In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 19 November 2019.
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Numsa’s wage demands at SAA are a side order on a much bigger menu Carol Paton writes that it is already a widely held view that the strike at SAA is about more than the airline itself. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has gone to war over a range of proxy issues, from the principle of privatising state assets to the ANC’s general economic policy and ideological stance. In all of this, the employees’ wage demand — for a double-inflation increase from a failing company that does not know where the money for salaries over the next few months will come from — is a side order. How it works out will depend on how the government responds. Numsa has quickly tired of meeting with SAA management and its board. In talks convened by the CCMA on Saturday, the unions did not move from their original demands. In fact, since the strike began they have added new ones. And because it is the government that holds the purse strings and this is a strike over government policy, it is public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan and finance minister Tito Mboweni whom Numsa really wants to meet at the negotiating table. If Gordhan steps into the fray, like he did over Eskom’s wage negotiation in 2018, any prospect that SAA will ever become a fit-for-purpose airline run on commercial principles and therefore an attractive proposition for a buyer will be killed off immediately. So will the prospect that the government will ever get a grip on public finances and the public sector wage bill, or on the restructuring of Eskom. Read the full original of Carol Paton’s insightful article at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Unions meeting with Gordhan on Tuesday as SAA strike enters fifth day News24Wire reports that striking unions at South African Airways (SAA) were meeting with Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan in Pretoria on Tuesday, as a strike by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association entered its fifth day. Workers are demanding an 8% wage increase, no job cuts and the insourcing of employees. The cash-strapped airline has offered an increase of 5.9%. The meeting was ahead of a planned media briefing by SAA leadership on Tuesday afternoon, when acting SAA CEO Zuks Ramasia and its interim CFO Deon Fredericks were scheduled to give an update on the strike and wage negotiations. Read the original of the above report at Engineering News SAA warns it could be put out of business if strike continues much longer Business Report writes that SA Airways (SAA) has warned that the current strike would put the national carrier out of business if it continued for longer, as it benefited only competing airlines. SAA is experiencing crippling industrial action by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca). More than 3,000 workers affiliated with Numsa and Sacca downed tools at SAA on Friday over a wage dispute and plans to cut more than 900 jobs. This is costing the airline about R52-million a day. SAA interim chief financial officer Deon Fredericks said the strike was pushing the struggling airline to unsustainable levels. He warned as follows: “If this strike continues, we are running the risk of putting SAA out of business.” SAA is working with Mango Airlines to accommodate as many customers travelling on domestic services as possible and refunding passengers their flights or travel with other airlines. It has also threatened the unions with legal action if they fail to retract comments that the safety of passengers cannot be guaranteed. The SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) indicated that SAA had provided it with contingency plans prior to the strike and assured the director of Civil Aviation that the airline would take all the necessary care to uphold civil aviation safety and security. SAA resumed operations on its international and six regional routes on Sunday, but domestic flights have remained grounded. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report. Read too, SAA says it is ramping up operations as strike continues, at Fin24 Secondary airline strike could be severe blow to economy, warns industry body Fin24 reports that the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) warned on Monday that a secondary strike in SA’s aviation industry could lead to a national crisis. Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) have been striking at South African Airways (SAA) since Friday. Numsa has indicated it would be consulting workers for a secondary strike at aviation companies including the Civil Aviation Authority, Mango Airlines, SAfair, SA Express, Airports Company SA and Airchefs. But, AASA called on unions and management in the air transport sector to apply cool heads and to explore all options available to avert a secondary strike. According to AASA, the air transport and tourism industries represent around R140bn in gross value added to SA's economy (about 3.2% of GDP). They also supports about 472,000 jobs directly and indirectly. AASA CEO Chris Zweigenthal said: "Our sector is an invaluable asset to the country and vital to our already fragile economy and those of the entire region. While AASA and its members will always defend the Constitutionally-enshrined right to strike, any secondary or sympathy action will cause severe harm to our economy and, by implication, to all South Africans." SAA estimates it is losing R52m a day due to the strike. But, Numsa and Sacca have questioned why the airline was willing to lose such a large amount of money when it could have been put towards meeting their wage demand. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24
Two bus drivers shot dead in a week in KwaZulu-Natal TimesLIVE reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has expressed dismay at the death of a bus driver, who was shot dead on Sunday night. This followed the death of another driver on 12 November. Spokesperson for the agency Nana Zenani said the latest shooting took place on the R56 between Ixopo and Richmond. The incident was reported by Prasa's protection services, which was escorting the Autopax bus. Several passengers were injured when the vehicle overturned. Zenani said the agency was investigating the incident and was continuing to escort Autopax services. Read the original of the above report by Nonkululeko Njilo at TimesLIVE NPA advocate killed in freak shooting accident at Umzimkhulu court The Mercury reports that a senior advocate was shot during a freak accident at the Umzimkhulu regional court on Monday afternoon. Addelaid Ferreira-Watt was allegedly shot in the leg and died a short while later in hospital. Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker confirmed that a case of culpable homicide was being investigated. Naicker explained further: "The 51-year-old woman was taken to hospital after she was struck by a bullet on the left of the hip. It is alleged that the weapon was brought to court to be entered as evidence in a house robbery case when it accidentally discharged in court. Unfortunately we cannot divulge further information as the investigations are at a sensitive stage.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kailene Pillay at The Mercury Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Park security officers shut offices over non-payment of salaries Pretoria News reports that on Tuesday morning Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Park security officers downed tools and shut down the offices of the company in charge of the industrial area over non-payment. Aggrieved over "constantly" delayed salary payments, they shut the gate of the North West Development Cooperation (NWDC), claiming the company had appointed a security company that had not paid them in two months. The shutdown subsequently affected services at the Ga-Rankuwa SA Social Service Agency (Sassa) offices housed inside the NWDC building. Chairperson of the local SA National Civil Organisation (Sanco), Peter Magagula, said NWCP as the property owner of the industrial area had for years been appointing security services providers that have all struggled to make consistent salary payments. Magagula said: "This time they appointed Matome Moloto Projects but this is a security company from Limpopo and they don't even have offices here. We are struggling to find them because you don't know where to go. When we make contact with them to ask why we have not been paid in two months they tell us that they too are waiting for money from NWDC. It was for that reason that we decided we are going to shut down their operations.” The protestors said they weren’t going to stop their demonstrations until NWDC and the security company came together and hosted a meeting with them to answer their questions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News
Prominent Popcru leader arrested for alleged murder, kidnapping plot News24 reports that according to the Hawks, a prominent Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) executive and his alleged accomplice have been arrested in connection with a conspiracy to kidnap and murder senior Popcru officials. The two men were arrested on Tuesday and were expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court, according to Colonel Katlego Mogale. News24 reported last week that the case was linked to a Hawks investigation that commenced in September and which found "misappropriation of funds that was carried out though Popcru Investment Group of Companies". Allegedly, embezzlement of these funds had been taking place since 2016. Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that a Lesotho national, Neo Letele, who was arrested in Kempton Park on 6 November, had allegedly been a middleman for the two officials. According to Mulaudzi, Letele was ordered to find an assassin who was to be paid R1m to execute a hit. "This was in an attempt to silence those who wanted the two suspects to account for the funds," said Mulaudzi. Letele appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court earlier this month. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Dominique Jeftha at News24. Read too, Popcru CEO arrested in connection with 'kidnap and murder' plot, at TimesLIVE
Surprise new Eskom CEO announced BL Premium reports that Andre de Ruyter, CEO of packaging group Nampak, has been appointed Eskom CEO, public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan announced on Monday. De Ruyter’s appointment came as a surprise. While there has been widespread speculation about the candidates on the shortlist, it was not known that he was on it. In a Sens notice issued on Monday afternoon, Nampak announced that De Ruyter’s resignation as CEO and executive director would take effect on 15 January. Eskom has been without a permanent CEO since the end of July, when Phakamani Hadebe quit the job after just more than a year, saying that it had taken a toll on his health. The power utility is in a deep operational and financial crisis. De Ruyter will have to oversee the division of Eskom into three separate functions and parts — generation, transmission and distribution — as outlined in the road map for Eskom’ sustainability tabled by the government in October. Prior to joining Nampak, De Ruyter spent more than 20 years with petrochemicals group Sasol in senior management roles. Gordhan said De Ruyter was selected out of 142 potential candidates, including eight Eskom employees. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at BusinessLive (paywall access only) New Eskom boss took the job with pay cut TimesLIVE reports that public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday thanked newly appointed Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter for accepting the top job at the embattled power utility at a lower salary than the post normally commands. De Ruyter was appointed on Monday after the CEO position had been vacant since July. "I would like to thank Mr De Ruyter for not only accepting this position at a difficult time for Eskom, but, given Eskom's current financial situation, also agreeing to a lower compensation package than the position currently pays," said Gordhan. In a statement, the minster indicated that De Ruyter's appointment was in line with the recruitment process at Eskom. He was recruited after a head-hunting process and a public advert. De Ruyter will commence his group CEO duties on January 2020. The appointment has been keenly awaited by stakeholders, markets and the public, as fixing Eskom is widely acknowledged as the most urgent and pressing priority the economy faces. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nonkululeko Njilo at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Home Affairs introduces new Lesotho exemption permit to replace special permit BusinessLive reports that the Department of Home Affairs has opened the application process for the new Lesotho exemption permit to replace the special permit it has been issuing to Basotho nationals. The special permit expires on 31 December. The new dispensation is only applicable to existing holders of the special permit. When the special dispensation for Lesotho nationals was implemented in 2015, a total of 90,314 special permits were issued. “Given the expiry of the Lesotho special permit and the need to ensure all persons in SA are here on a lawful basis, with correct documentation, a new four-year special dispensation for Lesotho nationals has been approved. The new Lesotho exemption permit will help to regularise the stay of Lesotho nationals who are already in SA,” the department indicated. It will accept appointments for the Lesotho exemption permit from Monday, 18 November. The cut-off date for submission of online applications is the end of March 2020. The department has a similar special dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals that allows them to stay‚ work‚ study and conduct businesses legally in SA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive
Illegals, child labourers rescued from Chinese factory in Johannesburg Sowetan reports that police and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) raided a Chinese factory in Johannesburg‚ which allegedly subjected minors and illegal immigrants to hard labour. A tipoff about “human trafficking”, led the DEL, the SA Police Service and the Hawks to the factory at Beautiful City in Village Deep‚ Johannesburg‚ where children and illegal immigrants were allegedly used as cheap and forced labour. The group of illegal immigrants‚ said to be from Malawi‚ were locked behind high steel gates. According to the DEL, the company‚ which manufactures inner cotton for blankets‚ employed 150 illegal immigrants and only one person had work documents. The workers had limited movement and were expected to work seven days a week‚ earning R65 a day. Officials said no formal contracts had been drawn up‚ and unlawful wage deductions and unpaid overtime also occurred. In a statement‚ the DEL’s provincial chief inspector Michael Msiza said the Chinese employer had been arrested. The employees were taken to a place of safety. The employer was allegedly found to have violated various labour and immigration laws‚ bylaws‚ health regulations and child-labour laws. The company was issued with a compliance notice for failing to pay the national minimum wage. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni on page 10 of Sowetan of 19 November 2019
AfriForum describes NHI scheme as 'unconstitutional' News24 reports that lobby group AfriForum says the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is unconstitutional, adding that it will cause local doctors to emigrate. Addressing the media in Pretoria, the organisation's spokesperson on NHI, Natasha Venter, said AfriForum had compiled a report on the implications of the implementation of NHI. She reported that all nine provincial departments of health in the country had misused more than R5.8bn. She also expressed the worry that should the government continue with the NHI Bill, doctors would choose to practise overseas. "When one considers the current state of affairs in the Department of Health, the State most definitely doesn't have the capacity to provide healthcare services to the whole country. It will therefore be unconstitutional for the State to effectively take control of the private healthcare sector," said Venter. She accused the government of blaming the poor quality of public healthcare on the private healthcare sector and those who have medical aid funds. "In reality, these people are being prejudiced by the State interference and misappropriation. Their taxes are already being misused by the Department of Health and they are resented by government when they purchase private medical services at their own expense,” Venter argued. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 Districts in Limpopo overwhelmingly welcome NHI bill in public hearings ANA reports the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has been overwhelmingly welcomed in Limpopo province during public hearings in the Vhembe, Mopani, Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts. Parliament's portfolio committee on health said residents who attended the hearings expressed the hope that the NHI would remove the existing gap between the rich and poor in terms of access to health services. The government tabled the NHI Bill in parliament in August, saying it wanted to ensure affordable quality healthcare to all South Africans, but according to critics it will collapse the sector. The portfolio committee said those in attendance at the hearings urged it to ensure that the management of the NHI Fund, which is envisaged to be in place by 2026, was fit to prevent corruption and to make it inaccessible to foreign nationals without proper documentation. Limpopo was the third province where the committee conducted public hearings on the bill after Mpumalanga and Northern Cape. The next hearings are set for KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape before the end of the year. Read the original of the above report at Independent News
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