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, 23 August 2019.
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Safety concerns grow after wounding of nurse in shooting at Polokwane hospital on Friday SABC News reports that the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in Limpopo is concerned about the safety of its members following a shooting incident at the Polokwane provincial hospital. A patient allegedly shot and wounded a nurse, before killing himself on Friday night. Denosa provincial organiser, Jacob Molepo, said security was a huge concern at health facilities. He indicated: “As Denosa Limpopo we are shocked and devastated about the incident which occurred in the renal unit in Pietersburg Hospital; so as Denosa Limpopo we are very much concerned about the safety of our members in the health facilities because the incident clearly indicates that there is a lack of security in our facilities. We are still struggling to establish how did the patient get access into the health facility with the gun.” Meanwhile, the family of the patient who allegedly wounded the nurse, before killing himself, has blamed authorities at the hospital for the incident. The relatives claim the 46-year-old man had been complaining that he was being mistreated by staff at the renal unit for a long time. According to a family spokesperson, the incident could have been prevented if authorities had attended to his brother’s complaints. Read the original of the above report at SABC News Army protects Eskom workers as they remove illegal electricity connections in Khayelitsha informal settlement GroundUp reports that last week members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) accompanied police to safeguard Eskom workers who were removing illegal electricity connections into Qandu-qandu informal settlement in Khayelitsha. About a month ago, the force was deployed to various areas on the Cape Flats to assist police with their battle against gangs. The settlement has no basic services and residents there depend on izinyoka (illegal connections) for electricity. On Tuesday, residents looked on as wires were disconnected from their shacks. Several people questioned the army’s presence and its role during the removals. “The army is here to intimidate us so that we do not fight against this oppression,” said a resident. Qandu-qandu is a relatively new settlement and is not yet in the City of Cape Town’s database. As a result, it has not received any basic services like water and sanitation. Noting that the land had been illegally occupied and was on wetlands, the municipality indicated that the only solution for Qandu-qandu was relocation. Read the full original of the above GroundUp report by Velani Ludidi at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
‘Unceasing increases in the costs of living’ push workers in glass sector to strike from Monday Fin24 reports that according to the General Industries Workers Union of SA, unionised workers in the glass sector will down their tools on Monday. The union, which is an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions, on Sunday evening issued a statement indicating that close to 1,000 workers would be striking at glass companies including Nampak Glass, Consol Glass and PG Glass. They are demanding an 8.5% increase across the board and want the workers of labour brokers to be made permanent by client companies after three months. Furthermore, the agreement should be in effect for only one year and must cover all union members. According to the union, the employers' association is offering a 6.75% increase and is seeking a two-year agreement. "Our members have taken the route of strike action because their living standards and that of workers at large are constantly being eroded by the unceasing increases in the costs of living… The strike is therefore a means of defending and protecting workers' current living standards," the union’s statement reads. Read the original of the above report by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24 Staff at Legal Aid SA suspend strike 'until further notice' News24 reports that according to Legal Aid SA, its employees have suspended their strike action until further notice. In a statement issued on Friday, national spokesperson Mfanafuthi Shabangu said the staff had resolved to return to work, and that service at all courts and Legal Aid SA offices nationwide had returned to normal. The employees had embarked on a strike over a variety of grievances, including benefits and budget cuts. Shabangu commented: "Legal Aid SA welcomes the news of the suspension of the strike. The impact on the functioning of the country’s courts was minimal, as contingency plans were put in place by local management teams in order to continue to serve the public to the best of our ability. Our employees are our greatest asset in ensuring that access to justice is made real in South Africa. We are pleased to resume serving the public and ensuring that their constitutional rights are upheld." Read the original of the above report by Jeanette Chabalala at News24 Numsa warns of strike by fuel attendants ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has condemned employer organisations led by the Fuel Retailers Association of Southern Africa (FRA) and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) for refusing to engage meaningfully with wage demands. In a statement on Thursday in which it warned of a possible strike, the union said it was demanding a 12% wage increase for workers across the board, but employers were only offering a “paltry” 5% increase. The union indicated: “The FRA and the RMI are employer members of Motor Industries Bargaining Council, (MIBCO) and they represent fuel stations owners and operators, who are one of the most abusive and exploitative in the sector. As part of wage talks within MIBCO, our members who work in the fuel stations are demanding a night shift and transport allowance as provided for in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), but employers are refusing to even engage on this issue.” The union added that men and women who worked at petrol stations were often forced to walk long distances in the dark and were at risk of muggings and sexual assault. “Bosses often do not provide alternative transportation to workers, and our members risk their lives getting to and from work,” the statement indicated. Read the original of the above report on page 17 of Business Report of 23 August 2019
Female truck driver at Kumba encourages women to do daunting jobs SABC News reports that Tsholofelo Mankuroane, a truck operator at Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore in the Northern Cape, views her career of being a woman in the mining industry as living a bold, courageous and flexible life. Mankuroane has been working at the mines for over a decade, doing various jobs. Five years ago the 40-year-old started driving heavy duty trucks moving soil from the dumping site to the crusher. She says she joined the mining industry to prove that she was capable of doing the same job as men and that women should be treated and paid the same as men. “I’m very proud of my job because I can do the work that other men cannot do. Most men are afraid of this dump truck. So they’re afraid to operate this big machine. We must not depend on men, we must depend on ourselves. We suffer because we’re working 13 hours every day,” said Mankuroane. Supervisor Tshiamo Modise said there was equal treatment at the mine: “There’s no difference between women and men. We’re working with sister Tsholo and I have been supervising her for such a long time now. Operating a truck is not such a big deal for them.” Mankuroane wants women to draw strength from her story and not be intimidated by daunting jobs, previously reserved for men. Read the full original of the above report by Refilwe Mekoa at SABC News
Eskom and trade unions kick start talks to save the power utility Fin24 reports that Eskom extended an olive branch to labour unions on Friday in a bid to help rescue the struggling state-owned power utility. In a statement, Eskom said it had met with Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), which along with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) represent the bulk of the utility’s 46,665 employees, in an effort to strengthen relations and for the turnaround strategy to be shared. The meeting with the three unions came after Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe indicated earlier in the week that the unions would have to support the government’s plans to split the power utility Eskom into three separate units. The meeting on Friday was led by Acting Eskom CEO Jabu Mabuza, who promised to create fertile ground to allow for unions and Eskom to have mutually beneficial engagements beyond his term. "If there is one thing I want to have accomplished when I leave this post in the next 10 weeks, it’s to have created an environment where Eskom and unions are able to have more frank and robust discussions about the future of Eskom," said Mabuza. He added that Eskom and the unions had agreed to further discussions. Unions have vehemently opposed layoffs at Eskom and have criticised the government’s plans to unbundle the power utility to cut costs. Read the full original of the above report at Fin24 Eskom tells senior managers that separation into three units to take three to five years Bloomberg reports that according to state-owned power utility Eskom, it will take as long as three to five years to comply with the government’s plan to split the company into three separate units as part of a rescue plan. President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated in February that the company would be divided into generation, transmission and distribution units to make it more manageable. “Eskom ran out of cash and came close to complete collapse on multiple occasions in 2019. Eskom’s importance to South Africa is the only reason why the company still exists,” Jabu Mabuza, the company’s interim executive chairman and chief executive officer, said in a presentation made Thursday to the company’s top 500 managers. Under the plan presented by Mabuza, Eskom would split into the three units at an operating level in 12 to 18 months. The legal separation would occur in two to four years and the transmission unit would become a standalone state-owned company within three to five years. Generation and distribution would remain under an Eskom holding company. Read the full original of the above report by Antony Sguazzin at Moneyweb. Read too, South Africa to publish Eskom plans in next few weeks, at Moneyweb. And also, Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo urges government to fast-track Eskom reform plan, at Miningmx Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cosatu open 'in principle' to prescribed assets for pension funds, but warns against looting Fin24 reports that according to labour federation Cosatu, both public and private funds should be required to invest in government bonds for the development of the state, but there should be conditions attached to the investments to prevent looting and to ensure depositors were protected. This followed remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa on prescribed assets during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Thursday. The president indicated that labour, particularly Cosatu, was supportive of the idea of using their assets or pensions to generate investment. The term 'prescribed assets' refers to a policy where the state obliges institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies to invest a part of their funds in state institutions or bonds. "Cosatu in principle supports investments being required to invest a certain portion of their funds in government bonds that can then be utilised to support the funding of certain public goods, for example infrastructure, tertiary education, health, among others," Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks remarked on Friday. However, he added, there must be a "healthy, above inflation return" on investments to protect the depositors. "It (the investment) cannot be used to subsidise or bail out corruption and mismanagement," he also indicated. Read the full original of the above report by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24. Read too, South Africa pensioners reportedly oppose prescribed assets plan, at Moneyweb Solidarity instructs sheriff to seize goods at Brian Molefe’s property Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity’s legal team on Friday gave the sheriff instruction to seize goods at Brian Molefe’s property in Cornwall Estate, Pretoria. The funds will be used to pay Solidarity’s outstanding legal costs of about R600,000, as set out in a court order. The union indicated that Molefe had paid it only R100,000 within the seven-day period he had been given to settle the full amount. Solidarity stated it would sell his goods on public auction. “We will not let up until Molefe has paid every penny. These purposeful steps serve as a warning to other tax plunderers. Their days of lawlessness are numbered,” Solidarity legal services head Anton van der Bijl said in a statement issued on Friday. Molefe earlier this month tried to have the cost order against him set aside in the Constitutional Court, but his application was denied. The union advised that the Eskom Pension Fund had also not received the R10-million owed to it by Molefe and that it would be taking legal steps to recover the money from him. Meanwhile, Solidarity is waiting for the National Prosecuting Authority’s confirmation on whether it would proceed with prosecution of Molefe. Alternatively, the union will approach Advocate Gerrie Nel from AfriForum to prosecute Molefe privately. Read the original of the above report at Engineering News Molefe misses deadline to pay back pension money, Eskom Pension Fund vows 'prompt' action Fin24 reports that the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) has confirmed that it received no payment on Thursday from former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe for the more than R10m he was paid by the fund. Molefe thereby missed the deadline determined by the courts to return the money, which was found to have been paid to him unlawfully. In January last year, the North Gauteng High Court ruled that the payout, facilitated by an early retirement agreement with the board, was unlawful and should be set aside. Molefe was directed to pay the money back to the EPPF within 10 days. This was deferred, however, when Molefe attempted various appeals against the ruling. Three courts - namely the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court - all ruled against him on the matter. Following the legal costs order, Molefe had until Thursday to pay trade union Solidarity R708,102. The EPPF also confirmed that Thursday was the deadline for Molefe to pay the funds relating to the pension payout. The EPPF assured members that it would "take all the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the North Gauteng High Court judgment". Read the full original of the above report by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Pushback as SABC tries to axe 28 Motsoeneng-era appointees City Press reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has filed papers in the Labour Court to sack 28 staffers who were promoted or appointed irregularly during the time of former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng. But the staffers and their unions are ready to take the fight back to the public broadcaster, arguing that they are being made scapegoats. In an affidavit before the court, SABC group HR executive, Jonathan Thekiso, fingered Motsoeneng and other senior personnel who have since left the SABC as the architects of “irregular and unlawful” appointments and promotions. Thekiso said the court action to reverse the appointments was aimed at addressing the crisis (mostly financial) facing the broadcaster, and that this was part of a series of critical interventions by the SABC’s new board aimed at restoring the integrity, stability and proper functioning of the SABC. Besides setting aside the appointments, the broadcaster wants these “to be declared unlawful and invalid”; the employees to “immediately vacate the positions”; and those who oppose the action to pay for legal costs. Thekiso claimed that competent and qualified individuals were overlooked or their applications were declined. But the unions have criticised the selection of the 28 names that the broadcaster wants axed, chosen from a list of about 120 irregular appointments disclosed when the SABC attempted to institute a section 189 action. “There are claims from some of the respondents that they have been targeted. There seems to be a drive to get rid of the Hlaudi ghosts, regardless of whether they are good or bad,” a source commented. Read the full original of the above report by Abram Mashego, Charl Blignaut and Daniel Mothawagae at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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