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
Monday, 20 April 2020.
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Sars to jump in should UIF systems crash because of the high volumes of Ters claims TimesLIVE reports that Department of Labour and Employment (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi advised on Monday that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) would help with payments of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claims should the DEL’s systems crash because of the high volumes of Covide-19 claims received. “We realised from the beginning when we started with the Covid-19 benefits that the systems we had were not designed for these high volumes. Sars is waiting on the sidelines in case our systems crashes,” Nxesi said in an interview on 702 radio. Despite this, Nxesi said, the department had processed almost R1bn in the UIF's Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (Ters). The minister told eNCA the UIF was working under extreme pressure: “The system was never meant to face such a huge demand. The system is very small, helping with 10,000 to 20,000 claims. Now millions of workers are claiming. In terms of the system, we are not going to be able to deliver as we are supposed to deliver.” Before the pandemic there were around 25 agents processing UIF claims, but Nxesi said they had had to increase the number of agents to more than 200 after the coronavirus outbreak. He told 702 they were thinking of introducing 24-hour shifts to allow agents to work around the clock to process claims. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard at TimesLIVE The real cost of the liquor ban will be a jobs bloodbath and massive loss of revenue The Citizen reports that as the financially bleeding multibillion-rand liquor industry continues to reel from the month-long coronavirus lockdown, key players – from a family-owned bottle store to giant wine producers – have warned of a jobs bloodbath and loss of taxes. Last year, SA raked in R15 billion in tax revenue on the sale of beer, R8.3 billion on wine and other fermented beverages, with sorghum beer bringing in R4.5 billion. But, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who leads the Covid-19 National Command Council, maintains that the continuation of the liquor ban is in the best interests of the country. In declining a request by the Gauteng Liquor Forum for permission to sell alcohol, he said his decision followed consideration of the health considerations of alcohol consumption and to ensure that social distancing was adhered to. Gerard Holden of the Franschoek Vignerons commented: “Assuming the lockdown continues into May and possibly June, and the ban on both wine exports and domestic sales continues, many businesses of our people will join the lists of the permanently unemployed.” He went on to indicate: We estimate that our members collectively employ around 5,000 people in the Franschoek Valley. If you assume that each employee supports six other people, then 30,000 people are impacted.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brian Sokutu on page 2 of The Citizen of 20 April 2020 Construction sector pleads to be allowed to return to work Moneyweb reports that the construction sector has appealed to the government to allow it to return to work during the current extended coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown period. SA Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) CEO Webster Mfebe said the plea was made on behalf of the entire construction sector because the lockdown would, among other things, lead to an estimated 68,000 to 108,000 job losses in the formal construction industry over the next 18 months. The sector currently employs almost 900,000 people. The plea was made to the Public-Private Growth Initiative (PPGI), a sector-based collaboration between government and business, the day before President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the extension to the initial lockdown. Apart from highlighting the construction sector’s estimated job losses because of the lockdown in the letter to the PPGI, Mfebe said the size of the construction industry in terms of the rand value of fixed investment was expected to decline by 8.7% this year, from an initial forecast decline of only 1.5%. Mfebe said on Sunday that he had been reliably informed that the sector’s plea to reopen construction sites was receiving serious consideration by the authorities. David Metelerkamp of Industry Insight indicated last month that the lockdown would result in huge job losses in the construction industry as it was very labour intensive. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at Moneyweb KZN department of health gives St Augustine's hospital in Durban a week to move dialysis patients TimesLIVE reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) health department has given St Augustine's hospital a week to move dialysis patients out of its centre after several patients there tested positive for Covid-19. The centre, which is housed in a building separate from the main hospital, was allowed to continue operating because of a shortage of dialysis centres. This came amid a directive from the provincial department to shut down St Augustine's after 66 people there tested positive for the coronavirus. “As of Wednesday, we were informed that about seven patients in that facility had been found to be positive. We are now faced with a situation where we have to instruct, and have indicated to St Augustine's, that they must find alternative centres for these patients to receive dialysis,” KZN health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu indicated. She said the hospital had assured them it was not possible for the virus to move into the dialysis centre because the affected health-care workers worked only in the main hospital. The MEC said they had given the hospital a week to get its house in order because of the risks of abruptly stopping dialysis. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Lwandile Bhengu at TimesLIVE Johannesburg pub turns to crowdfunding to keep staff in jobs TimesLIVE reports that the Jolly Roger, a pub in Parkhurst, northern Johannesburg, had raised R109,000 by Monday in a crowdfunding drive to help pay staff during the lockdown. In its plea on gogetfunding.com on 8 April, titled ‘Help Save the Jolly Roger’, owner LeBrun Rossouw noted that mandatory physical distancing was a death sentence for businesses like the pub. “The reality is that this leaves us closed for an unforeseen period, and if we do reopen it’ll take time to get back to 'business as usual'. As a result, our staff will be hit the hardest,” Rossouw pointed out. He said the reality was Covid-19 could not only destroy his business, but leave 28 employees without jobs and strip them of their livelihoods. Rossouw said donations would go directly to staff so jobs could be saved. Those willing to donate would qualify for a half-priced pizza when visiting the restaurant during the first two weeks of reopening. Fast food chain Anat also recently resorted to crowdfunding in a bid to keep its doors open after the lockdown and save 600 jobs. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE SA Military Ombud Office has received 28 complaints since national coronavirus lockdown News24 reports that the SA Military Ombud Office says it has received 28 complaints to date since the start of the national coronavirus lockdown. At least 15 of the complaints were from the public alleging that SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members used excessive force and physical abuse during their lockdown patrols, while others were from serving members themselves concerning their conditions of service. The Ombud released these statistics in the wake of the recent death of an Alexandra man, Collins Khosa, who was allegedly assaulted by SANDF members. The Ombud’s mandate includes dealing with complaints and grievances brought by current and former members of the force as well as complaints from members of the public about the conduct of SANDF members. Speaking last week, Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the police, military police and the military ombudsman were investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Khosa. According to reports, witnesses and the deceased's family, Khoza was assaulted for drinking in a yard with a friend. This after soldiers reportedly noticed a camp chair and a half-full cup of liquor at his friend's property. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24. Read too, Khosa family hauls state to court for alleged murder of Collins Khosa at hands of army, police, at City Press. And also, Afsondering: Ombudsman ontvang steeds klagtes oor SANW, at Maroela Media Several foreigners arrested for illegally residing on and operating a factory in Tongaat during lockdown ANA reports that several foreign nationals were arrested on Saturday for illegally residing on and operating a factory in Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the SA Police Service (SAPS) said on Sunday. Following a complaint, a SAPS team proceeded to the factory on Walter Reid Road. Two foreigners opened the roller door of the factory and said that they were merely fetching welding machines. When they were told they were to be charged for contravening the lockdown regulations for not being confined to their residences, they attempted to flee, but were arrested. On the premises the officers found over 90 sealed beer bottles, over 90 beer cans, and over 100 cartons of cigarettes. Three other foreign nationals were also found. The team then discovered several dormitories with undone beds and cellphone chargers still plugged in the wall sockets. A further inspection revealed an internal door opening to a fire escape staircase leading to the ceiling. Eight foreign nationals were found hiding inside the ceiling. Three more foreign nationals were subsequently found hiding within the premises. All the suspects were arrested for contravening of the Disaster Management Act and Immigration Act. The first two suspects were also charged for defeating the ends of justice. In two separate incidents on Friday and Saturday in Port Shepstone and Pinetown, three people were arrested for dealing in liquor, large amounts of which were confiscated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Independent News. Read too, Illegal factory shut down, 13 foreigners arrested, alcohol and cigarettes seized, at TimesLIVE Twelve cops arrested during weekend for lockdown violations and corruption, including five who drank at Free State tavern News24 reports that twelve members of the SA Police Service (SAPS), including a reservist, were arrested during the weekend in three separate incidents following their alleged violation of National Disaster Management Regulations, as well as corruption. According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, in the first incident five members, including a police reservist attached to the Namahadi police station in Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State, were arrested because they were allegedly part of a group drinking alcohol at a local tavern on Saturday. The 44-year-old tavern owner was also arrested for violating the regulations on the prohibition of the sale of liquor. All liquor was seized and the tavern shut down. In the second incident, six members attached to the Brooklyn and Silverton police stations in Pretoria were arrested on Saturday after the Mpumalanga Anti-Corruption Unit received information that they had stolen more than R30,000 in cash from a group of people passing through a roadblock. In the third incident, a police officer was detained after he allegedly held a gathering at the police barracks in Soshanguve in Tshwane. Naidoo said while all the members faced criminal charges, internal SAPS processes would also be pursued. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Riaan Grobler at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Speeding car kills West Rand City traffic officer over the weekend The Star reports that James Kolo, a Rand West City traffic department officer, was killed on duty over the weekend and police have arrested a suspect. Kolo was a husband and father of two, and had been a traffic officer for more than 20 years. According to a Rand West City spokesperson, Kolo died after being hit by a speeding vehicle on the R41 between Randfontein and Leratong Hospital. The driver of the vehicle has been apprehended and a police case has been opened. Rand West City Local Municipality’s executive mayor Brenda Mahuma described Kolo as an officer with a deep understanding of theory and practice of his work, and commended him for his long service. The city expressed condolences to Kolo’s family. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Boitumelo Metsing at The Star
Amplats paying employees in full, 30% of top pay to go to Covid-19 relief Mining Weekly reports that newly-appointed Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) CEO Natascha Viljoen said on Monday that “thankfully” the company was able to pay all of its employees their full fixed basic salaries, pension and medical benefits, as well as housing allowances where applicable, for the full 35 days of the Covid-19 lockdown period. She and financial director Craig Miller would donate 30% of their salaries for three months to charities associated with the relief effort of Amplats in its host communities. Meanwhile, nonexecutive directors had elected to contribute 30% of their fees for three months to charitable organisations that were aiding the pandemic relief effort. The executive team had elected to contribute to the employee matching scheme supported by the Anglo American Foundation, and many employees had been forthcoming in making contributions to charities of their choice, Amplats stated in a release. In addition, Amplats would continue to provide a wide range of essential services to its host communities in SA and Zimbabwe, offering additional assistance to alleviate Covid-19’s health and economic effects. These initiatives would benefit more than 100,000 households in its host communities. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Unions respond to SAA severance package offer with mixed responses Moneyweb reports that labour representatives at SA Airways (SAA) have given mixed responses to the severance package proposal by the airline’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs). On Friday, SAA’s unions received a draft settlement agreement offer open to all of SAA’s 4,708 employees that would see the termination of their employment contracts by 30 April in exchange for unguaranteed severance packages. At least one union, the National Transport Movement, has put forward a counter-offer with the aim of saving some jobs. Others (Solidarity, Saapa and Satawu) are consulting lawyers about the implications of signing the agreement, and two unions (Numsa and Sacca) have distanced themselves from the process altogether. The proposal for severance packages comes after Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told the BRPs, Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, that their request for a further R10 billion to sustain the rescue process would not be approved – a move that seems to have signalled the impending end for the airline. Without government funding, the BRPs have no choice but to wind down the business to avoid liquidation. A mutual agreement to terminate employment with defined retrenchment benefits might be in the best interests of SAA’s employees, as it would be secured ahead of other creditors should a liquidation become necessary. For those who do not accept the agreement, the current Section 189 retrenchment process will continue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tebogo Tshwane at Moneyweb
Kumba chief executive Themba Mkhwanazi received total pay package of R42.24m for 2019 Business Report writes that Kumba Iron Ore paid its executive directors and prescribed officers R128.95-million in 2019, the company indicated in its annual report released on Friday. Kumba’s chief executive, Themba Mkhwanazi, received a total pay package of R42.24m, which included R8.54m in total guaranteed pay and a R5.3m short-term incentive cash bonus, which was paid last month. Chief financial officer Bothwell Mazarura received total pay of R15.21m, including total guaranteed pay of R4.69m and a R1.7m short-term incentive cash bonus. The company said its 12,217 employees received R5bn in salaries, benefits and share-based payments during 2019 compared with R4.6bn in 2018. During 2019, Kumba benefited from strong iron-ore prices. Kumba’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were up by 62% to a record R33.4bn. In 2018, Kumba, a subsidiary of Anglo American, paid executives and prescribed officers R236.68m, largely due to the vesting of the long-term incentive plan. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Report
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