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, 19 July 2019.
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Two KZN school security guards brutally 'butchered' in classroom News24 reports that two KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) school security guards were brutally murdered and another was critically injured when attackers used a crowbar to butcher them in Hammarsdale, outside Durban, on Wednesday evening. Speaking at Ukusa High School, where the attack occurred, education MEC Kwazi Mshengu said Thursday: "They were pushed into a classroom where they were butchered. Two security guards succumbed to their wounds and the other was taken to hospital." Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said they found the guards, aged 30 and 48, with wounds to their heads. They were certified dead at the scene. A crowbar was found next to them. The discovery was made on Thursday morning, when the principal arrived at school. Seemingly, the intention of the assailants had been to steal new equipment, but they could not gain access to the store room. Mshengu said security at the school had since been heightened. He also said he would speak to Minister of Police Bheki Cele about the increase in crime at schools. In June, 48-year-old teacher Sboniso Nyawose was shot dead at Masuku Primary School in Folweni. Read the full original of Kaveel Singh’s report on the above story at News24. Read too, KZN school principal stumbles upon security guards killed in robbery, at TimesLIVE Cold-blooded killer handed life sentence for 2017 murder, robbery of Krugersdorp security guard News24 reports that the South Gauteng High Court has handed a man found guilty of murdering a security guard and robbing him of his service pistol in Krugersdorp in 2017 a life sentence for the crimes. The accused, Mpho Kgopane, 32, was found guilty of five charges that included murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. In June 2017, the accused and his friends were walking from a drinking establishment when they encountered the security guard, Thabo Manaka, who was dressed in his uniform. Kgopane, who was armed, approached Manaka and demanded his service pistol and shot him twice. A month later, Kgopane attempted to murder his neighbour. The court was told of Kgopane's previous convictions, his lack of remorse and the cold blooded manner in which the deceased's life was taken. It held that substantial and compelling circumstances were absent in this matter and imposed the proportionate sentence of life imprisonment on the murder count. The sentences on the other counts were ordered to run concurrently with the custodial sentence of life. Read the full original of Canny Maphanga’s report on the above at News24 Gunmen threaten staff at waste drop-off facility in Cape Town News24 reports that armed men threatened staff at a Hanover Park waste drop-off facility last week after their demands were not met, the City of Cape Town reported on Friday. The two men had demanded that staff allow them to take the recyclables off site on Thursday, said acting water and waste mayoral committee member Felicity Purchase. "When the staff refused, they drew their weapons and threatened them. There were also three armed men standing outside the premises," she indicated. The staff were told that the intruders would wait for them after work. The city arranged for the staff to be transported out of the site to a safe location. The facility was closed on Thursday afternoon, but open again on Friday. "This is the first time an incident of such a serious nature has occurred although staff have previously been verbally abused," said Purchase. Read the original of Jenna Etheridge’s report on this story at News24 Nuusdag television crew robbed in Khayelitsha on Friday of equipment, personal belongings News24 reports that a Nuusdag television crew was robbed of its film equipment and personal belongings in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Friday. Dieter Göttert, the camera operator for the news station, said he and field reporter Graig-Lee Smith were following developments on the SANDF's deployment in parts of the city and had set up camera on Idada Avenue in Site C when they were approached by "three young guys" who were very low-key. Göttert said he had initially tried to resist, but had had to relent after he saw that the robbers were armed. "They disappeared with both our cellphones and the camera, which was on a tripod, behind some houses within 30 seconds," he reported. Read the original of the report on this story at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
South32 reviews future of manganese smelter amid higher power prices BusinessLive reports that diversified miner South32, which was unbundled from BHP in 2015, is reviewing its manganese alloy smelter, as analysts warn that SA’s soaring power prices are making the sector uncompetitive. The Metalloys smelter in Meyerton is one of the largest in the world and employs 300 people. “We continue to review options for our manganese alloy smelters as changes in market dynamics have reduced the attractiveness of our exposure,” the Australia-based miner said in a report for the three months ended June. Though no final decision has been made on the way forward, the review process could potentially result in South32’s divestment from the smelter or even its closure. Macquarie’s Grant Sporre commented as follows: “It’s difficult to compete with China Inc, where at this point power prices are not likely to be under as much pressure and where China has the economies of scale in their industry to be more efficient. For South32 the value that these smelters add is limited and they can simplify the business.” The costs of electricity will also be a key determinant for the future of South32’s Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay. Hillside’s power contract with Eskom is up for negotiation and the company has warned it needs a good contract if the operation is to be sustainable. Read the full original of Lisa Steyn’s report on the above at BusinessLive High Court rules in favour of Vantage Goldfields in dispute over sale of Lily and Barbrook mines Mining Weekly reports that the Mpumalanga High Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of Vantage Goldfields SA in its dispute with Flaming Silver, a subsidiary of Siyakhula Sonke Empowerment Corporation (SSC), about the transfer of the Lily and Barbook mine assets. Vantage in March this year cancelled the agreement for the sale of the assets with Flaming Silver, stating that SSC had not complied with funding arrangements to meet business rescue requirements. Vantage CEO Mike McChesney indicated in a statement last week: “Vantage had been vindicated by this judgment because the funding to reopen the mines was never secured by Flaming Silver as alleged.” He said the company would approach the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy with a full update and proposal on the way forward for the mines, which went into business rescue shortly after the Lily mine collapsed in February 2016, killing three mineworkers who were trapped in a container underground. Vantage advised that it had scheduled a meeting with new investors and the business rescue practitioners, with a view to cementing a new sales agreement for the mines. Meantime, SSC CEO Fred Arendse said they would apply for leave to appeal the judgment. Read the full original of the report on the above at Mining Weekly. Read too, Lily court battle enters another round, on page 4 of City Press Business of 21 July 2019
Strike at harbours threatens to sour citrus exports Business Times reports that SA is set to have billions of rands worth of international citrus fruit exports and retail contracts cancelled because of a growing strike at the country's harbours. According to Mark Jensen, MD of South African Fruit Promoters, this was already happening. His warning came after a five-week wildcat strike and go-slow by stevedores at Port Elizabeth and Coega harbours. Also hard hit has been the vehicle manufacturing sector. Workers, who are now threatening to embark on go-slows at the country's other harbours, downed tools in the Eastern Cape over pay and promotion disputes with stevedores refusing to offload and load dozens of cargo ships anchored off Port Elizabeth. With the strike set to continue, ships travelling to the affected Eastern Cape harbours are diverting to Durban and Cape Town. But Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association, which has pleaded with the government to intervene in the crisis, said the Eastern Cape strike was now affecting Durban and Cape Town harbours. He said the entire industry felt helpless: "None of this is of our doing, yet farmers, farm workers and suppliers are bearing the brunt of this action, which both Transnet and the unions say is illegal." Satawu and Numsa said they were not involved in the strike. Untu confirmed that Transnet had a right to dismiss workers as the go-slow was reportedly illegal. Meantime, Transnet issued a statement saying it had a court interdict to stop the strike at the Ngqura container terminal. On Friday, a Transnet spokesperson said there had been a marked improvement in the performance at the container terminals at the Ngqura, Durban and Cape Town ports since Thursday. Read the full original of the Sunday Times Business Times report by Graeme Hosken and Penelope Mashego on the above at BusinessLive (paywall access only). Read Transnet’s press statement at Polity. Read too, Ngqura closure hits economy, on page 1 of City Press Business of 21 July 2019
Numsa and RAF reach deadlock in wage talks, picketing rules being finalised The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) issued a statement on Friday indicating that it had deadlocked with the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in wage negotiations. The statement indicates as follows: “We met the employer on Thursday under the auspices of the CCMA for wage talks. We are demanding a 9% increase and 13th cheque. Initially the employer had made an offer of 7% increase, but yesterday, they put it on record that they are withdrawing the offer that they put on the table. They are now offering 0%. They also reject the demand for a 13th cheque.” The union commented that management was provoking workers into embarking on strike action. It reported that both parties had exchanged draft picketing rules, for agreement on a final document. They will apparently be meeting again with the CCMA on 29 July to finalise the picketing rules. Read Numsa’s press statement at Polity
Appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as CEO of airline Mango whips up a storm City Press reports that the parliamentary portfolio committee on public enterprises has written to the department of public enterprises requesting an explanation for the recent appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as CEO of state-owned airline Mango. The committee’s chairperson, Khaya Magaxa, indicated that he wrote to the department after receiving a written request from the Black Management Forum (BMF) a week ago to investigate the matter. Magaxa said that the committee needed to get clarity first, before deciding on a possible investigation. The BMF’s letter, written by its president Andile Nomlala, asserts that Bezuidenhout’s integrity is questionable. It also notes that the initial advert for the position was withdrawn and revised to require only matric as a qualification for the CEO job. “The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from this is that the job requirements were ostensibly amended to suit Mr Bezuidenhout,” the letter reads. Also, according to Nomlala, the appointment does very little to advance transformation. He goes on to pose a list of questions, including why a tertiary qualification was not a requirement for such an oversight position and why Bezuidenhout, who had previously allegedly lied about his qualifications, was appointed. The BMF has also issued a statement condemning the recent appointment. Read the full original of Lesetja Malope’s report on the above at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Solidarity reports that Denel has failed to pay contributions to company pension fund Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity reported on Thursday that pension funds in respect of Denel employees had not been paid over to the company’s pension fund, Denret. This information had been provided by Denret itself. Solidarity further stated that Denel management had met with unions on Thursday and had given verbal assurances that the funds had been transferred to Denret. While it welcomed these verbal assurances, Solidarity said it remained sceptical. “Denel has not responded by offering proof of payment yet, and so the uncertainty remains,” Solidarity’s defence and aerospace sector coordinator Helgard Cronjé pointed out. “The way in which Denel, and by extension government, have treated employees is an absolute disgrace,” he commented. Should the payment not be confirmed, the union said it would act. “Solidarity has a mandate from our members to lay criminal charges to force Denel to pay all outstanding money,” Cronjé indicated. He went on to assure members: “We will scrutinise any solution Denel is currently seeking to address its liquidity challenges. The current situation is totally unacceptable, and Solidarity will hold Denel to account on behalf of our members, but also on behalf of all workers at Denel.” Read the full original of the report on the above at Engineering News. Read Solidarity’s press statement on this matter at Politicsweb
Retrenched Group Five staff yet to receive severance packages, seek court’s help for payout Business Times reports that retrenched staffers at embattled construction company Group Five are living from hand to mouth because they have yet to be paid out their severance packages. According to the business rescue practitioners (BRPs), who took over the reins of the company in March in an attempt to trade it out of financial trouble, there is simply no money to pay them and they do not know if, or when, there will be. But a group of seven are challenging this in an urgent application before the labour court, claiming they are being treated unequally because those who took voluntary retrenchment were paid. Collectively, they are apparently owed more than R1.5m in retrenchment pay and bonuses. The group has accused the BRPs of "unilaterally deciding which creditors must be paid, and, more egregiously, which employees were entitled to be paid and which weren't". The response has been that those who had volunteered for retrenchment had been paid because they agreed to less than the statutory severance payment. Bradley Workman-Davies, the attorney for the BRPs, indicated that the application would be opposed because of the "breathing space" provided by the Companies Act – that no company under business rescue could be sued. He said payment would be made as soon as funding was available. A business rescue plan was supposed to be published in June, but the practitioners have asked for an extension until the end of August. Read the full original of Tania Broughton’s Sunday Times Business Times report on the above at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Battling Hulamin plans job cuts Moneyweb reports that aluminium semi-fabricator and exporter Hulamin is under scrutiny following a profit warning last week and plans for retrenchments within the group. Speaking on Thursday, Chris Logan of Opportune Investments, a shareholder activist and vocal critic of Tongaat Hulett, noted that when the group listed on the JSE in 2007 it had a market cap of around R8.6 billion, but its market cap has now plummeted to around R740 million. “While Hulamin doesn’t have accounting irregularities, the Hulamin story is just as sad as Tongaat Hulett. It is basically a culture issue and the company has seen similar factors on the management side affecting it, which I believe include a massive misallocation of capital, poor cost controls and a bloated top management and board,” Logan commented. He also bemoaned Hulamin’s “misalignment of incentives” for its executives, saying the company seemed to have an “entitlement culture” around executive pay in the same vein as Tongaat Hulett. According to Hulamin, it was “aggressively addressing manpower-related costs, including contractors, consultant and employment costs”. Responding last week to queries around the planned retrenchments, Hulamin’s Noma Kanyile confirmed that an invitation to consult had been sent to all staff. She could not confirm how many jobs were on the line, indicating that Hulamin “is still at the consultation phase with relevant stakeholders” and that discussions were not yet “conclusive”. The company employs some 2,000 staff, mainly in Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. Read the full original of Suren Naidoo’s report on the above at Moneyweb
Probes into twenty civil servants for doing business with the state Fin24 reports that the names of 20 public servants who might have contravened the Public Administration Management Act has been referred to authorities for investigation and possible prosecution. This was indicated by Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu in a written reply to a parliamentary question from DA MP Leon Schreiber. He had asked the minister if any action had been taken against public servants in terms of section 8 of the Act, which came into effect on 18 March 2019, for doing business with the state. "No public service employees were prosecuted or fined for contravening Section 8 of the specified Act," the minister said. But, he added that in June the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) had referred a list of the implicated employees to both the police and the national prosecuting authority for investigation and possible prosecutions. "No public service employee has had their employment terminated for contravening Section 8 of the Act, as the identified cases still need to be investigated," the minister advised. Read the original of the report by Lameez Omarjee on the above at Fin24
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