In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 3 June 2020.
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Pretoria High Court finds lockdown regulations invalid and unconstitutional, gives minister two weeks to comply BusinessLive reports that the government has been given just over two weeks to overhaul lockdown regulations put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus after the North Gauteng High Court found them to be unconstitutional and invalid. On Tuesday, the court found in favour of an application by Reyno de Beer and Liberty Fighters Network, a little-known organisation of which De Beer is president. The traditional affairs minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was directed to comply with the order within 14 business days. During the suspension, the level 3 regulations gazetted by the government last week will stay in place. The cabinet said in a statement it noted the judgment and would make further comment once it had studied it fully. Judge Norman Davis found the declaration of a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act in response to the pandemic to have been rational. However, the regulations in respect of alert levels 4 and 3 were not "rationally connected to the objective of slowing the rate of infections or limiting the spread thereof". The deficiencies in the regulations needed to be addressed by Dlamini-Zuma, reviewed and amended so as not to infringe on constitutional rights more than may be justifiable. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Quintal at BusinessLive UIF working to dramatically increase its capacity to pay out conventional as well as Ters claims Financial Mail reports that after a rocky start, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is working hard to dramatically increase its capacity to pay out conventional unemployment benefits as well as temporary employer/employee relief scheme (Ters) claims. Ters allows companies and employees who contribute to UIF to apply for financial relief if they have been affected by the Covid-19 lockdown through company closures or salary cuts. The three-month scheme is set to run until the end of June. In a dramatic turnaround from early April, when the fund was swamped by benefit claims, labour minister Thulas Nxesi said last week the UIF had paid out Ters benefits of R15bn to nearly 3-million workers for April. However, it hasn’t been enough to clear the backlog. UIF commissioner Teboho Maruping indicated last week that they were still working flat out to finalise outstanding payments for April. And there have been further hiccups. The UIF only started accepting applications for benefits for May on the last working day of that month. According to Cosatu’s Matthew Parks, “the main [glitch] is that employers were submitting applications incorrectly, in part due to the complicated process”. Meantime, the UIF has increased the number of operators at its call centre from 27 to 600. It has also streamlined its application and processing procedures. The UIF has also gone so far as to temporarily overlook noncompliance, as long as employers undertake to register their employees and pay outstanding UIF contributions. Read the full original of the informative report in the above regard by Warren Thompson at BusinessLive. Read too, UIF is ‘keeping to promise on payments’, on page 4 of The Star of 3 June 2020 Unions call for Tygerberg Hospital to be shut down ‘to prevent a catastrophe’ BusinessLive reports that more than 150 health care workers have tested positive for Covid-19 at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, according to the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa). The union, which is affiliated to the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) and represents more than 60,000 private and public health-care sector workers, on Tuesday called on government to shut down the facility — SA's second largest hospital — “to prevent a catastrophe from happening”. On Tuesday, Hospersa provincial chair Gerald Lotriet said Tygerberg Hospital had the “direct potential of becoming the major breeding ground and killing field for Covid-19”. Emilia Maloi of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in the Western Cape said: “Tygerberg Hospital is a breeding field for Covid-19. Our staff are anxious, they are fearing for their lives. These are front line workers who are bread winners and the government is not looking after them. Such facilities must be shut down. We are sitting on a time-bomb.” Other public health-care facilities across the country have temporarily closed for deep cleaning after staff tested positive, underscoring the risk many front line workers face in their line of duty. In April, St Augustine's Hospital in Durban was shut down after more than 60 people tested positive for coronavirus, with close to 50 of those positive having been staff members. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive
JMPD officer in serious condition following shootout in Turffontein on Tuesday evening News24 reports that a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer is in a serious, but stable, condition following a shootout in Turffontein on Tuesday evening. According to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, at about 19:30, two officers from the Special Patrol Unit stopped a suspicious passenger vehicle in southern Johannesburg. He related further: "The driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The passenger drew a pistol and shot at the officers, hitting one officer in the shoulder. Officers then returned fire and the driver fled the scene on foot.” The passenger tried to flee from the scene in the vehicle, but collided with a nearby fence. It was then discovered that he had been shot in the thigh. Officers managed to arrest the passenger and he was taken to hospital under police guard. The driver is still at large. The injured officer was taken to Milpark hospital, while the other officer was unscathed. It was established that the vehicle had been reported stolen and the firearm used by the suspects was found in the vehicle. Read the original of the report by Riaan Grobler at News24
Sadtu and Cosatu in Western Cape vow to lay criminal charges should staff, pupils get infected at schools News24 reports that the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) and Cosatu in the Western Cape vowed on Tuesday to keep education MEC Debbie Schäfer and the provincial head of education "personally accountable for any flouting of health and safety regulation in this province". Indicating that they rejected “the notion of a Republic of the Western Cape" after schooling resumed in the province on Monday but not in the rest of the country, the organisations said they would not hesitate to lay criminal charges should staff or children be infected by Covid-19. “We support parents who have taken the conscious decision, in the interest of their children's safety, not to send their children to school on 1 June and salute our members who have been resolute in their stance on health and safety in our schools," Sadtu and Cosatu indicated in a statement. On Tuesday, Schäfer responded "I am not going to" when asked if she would close schools in the province to keep them in line with the rest of the country. She said her mandate was “to make sure that children are educated". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tammy Petersen at News24. Read too, Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi scolds Western Cape for reopening schools, on page 4 of The Star of 3 June 2020 North West school closed after principal tested positive for Covid-19 TimesLIVE reports that a 56-year-old North West school principal tested positive for Covid-19 after feeling ill this week. Elias Malindi, spokesperson for the provincial education department, advised on Wednesday that the principal reported on Monday that he was unwell and went to see a doctor, who suggested a test for Covid-19 since the principal was showing symptoms. “The results confirmed the positive status on Tuesday, June 2, and immediately the principal was subjected to a 14 days' self quarantine,” Malindi indicated. MEC for Education Mmaphefo Matsemela said that they were working with the department of health, which had advised them to close the school with immediate effect. “We will be relying on their expert advice throughout this period,” said Matsemela, who added that the school would remain closed until all necessary investigations were concluded. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nonkululeko Njilo at TimesLIVE SGB member at Pretoria high school tests positive for Covid-19 after inspecting school readiness TimesLIVE reports that amid preparations for the return of grade 12 pupils, a member of the school governing body (SGB) of Hillview High School in Pretoria might have unknowingly brought the coronavirus onto the school premises. The school's principal, Margareth Phalane, issued a circular to parents on Monday, informing them that they had learnt on Sunday that the SGB member had since tested positive for the virus. The circular indicated the following: “The member was in close contact with the principal, one general worker and another parent SGB member. The member is admitted at the Steve Biko hospital with (sic) stable condition. Principal, general worker and the SGB member are in self-isolation as per head office health service advice.” District officials have since recommended that the school not reopen for grade 12 pupils on 8 June as planned, but to shut down for another 14 days. The school’s administration block, where the infected member was present, will be re-sanitised during that time. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Naledi Shange at TimesLIVE
Mogale City workers still on go-slow, while council approves R100m overdraft to cover its financial shortfall Krugersdorp News reports that workers in Mogale City Local Municipality’s employ are still on a go-slow as seemingly negotiations between the municipality’s management and the workers’ unions have not proved fruitful. The go-slow started on 22 May when the workers did not receive payment for the hours they have worked during the lockdown. By 25 May they took to the street and started to burn tyres and rubbish bins, leaving the community frustrated as municipal services such as refuse collection have not been rendered since. In a television broadcast on 26 May, it was reported that the municipality and the unions involved had come to an agreement, and that the workers were subsequently paid and ordered to go back to work. But as of Monday, 1 June, negotiations were still ongoing, and workers had still not received payment. Meanwhile, according to the local Democratic Alliance (DA), at a virtual council meeting last week the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) approved a R100 million overdraft facility as a solution to the council’s financial shortfall. The DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) opposed the move, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) abstained. “This quick fix for their financial shortfall will have a dire effect on ratepayers in Mogale City. Furthermore, the municipality has nothing to show for all the money it keeps on borrowing,” the DA said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Janine Viljoen at The Citizen
Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party wants mines shut after increase in number of infected mineworkers The Star reports that the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) has raised concerns over the increased number of mineworkers who have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Mining companies were permitted to resume 50% of their operations under Alert level 4 of the national lockdown. The party pointed that despite the fact that minimum guidelines were issued by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act to contain the spread of the virus, they had nonetheless not stopped the pandemic from reaching mining companies. Mineral Resources Minister recently announced that 384 people in the mining sector had tested positive for the virus out of the 4,600 tested in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo. The party also expressed its concerns about mining communities and noted that the minimum guidelines published by the department did not deal with the necessary action to combat the spread of Covid-19 in mining communities. SRWP vowed to pressure the government to shut down mining operations until widespread consultation with everyone had taken place and thorough risk assessment and disinfection of mining workplace was prioritised. The party also vowed to fight for formerly employed elderly mine workers battling to get their compensation for occupational health. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gift Tlou at The Star Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Retrenchment proceedings at Comair ongoing, with a slimmed down fleet envisaged in rescue plan BusinessLive reports that the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for Comair, which operates Kulula.com and British Airways flights in SA, said on Tuesday that they were in talks with funders and that the company was unlikely to resume operations before November. The BRPs have begun discussions with six of the 30 potential funders approached to help recapitalise the company. Comair went into business rescue in May, after which the BRPs indicated that there was a reasonable chance the business could be saved. They have now advised that the proposed business rescue plan would include slimming down Comair’s aircraft fleet as that “would be more in keeping with what the company could afford to operate and demand for air travel post the Covid-19 crisis.” The BRPs plan to have largely implemented the rescue plan by March 2021. The airline operator has opted to continue to ground its aircraft despite the easing of lockdown restrictions on air travel from 1 June. Comair’s employees have meanwhile been placed on unpaid leave and BRP Shaun Collyer advised that retrenchment proceedings were ongoing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Odwa Mjo at BusinessLive
SA Express staff in desperate plea to government for payment of outstanding salaries and severance packages Business Report writes that desperate SA Express workers on Tuesday pleaded with the government to pay them their three months of outstanding salaries and severance packages before the airline’s provisional liquidation was made final next week. The plea was contained in a letter to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan from SA Express pilot Captain Willem van der Merwe. He claimed it was unfair for the government to show willingness to spend around R2 billion to retrench excess staff at SA Airways (SAA), but make no attempt at doing the same at the sister company. “We just want to be treated fairly, decently and with respect. The government is telling companies to look after their staff during Covid-19 pandemic, but it is not doing the same to us,” Van der Merwe said. In April, the Johannesburg High Court granted an order for the provisional liquidation of state-owned SA Express after it was placed under business rescue in February. If the provisional liquidation remains unchallenged, a final liquidation order will be granted next Tuesday and the contracts of 691 employees will lapse within 72 hours. SA Express employees have not been paid their salaries for March, April and May and have had to rely on the unemployment insurance fund temporary relief funds for survival. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public Service Commission clears acting CEO of Government Printing Works of corruption BusinessLive reports that the Public Service Commission (PSC) on Tuesday said it found no evidence to support allegations of corruption against the acting CEO of the Government Printing Works (GPW), Alinah Fosi. The GPW falls under the Department of Home Affairs and undertakes printing on behalf of government departments. The allegations against Fosi were made by a former employee who alleged that in October 2019 the acting CEO had instructed him to act in a corrupt way in the irregular appointment of a service provider to facilitate a strategic planning session of the GPW. Fosi denied the allegations of corruption saying that they were made by a “bitter” dismissed former employee who had served as director of supply chain management. Fosi acknowledged there had been irregularities in procurement and told the PSC that she had taken remedial action to address the internal control weaknesses. The PSC report said that “during the investigation, there was no evidence presented to the PSC suggesting that there was corruption on the part of Fosi.” The GPW’s report was submitted to parliament’s home affairs committee on Tuesday. But, opposition MPs argued that the PSC investigation did not go far enough and that further investigation was required. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive East London medical doctor bust three times for sick note racket released on R3,000 bail News24 Wire reports that an East London medical doctor, who was arrested on Thursday for allegedly selling a sick note to an undercover Hawks agent, was released on R3,000 bail by the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the fraud case against Dr Siphokazi Sokupa, 69, was postponed to 23 September for further investigation. NPA spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani indicated that they received complaints from a number of businesses in East London, questioning the legitimacy of sick notes authorised by Sokupa and submitted by their employees. The Hawks conducted an undercover sting operation in which the doctor was caught on camera issuing a sick note without examining the patient. Apparently, she recorded on the sick note the ailment that the patient advised her to record.” Ngcakani revealed that two more similar cases against Sokupa were still before the court. In the one case, Sokupa allegedly issued two medical certificates to an undercover police agent without examining him. In the other case, she was arrested during level 5 lockdown for allegedly issuing fraudulent travel permits to taxi drivers to transport people to other parts of the Eastern Cape. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Taxi strike leaves desperate Mamelodi commuters high and dry SowetanLIVE reports that thousands of Mamelodi commuters are increasingly getting desperate for transport to work and back home amid a dispute which has seen taximen down tools. The strike, which affected one taxi rank on Monday, spread to another on Tuesday morning as taxi drivers opposed to alleged preferential treatment afforded to taxis owned by taxi boss Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela continued with their protest. Mathibela's taxis, which allegedly amount to about 50 and which operate under the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata), are apparently allowed to jump queues at taxi ranks where they operate. Two big taxi ranks in the township, one near the BP filling station in Mahube Valley, in the east and another near the Universal Church, which are used by thousands of commuters daily have been affected by the protest. Moreover, trains are also not running due the national Covid-19 lockdown. Hundreds of desperate commuters were seen hitch-hiking to work along main roads. Several striking drivers went to where the taxis owned by Mathibela park overnight, apparently intent on setting them alight. But, a large contingent of police and Tshwane Metro cops apparently prevented them from getting into the property, which is owned by the municipality. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dimakatso Modipa at SowetanLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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