In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 22 November 2019.
|
Two Johannesburg police officers killed on Saturday might while responding to a hijacking News24 reports that national police commissioner General Khehla John Sitole has condemned the killing of two police officers who died on Saturday night. In a statement, Sitole ordered a manhunt for the cop killers. "At approximately 20:00 last night a captain and a warrant officer responded to a hijacking complaint at Leonie Street, Winchester Hills, shortly after he (the captain) visited the Booysens police station as the duty officer," SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said. "Initial reports suggest the two members came under fire and they were both fatally wounded at Vleiroos Street while on their way to the complaint. We cannot rest until these killers have been found," said General Sitole. Read the original of the above report by Azarrah Karrim at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SAA confirms all flights back on schedule after unions accepted pre-strike wage offer on Friday EWN and BusinessLive report that on Saturday South African Airways (SAA) assured passengers that flights were operating on schedule, a day after employees agreed to return to work following a crippling wage strike. In terms of an agreement signed on Friday, employees will get a 5.9% wage increase deferred to February 2020. In the original offer made on the eve of the strike, SAA had proposed that the 5.9% wage increase be deferred to April 2020. However, the wage offer and the back pay, which will date back to 1 April 2019, is “subject to the availability of funding” being obtained for this purpose from SAA. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) won a small concession by persuading SAA to implement the wage increase two months earlier. Unions also extracted a concession on impending retrenchments, which for non-management employees will now be postponed to January 2020. The retrenchment of management employees will go ahead now. The agreement also establishes a joint task team that will “identify and consider cost saving initiatives” including the insourcing of contracts. Should the task-team be able to realise savings, a percentage of the after-tax savings may be ring-fenced and paid to employees in the bargaining unit. Based on reports at EWN and BusinessLive SAA task team to begin its search for salary increase difference in two weeks EWN reports that a task team set up to find money for staff salaries at South African Airways (SAA) said on Friday it would start its work in two weeks’ time. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) had demanded an 8% increase, but in calling off their week-long strike, agreed on a 5.9% pay increase, with the remaining 2.1% that workers were demanding to be sourced by the appointed task team. Also, talks on retrenchments have been deferred to next year. Staff returned to work this past weekend. Numsa’s Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “We will work to ensure that we find the money because we believe that if you guys do what you are supposed to do by dealing with the corruption in the procurement spend, that money can be found. That’s why we established the task team.” Sacca’s Zazi Ntsibanyoni-Mngambi said the task team would not only consist of union representatives and explained further as follows: “It’s going to be ourselves as unions and SAA management because they are the ones with the contracts, and of course, the CCMA will facilitate and the DP and Treasury will play an oversight role.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgomotso Modise at EWN
‘Women go unseen in the shadow of SA mining’ BL Premium writes that the SA mining industry’s workforce is about 13% female, with the percentages being higher in more senior positions, and lower in the less skilled ones. When it comes to working underground, women have a slim chance of making the cut. Bonisile Shongwe, who runs an employment business and training centre in the small coal-mining town of Carolina, has helped to place almost 1,000 people into jobs in the local mining industry. But, fewer than 20 of those were women. Yet, Nomonde Nkosi of Womandla, which lobbies on behalf of women in Carolina, argues that economic opportunities have greater societal impact when given to women. Thuthula Balfour of the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) says there are a number of factors that make it difficult to have a lot of female employees working underground on a mine. In conventional gold and platinum mines potential employees need to pass strenuous tests of strength, stamina and ability to work in humid conditions. It is hoped that new technology and innovation will unlock employment opportunities for women at mines and will also benefit male employees who suffer the effects of working with back-breaking equipment. For now more mechanised mining industries, like coal, offer more employment opportunities for women. But that has not been the experience in Carolina. “When I send CVs through, it’s a given that a male will be hired over a female. Even when the females are more qualified,” says Shongwe. Nkosi says mines often tell her they do not want to hire women because of the risk that they fall pregnant and go on maternity leave, resulting in lost production. Shongwe says companies do not want to hire women at the risk of having to deal with issues like sexual harassment. According to Balfour, the MCSA is developing a strategy for women on mines as companies need to adapt. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Middleman's mom alleged to have intimidated witness in Popcru assassination case News24 reports that allegations of witness intimidation have surfaced in the bail application of three men accused of hatching a plot to assassinate senior members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru). Testifying in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Friday, Hawks detective sergeant Norton Ndabambi said the suspected middleman in the alleged assassination plot, Neo Letele, used his own mother to intimidate a key witness. Letele shares the dock with Popcru CEO Zwelinkosi Reuben Mdletshe and Robert Sheriff. It is alleged that Mdletshe and Sheriff instructed Letele to source an assassin who would be paid R1m for the job. According to Ndabambi's testimony on Friday, the witness claimed that he received a threatening phone call from Letele's mother, who questioned him regarding the case and told him that her son was not involved in the matter. The witness made a recording of the conversation. "The mother was interfering with the case by posing questions to the witness," Ndabambi asserted. The court also heard that Mdletshe employed Letele as an IT expert at Popcru Investment Group of Companies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24
With Saldanha steel plant to close, West Coast livelihoods in danger News24 reports that dozens of Saldanha steel workers picketed in front of the West Coast plant on Thursday chanting "We want steel, we want steel!" Employees at the ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) site have received notices that operations will shut down in February 2020. The steel production plant provides over 2,000 jobs to towns along the West Coast. Sammy Claassen of the SA Social & Economic Development Forum (Sasedf) said the surrounding communities were heavily reliant on the plant for work and the impact of the shutdown would be a disaster. With the high unemployment rate in the area, the plant not only provides jobs to the youth, but also specialised skills to the industry. "If you look at the labour force of this plant, it’s a young labour force. Not only that, they are skilled. There is no unskilled labour at this plant. Engineers, technicians, artisans… If this plant closes down, our ability as a steel producing country will be lost. All of these workers will have to seek work overseas," Claassen observed. As the festive season nears, the employees will still receive their salaries, but it’s knowing that they will start the new year without a job that makes them worried. Panicked workers have asked government to step in and help save their jobs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bertram Malgas at News24. Read too, 'We want steel,' chant workers demanding ArcelorMittal plant stays open, at TimesLIVE
Tzaneen municipal manager suspended for 'tough' stance against tender fraud and corruption Sunday Independent reports that the Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Limpopo has suspended its municipal manager, Serapelo Matlala, for taking a hardline stance against tender fraud, corruption and irregularities worth millions of rand. According to sources, internal documents and court papers, Matlala met his fate after terminating two multi-million contracts awarded to a Burgersfort-based company after it allegedly inflated prices halfway through the projects. Matlala also saved the struggling municipality about R1.3 million by cutting overtime budget from R3m to R1.7m. Matlala has filed an urgent application in the Labour Court seeking an order to set aside his suspension and the matter will be heard on 28 November. His lawyer, Ramafalo Mahodiela, said Matlala’s suspension was unlawful and commented further that: “Our client has acted responsibly and correctly in relation to the road contracts. It was established that the contractor made misrepresentations in its tender submission which renders the tenders invalid.” Matlala’s woes started when he tried to clean up financial mismanagement at the municipality, but that did not sit well with those allegedly benefiting from corruption. Unhappy with his hardline stance, municipal councillors then resolved to suspend Matlala on allegations of misconduct. A municipal spokesperson indicated that the council delegated Mayor Maripe Mangena to appoint an independent investigator within seven days of the date of suspension and then table a report within 30 days. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kenneth Mokgatlhe at Sunday Independent. Read too, Council manager to challenge suspension in labour court, at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Seven KZN teachers and administrator expelled for sexual misconduct News24 reports that seven teachers and one administrator, who faced allegations of sexual misconduct, have been expelled by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) department of education. This was announced in a statement on Friday by the department's spokesperson Kwazi Mshengu, who cited the expulsions as part of “a continuous effort of cleansing” the department. The decision came after the department had “exhausted all internal disciplinary processes”, according to the statement, which also indicated that the staff had been given a fair disciplinary hearing before they were expelled. Mshengu observed: “Children should be safe at school and with their teachers. Teachers and other adults supervising young people build up trust through their close contact every day. So, it is particularly damaging when that trust is abused or broken, and sexually inappropriate behaviour takes place.” Read the original of the above report by Nicole McCain at News24 Gay ex-flight attendant in battle with Comair after being dismissed for sexual harassment News24 reports that a former Comair flight attendant is questioning how he lost his job as a cabin crew member after engaging in what he thought was an honest conversation with a colleague. Ayanda Mpolweni, who identifies as gay, said he started a conversation with his colleague while undergoing training for Comair in 2018. The colleague, who later failed his training, had earlier shown him a picture of himself in Bangkok, Thailand, and asked him to guess where he was. Not recognising the city, Mpolweni said he guessed the place was Belville, Cape Town. After his colleague told him where it was, Mpolweni said he replied: "Ohkay, Bangkok! That's a very gay-friendly city. I love Bangkok, but it's dodgy, why would anyone travel there…?" He said following this discussion, he was informed by his manager that he had been accused of sexual harassment. "I am still trying to understand how it [the conversation] went from Bangkok, gay-friendly, to sexual harassment." He said the claims were made shortly after his colleague had failed the test. His colleague argued that Mpolweni's views had distracted him. Comair confirmed that Mpolweni was dismissed in July 2018, following a report of sexual harassment. The company outlined that at the time of dismissal, he was on a training course and had only been with the airline for a few weeks. While Mpolweni argued he was not given the opportunity to undergo a disciplinary hearing to prove his case, the company said all necessary steps were followed before he was dismissed. The dispute between the company and Mpolweni is currently at the CCMA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24
Dutch government to invest R300m in Khayelitsha and Nyanga transport The Citizen reports that the City of Cape Town’s transport directorate will receive R300 million in grant funding from the government of the Netherlands over the next five to ten years, to improve public transport for commuters from two of the city’s townships, Khayelitsha and Nyanga. An agreement called the Orio Project was signed on Thursday in a collaboration between the Dutch government and the City. It will see the rollout of MyCiTi bus service between Khayelitsha and Wynberg and Claremont. “The importance of this funding from the Dutch Government cannot be overstated in times of economic hardship and where municipalities are forced to do more with less,” said the Democratic Alliance (DA) in a statement. According to the statement, the project, which dates back to 2012, will involve new bus stops and stations in Khayelitsha, as well as the improvement of ones in Nolungile, Vuyani, and Nyanga. Read the original of the above report at The Citizen Train stations vandalised, set alight in Gauteng last week after failed attempt to terminate security contracts GroundUp reports that last week saw several train stations and substations hit by vandalism, theft and burning in Gauteng. The affected stations included Park, Maraisburg, Doornfontein and Germiston. Maraisburg station, which was burnt on Monday, was badly damaged. Johannesburg Park Station came under attack by a "group of criminals" on afternoon Tuesday. On Thursday morning, a transformer at Benrose substation in Johannesburg was on fire, but as the substation was not operational no disruptions were caused. These acts of vandalism coincided with Prasa’s attempted termination of a number of security contracts, which would have put many security guards protecting the railways out of work. On Tuesday morning, Judge John Hlophe in the Cape High Court cast doubt on the assertion that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has enough security. “The problem is there is no provision for the interim to protect the thousands of commuters every day,” he stated. Hlophe ordered Prasa to continue the security contracts until the new tender was finalised, or until alternative measures were in place, including an interim security plan within the month. The Gauteng High Court on Tuesday also ruled that Prasa must reinstate the services of the security companies that had been operating, ordering Prasa to give a calendar month’s notice before terminating the contracts. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zoë Postman at TimesLIVE
Report that SABC wants SSA to spy on staff misleading, says the public broadcaster News24 reports that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has hit back at the Sunday Times following its report that the public broadcaster's board resolved at a meeting in October to use the State Security Agency (SSA) to "manage leaks". The newspaper reported that according to minutes of the meeting, it was agreed that SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini would be mandated to approach the SSA to assist in managing leaks and identifying loopholes. It was further suggested that the process would include vetting staff who dealt with board information. "It is totally false that the SABC board took a decision 'to spy on its staff members'. No such decision has been taken. The SABC is further concerned that the newspaper used confidential board minutes to sensationalise and deliberately distort information, thereby causing panic and a trust deficit between the SABC board and employees," SABC acting spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo indicated in a statement on Sunday. Seapolelo said the SABC upheld the rights to freedom of expression and the right to privacy for all its employees and in fact the board had in the past “taken a decision that no journalist should be subject to SSA processes of any kind in order to protect the constitutional rights of the media." However, she added that the broadcaster dealt with the SSA on several key issues, such as the disclosure of confidential company information to third parties and the media. The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) welcomed the board's response. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page