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, 5 April 2019.
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One killed, another critically injured after tanker trailer exploded in Gauteng factory News24 reports that a man was fatally injured and another is in a critical condition after a tanker trailer they were working on at a factory exploded. According to Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst, the incident took place around 14:40 on Saturday at a factory in Alberton, Ekurhuleni. Herbst said the employees were working on the tanker, trying to fix it, when the tragedy struck. "What our paramedics learnt when they arrived on the scene, is that the two men together with a third one, were trying to fix a gas tanker in the factory. The tanker was empty at the time when the men attempted to weld it. The tanker then exploded killing one man and leaving another in a critical condition," he explained. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the deceased, but with no success. The third man sustained minor injuries and was treated on the scene Read the original of Ntwaagae Seleka’s short report on this story at News24
Amcu’s Mathunjwa urges government to mediate in wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations EWN reports that Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa has called on government as a custodian of mining land to intervene with Sibanye Stillwater's management in respect of the current wage dispute. Mathunjwa addressed miners at a mass meeting at the Driefontein Mine on Friday. He announced that the ongoing strike would continue indefinitely. Workers have been on strike for five months demanding a R1,000 monthly salary increase for each of the next three years. Mathunjwa said it was important to note that Amcu had little power to ensure that the strike was called off. He also said the state had a responsibility to the workers and posed the following question: “How can the state allow the monopoly capital to oppress and exploit its citizens?” Read the original of Kgomotso Modise’s report in the above regard at EWN Back to work settlement holding up resolution of Amcu gold wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater Sunday Times Business Times reports that, with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater’s local gold mines strike is in its fifth month, Shadwick Bessit, executive vice-president at Sibanye, indicated that the dispute was now not about wage increases but about a return to work settlement. The company’s version is that Amcu had agreed on a R4,500 payment and then reneged. But, Amcu has accused Sibanye of removing the R4,500 offer from the negotiation table. Bessit said: "Due to the fact that the longer the strike takes, the more the costs accumulate with respect to the payment in kind, which is the payment the company makes on employees' behalf towards accommodation and food … thus reducing the amount available for the ex gratia payment. This means the ex gratia payment that was put on the table in February decreased to R2,500 in March and has now gone down to zero." Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told workers at a mass meeting on Friday that the union was urging the company to put the R4,500 offer back on the table. Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman "has the power to end the strike. We are saying to Froneman, it is up to you to end the strike," Mathunjwa told workers. He added that Froneman had told investors that the strike would end on Friday. But Amcu has not suspended the strike. The union is demanding an increase of R1,000 a month over each of the next three years. But, Sibanye’s contention is that an agreement has been signed by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa for an increase of R700 a month for each of the next three years and no further increases would be considered. Read more of Ntando Thukwana’s Sunday Times Business Times report on the above at SA Labour News Families of three dead Lily Mine workers lay culpable homicide charges against mine directors City Press reports that the families of three miners, who were buried underground when a Mpumalanga mine collapsed in 2016, laid culpable homicide charges against Vantage Goldfields SA (VGSA) directors last week. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) was expected to have done so after concluding its inquiry into the disaster at Lily Mine in March 2018, but did not. The DMR handed a report to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in August 2018, which apparently recommended prosecution. But the NPA could do nothing about it because there was no police docket. According to Mpumalanga NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the NPA could only proceed if a charge had been laid and there had been a police investigation. The entrance to Lily Mine near Barberton collapsed in February 2016. Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda were buried when a container converted into a lamp office in which they had been working plunged underground. They have not subsequently been found. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mtsholi Bhembe confirmed that the families had laid culpable homicide charges against the mine’s directors and that the docket would be sent to the NPA for a decision on whether to prosecute or not. DMR spokesperson Ayanda Shezi avoided providing clarity on why the department had been reluctant to lay charges after completing the inquiry. Lily Mine, and its sister Barbrook mine, were shut down in 2016 and placed under business rescue. Read the full original of Sizwe Sama Yende’s report on this story at City Press. Read too, Lily Mine sale of shares agreement canned for now, at Business Report Postings on mining charter / transformation
Nzimande’s team “working overtime” to clear backlog of 194,000 driving licence cards caused by strike Fin24 reports that according to Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande, his department’s production team was "working overtime" to clear a backlog of close to 200,000 driving licence cards. In a reply to a parliamentary question, Nzimande indicated that the delay in issuing licenses had been caused by a systems upgrade to production machinery, and also a 2018 labour dispute by the employees producing the cards. Employees embarked on a five-month strike last year, stopping the production of cards and creating the backlog. At issue during the strike had been the department's decision to outsource a contract with Prodiba for licence card production. The Driving Licence Card Account eventually opted to in-source card production and the strike ended in December. Members of the public have complained of prolonged delays in the issuing of licenses. "The production team worked overtime to address the backlog. In January, there was a backlog of 250,000 cards, which was addressed on February. As at March, there was a backlog of 194,000, cards which was caused by a delay in the delivery of material. This backlog will be addressed by April," Nzimande indicated. Read the full original of Khulekani Magubane’s report on this story at Fin24
Numsa launches political party 'which puts the rights of workers first' News24 reports that a South African workers' party was officially launched last week, with hopes to garner the votes of the working class and bag some seats in Parliament. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) officially kick started the Socialist Revolutionary Workers' Party (SRWP) on Thursday at an elective congress. The party adopted a 944-delegate list of candidates, while 54 international guests observed and issued their support. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has expressed its endorsement for the party and secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi delivered a message of support at the launch. In his opening address as the convener of the SRWP, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim called on all of the union’s members to vote for a party that puts the rights of workers first. He also urged members of trade union federation Cosatu to vote for the party, saying he had a right to canvass and lobby support from workers across all unions. Vavi told journalists during a lunch break at the conference that he would not stand for any position in the new party, nor accept any nomination. Read the full original of Pelane Phakgadi’s report on the SRWP launch at News24
Vaal River project to create thousands of jobs, says Water and Sanitation Minister BusinessLive reports that Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti said on Friday that an implementation protocol to restore infrastructure at the polluted Vaal River system had been signed with a wastewater specialist company. This announcement was made during a visit to Sebokeng in the Vaal to get an update on the Vaal River Rehabilitation Project. The project began in 2018 after raw sewage flowed into the river from pump stations in the Emfuleni Municipality, posing environmental and health risks. Nkwinti said on Friday that the implementation protocol had been signed on 29 March by his department, the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs in Gauteng, the Emfuleni local municipality, municipal infrastructure support agent and the East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT). “As a wastewater specialist company, ERWAT will ensure that all wastewater treatment infrastructure is resuscitated to an operational state and that pollution in the Vaal River is stopped,” Nkwinti said. He indicated that R341m had been allocated for the project, and 250 youth would be trained in plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying, paving and agriculture. Nkwinti also advised that the SA National Defence Force would train 2,000 young people and community members to guard 44 pump stations until the completion of the project, which was estimated to be in March 2020. Read the full original of Ernest Mabuza’s report on this story at BusinessLive
Rumblings from Satawu over reports of looming job cuts at SA Express BusinessLive reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has expressed its disquiet over reports of impending job cuts at SA Express, claiming that labour has not been consulted. Reports emerged last week that the loss making state-owned airline was planning to downsize its staff. Satawu noted that acting CEO Siza Mzimela had apparently made a presentation to a board committee to the effect that the ratio of 822 employees to 10 aircraft was an indication the airline was overstaffed. It is not yet clear how many jobs are at stake. “As a union representing workers at the airline, Satawu is disappointed we had to read about the plan to cut jobs in the media. When we met Mzimela and another member of the task team charged with reviving the airline after it was grounded last May, we were assured retrenchment was not on the cards and we would be advised [should] the situation change,” Satawu said. The union added that deciding to downsize the staff compliment without consulting social partners to explore alternatives was an indictment on management. Satawu will apparently request a meeting with SA Express to discuss this latest development. On Friday, SA Express acting GM for human capital, Thuli Mpshe, did not rule out job cuts. Read the full original of Bekezela Phakathi’s report in the above regard at BusinessLive As illicit cigarette market soars, BAT to cut 300 jobs in SA BL Premium reports that the SA arm of cigarette maker British American Tobacco (BAT-SA) says it will be adding to the tally of local job losses as illicit tobacco traders continue to gain market share at its expense. The company said on Friday it had entered into consultations as it needed to cut 300 jobs in the country because of the failure of the authorities to curb illicit cigarette sales. Illegal cigarettes accounted for 42% of sales in the informal market by November 2018, from 33% earlier in the year, the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa said at the time. An Ipsos study published in 2018 found an illicit brand had become the top-selling cigarette product in SA. "Following a 30% decline in our business since 2012, it is unavoidable that we now adjust the size and structure of our business," Johnny Moloto, BAT-SA’s head of external affairs advised. He commented that finance minister Tito Mboweni’s recent pledge to tackle the illegal market "is encouraging", as was the re-establishment of an illicit economy unit at the SA Revenue Service (Sars). But Moloto went on to comment: “The size of the illegal trade [Sars is] trying to tackle, however, remains massive and will require an escalating and sustained effort to have a meaningful impact, recover tax revenues and prevent further job losses." Nonetheless, recent actions by Sars had "saved some jobs and minimised redundancies" at BAT-SA. Read the full original of Nick Hedley’s report on this story at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Solidarity urges intervention as nursing staff shortages continue ANA reports that Solidarity on Friday expressed its concern about the current shortage of nursing staff and the detrimental results of this critical shortage for South African health care. The trade union indicated that according to payment and staff administration system Persal, the ratio of nursing staff to the population who visited the public health sector was one nurse for every 401 people. "These statistics clearly indicate that nursing as a profession is in danger in South Africa, but the impact thereof on good health care for millions of South Africans is inconceivable," said Hennie Bierman, Head of Occupational Guilds at Solidarity. He also indicated that the delivery of qualified nursing staff in all nursing categories had decreased by almost 40% since 2013. Bierman said that heavy workloads, long hours, challenging circumstances in the workplace, the lack of support, as well as insufficient funds and equipment were contributing factors, among others, to the shortage of nursing staff. He warned that the new government guidelines regarding early retirement would create even more problems for the nursing profession. Bierman argued that intensive planning and preparation for the future must be done to alleviate the pressure and stress of current nursing practitioners and to develop the profession to world-class status. Read the full original of Thembelihle Mkhonza’s report on this story at Independent News. Read Solidarity’s press statement on this matter at Solidarity News. See too, No respite for staff shortages in Gauteng health facilities, on page 6 of Sowetan of 3 April 2019
Four employees nabbed at Musina vehicle testing station for fraud and corruption News24 reports that four persons were arrested on Thursday – all at the same vehicle testing station in Musina, Limpopo – for fraud and corruption. The Hawks' serious corruption investigation team nabbed the four employees - two vehicle examiners and two clerks - at the private vehicle station. Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke indicated that the employees "allegedly used identity particulars of unsuspecting victims to issue roadworthy certificates for vehicles that were never subjected to mandatory tests". They were scheduled to appear in court on Friday. "More unannounced operations to address fraud and corruption at vehicle testing stations will continue unabated," Maluleke stated. In a similar operation last month, four people - also from Musina – were nabbed at the Thusalushaka Testing Station. Read the short original of Pelane Phakgadi’s report on the above at News24 Three members of the Hawks arrested, by the Hawks BusinessLive reports that the Hawks arrested three of their own in Pretoria on Friday for their alleged involvement in crimes related to corruption‚ extortion‚ intimidation and defeating the ends of justice. Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said that the three officers visited a business premises in January where they allegedly extorted a large sum of money from the business owner. They took the money in exchange for not reporting the business for being in possession of false documents relating to doing business in the country‚ said Mulaudzi. The two captains and a warrant officer were scheduled to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Mulaudzi said investigations were continuing. Read the original of Iavan Pijoos’ report on this story at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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