In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 21 June 2019.
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No radiation exposure at Kopanong Hospital, health body says, although Denosa claims all x-ray staff placed on two months’ special leave TimesLIVE reports that the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said on Friday that there was no radiation exposure at Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging. The authority was reacting to reports by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), which claimed on Wednesday that the x-ray department at the hospital had been closed since 8 May year due to possible radiation leaks. The union apparently claimed that all x-ray staff members were on two months' special leave as it was suspected they had been exposed to high radiation levels. On Friday, the authority said it had launched a multidisciplinary investigation into alleged radiation exposure at the X-ray department and that blood samples had been taken and were being analysed to confirm whether or not staff members had been over-exposed to radiation. The outcome of the tests would be available on Tuesday. "There is no need to put staff on special leave for two months," the authority stated. However, it added that the x-ray equipment was found to be non-compliant with regulatory requirements owing to a lack of scheduled maintenance and quality assurance and had been rendered inoperable “until such time that it meets the requisite standards.” Read the full original of Ernest Mabuza’s report on this story at TimesLIVE. Read the DA Gauteng’s press statement on this matter at Politicsweb Three suspects arrested for killing Sowetan policeman who was shot in abdomen just below bullet-resistant vest News24 reports that National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole has welcomed the arrest of three suspects linked to the murder of a police officer in Soweto on Thursday. Constable Nhlamulo Vuyeka (28), who was part of the Moroka Crime Prevention unit, was on patrol at Nancefield Hostel when a suspicious vehicle was stopped. A police spokesperson indicated further: "It is reported that when the police approached the vehicle for a search, the occupants started shooting at them but the police managed to contain the situation and arrest the perpetrators. It was discovered that Constable Vuyeka sustained a gunshot wound just below his bullet-resistant vest on his abdomen. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries." Police immediately arrested the three suspects. During the arrest, a 9mm pistol was recovered from the stolen vehicle. Read the full original of Alex Mitchley’s report on this story at News24. Read the National Commissioner’s press statement at SAPS News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Business wants the missing details of implementation plans for Ramaphosa’s Sona objectives Fin24 reports that while President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the start of his State of the National Address (Sona) on Thursday that the present was the time for implementation, no real implementation plans followed in the rest of the speech. "Instead, the Sona is a restatement of the myriad challenges SA faces and a broad sweep of what we need to do. We now urge the president to engage with business to put on the table hard plans with clear implementation timeframes and milestones," Sipho Pityana, president of Business Unity SA (Busa), commented on Friday. He welcomed the president's commitment to a social compact in the national interest and said they stood ready to work with him, “but within a context of taking hard decisions and unequivocal messages that build investor confidence." The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) also said it wanted an understanding of the actual execution plans. Jabu Mabuza, co-convenor of the CEO Initiative, agreed that it was vital for government to take firm and practical action to address SA's most pressing issues. Like Busa, the CEO Initiative said it remained committed to working with government and labour "to urgently address the hurdles that stand in the way of SA achieving sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits all who live in this country". Read the full original of Carin Smith’s report in the above regard at Fin24. Read too, We need detail, and we need it soon, business says in Sona response, at Mining Weekly. Read Busa’s press statement on Sona at Busa News Sona press statements by unions
NUM seeking platinum belt comeback Bloomberg writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which dominated organised labour across SA’s platinum belt until the massacre at Lonmin’s Marikana mine in 2012, is plotting a comeback. By the end of this year, it wants to represent 30% of the more than 167,000 workers at the world’s four biggest platinum producers, NUM President Joseph Montisetse indicated last week. The union currently represents 18% of Impala Platinum’s workforce and 11% at Lonmin. He didn’t give figures for Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) or Sibanye-Stillwater, has taken over Lonmin. “We have a clear target. I’ve appointed myself to platinum (recruitment efforts),” Montisetse said. According to Montisetse, the NUM currently has 187,000 audited members in total. Its rival – the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) – claims it has 250,000 members across the mining industry. Montisetse commented that, while the NUM did not want to profit from another union’s problems, Amcu had its own challenges. Amcu is currently facing a threat of deregistration as a recognised union by the regulator because it allegedly has not complied with its constitution by failing to hold a regular congress and leadership elections. Read the full original of the above report at Mining Weekly NUM tables demand for a 15% Amplats salary increase Business Report writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Thursday tabled a demand for a 15% salary increase at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats). NUM chief platinum sector negotiator William Mabapa said the union had demanded that Amplats hike monthly wages by R1,500, or 15%, whichever was greater. “We think our demands are reasonable. Through the demands we are not giving our members false hope,” he commented. Mabapa added that the union was calling for platinum mines to change their approach towards accommodation benefits through combining the living-out allowance and housing allowances. “We must have a single housing allowance across the board. Every mineworker should own a house. Currently, low-paid employees do not qualify for bank loans for their homes,” he indicated. Mabapa also reported that the NUM had tabled a demand for a 30% hike in wages at the Modikwa mine in Burgersfort, Limpopo, which is a joint venture between Amplats and African Rainbow Minerals. He further reported that the union was on the verge of signing a three-year wage deal at the Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum mine. Read the full original of Dineo Faku’s report on the above at Business Report State diamond miner Alexkor to cut 238 jobs BusinessLive reports that state-owned Alexkor and its community-based joint venture are laying off 238 people as the diamond mining company’s financial crisis deepens. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has laid the blame for the job losses squarely on the public enterprises and mineral resources departments and claims that attempts to garner their support failed. Alexkor operates alluvial diamond operations on SA’s west coast near Port Nolloth as well as allowing contractors onto its offshore concessions to mine diamonds. It employs 37 people directly, another 363 through its joint venture with the Richtersveld Mining Company, and 826 more as contractors on its marine and land operations. The public enterprises department has apparently blocked Alexkor’s efforts to add coal to its business, which would have allowed it to diversify its portfolio away from the high risks association with alluvial and marine diamond mining. “These jobs (cuts), mostly based in the small rural Richtersveld communities, will have a devastating effect on the workers, communities, business and the Richtersveld municipality,” the NUM said on Friday. In the 2018 financial year, Alexkor reported an operating loss of R14m, compared to R6m the year before. Read the full original of Allan Seccombe’s report on this story at BusinessLive. Read the NUM’s press statement on the job cuts at NUM News Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Western Cape earmarked to get 1,000 new cops News24 reports that no fewer than 1,000 new police recruits - of the 5,000 currently receiving training - will be deployed to the Western Cape. This assurance was given to Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz last week during a meeting with police minister Bheki Cele to address policing needs and priorities in the province. Fritz said that Cele had indicated that the resourcing of Western Cape's police stations was being addressed and had vowed that the recruits would be deployed immediately after completing their training. The under resourcing of the province's force saw former community safety MEC and current Premier Alan Winde declare a formal intergovernmental dispute with Cele in April, accusing him of ignoring the province's policing needs. Fritz also reported that Cele was willing to engage on the province’s proposals to alleviate the police's work. These included the proposed funding of R5m it had made available to pay for police reservists to be deployed in the province, as well as an offer of provincial government volunteers to take on administrative duties at police stations, so that more police officers could be freed up to fight crime on patrol. Read the full original of Tammy Petersen’s report on this story at News24
Up to 2,194 jobs at MultiChoice on the line as customers turn to digital rather than call centre support BusinessLive reports that up to 2,194 MultiChoice employees are in danger of losing their jobs as the pay-TV operator plans a restructuring of its customer service model. The company, with a subscriber base of more than 15-million, said on Friday that it would cut jobs at its call and walk-in centres, with a consultation process having begun. It indicated that the changes in the customer service model were in response to evolving customer behaviour as subscribers were increasingly opting for digital platforms instead of telephone or walk-in services. Citing pre-listing documents, BusinessTech reported in January that the company had just less than 7,000 permanent staff. According to MultiChoice, it would create new job opportunities for multiskilled staff who had the expertise, skills and technological abilities to enhance the customer experience. It also indicated that it would offer voluntary severance packages and other benefits for affected staff as part of a comprehensive support programme, in agreement with unions and employee representatives. Read the original of Odwa Mjo’s report on this story at BusinessLive. See too, Multichoice to retrench shop and call centre staff, at Fin24 Business rescue process could cut 3,000 jobs at Group Five Business Times reports that construction company Group Five's workforce would probably be halved to 3,000 in its bid to survive, the company's business rescue team said last week. Group Five is one of several construction companies that have entered business rescue this year. Metis Strategic Advisors, its business rescue practitioners (BRPs), hope to conclude the process by February or March next year. Dave Lake, one of the BRPs, said it was an "incredibly complex rescue" and the plan was still being drawn up. A key feature of the rescue would be the downsizing of staff, which had swelled to 8,100 by September last year. In March, when Group Five filed for business rescue, the company commenced the first phase of its retrenchment process. Lake said by the time the BRPs were appointed, the company was employing between 6,600 and 6,700 people, with a lot of them in projects on-site and in fixed-term contracts. In March, Group Five estimated it would have to pay out R233m in severance packages, which the BRPs confirmed last week. Peter van den Steen, who is managing the rescue process with Lake, said they had encountered "a lot of pent-up anger" among employees and shareholders. "Employees thought they were working for a company that is bullet-proof," he observed. Economist Christie Viljoen indicated: "The construction industry is with its back against the wall. The low level of overall [business and building] confidence will almost certainly continue into the third and fourth quarters and government expenditure is under severe pressure, resulting in reductions in fixed capital spending." Read the full original of Asha Speckman’s report on the above at BusinessLive (paywall access only). Read too, Construction activity expected to increase, on page 15 of Business Report of 21 June 2019
Brian Molefe in last-ditch ConCourt bid to keep R30m Eskom pension payout City Press reports that former Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe, who received an irregular pension benefit amounting to R30 million, is heading to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) in a bid to keep the money. A high court and the Supreme Court of Appeal both ruled that the money he received should be paid back, but Molefe is now set to take the matter to the highest court in the land, arguing that, among other things, he did not have a fair hearing. In April last year, the Pretoria High Court ruled that Molefe had to pay back the money within 10 days on the grounds that the pension agreement with Eskom was unlawful. The high court found that Molefe was too young to go on early retirement in terms of the fund’s rules. In April this year, Molefe’s application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal was dismissed by the high court on the grounds of it not having a reasonable prospect of success. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and trade union Solidarity are opposing the latest application. In his court papers, Molefe said he did not have a fair hearing because the high court “blindly accepted” the DA’s submission and ignored his and Eskom’s arguments. He also argued that the high court had relied on incorrect clauses with regard to various documents and contradicted itself on several occasions. Read the full original of Antoinette Slabbert’s report on this story at City Press (paywall access only)
Old Mutual presses ahead with plans to replace sacked CEO Peter Moyo Business Times reports that the wrangling between Old Mutual and sacked boss Peter Moyo will not derail the process to appoint a new CEO, the life insurer has indicated. Moyo, who was at the helm for two years, was fired last week following his suspension by Old Mutual last month due to a breakdown in trust and conflicts of interest. He has indicated that he will challenge the dismissal in court. "Mr Moyo has a right to challenge the decision if he thinks it appropriate, but that will certainly not stop the process of appointing a permanent CEO," Old Mutual spokesperson Tabby Tsengiwe stated. Former chief operating officer Iain Williamson has been acting as CEO. Moyo is the founder and a director of NMT Capital, in which the insurer has a stake in ordinary and preference shares. According to Old Mutual, Moyo benefited from a declaration of ordinary dividends, pocketing more than R30m, while dividends to preference shareholders - which are supposed to be first in line for such a distribution - were still in arrears. Old Mutual is seeking legal advice on whether it can claim back Moyo's windfall, Tsengiwe said, adding that payments made under incentive schemes “are subject to claw-back in certain circumstances." Read the full original of TJ Strydom’s report on the above story at BusinessLive
Theft, vandalism slow rollout of new Metrorail trains Engineering News reports that while the Gibela factory in Gauteng has started to steadily produce new, made-in-South Africa trains for the Metrorail system, it might take some time before these trains all start carrying passengers. The Gibela Rail Transport Consortium is to deliver 600 new trains (3,600 cars) to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), in a R59-billion deal signed in 2014. The deal forms part of a 20-year, R172-billion programme to improve the Metrorail service on the whole, including signalling systems and station infrastructure. There is a question, however, as to when Prasa will be able to meet the conditions set by the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR). In that regard, Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani commented Metrorail faced a massive challenge in terms of modernising its corridors to be able to accept any new rolling stock, owing to rampant theft, arson and vandalism. The courts rarely impose maximum sentences on those responsible for the damage. But, according to the SA Police Service (SAPS), it is the job of Prasa to look after its assets, and not that of the SAPS. Meanwhile, Gibela’s factory will not stand still, with peak production set at 62 trains a year. Metrorail has depots in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape able to house the new trains. Read the full original of the report on the above at Engineering News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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