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, 4 February 2020.
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Police hunt for suspects after murder of Port Elizabeth metro traffic official Cape Argus reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has implemented its '72-hour activation plan' as officers track down the suspects responsible for the killing of a metro traffic official in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday morning. Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said a 60-year-old metro traffic official was fatally wounded and a 43-year-old passenger was injured after being shot at the intersection of Lungelo Mlandu Street and Victoria Drive in Walmer. Naidu reported that an unknown male wearing a balaclava approached the driver’s side and fired several shots at the stationary metro vehicle. "The driver accelerated and turned left into Victoria Drive hitting a vehicle before careening off the road." The vehicle came to a standstill after colliding with a boundary fence. The driver jumped out of the vehicle, collapsed and died. The passenger, a municipal employee, sustained a gunshot wound to her head and was taken to hospital for treatment. The motive behind the fatal shooting has yet to be established Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisonke Mlamla at Cape Argus Cop killed and colleague seriously injured while responding to robbery at Pilgrims Rest tavern Independent News reports that Mpumalanga police appealed for help in catching gunmen who shot and killed one of their members and left another officer as well as four other people seriously injured. The six were shot in what is believed to have been a tavern robbery in Pilgrims Rest, Mpumalanga, on Sunday night. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, the sergeant and a constable were responding to a suspected robbery complaint at the tavern, however, they were met by gunfire from the alleged robbers. "Both members as well as at least four civilians sustained multiple gunshot wounds leaving the constable dead and the sergeant as well as civilians in a critical condition. The suspects fled also taking with them both members' service pistols,” Naidoo indicated. The national commissioner of police, General Khehla John Sitole, condemned the attack and remarked: "I have again reiterated to all members that they should not fall with a gun in their hand. These continuous ruthless attacks on our police officers has got to stop and we can achieve maximum results in this regard only with the community rallying behind the police every step of the way.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Botho Molosankwe at Independent News ‘Drunk’ off-duty JMPD cop rolls van, injuring himself and three passengers TimesLIVE reports that an off-duty Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer is suspected of having been the influence of alcohol when he rolled a metro van while transporting three people at the weekend. The officer works in the JMPD's bylaw management department. JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the accident happened on Sunday and the vehicle overturned on Randfontein Road in Glen Ridge, Soweto. “All three male civilians who were inside the van were injured, as was the off-duty officer, and (all) had to be taken to various hospitals,” he advised. The officer was charged with reckless and negligent driving and will also be charged for misconduct. The accident is being investigated internally and it is suspected that the officer was driving under the influence of alcohol. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at TimesLIVE
Business Unity SA welcomes Cosatu’s proposals on Eskom Bloomberg reports that SA’s main business lobby group, Business Unity SA (Busa), has welcomed proposals by the nation’s biggest trade union federation to rescue debt-stricken power utility Eskom. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday presented its plan to the President’s Working Council, which includes government, business and labour leaders. The labour federation proposed that state-owned institutions take over R254-billion of Eskom’s debt. “We welcome the constructive approach,” said Martin Kingston, Busa vice president, on Monday. He indicated that the business community was in alignment with Cosatu on many of Eskom’s problems that the labour federation had identified. He remarked that within the constraints that any lending should not breach the mandates or affect the fiduciaries of the organisations involved, “we are more than happy, very happy and keen to work with Cosatu and other social partners” to resolve Eskom’s debt problems. Cosatu’s plan would leave Eskom with R200 billion of debt, an amount the utility has previously said it could manage. Cosatu apparently garnered support for its proposals from the rival Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) and the National Clothing and Textile and Allied Workers’ Union, along with community groups. Matthew Parks, Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator, described Monday’s meeting as “very positive,” with participants agreeing to hold a second meeting under the auspices of the National Economic Development & Labour Council (Nedlac) on 5 February. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Irked ordinary shareholders vote overwhelmingly against Rebosis Property Fund’s executive pay policy BusinessLive reports that in an unprecedented move in the listed real estate sector, 80% of Rebosis Property Fund’s ordinary shareholders voted against implementing the company’s remuneration policy. This was a strong indication that investors have run out of patience with the ailing real estate investment trust, which failed to pay a dividend in 2019. The company has been through a turbulent two years in which it wrote off its investment in UK mall owner New Frontier Properties and had to sell offices and malls in SA to handle its escalating debt levels. Rebosis has a dual share A and B structure, which is designed to serve investors of varying risk appetites. Evan Robins of Old Mutual Investment Group noted that it was not uncommon for investors to vote against remuneration policies, but said Rebosis had broken a record in terms of the sheer majority that was against the policy itself and its implementation. As much as 80% of eligible B-share ordinary shareholders voted against the remuneration implementation report. More than 73% of A ordinary shareholders voted against the implementation report and an overwhelming 94.99% of A ordinary shareholders voted against the remuneration policy itself. But, the votes were advisory in nature and, while it might be in the company board’s interests to scrap the remuneration policy, its hand cannot be forced by shareholders. Rebosis said on Monday that the company would hold discussions with its shareholders about their concerns around remuneration. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alistair Anderson at BusinessLive
Nzimande places Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration ANA reports that Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande has placed the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration. His office indicated in a statement on Saturday that he made the decision after he was notified of serious allegations of "governance failure and gross financial mismanagement, including, but not limited to irregular payments of employees’ pension funds and salary increases by the Ceta". Some of these alleged misdemeanors were aired in a hearing in Parliament, with the portfolio committee expressing serious concern about the state of affairs at the Ceta. The committee also cited its lack of confidence in the Ceta board, and urged Nzimande to take action as a matter of urgency. Nzimande has mandated the administrator to investigate all the concerns and governance issues raised, including allegations of corruption and improper use of Ceta funds. “I have also instructed the administrator to immediately stabilise the Ceta and ensure that its daily operations are normalised,” he advised. Nzimande urged all the Ceta stakeholders to fully cooperate with the investigations, adding that in response to a request for a meeting with the Master Builders' Association, he would meet with the association at the earliest available opportunity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Nzimande’s move to put Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) into administration heads to court Moneyweb reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg will on Thursday hear an urgent application to review and set aside a decision by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande to place the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration. The court application follows Nzimande stating at the weekend that he had taken the decision after receiving serious allegations of governance failure and gross financial mismanagement at Ceta, including but not limited to irregular payments of employees’ pension funds and salary increases. Nzimande said in a statement that some of these alleged misdemeanours were aired in a hearing in parliament. The portfolio committee on higher education, science and technology had expressed its serious concerns about the state of affairs of the Ceta and its lack of confidence in the Ceta board, and had urged the minister to take action as a matter of urgency. But Nzimande’s move led to Webster Mfebe, CEO of the SA Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), who is also a member of the Ceta board, escalating the matter to Deputy President David Mabuza, the leader of government business in parliament. Mfebe wrote in a letter to Mabuza that “baseless and malicious allegations” were levelled against him and Safcec by former Ceta CEO Sonja Pilusa and that Nzimande was embarking on an irregular process to place Ceta under administration when the relevant portfolio committee’s processes and recommendations were still not complete because parliament was in recess. He added that Ceta had a consistently high performing board, whose performance was validated by four consecutive clean audit outcomes, including in its 2018/2019 financial year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at Moneyweb
Prasa boss responsible for R5.5m in irregular spending fails in labour court bid to get job back TimesLIVE reports that a railway finance manager who was fired after approving R5.5m in irregular expenditure on hire cars has failed in a court bid to get his job back. Mbulelo Ngxonono, 56, was the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa's) senior finance manager in the Western Cape when the auditor-general raised a red flag. He faced 10 disciplinary charges of gross misconduct, gross dereliction of duty and gross insubordination, and was fired in 2016 after being found guilty on four of the charges. After the CCMA dismissed Ngxonono’s appeal against his firing, he went to the Labour Court in Cape Town, which dismissed his case on 31 January. Judge Hilary Rabkin Naicker said: “Given the gravity of the charges, as well as the senior position occupied by [Ngxonono], the decision by the commissioner not to interfere with the sanction imposed is reasonable and I find no basis to set this aside.” According to the judgment, Prasa’s contract with KE Daniels for short-term car rental expired, but Ngxonono extended it without the approval of the regional manager or group CEO. Ngxonono argued that the vehicles which were hired were used to improve fare collection, meaning the irregular expenditure was self-funded. But, the finance manager had ignored an instruction from the Prasa CEO to ensure there was budget provision before the car-hire contract was extended. Read the original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
Woolworths in culture clash over wearing of isiphandla (sacred wristband) The Star reports that Woolworths is embroiled in a cultural storm after the retail giant suspended an employee for wearing isiphandla, a traditional animal skin wristband. Mathapelo Nkopane was suspended last month and is being investigated by Woolworths in Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, for wearing her cultural wristband since March last year after she performed an ancestral ceremony. The retailer has been accused of “unfair labour practices” as the Employment Equity Act prohibits the unfair targeting of employees on a range of issues, including cultural and religious beliefs. Nkopane works as an interactive co-ordinator and had her first sphandla in September 2018. She got permission to wear it as long as it was covered while she fulfilled her work duties. In March 2019, she had a second traditional ceremony and received her second sphandla, which was worn for a period of 10 months with no issues having been raised. Nkopane explained further: “It was last month when we had a bakery specialist that an issue was raised. The specialist advised the managers to move me to another department until the sphandla falls off because there was a mutual understanding that I couldn’t remove it for cultural reasons.” After it was arranged for her to be moved to a different department, she was called in and asked to write a statement explaining why she had isiphandla and whether she has received permission for it. “Following the explanation, I was suspended with immediate effect and told that I’m under investigation until further notice,” Nkopane stated. On Monday, the store manager acknowledged Nkopane’s suspension, but declined to comment further. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khaya Koko at The Star
Justice minister orders one-day shutdown of all Master’s Offices for probe by SIU into corruption BusinessLive reports that justice & correctional services minister Ronald Lamola ordered the closure of the all Master’s Offices around the country for a day on Tuesday to facilitate an investigation underway by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Lamola announced at a media briefing on Monday that the shutdown would allow the SIU to gather information relevant to its investigation into corruption, maladministration and fraud at all the Master’s Offices countrywide without any hindrance. The offices were scheduled to be closed all day on Tuesday, for re-opening on Wednesday. The SIU conducted a search-and-seizure operation on Monday of Master’s Offices nationwide. Lamola said the SIU investigation was prompted by several allegations of maladministration and corruption and particularly by a case in Mpumalanga where an official in the Master’s Office allegedly amassed R1.7m through fraudulent activities. “We want a Master’s Office that will conduct its affairs with integrity and not squander resources meant for the poor and vulnerable in society,” Lamola said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive
City of Cape Town mum over reports on dismissal of metro police superintendent over sexual assault Cape Times reports that the City of Cape Town has remained tight-lipped about reports that a metro police superintendent found guilty of sexual assault has been dismissed. An investigation was launched after Melvin Julies was accused of sexually assaulting a female subordinate last year. The female official has detailed to the Cape Times how she was victimised, isolated and relegated to work in a back room of the metro police department after reporting the incident. That resulted in her being admitted to the intensive-care unit. According to the complainant, Julies was found guilty after investigations and was recently dismissed. She said the City’s executive director for safety and security, Richard Bosman, notified her of Julies’ dismissal. She said she hoped that the fact that she came forward with her story would encourage other officers who found themselves victims of sexual assault or harassment to do the same. It has also emerged that Julies was under-qualified for the superintendent position. Julies would not say if he intended appealing the dismissal decision. The City did not respond to questions about Julies’ qualifications or whether he had been dismissed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yolisa Tswanya at Cape Times
Prasa scratching in salvage bins to replace worn brake blocks with used ones, claims DA The Citizen reports that in a statement on Tuesday, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Chris Hunsinger said the party would be writing to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to request that “they make public plans on how the regulator intends to address the lack of replacement brake blocks at its maintenance facilities”. The party said it was concerned that replacing worn brake pads with used ones would place commuters at risk. This followed an inspection by the RSR that revealed that no new brake blocks were available for the replacement of worn brake blocks on Prasa’s trains. Prasa has reportedly received a letter ordering it to address the matter and provide the RSR with proof by 4 February that a solution to supply a number of new brake blocks had been developed. Hunsinger advised that the party had been sent pictures showing the worn brake spares and the bins from which technicians had reportedly taken parts to keep the trains operating. “The practice of salvaging used spare parts to replace worn parts places the lives of the millions of South African rail commuters in unimaginable amounts danger and will inevitably result in accidents, and worse fatalities, if not addressed immediately,” Hunsinger warned. He added that it was in the public’s interest to know exactly how and when Prasa would restock its maintenance facilities with new replacement brake blocks. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen
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