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 afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 17 September 2019.
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Guards survive cash-in-transit vehicle bombing near Mandeni in KZN on Monday News24 reports that cash-in-transit (CIT) security personnel escaped with their lives on Monday after their vehicle was bombed near Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). According to IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Paul Herbst, the vehicle was travelling on the N2 highway towards Mandeni after a pickup, when it was were stopped by an unidentified number of gunmen. The driver then tried to make a U-turn but was unsuccessful and the vehicle came to a halt. The armed men then approached the vehicle and placed an explosive device on its roof. The security personnel managed to escape before it was detonated. The gunmen then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash as well as the two firearms of the security guards. Images of the CIT vehicle show large bullet holes in the windscreen, the back door forced open and the safe exposed. Read the original of the above report by Azarrah Karrim at News24 Eastern Cape health department demands action after medics attacked in case of 'pure thuggery' TimesLIVE reports that the Eastern Cape health department has called for police to prioritise the investigation of crimes committed against ambulance crews. This came after medical personnel transporting an asthmatic patient in Nelson Mandela Bay were attacked and robbed in the early hours of Monday. The incident in Joe Slovo, Port Elizabeth, left the ambulance crew injured as well as traumatised. They had to be taken to the Dora Nginza Hospital for treatment. Kupelo urged community members to protect EMS crew, who worked under difficult conditions to save lives. "It is pure thuggery that has to be rooted out. And for that to happen, an all-hands-on-deck approach is needed. Communities have to come forward and work with law enforcement agencies because the people attacking EMS crews live among us," said Kupelo. The police are investigating the attack. Read the full original of the above report by Nonkululeko Njilo at TimesLIVE
SANParks workers to stage one-day strike on Friday over wages TimesLIVE reports that SANParks employees are expected to embark on a nationwide strike this week following unresolved wage negotiations. National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) spokesperson Kagiso Makoe said the union, joined by the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa), would stage a one-day strike after SANParks failed to implement the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration’s (CCMA’s) recommendation of a wage increase of 8% from 1 April. Makoe said the union had sought an 11.5% “market-related” increase. According to Makoe‚ SANParks offered 6%‚ plus 1% from 1 June and another 1% on 1 October. "We believe that this offer is totally unfair‚ following the hours‚ Sundays and public holidays that our members have to work‚" said Makoe. SANParks confirmed the strike and requested guests to note that the one-day protest action would be focused at the Paul Kruger Gate to the Kruger National Park. Read the full original of the above report by Iavan Pijoos at BusinessLive Joburg commuters stranded again as Metrobus suspends service on Tuesday over strike intimidation EWN reports that Metrobus suspended all its services in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning as the strike by its drivers entered a second day. Workers affiliated to the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union (Demawusa) are demanding to be paid in line with their years of experience at the municipal entity and for office space to be allocated to the union in all three Metrobus depots. A meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning, with both parties hoping to find some kind of middle ground. Metrobus spokesperson Goodwill Shivuri expressed concern that several of their non-striking drivers have been intimidated. He stated: "All our buses are suspended. We don't have a single bus on the road and this is due to the intimidation we experienced yesterday." But Demawusa's Dion Makhura said that was not true and instead he accused Metrobus management of being arrogant. Read the original of the above report by Mia Lindeque at EWN. Read too, Intimidation at Gandhi Square as Metrobus strike continues on Tuesday, at SowetanLive
Former Gupta-linked Optimum Coal Mine in flames on Sunday News24Wire reports that Optimum Coal Mine in Middelburg, Mpumalanga went up in flames after a fire set the mine's conveyor belts alight on Sunday. The Middleburg Observer reported that while it was unclear what caused the fire, it might be sabotage. Initial reports suggested that the fire started next to the conveyor belts and then spread onto the mine grounds. The former Gupta-linked mine, which supplied coal to Eskom, was placed in business rescue in February 2018. Gupta-owned Tegeta bought Optimum from Glencore in 2016 for R2.15-billion in a deal shrouded in mystery. Business rescue practitioner Louis Klopper explained on Monday: "One of the overhead transmission cables fell down into the dry grass and set it alight, simple as that. We have not picked up any foul play, it is unusual but we do not want to speculate." Although the damage was still being assessed, Klopper’s rough estimate pointed to between R15-million to R20-million. Police are currently investigating the matter. Read the full original of the above report by Canny Maphanga at Mining Weekly
SABC to pursue 186 cases against former and current staffers for R5.2bn Sowetan reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has started the process of recouping from former and current employees R5.2bn that was lost through fraud, irregular salary increases and appointments, as well as through wasteful expenditure. The public broadcaster advised that it was looking into 186 cases previously investigated back to 2012. , . SABC spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu said they were guided by recommendations in various reports, mostly focused on former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s tenure, as prepared by the public protector, the parliamentary ad hoc committee, internal forensic auditors, the special investigating unit and the auditor-general. Motsoeneng, who testified before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture last week, has been accused of giving people salary increases and promotions without following proper procedure. Mthembu indicated further: “All the above-mentioned reports detail malfeasance, systematic collapse of good corporate governance and complete disregard of financial management systems within the SABC. The disciplinary cases being pursued include fraud, mismanagement, sexual harassment, editorial interference, irregular salary increases and irregular appointments. Almost all of these cases point to a sustained culture of impunity and a total collapse of internal controls.” Read the full original of the above report by Kgothatso Madisa on page 4 of Sowetan of 17 September 2019 Lives of SABC executives 'at risk' as they try to clean up rot, chairperson tells MPs Fin24 reports that the chairperson of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has indicated that there was a fightback against the public broadcaster’s new leadership, who were working to clean up the maladministration and corruption they had inherited. The SABC is in a dire financial position and the broadcaster’s executives on Tuesday briefed Parliament's oversight committee on communications on the status of the organisation’s turnaround strategy. Board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini told the committee that executives were under threat and their lives were at risk because of their efforts to root out corruption. He noted a failed assassination attempt on the corporation's chief audit executive, Thami Zikode, in June, adding that a security risk assessment had found that executives at the forefront of the corporation's renewal efforts were at risk of losing their lives. "There have been a lot of attacks, especially on executives we attracted to come and assist us. They are being attacked for driving renewal. They are holding people to account, based on what has happened in the past," Makhathini stated. He also said the corporation's leadership would not be deterred: "There is no amount of intimidation or push-back to stop us from doing what is responsible and what is in the best interest of the SABC." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24
Clover, Milco merger will put 657 jobs on the line Business Report writes that a total of 657 existing jobs will be on the line at Clover Industries in the next two years if the R4.8 billion merger between the dairy company and Israel-based Milco is approved by the Competition Tribunal. These were the final figures submitted by Clover to the tribunal on Monday as the group made additional submissions in the hearing of its proposed merger with Milco. In July, the Competition Commission recommended that the proposed merger be approved with conditions, especially those relating to employment and local procurement. Milco announced in February that it intended to acquire the entire issued share capital of Clover. But the acquisition is opposed by the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and the General Industry Workers Union (Giwusa), which respectively have 2,600 and 2,000 members at Clover. Clover’s Anton Pretorius said the merger would affect a number of permanent workers, contract workers, and workers under labour brokers. Other jobs would also be shed as a result of early retirement and natural attrition, as the firm progressed with its optimisation and consolidation of factories. Giwusa’s John Appolis argued that the actual number of job losses would be much higher than those presented by Clover. “At least 806 families are going to be destroyed and there is no mitigation by creation of employment opportunities,” Appolis claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report
City of Tshwane rubbishes claims that emergency services boss faked his qualifications TimesLIVE reports that the City of Tshwane said on Monday that its emergency services chief did indeed hold the required qualifications for his position. The pronouncement came after reports that Previn Govender, who was appointed in August 2017, allegedly falsified his qualifications for the position. The minimum requirements for the position were a bachelor's degree and 12 years' experience, of which five years had to be at senior management level. The city said in a statement that an investigation was done into the matter and it found that Govender possessed a diploma in fire and technology from the SA Emergency Services Institute (SAESI). "The internal investigation confirmed that there was no evidence that Mr Govender misrepresented his qualifications and therefore committed no fraud," Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo advised. Read the full original of the above report by Iavan Pijoos at TimesLIVE
SA Post Office fires employee suspected of killing Uyinene Mrwetyana TimesLIVE reports that the man arrested for the rape and murder of 19-year-old UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana has been summarily dismissed from the SA Post Office (Sapo). The action came after a comprehensive investigation by Sapo was concluded last week. The man, who cannot be named due to a court order, is behind bars awaiting his next court appearance in November. "The accused has since been summarily dismissed as he made himself guilty of gross misconduct by intentionally misleading the organisation and stating under oath that he had never been convicted of any criminal offence," the department of communications, telecommunications and postal services confirmed. On Friday, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams met the Sapo board and demanded action be taken against those who knew the accused was a convicted criminal and did nothing about it. The heads of human resources as well as security and investigations have been placed on precautionary suspension while an investigation is proceeding. It was reported earlier this month that Mrwetyana's confessed killer was on a list of 300 Sapo employees flagged by the State Security Agency in June 2018. Despite being aware that he had a criminal conviction, no action was taken. Read the full original of the above report by Qaanitah Hunter at TimesLIVE
Some 27% of CCTV cameras at railways stations don’t work, leaving blind spots in security The Star reports that some 27% of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at railway stations managed by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) do not work. This was revealed by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in a written response to a parliamentary question. Mbalula said that only 181 railway stations had CCTV cameras, totaling 10,505 devices. South Gauteng had 3,629 cameras, North Gauteng 2,084, KwaZulu-Natal 1,965 and the Western Cape 2,817. “A total of 2,824 of the installed CCTV cameras at Prasa-managed railway stations are not in working order,” Mbalula said. He indicated that there were various reasons for this, including the theft of electrical and telecommunication cables, theft and vandalism of CCTV equipment, delayed maintenance, and CCTV project installations that were in progress or not yet completed. The DA’s Okkie Terblanche commented that the statistics were alarming considering the fact that crime was on the increase. “In 2018 alone, an estimated 495 people lost their lives while making use of our trains, and 2,079 were injured,” he lamented. “How can we have effective policing at train stations when most stations do not have cameras, and those that do are not guaranteed to have operational ones?” Terblanche asked. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina on page 9 of The Star of 17 September 2019 Premier David Makhura appoints commission of inquiry into Gauteng taxi violence Engineering News reports that Gauteng Premier David Makhura has appointed the Commission of Inquiry into Minibus Taxi-Type Service Violence, Fatalities and Instability in Gauteng. The commission will investigate the underlying causes and people behind the ongoing killings in the taxi industry in the province. It will be chaired by Justice Jeremiah Buti Shongwe, with Rudolph Lungile Mabece and Hlula Msimang as members. The Gauteng provincial government is concerned that the taxi industry is submerged in violence, which continues to worsen despite efforts by law enforcement agencies and government. The taxi industry transports more than 75% of commuters during the daily peak hour period, which makes it the dominant mode of transport in the province. The commission has been appointed to enquire into and investigate, make findings, report on and make recommendations in respect of a number of issues, including the underlying reasons for the recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instability within the minibus taxi-type service industry within Gauteng. Makhura has given the commission six months to complete its work and submit its report and recommendations in writing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Donations pour in for slain car guard's family Sowetan reports that South Africans opened their hearts and pockets to the family of slain Springs car guard Vusi Mgiqwa, donating more than R50,000 to counter an offer made by his alleged killer. The pledges came after Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi vowed to give the family the R50,000 offered by Mgiqwa's alleged killer in an agreement that would be turned into a plea bargain in his case. In a post on Twitter, Lesufi wrote: "This one, allegedly killed a car guard and then offers R50k to the family so that the court can be lenient. I've decided together with my friends to donate R50k to the family so that they can return the 'blood money' to the alleged killer." NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said those opposed to the settlement placed by Lukas van der Merwe could write to the director of public prosecutions to raise their objections. Some of the MEC's followers promised to double his initial offer of R50,000 to R100,000. Mgiqwa died in hospital last year from head injuries he suffered after Van der Merwe punched him during an altercation over parking outside a restaurant in Springs. Van der Merwe has denied killing Mgiqwa, but has admitted to punching him Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penwell Dlamini at SowetanLive. Read too, Accused's money offer for car guard death 'disgusting', at SowetanLive
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