In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 17 July 2019.
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Strike by farm workers' at Oak Valley in Grabouw comes to an end after more than two months GroundUp reports that a two-month farm workers' strike by Oak Valley has been brought to an end. A statement by the Commercial Stevedore Agricultural and Allied Workers’ Union (Csaawu) indicated that the farm workers have agreed to a reduced 6.5% increase, along with a R300 housing allowance, as well as a promise that hostels would be “transformed”. Striking workers had been demanding a minimum wage of R250 per day, an 8% increase, an end to labour brokering, and the end of single-sex hostels. The strike has been ongoing since early May. On several occasions workers blocked the N2 highway. A case has been initiated at the Equality Court in respect of the hostels, which according to Csaawu only houses “African black male workers” who are not allowed to have their families stay with them. “While we’ve accepted the lower wage offer, we are insisting that the company delink the housing allowance with any evictions on the farm. We have still to see whether they will actually transform the hostels or merely patch them up,” said Csaawu’s general secretary Trevor Christians. Read the original of the GroundUp report by Ashraf Hendricks at TimesLIVE Workers at PE security company strike to demand union recognition and better conditions GroundUp reports that employees of a Port Elizabeth security company went on a strike on Tuesday demanding that the company recognise their union and also improve their working conditions. About 20 security guards of Impact Loss Control sang outside the company premises in Markman industrial area. They said their strike would continue until their demands were met. They are members of the Democratised, Transport, Logistics and Allied Workers’ Union (Detawu). Malibongwe Kayana, provincial secretary for Detawu, accused Impact Loss Control of flouting the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. The workers listed 11 grievances on cardboard placards which they waved at passers-by. Kayana claimed that Detawu was the majority union at the company with 120 members out of the company’s 200 workers. Meantime, employee Fundiswa Mhlabeni was suspended on Monday. Her charge sheet indicates that this was for inciting workers, via Whatsapp, to strike and for adopting “a rude and/or a disrespectful attitude towards your superior, Mr Walters, by inter alia laughing at him and or sarcastically saying repeatedly ‘thank you’ when informed of your suspension”. Her disciplinary hearing is scheduled for 18 July. Read the full original of Joseph Chirume’s GroundUp report on the above story at https://www.groundup.org.za/article/workers-security-company-demand-union-recognition/ Union blames necessity of a strike at Pretoria Zoo for ‘special’ koala’s death The Citizen reports that Willie the koala bear, whose parents were a gift to Nelson Mandela, has died at the National Zoological Gardens (NZG) in Pretoria in what some people claim is the result of the protracted strike at the sanctuary. Zoo spokesperson Craig Allenby confirmed on Tuesday that Willie had died on Saturday, but said they believed his death could have been caused by a chronic liver condition. Staff at the zoo, apparently including the conservationist in charge of the koala, are affiliated to the National Trade Union Congress and have been on strike for more than a month. Union organiser Vusi Msiza alleged Willie would not have died if the conservationist had not been on strike, adding management would rather sacrifice the lives of animals than meet the workers’ demands, which include equal pay for all employees doing the same job, as well as improved working conditions. He claimed the conservationist “was the only person who was taking care of the koalas at the zoo and Willie died because the person who takes care of him is on strike”. But, the sanctuary denied that the strike was responsible for Willie’s death, saying he was old and that not every worker was on strike. Read the full original of Sipho Mabena’s report on the above at The Citizen
Numsa meets with auto employers on Wednesday for second round of wage talks ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Tuesday that it was preparing to meet with automotive manufacturing employers for a second round of wage talks from 17 to 19 July in Pretoria. Noting that the union had submitted a detailed list of 19 demands, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola commented as follows: "The wage agreement in the sector has lapsed and we need to negotiate new terms and conditions. Last week we met employers for two days for the first round of wage talks. Unfortunately, we are still very far from finding each other.” She claimed that the employers had not engaged meaningfully with the demands brought forward and that the only demand the employers had responded to was to make a 4.5% wage increase offer, in response to the union’s demand for a 20% wage increase. Hlubi-Majola observed further: We hope that when talks resume this week, employers will engage more seriously and we can start to make progress. We are doing everything in our power to prevent unnecessary delays so that we can reach an agreement soon. We hope the employers will assist us in achieving our objective." Read the full original of the report on the above at Business Report. Read Numsa’s press statement on this matter at Polity
Nine young people killed in taxi accident on same day they were due to start work at Middelburg colliery Sowetan reports that emotions ran high at the Middelburg government mortuary on Tuesday where the families of eight of the nine people who died in a road crash on Friday arrived to have DNA samples taken for the identification process of the burnt bodies. The crash victims died on the N11, the day they all started work at a coal mine in the Mpumalanga town. MEC for community safety, security and liaison Gabisile Shabalala said the process would take two weeks to finalise as it needed blood samples from relatives for conclusive DNA results. The ninth person’s identity has not been verified. Martha Nzinisa, the mother Majahonke Madonsela, one of the victims, told Sowetan that on the day of the crash she waited for him to come home so they could celebrate the news that he had found a new job. “My son had not been getting proper jobs but piece jobs. When he told us that on Friday morning he’s going for an induction to start a new job on Monday, we were very happy… I waited for him to come home and didn’t know that he was dead until on Saturday morning. My heart is very sore. I thought our lives would get better after he got the job,” Nzinisa said. MEC for public works, roads and transport Gillion Mashego said human error and driver’s impatience were to blame for the crash. Several people were also injured. Read more of Mandla Kjhosa’s report on the above in Sowetan at SA Labour News
State policies not helping SA’s ailing steel sector, says Neasa’s Gerhard Papenfus Gerhard Papenfus, CEO of the National Employers’ Association of SA (Neasa), writing in his personal capacity, notes that the potential loss of 2,000 jobs at ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) is getting much justifiable media attention. But, the steel industry’s loss of 100,000 jobs over the past decade and hundreds of thousands of jobs over two to three decades did not get commensurate attention because it happened gradually and was spread nationally. The result of deindustrialisation policies was not as spectacular as the loss of 2,000 jobs in one workplace, but much more devastating. Noting that one cannot ignore the influence of China on global steel markets, Papenfus go on to argue that much of SA’s pain has been self-inflicted. He says that in SA the steel industry has been a victim of government policies, which have resulted in a “relentless, devastating process of deindustrialization”. According to Papenfus, one of the main culprits is SA’s bargaining council dispensation, or the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC), which unashamedly discriminates against small businesses, or SMMEs, especially with regard to conditions of employment. Moreover, small businesses suffered in 2015 when the government introduced a 10% customs duty on steel. This was followed by a further 12% safeguard duty, to protect Amsa against the import of cheaper, better quality steel. In the view of Papenfus, rescuing the SA steel market will require both tough operational decisions by Amsa and bold policy decisions by government. Read the full article by Gerhard Papenfus at BusinessLive SAFA hits back at union over criticism for using Turkish clothing manufacturer for Bafana Bafana suits Fin24 reports that the SA Football Association (SAFA) has hit back at critics who have lambasted the choice of a Turkish clothing manufacturer to sponsor suits for the national soccer team Bafana Bafana. It said local sponsors have failed to step forward. The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) and Proudly South African said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they had "noted with dismay the photos of Bafana Bafana travelling to and from Egypt for their recent AFCON campaign wearing wholly imported suits sponsored by D's Damat". This came in the context of the SA government pushing a buy local campaign in an attempt to stimulate the local economy, with President Cyril Ramaphosa having famously given his State of the Nation Address in a locally made suit. But, SAFA spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi claimed that it was a struggle to secure sponsorship from local companies. He went on to indicate: ''The issue on lack of sponsorship for football is well documented, local companies are not coming on board. Where are the local companies that are willing to sponsor us?" He reported that Turkish company D's Damat had approached SAFA, which had welcomed the sponsorship. Chimhavi added that SAFA was also sponsored by Nike, but this had not drawn the same kind of outcry. Read the full original of Allison Jeftha’s report on the above at Fin24. Read the joint Proudly South African/Sactwu press statement on this issue at Sactwu News
Sekhukhune district municipality hopes for SEZ status as a means of creating jobs The Citizen writes that there are at least 28 mines in Limpopo’s Sekhukhune district municipality – yet it is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the country. Now, the mayor is lobbying for it to be accorded special economic zone (SEZ) status, in an attempt to change things. Mayor Stan Ramaila wants Burgersfort and Steelpoort in Tubatse to be accorded special economic zone status to provide jobs for the unemployed, whose numbers are escalating. On Tuesday, Ramaila lamented that in 2017 unemployment in Sekhukhune stood at 49.6%, which was much higher than in the province as a whole, which stood at 28%. “Our growth points are in the areas of Tubatse, which is envisaged to host the SEZ. Other growth points include the agriindustry areas of Groblersdal and Marble Hall,” Ramaila advised. Referring to Ramaila’s plan to use the SEZ to create jobs, Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha commented: “The application for the Tubatse SEZ is now at an advanced stage. We have resolved to lodge the Tubatse SEZ business proposal with the minister for trade and industry and economic development by the end of August. Pending these formal processes, we will be continuing with the industrial activities within this envisaged Tubatse SEZ. This includes, but is not limited to, the Mining Input Supplier Park and Construction Incubation.” Mathabatha said the province wanted a significant number of the projected SEZ jobs to be taken up by the people of Limpopo, particularly the young. To ensure young people were properly equipped to benefit, Limpopo has established the Musina-Makhado SEZ skills development plan. Read the full original of Alex Matlala’s report on the above on page 7 of The Citizen of 17 July 2019
Solidarity slams Unisa's affirmative action plan, wants labour department and senate to intervene News24 reports that trade union Solidarity has asked the Department of Labour to intervene in stopping the University of SA (Unisa) from implementing proposed promotion criteria, arguing that they are in contravention of the Employment Equity Act (EEA). It has also asked the university senate to revisit the criteria in order "to produce a more equitable outcome". The union has argued that in terms of the promotion criteria, designated employees would be eligible for promotion or appointment based on a lower standard or reduced minimum standards. "Individuals of the designated group need not have the same qualifications and or experience than their white counterparts to be eligible for promotions or appointment," said Annika Labuschagne of Solidarity's centre for fair labour practices. She went on to indicate as follows: "The criteria can create possible absolute barriers for individuals not belonging to the designated group... Therefore, we hope that the university and the department will both step in to establish a fairer application." Labuschagne added that if that did not happen, the union would be ready to take legal action and to act on behalf of its members at Unisa and elsewhere. Read the full original of Kamva Somdyala’s report on the above at News24. Read Solidarity’s press statement on this issue at SA Labour News
Shareholder activist warns of reputational damage to Old Mutual of court battle over CEO’s dismissal Business Report writes that shareholder activist Theo Botha has warned that the continuing public spat between fired Old Mutual CE Peter Moyo and chairperson Trevor Manuel would become a reputational disaster for the life insurance group, irrespective of the outcome in court. Botha said the company had failed to manage issues of potential conflict of interest “right at the outset”. In his view, Moyo’s firing had raised a number of new governance problems. Gordon Institute of Business Science director Professor Nick Binedell said the issue represented not only a risk to Moyo, but to Old Mutual over the longer term. He added, however, that it was not likely to represent as great a risk as, say, a major product failure. Parmi Natesan, CE of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa, commented as follows: “Conflicts in the boardroom need to be carefully managed to ensure that they do not put either the director or the organisation at risk - or create a negative public perception. And the fundamental key to managing conflicts of interest is open, full and candid disclosure and appropriate management.” On Tuesday, the South Gauteng High Court postponed Moyo’s application to be reinstated until Thursday. Moyo was fired in June after relations between him and Manuel soured amid allegations and counter accusations of conflicts of interest. Read the full original of Edward West’s report on the above at Business Report. Read too, Showdown between Peter Moyo and Old Mutual postponed to Thursday, at BusinessLive
Gautrain expansion to deal with the capacity constraints on the cards Moneyweb reports that the Gautrain Management Agency is planning to spend up to R2 billion to acquire second hand additional rolling stock from the United Kingdom to deal with the capacity constraints on the high-speed train network. Chief Executive Jack van der Merwe announced this week that a team had just returned from the UK where they identified three rolling stock companies they were presently negotiating with. Speaking at the Southern African Transport Conference, Van der Merwe said the agency was looking at bringing in between 18 and 35 coaches for the Gautrain. They will probably arrive in SA within the next 18 months. Loan funding for the acquisition of rolling stock has been obtained from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). “We are going to run the new additional rolling stock from the airport on the east-west line and then all the existing trains will run on the north-south line,” Van der Merwe indicated. He also provided an update of Gautrain 2, the next phase of the project. The planned network for Gautrain 2 is from Mamelodi in the east of Pretoria to Jabulani in the west of Soweto, from Lanseria to Little Falls and Cosmo into Randburg and Marlboro, and from OR Tambo International Airport to Boksburg. Read the full original of Roy Cokayne’s report on the above at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sisulu orders security vetting for officials of her department to remove cloud of suspicion ANA reports that Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu is urgently arranging security vetting of her staff to allow them to work free of the suspicion hanging over officials in the bankrupt department. On Tuesday she said: “The most important thing for me is for my staff to be vetted and cleared immediately, so they are able to function. They will not be able to function if a cloud is hanging over them. I would like them to look proud and say they are working for this department.” She was answering media questions about the dismal financial track record of the department after delivering the department’s budget vote speech in parliament. Sisulu said she needed more time to understand how the entity had been pushed into bankruptcy and had asked Treasury to help her set up an investigative team to achieve this within a short time frame. She commented further: “I will not be able to understand until we have our investigation up and running and we get a report. Then I will be able to understand how we lost so much money and close those loopholes. The figures are shocking and I feel really sorry for the staff who have had to explain all of this to Treasury and the portfolio committee because I don’t know if they themselves know the extent of the damage.” Read the full original of the report on the above on page 7 of The Citizen of 17 July 2019
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