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, 17 May 2019.
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Following diesel spill evacuation, SABC Radio park declared safe for occupation News24 reports that the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC’s) Radio Park has been handed back to the broadcaster after it was cleared and declared safe for occupation. Representatives of the Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Fire Chief conducted a final air sampling and health and safety inspection on Sunday. "A detailed report on the incident will be submitted to the Department of Labour, as required by legislation and an assessment of the damage will continue in order to quantify the financial implications of the damage caused by the diesel spillage," spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu said on Sunday. The radio park in Auckland Park, Johannesburg was evacuated on Wednesday after 2,000 litres of diesel leaked from a generator on the 15th floor. Employees were instructed to stay at home, but have since been told to return to work on Monday. Staff from the wellness centre will be on standby, should anyone require any health related examination. Read the full original of Canny Maphanga’s report on this story at News24
Does Amcu have the stomach for another bruising fight with Sibanye-Stillwater? David McKay writes that the most important question ahead of platinum industry wage talks due to kick off this month is whether the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has the stomach for another strike? His view is that there’s every likelihood Joseph Mathunjwa, the increasingly incalculable president of Amcu, having lost some of his normal swagger in the union, will be disposed to winning it back by waging a successful strike. It is also thought that as the majority union in the sector, Amcu will be supported by the courts in potential industrial action, whereas it was not so supported as the minority union in the recent five-month gold strike at Sibanye-Stillwater. The outcome of that strike was a fairly humbling return to work with Amcu accepting the wage offer put to other unions before the strike started in November. The fear is that Mathunjwa might be disposed to fight back, driven by emotion and concern for his position. So, the stakes are as high as ever with pressure on Sibanye to start generating the cash and reducing debt and with pressure on Mathunjwa at Amcu which has suffered a string of bad setbacks this year at the hands of Sibanye. Other companies will negotiating platinum wages this year, including Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats). The view of Amplats CEO, Chris Griffith, is that the company will most likely settle at a percentage above inflation. Read David McKay’s opinion piece in full at Miningmx Platinum belt braces for talks, but no sleepless nights for Amplats CEO Sunday Times Business Times writes that Chris Griffith, CEO of the world's largest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), says he's not losing any sleep about coming wage talks. The platinum belt, which North-West University politics professor André Duvenhage has described as "probably the most volatile environment in the country", is bracing itself for tough negotiations around a three-year wage deal. Memories of the prolonged and violent strike that accompanied wage talks in 2014, which cost the industry more than R24bn, are still painfully fresh. Speaking from London while attending the annual Platinum Week gathering, Griffith said he didn't share concerns around the looming wage negotiations. "I'm not losing sleep about those. Every two or three years they come around and we've got to go through that process. We're doing preparations about what we can afford." But he added that they would not be a soft touch, saying: "We'd be very cautious not to push ourselves back over the edge where we've got to start laying off employees again." They have shed more than 60,000 jobs in 10 years. The platinum mining industry is in better shape than it has been for the last couple of years boosted by a weak rand and a rally in palladium and rhodium prices, so Griffith has got no doubts that that will translate into higher expectations. But, Amplats has been engaging with unions between negotiations and they have a "good" relationship, Griffith claimed. However, observers doubt whether the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the largest and most militant union in the sector, will be in the mood for compromise. Read this report by Chris Barron in full at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Anglo American Platinum considering sale of Twickenham and Bokoni mines Reuters reports that Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is contemplating the sale of its Bokoni and Twickenham mines, in a move which would mostly complete the group's divestment strategy. The precious metals producer has sold many of its mines as it pivots from the labour-intensive methods that have defined South African platinum mining to more mechanised operations, but has struggled to dispose of loss-making Bokoni. "It's a good environment to come back to the market for Bokoni," said CEO Chris Griffith, adding that a sale of the Twickenham mine might also be an option to consider. Bokoni Platinum Mine, a joint venture with Atlatsa Resources, was put on care and maintenance in October 2017 while Twickenham was shuttered in 2016. Griffith said Amplats aimed to improve efficiencies, mainly at its flagship mechanised Mogalakwena mine. "Our focus now is not on portfolio repositioning but on taking the next steps in our efficiency improvements," he indicated. Amplats is conducting studies that could see output at Mogalakwena rise around 500,000 platinum group metal ounces over the next four to five years. It produced 1.2-million ounces last year. Read the full original of the report on the above story at Mining Weekly Competition Appeal Court dismisses Amcu’s job loss appeal on Sibanye-Lonmin merger Fin24 reports that Judge Dennis Davis on Friday dismissed an appeal by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which wanted the Competition Tribunal’s approval for a merger between Sibanye-Stillwater and Lonmin to be set aside. The Tribunal had approved the merger with conditions in November last year, but Amcu appealed the decision over what it said would be the resulting massive job losses. The deal will see Sibanye acquire Lonmin for R5.17bn, and has already received the approval of several regulatory bodies. Amcu claimed that the merger should either be prohibited due to the potential for significant job losses or that the six-month moratorium on retrenchments, set as a condition by the Tribunal, be extended to 24 months. Davis, however, found that while the courts should not "play dice" with the welfare of workers - especially in a country with high unemployment - the public interest in preventing job losses had to be balanced by the public interest justifying it. He concluded that, notwithstanding transient fluctuations in the price of platinum group metals and currency fluctuations, Lonmin's continued existence was in jeopardy and the number of job losses that Sibanye and Lonmin projected as a result of the merger was rational. "At best, Lonmin would continue to 'tread water', that is, if it was not placed into business rescue, which, if it occurred, would hold significant risk for 32,000 jobs," said Davis. Read the full original of Carin Smith’s report on the ruling at Fin24. Read too, Sibanye, Lonmin merger enters final stretch as Amcu appeal is dismissed, at Mining Weekly Lily Mine blocks efforts by frustrated ex-workers to find missing trio Sowetan reported on Friday that an attempt by former Lily Mine workers to go underground in a quest to find their missing colleagues had been thwarted. Mine security stopped about 30 miners as they started digging a hole on Thursday to gain entry to an area where they believed they would find their three colleagues. Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyerenda had been working inside a container on the surface on 5 February 2016 when a crown pillar collapse swallowed it up. Skhumbuzo Mbandze indicated: “We tried by all means to go in. We were ready to search for our brother and sisters but they chased us out just when we thought the work had started. Whatever it costs, we are ready to risk our lives to make sure that we find these people because their families and us as their colleagues have still not found closure.” More than 1,000 former employees have been camping outside the mine near Barberton, Mpumalanga, demanding that it open so that they can find the trio and get their jobs back. Last week they said they would dig and blast rocks to find the trio. Mine CEO Michael Chesney said: “The mine is secure and everyone was evicted from the property yesterday (Thursday). I reiterate what I told you last time and that is we are in the process of securing new funding so that the mine will be reopened as a matter of urgency.” Read the full original of Mandla Khoza’s report on the above on page 6 of Sowetan of 17 May 2019. Read too, Vantage Goldfields finds new Lily Mine investors, at City Press Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Dennis George fired as Fedusa’s general secretary after two decades in charge BusinessLive reports that the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) on Friday fired Dennis George, the longest-serving leader of a SA trade union body, after more than 20 years at the helm of the organisation. Fedusa dismissed George, its former general secretary, saying he was guilty of serious misconduct with respect to his private investment in controversial Ayo Technology Solutions. Fedusa president Masale Selematsela said their national executive council unanimously agreed to dismiss George after an independent investigation into the relationship between his private company, Difeme Holdings, and Ayo, and Ayo’s listing on the JSE. Fedusa had hired an investigating body to determine if there had been a conflict of interest in Difeme’s investment in Ayo. It reportedly found that Difeme received shares in Ayo for R1.50 a share prior to its listing, while the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) paid R43 a share. Thousands of the federation’s members are employed in the public service and so are affected by the PIC’s investment decisions. George said he would not fight his dismissal, given that he was nearing retirement age. Read the full original of Alistair Anderson’s report on this story at BusinessLive
Kruger National Park boss ‘only on leave’, not suspended Saturday Citizen reports that, amid racism allegations, the management of the Kruger National Park (KNP) insisted that managing executive Glenn Phillips was not on suspension but was ‘only on leave’ Isaac Phaahla, KNP general manager of marketing and communication, said last week that Phillips would be back in the office on Monday. But whether Phillips was on leave voluntarily or forced, remained an open question, as it has been alleged that he applied for leave so that an investigation into complaints of racism made by black employees could proceed unhindered. City Press reported last month that black employees claimed that management only acted against black employees – even on false allegations – while white employees were let off the hook. The employees also claimed black people were often accused of rhino poaching and were assaulted by rangers and police to force them into confessing. SANParks has denied the allegations. Rumours about a suspension or investigation emerged last week and intensified after a privately organised fundraising event where Phillips would have been the guest speaker was suddenly cancelled. The event by the Positivity Foundation, had been scheduled to take place at Emnotweni on Wednesday. Phillips had been advertised as being “the man with the answers”. Read the full original of Mariana Balt’s report in the above regard at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Staffer’s rape complaint against ANC’s Zizi Kodwa withdrawn City Press reports that the woman who accused ANC head of presidency Zizi Kodwa of raping her at a private function in April last year has withdrawn her complaint against him. She has written a letter to ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule informing him that she wished to withdraw her formal complaint. In the undated letter to Magashule, Kodwa’s accuser said that since bringing forward the complaint she has been “used in ANC fights” which she had “nothing to do with” and this had left her with no choice but to resort to withdrawing her complaint. She added that she had taken the decision “consciously” and was no longer willing to participate in any of the party’s disciplinary processes “now or in the near future”. The woman alleged in February this year that the ANC head of the presidency had drugged and raped her in a hotel in Sandton in April last year. Kodwa responded by dismissing the allegations as being “replete with false accusations” and he described them as a “feeble yet dangerous attempt at political blackmail and manipulation”. Kodwa at the time also implied that the accusations were born from “cowards operating from their factional dark corners, using women to fight to neutralise” him. Read the full original of Juniour Khumalo’s City Press report on the above at here
Forty percent of Metrorail trains out-of-service GroundUp reports that train commuters will continue to bear the brunt of an ineffective rail service, as Prasa scrambles to get additional trains into service amid dwindling ticket sales. According to transport minister Blade Nzimande, 95 new trains will be supplied by August 2020. But as Prasa focuses on the distribution of new trains, forty percent of its countrywide fleet is out of service, either for maintenance or because of vandalism, arson and accidents. This was revealed in the 2020/22 Prasa Medium Term Expenditure Framework corporate plan published on 31 March. The number of trains decreased from 288 sets in 2013/14, to 200 by the end of 2017/18. Since then it has decreased to 174, or 60% of the required capacity. Of the 174 available trains, only half have the standard 12 coaches. All of these shortages contribute to the delays that have been plaguing the rail system, which has adversely affected commuters for years. Meanwhile, Metrorail is recording fewer than 700 000 passenger trips per weekday when it is supposed to be capable of carrying 2.5 to three million passengers per day. Read Kristine Liao’s GroundUp report in full at News24 Gautrain seeks to improve passenger convenience with new train schedule Engineering News reports that Gautrain has introduced various changes to its train schedule from this month to provide a “more convenient and comfortable service” to passengers. The afternoon peak period has been extended northbound only, from Park station to Hatfield station, from Monday to Friday. The afternoon peak will now start at 14:38, compared with 15:28 previously. While trains will be available every ten minutes from 14:38, off-peak fares will apply during this extended period. Trains travelling southbound, from Hatfield station to Park station, will depart earlier on weekdays. Gautrain has also introduced additional eight-car trains during the morning and afternoon peak periods on the north-to-south line. On weekends and public holidays, trains will now be available every 20 minutes between OR Tambo and the Sandton station as opposed to every 30 minutes. In addition to the schedule enhancements, the high peak fare (red fare) has been suspended for a trial period, but it might be reintroduced at a later stage. Read the full original of this Engineering News report here Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Durban’s lifeguards do city proud as they rank in world's top 20 crew Sunday Tribune reports that the hit song ‘A Shabby Little Hut’ by The Bats with the lyrics “a shabby little hut by the dock, down by the sea” was a major hit in the swinging 1960s. It was also the signature tune of the first ragtag band of lifesavers on Addington Beach, whose wooden hut was set up in 1963, making it the first base for the Marine Surf Lifesaving Club (Marine SLC). The club is now eThekwini’s single biggest supplier of trained lifesavers, who are sought after nationally and internationally. It supplies lifeguards for eThekwini beaches and beyond, which includes lifesaving at pools around the country, as well as work beyond SA’s borders such as in Dubai and the Caribbean. The club finished 8th in this season World Lifesaving Championships in Australia - the only SA team in the world’s top 20 - as well as winning the national open water championships, as well as being crowned National Grand aggregate champions and KZN Senior and Junior champions. Described as an “unprecedented unbeaten season”, it is a far cry from the club’s humble beginnings. Read the full original of this Sunday Tribune report by Tanya Waterworth and Ziyanda Mgandela here
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