he added that “the extent of improper, fruitless and wasteful expenditure that is reported by various independent professionals shows a disturbing culture of impunity which has to be stemmed at once." Read the original of Lameez Omarjee’s report on the above at Fin24
The security problems bedeviling SA's trains and Minister Nzimande's plan to solve them News24 reports that despite 6,638 security personnel working in four regions across the country, 24 trains and 289 coaches were vandalised or were subject to theft between October 2018 and February 2019. This emerged last week in responses by Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande to parliamentary questions. The minister said most of the vandalism was theft of copper and aluminium train parts, which had a high monetary value at scrap dealers, while another challenge was “stone throwing at trains en-route on certain corridors". Nzimande also said the government planned to add 2,284 new coaches in Gauteng, 1,835 in the Western Cape, 938 in KwaZulu-Natal and 228 in the Eastern Cape to ensure that Metrorail operated at "optimum capacity". In addition, 1,512 coaches were planned for expansion of the network over the longer term. Nzimande indicated that in the four named regions "a total complement of 3,060 protective service personnel have been deployed, supported by 3,578 external security service providers". In Cape Town, where a spate of train attacks and arson has bedevilled the city's commuters, "further reinforcement in the form of drones and forensic support have been added as part of a pilot project". The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and the City of Cape Town have also entered into a partnership to provide additional security personnel in high-risk areas. Nzimande said that to bolster security in the future, his department planned to roll out security fencing, CCTV, alarms, fire detection and intrusion detection for all substations. Read the full original of Ethan van Diemen’s report on the above at News24 Rival Soweto taxi associations claim peace after deadly clashes lead to closure of ranks and routes News24 reports that two warring minibus taxi associations in Soweto claim to have found common ground after six taxi ranks in the area were closed this week. Last week, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi slapped the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association (WATA) and Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe) with a three-month ban, barring them from operating at the six locations. Vadi closed the ranks from Friday until 15 June. This followed a series of violent clashes between the groups since the beginning of the year, including the murder of WATA member SB Hadebe, treasurer SM Zwane and vice-chairperson MT Ngubane in January. On Friday, nine minibus taxis belonging to the two associations were impounded by law enforcement officials after they operated in the early hours of the morning against Vadi's orders. Fifteen taxi drivers were also arrested for contravention of regulations which prevented them from operating on routes which have been closed. Spokespersons from Wata and Nanduwe each said the groups had smoked the peace pipe and had agreed to work together to find a peaceful solution. Wata's George Maphalala said they had agreed to obey the law and would continue engaging with Vadi until the ranks were opened. The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) welcomed the closure of the taxi ranks, although it said it was worried about the negative impact the closure would have on the economy. Read the full original of Ntwaagae Seleka’s report on this story at News24
Armed guards escort suspended Bosasa staff off office premises after voluntary liquidation reversed News24 reports that leaked photographs show that a day after the control of Bosasa (now known as African Global Operations) was handed back to CEO Gavin Watson and his fellow directors, armed security guards were called in to escort staff off the premises after they were summarily suspended on Friday morning. The suspended staff members, one of whom was summarily dismissed, apparently co-operated with provisional liquidators and as a result, were forced to leave. On Thursday, the South Gauteng High Court granted Bosasa's application for an order declaring the special resolution that the company's board had taken on 12 February to place the firm under voluntary liquidation as null and void. The court ordered the provisional liquidators, Cloete Murray and two others to hand back control of the company to its directors within 12 hours. A video shared on social media on Thursday showed a triumphant Watson returning to the offices while staff sang and hugged him. Apparently, staff who had co-operated with Murray in any way were suspended "pending investigation". At least four staff members were suspended and more might follow. Included were Gina Pieters and Magda van Rensburg, who have both been employed at Bosasa for around 18 years. Van Rensburg was informed that her contract had been summarily terminated after she was escorted from her office by the armed guards, dressed in Blackrox Intelligence Security Services uniforms, Bosasa's security subsidiary company. A second guard, armed with a rifle, was seen standing outside the Bosasa staff member's office. Read the full original of Kyle Cowan’s report on this story at News24. Read too, Bosasa liquidators file notice to appeal decision to return control to board, at EWN
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page