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, 14 April 2020.
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Business proposes basic income grant during Covid-19 crisis for the poorest BusinessLive reports that organised business has proposed that a basic income grant be paid to the poorest in SA during the Covid-19 crisis. The proposal has been submitted to Nedlac for negotiation with the government and labour, Business 4 SA (B4SA) indicated on Tuesday. B4SA is a newly established organisation that unites organised business across the spectrum in a bid to mitigate the damaging effects of the crisis. “The area of looking after people who are not in employment is very much on our radar. There is a discussion in Nedlac and communities feel this is an area that has not had proper attention. We have tabled a proposal in Nedlac. There is an affordability issue. This is a question for National Treasury to start answering,” B4SA’s Rob Leghwork indicated. Martin Kingston, who is leading work on economic interventions, said it was possible that “as a base case”, namely if no interventions were made, that one-million people could be put out of work permanently, thereby swelling the ranks of the unemployed. The group estimates that SA’s economy will contract by 8% to 10% in 2020. While business had not done detailed modelling of the proposed grant, if all recipients of social grants received an additional R500, the cost to the state would R9bn a month. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at BusinessLive. Read too, SA business alliance expects 1 million job losses, economy to contract by 10%, at Fin24 Quarter of SMEs in motor industry are at risk if national lockdown drags on BusinessLive reports that more than a quarter of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the SA motor industry could close if the national coronavirus lockdown is extended beyond the end of April at a cost up to 24,000 industry jobs. This was indicated by Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). Many of the casualties could be small suppliers of sub-components and services, because they lacked the scale and cash flow to sustain them through a prolonged period of inactivity. Mabasa said average cash reserves across the industry were sufficient for only one month and many companies were likely to limit employee payments at the end of April. He reckoned that 21% to 30% of SMEs "are likely to close" because of the effects of the pandemic. If the lockdown continued to early May, Mabasa said 11% to 20% of the pre-crisis workforce would lose their jobs. If it went to end-May, this would rise to 21% to 30%. Vehicle and components manufacturers employ about 120,000 people. Renai Moothilal of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) said the projected volume of automotive product demand was so heavily reduced that it would be difficult to see how employment numbers in the whole value chain could be maintained at pre-crisis levels. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David Furlonger at BusinessLive Mediclinic Morningside staff want transparency after 12 employees test positive for Covid-19 The Star reports that Mediclinic Morningside staff in Sandton are demanding transparency from their employers after about 12 employees, including seven health-care workers, tested positive for the deadly Covid-19. A staff member claimed that a theatre nurse allegedly had coronavirus symptoms after a caesarean section on a patient last week. “After the C-section the patient got transferred to the post-natal unit but one nurse presented with symptoms and got sick, and that’s when they decided to test everybody. When they tested the mother and the baby, they found both tested positive,” she indicated. The staff member said her colleagues were concerned as the hospital management allegedly had not been transparent with the employees about how many staff had contracted the virus. Dr Stefan Smuts, chief clinical officer of Mediclinic Southern Africa, confirmed that after a staff member tested positive for the virus more than 100 potential contacts were tested, with the majority showing negative results. The 12 positive staff members are all in isolation and will remain so until they have fully recovered. All contacts are being monitored and isolation protocols applied. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Star Second Western Cape police station closed after officer tests positive for Covid-19 EWN reports that the Hermanus Police Station has become the second station in the Western Cape to close its doors in as many days due to the coronavirus. SA Police Service (SAPS) members at Hermanus and Athlone police stations tested positive for Covid-19 in the past week. Athlone Police Station has since been decontaminated and reopened. Cluster Commander of the Overberg district Donovan Heilbron reported that the Hermanus Police Station was being sanitised and decontaminated and contact tracing was underway. None of the officers who came into contact with the infected SAPS member have shown any symptoms of the coronavirus, but they will remain in self-quarantine. Police officers who didn't come into contact with their infected colleague are continuing to work from a mobile facility which has been set up. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Lauren Isaacs at EWN. Read too, Hermanus police official, Athlone supermarket staffer test positive for Covid-19, at News24 Ramaphosa welcomes pledge by directors-general to contribute to government’s Covid-19 Solidarity Fund ANA reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday welcomed the decision of the members of the Forum of SA’s Directors-General (FOSAD) to contribute to the government’s Covid-19 Solidarity Fund. He said: "We welcome this patriotic contribution by FOSAD members, who voluntarily made this decision. Every effort made to alleviate the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, is highly appreciated.” The Presidency indicated that FOSAD had made a call for all public servants in national and provincial departments, including those in public entities to donate to the fund in an effort to support those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic and care for those in hospital or medical care. Last week, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said its members would not tolerate discussions about taking any salary cuts to contribute to the coronavirus fund. Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina had stated that there were discussions that workers would have their salaries cut by 5% for that purpose, but Samwu said in a statement: “We place it on record that our members and municipal workers in general would not be participating in this salary cut challenge.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at Independent News Domestic workers plead for financial assistance during national lockdown EWN reports that domestic workers are pleading for financial help during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic because the national lockdown has had a devastating impact on their earnings. The SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu), which doesn’t have any emergency funds, called on government to make some money from the Solidarity Fund available to its members so they could provide for their families. General secretary Myrtle Witbooi said: “We have quite a big fight on our hands and we try every day to see how we can get help for the domestic sector. Currently, we are receiving calls from domestic workers complaining about not having money and food.” Meantime, home cleaning online platform SweepSouth has raised more than R7 million from donations to help support its members. The booking service for domestic workers plans to support its members for three months through crowd funding and donations from its investors. It aims to raise R12 million to pay workers registered on its platform between R150 and R450 every week. Payments have already been made this week to SweepSouth members. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mia Lindeque at EWN Labour Court slams Nehawu in personal protective equipment matter, slaps union with costs order The Citizen reports that on Monday the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) was “still studying” a scathing Labour Court judgment in which the judge slammed the union for dragging the health department to court for a case that was “misconceived in fact and law”. Judge Benita Whitcher hauled the union over the coals at the weekend when she handed down her reasons for dismissing the case. Earlier this month, Nehawu raced to court claiming hospital workers on the frontlines of the fight against Covid-19 were not being provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Whitcher heard the case last Wednesday, after refusing Nehawu’s last-minute bid to withdraw it. The judge found that the union had failed to produce any evidence to support its claims. On the other hand, she found that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, together with his MECs, had provided “comprehensive data and documentary evidence” to disprove the claims. “[Nehawu’s] allegations of PPE shortages in hospitals that unduly expose its members to Covid-19 infection weigh up poorly against the [department’s] denials,” the judge said. In a rare move in the Labour Court, the judge slapped the union with a costs order. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bernadette Wicks at The Citizen Popcru denounces alleged brutality against the public during lockdown EWN reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Monday said it was against any form of brutality against members of the public. There have been incidents of alleged police and army brutality since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the national lockdown designed to stop the spread of Covid-19. In the latest incident, an Alexandra man died allegedly at the hands of security officials. Collins Khoza’s death in Alexandra brought to nine the number of people killed since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in March. Khoza’s death caused public outcry with members of the community calling for action against law enforcement officers alleged to have been involved. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said it was investigating several cases implicated police officers in various provinces, including Limpopo, Gauteng, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Winnie Theletsane at EWN Military union Sandu calls for inquiry into allegations of brutality by soldiers EWN reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) on Monday called for an inquiry into allegations of brutality by members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). There have been several allegations of abuse by police officers and soldiers since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national lockdown designed to stop the spread of coronavirus. Several videos have been widely shared on social media showing some officials being heavy-handed while enforcing the lockdown regulations. In the most recent incident, an Alexandra man died allegedly at the hands of law enforcement officials. Sandu expressed concern about allegations of brutality against members of the army and called for an investigation against those implicated. “The SANDF should identify the members implicated and withdraw them from deployment pending the finalisation of a criminal investigation,” said Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Edwin Ntshidi at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
'We want water, not Covid-19 tests', say angry Mpumalanga villagers as they set dogs on health workers SowetanLive reports that lack of water and sanitisers in Hhoyi village in Mpumalanga resulted in angry residents setting their dogs on health officials who had come to screen and test them for Covid-19 at the weekend. They also pelted the officials with stones to highlight their plight. "We heard that they were coming and we decided to set dogs on them and also threw stones at them because they didn't come with sanitisers or water so that we can wash our hands regularly as required," said some residents. One resident explained as follows: "I heard that there are other people with their conspiracy theories who told some community members, mostly the elderly, that they should refuse to be tested. They told them they should demand water because this community has scarcity of water. They also wanted indemnity and consent forms first before they could be tested. But for us the screening is something people should not worry about because they ask you questions and check your temperature." Health MEC Sasekani Manzini said they didn't use force to screen or test people. A Nkomazi municipality spokesperson indicated that the situation calmed down after Sunday's incident and the health officials were allowed to do their job. Six people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Nkomazi municipality. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandla Khoza at SowetanLive Ambulance vandalised in Alexandra township during medical call-out on Sunday TimesLIVE reports that a Gauteng Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulance was vandalised in Alexandra in Johannesburg on Sunday. Kwara Kekana, spokesperson for health MEC Bandile Masuku, said the team had been deployed to the area to treat a patient and the vehicle was vandalised while the team was doing so. No-one was hurt. Kekana said the MEC condemned the incident and called for swift justice. Read the original of the above short report by Orrin Singh at TimesLIVE
Discovery Health and Medscheme to pay psychologists full rates for virtual consultations BusinessLive reports that SA’s biggest medical scheme administrators, Discovery Health and Medscheme, have softened their stance on virtual consultations with psychologists. They have agreed to pay out at the same rate as they would previously have done for face-to-face sessions. Last week SA’s biggest organisation representing doctors, the SA Medical Association (Sama), expressed concern that the schemes were offering lower rates for virtual consultations. At the time, both administrators said their policies were in line with international best practice and reflected the fact that virtual consultations did not involve a physical examination and had lower input costs. “We recognise that the primary reasons for the lower consult rate for most health-care practitioners do not apply to psychologists. Consequently it is fair, after constructive engagement with the psychologists, to adjust the tariff accordingly,” said Discovery Health CEO Ryan Noach. Under SA’s national coronavirus lockdown, people have been instructed to stay at home and only venture out for food, medicine or essential health services. Direct consultations with medical practitioners have consequently plummeted across the board. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive. Read too, Teething problems for Discovery, as Covid-19 unshackles telemedicine, at BusinessLive
JMPD chief David Tembe and City of Joburg part ways, Sipho Dlepu appointed as replacement The Star reports that after years of dispute over the appointment of the chief of the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) David Tembe, he has finally left his post through a mutually agreed separation agreement. The details of his departure are not known as both parties have signed a confidentiality agreement. Sipho Dlepu, who has 36 years of service with the JMPD, is now the acting chief of police. In January, after the ANC won the city back from the DA, Public Safety MMC Mally Mokoena was secretly recorded ordering the head of department, William Mazibuko, to immediately place Tembe on suspension during a meeting with 13 officers who were expressing their grievances after being suspended by Tembe. The officers were recently recalled by ANC administrators who alleged they had not been properly trained. There are currently two ongoing investigations - an internal one and a criminal one. About 68 senior officers logged a grievance against Tembe last year citing allegations of misconduct. After the grievance was logged, two officers were suspended, including Dlepu, but were later reinstated because Tembe did not have the authority to suspend them. The second hearing relates to other complaints against Tembe and was scheduled to be heard in April last year, but was continually postponed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anna Cox at The Star
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