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, 26 July 2019.
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Court approves historic R5bn settlement in gold mining silicosis saga News24Wire reports that the South Gauteng High Court has approved the historic R5-billion settlement agreement in the lengthy silicosis case. Judge Leoni Windell found that “all the parties made an effort to ensure that the settlement agreement is reasonable, adequate and fair. The terms of the settlement agreement demonstrate that they succeeded in their efforts.” Parties made submissions in May asking the court to approve the settlement agreement and to issue instructions on the clauses it was not happy with. The legal process involving gold miners affected by lung diseases has stretched over several years and has been described as one of the “most complex multi-party class action settlements ever concluded” by parties. The agreement, on behalf of thousands of mineworkers and their dependants, affects people who contracted silicosis or pulmonary tuberculosis during or after being employed as gold miners from March 1965. The six mining companies which will pay out the collective R5-billion formed the Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) Working Group, which represented African Rainbow Minerals‚ Anglo American SA‚ AngloGold Ashanti‚ Gold Fields‚ Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater. The claimants will be paid out between R70,000 and R500,000, depending on which of four categories they fall into. The benefits will be paid through the Tshiamiso Trust, set up specifically for this purpose. It will receive R845-million to identify and locate eligible mineworkers and dependents, and will assess, process and pay their claims. Read the full original of the report on the above at Mining Weekly. Read too, R5 billion settlement achieved in landmark silicosis case, at Saturday Star R5bn gold mining silicosis settlement approval welcomed Mining Weekly reports that Mineral Resources Portfolio Committee chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo and the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) have welcomed the approval by the Gauteng High Court of a R5-billion settlement between gold mining companies and former employees who have contracted silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) after working in the country’s gold mines. The settlement is between the Occupational Lung Disease Working Group, which represents African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater, and the settlement classes’ representatives, as well as the settlement classes’ law firms Richard Spoor, Abrahams Kiewitz and the Legal Resources Centre. The settlement is expected to bring an end to the drawn-out class action case. Luzipo stated on Friday: “We believe that justice has finally prevailed and that, going forward, mining companies should always put the safety of workers first in order to prevent diseases that could potentially occur long after retirement.” He commending the efforts of the legal team that represented the victims and families of the deceased. MCSA CEO Roger Baxter noted that the settlement agreement was “a product of more than four years of engagement between the parties”. He added that the council had been an integral part of the broader process, especially in ensuring that the current compensation systems that fell under the Medical Bureau of Occupational Disease (MBOD) received additional financial and in-kind support. Read the full original of the report on the above at Mining Weekly Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Miner killed at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine on Thursday News24 reports that a mineworker was killed on Thursday morning in a fall of ground incident at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine near Welkom. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague at Tshepong. Harmony's management expresses their sincere condolences to our colleague's family, friends and colleagues," Harmony’s chief executive officer Peter Steenkamp said in a statement on Friday. The gold producer indicated that an investigation into the accident was under way. The original of the above short report is at News24. Harmony Gold’s press statement is at Harmony News Other general posting(s) relating to mining
March by firefighters on Friday in Johannesburg CBD following attacks on EMS crews News24 reports that City of Johannesburg firefighters marched in the inner city on Friday to raise awareness about a recent spate of attacks on Emergency Management Services (EMS) personnel. In a statement, acting EMS chief Rapulane Monageng said that there had been a spike in the number of assaults and hijackings of EMS crews since the beginning of 2019. In just the past few weeks three incidents had been recorded, while there had been over 10 incidents since the beginning of January. The march was aimed at educating communities about the importance of firefighters and paramedics as well as the need for communities to protect them. Monageng added that the increasing prevalence of attacks on EMS personnel not only created fear and panic among those tasked with helping the community, but also disrupted service delivery to communities. In an attempt to curb the attacks, EMS and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) have identified hotspots in respect of which police will escort ambulance and fire engine crews when they respond to calls. High-risk periods have been identified as being between 22:00 to 06:00. Read the full original of Alex Mitchley’s report on the above, which includes details of attacks since September, at News24 Department of employment and labour to hire 500 new occupational health and safety inspectors ANA reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) advised last week that about 500 occupational health and safety (OHS) inspectors were to be hired. Chief inspector Tibor Szana said the department was on the verge of employing 500 OHS inspectors in a move that would bring major change in the workplaces. This would enable the DEL to broaden its scope of work by also focusing on the small, medium and micro enterprise and the informal sector. “In the next 10 years, health and hygiene will never be the same. We are clear what we are about to do. When we look back this will be a major turning point. We will be leveraging the use of technologies to fulfil our objectives,” Szana said on the first day of the department’s occupational health and safety conference on Wednesday last week. He added: “We are doing all this to prepare for challenges that will be posed by the fourth industrial revolution.” The conference was held in Kempton Park and ended on Thursday. The original of this report appeared on page 19 of Business Report of 26 July 2019 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Wage talks between Numsa and auto industry continue this week with parties still poles apart Moneyweb reports that the second round of wage negotiations between SA’s vehicle manufacturers and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is scheduled to take place this week, with the parties still poles apart in their offers and demands. Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, Numsa’s national spokesperson, confirmed that the union would be meeting the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo) in Port Elizabeth from Monday until Wednesday in an attempt to thrash out a new three-year wage and conditions of service agreement for the industry. She indicated that Numsa had compromised from its initial demand in the current negotiations for a one-year agreement to a three-year agreement, while Ameo had agreed that any agreement struck would be effective retrospectively from 1 July. Hlubi-Majola reported that Numsa was demanding a 20% wage increase in each year of the three-year agreement, while Ameo had offered an increase in line with consumer inflation (CPI) plus 1% in the first year of the three-year deal, and increases of CPI in years two and three. Hlubi-Majola pointed out that one of the most important demands being made by Numsa was for an industry medical aid. Another important demand was that all workers at level 4 must be moved to level 5 because there was a problem with workers spending many years on one level. Read the full original of Roy Cokayne’s report on the negotiations at Moneyweb
Solidarity launches tax protest campaign, including court application to place SAA under business rescue ANA reports that the Solidarity NetWork will this week kick off a comprehensive and lawful tax protest campaign, which will include a court application to place SA Airways (SAA) under business rescue. The trade union said in a statement on Sunday that the protest would include at least six legal actions against state enterprises and tax plunderers. “It is time that taxpayers turn to active and lawful tax protest. South Africa must discover the power of tax activism. We’ve already had a taste of it with the e-toll protest. Tax protest does not have to include the withholding of tax. Taxpayers can unite across traditional barriers, making use of legal instruments to call the state and tax plunderers to account,” Solidarity’s chief operating officer Dirk Hermann commented. The union said it would this week serve urgent court papers on arms manufacturer Denel to force it to pay over the unemployment insurance and tax contributions it had deducted from employees. It has also started a process in terms of section 165 of the Companies Act to have mismanagement and corruption perpetrated by former Denel directors investigated with a view to their possible prosecution. A similar section 165 process will be followed in collaboration with business organisation Sakeliga in respect of Eskom, which may have major implications for former Eskom directors such as Brian Molefe. Similar applications against other directors at other state-owned enterprises might follow, Solidarity indicated. Read the full original of the report on the above at The Citizen. Read too, Tax plunderers beware, warns Solidarity on looming tax protest, at Fin24. Read Solidarity’s press statement on the campaign at Politicsweb Low turnout for Metrorail strike and protests on Friday GroundUp reports that the turnout was low for Friday’s one day strike and countrywide protests called by the United National Transport Union (Untu) and its umbrella organisation, the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa). Workers were demanding a safer train system, both for themselves and passengers. In particular they called for the army to be deployed to patrol the railway system. They also wanted the Passenger Rail Association of SA (Prasa) and Transnet to be integrated; better policing of the railways by the police; Prasa to comply with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act; the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to be able to exercise its mandate independently from Prasa; and government to find accommodation for the thousands of people living in shacks too close to railway lines. In Cape Town, about 40 people took part in a march to Parliament. The Public Servants Association (PSA) and the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) marched in solidarity. In Johannesburg about 40 people marched to the office of the Mayco Member for Transport. A memorandum, addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, called on him to ensure safe and reliable trains. In Pretoria a few dozen protesters marched to the Union Buildings. When they reached the Union Buildings there was no representative of the presidency to listen to the demands being read. Only after about an hour did the Acting Deputy Director General of Rail Transport come out to receive the memorandum of demands. In Durban, 35 people marched to City Hall. Read the full original of the above report at https://www.groundup.org.za/article/low-turnout-metrorail-protests/. Read too, Most commuter trains still on track during strike, says Prasa, at News24. And also, 'They need to be protected' - stranded Gauteng commuters sympathise with striking Metrorail staff, at News24
Treasury’s DG wants state employees to take a 10% salary cut to plug gaping fiscal hole City Press reports that the stern warning of National Treasury’s director-general, Dondo Mogajane is that SA’s finances are in serious trouble, and the best way to plug the gaping hole in the fiscus may be for all state employees to take a 10% cut in salaries and wages. He said last week that the government had a R120 billion gap to plug as a result of having to accommodate a R59 billion Eskom bailout as well as an expected significant shortfall in tax revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2020. Although revenue collection amounted to R175.8 billion in the first two months of the tax year – up by 6.8%, compared with the same period last year – this increase rate was not nearly enough. Mogajane observed: “National Treasury’s box is empty. Growth is not coming through and tax revenues are not there. We are in trouble. The government needs to reduce spending.” Eskom’s dire situation has forced the state to hugely overshoot its financial support package. Mogajane observed that government could plug the huge fiscal gap in two ways: by entering into negotiations with public sector trade unions to cut wages, and by reallocating existing budgeted expenditure. Mugwena Maluleke of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union said such a move would “be met with workers’ might”. Tahir Maepa of the Public Servants Association said that while they were willing to assist government to get out of “this self-inflicted tragedy”, it would not let workers “be the burden bearers of wrong and reckless political and economic decisions”. Richard Mamabolo of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union echoed this sentiment, saying it would be wrong to penalise public servants. Read the full original of the comprehensive report by Justin Brown and Lesetja Malope on the above at City Press
Employment and Labour Minister won’t sideline worker’s rights to pursue an ‘any jobs’ approach Mail & Guardian reports that with his department’s focus shifted towards job creation, newly-appointed Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says he will not risk sidelining worker’s rights to create more work. He stated last week: “There are some who argue that an any jobs [approach] — which yields more jobs — is better than the decent jobs we are striving for. As South Africans, we are not going back to those dark days — certainly not under the watch of this government.” One of the biggest hurdles Nxesi faces in his tenure as minister is to balance the administration’s plans to create jobs with the department’s mandate to protect workers from exploitation by championing their rights and regulating the labour market. In the department’s budget vote speech earlier this month, Nxesi emphasised that realising its new mandate would require co-operation with other government departments and the private sector, which it depended on to “propel employment”. Nxesi dismissed speculation that the department would have trouble reining in the private sector through regulations when it depended on the sector to drive employment. Instead, he argued that a vigilant department that worked closely with organised labour and the private sector would help to stabilise the labour market and drive job creation. In his budget vote speech, Nxesi also indicated that the department would leverage the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund “to preserve jobs and to invest in job-creating initiatives”. Read Sarah Smit’s informative report on Nxesi’s approach to a number of issues involving his department at Mail & Guardian
Nedbank in talks about 1,500 possible job cuts at its retail and business-banking division Bloomberg reports that the Nedbank Group is in talks with about 1,500 employees over potential job cuts at the lender’s retail and business-banking division to cope with a struggling economy and increased competition. In an emailed response to questions on Friday, the bank gave a forecast that “between 50 and 100 employees are at risk of not being placed in a role,” adding that unplaced employees “will then be assisted by the bank to either secure available alternative positions within the bank, which is our first prize, or be equipped for opportunities outside the bank.” Nedbank went on to indicated that it was being forced to reshape its operating models and businesses, but that in doing so it “actively makes use of natural attrition and a redeployment and reskilling pool. Non-voluntary retrenchments are always the last option.” The company, which employs 30 577 people, expects the consultation process to be concluded after the final meeting with the trade union Sasbo at the end of this month. Nedbank has also been reducing the floor space used by its branches and increasing the use of automation so as to lower costs. Read the full original of Roxanne Henderson’s report on the above at Moneyweb
Supporters of suspended eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede turn to court to get her reinstated Sunday Tribune reports a group of African National Congress (ANC) members are taking the party to court demanding the reinstatement of eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede. The group announced last week that it had consulted lawyers to draft court papers in which the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) and national executive committee (NEC) would be respondents. Meanwhile, the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) in the eThekwini Region said that, while it was not part of the court action, it fully supported it. Since Gumede was placed on 30-day leave early last month, which was later extended by another 30 days, the league has been participating in protest marches to demand her reinstatement. The group’s spokesperson, Mzomuhle Dube, said lawyers on Friday met to draft a letter to inform both the PEC and the NEC about the intention to go to court. “We are sending a letter to the NEC and PEC to say we are going to litigate because we have exhausted all possibilities of engagement, and we are now approaching the court to intervene in the matter. The letter was sent yesterday (Friday) evening. The deadline is Monday and if by Tuesday there is nothing done there will be a court process,” said Dube. Read the full original of the report by Bongani Hans on the above story at Sunday Tribune. Read too, Mayor’s forced leave goes to court, at Mail & Guardian
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