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, 8 December 2020.
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Cosatu’s social compact on Eskom to be signed by stakeholders on Tuesday during Nedlac’s annual summit BL Premium reports that according to Cosatu’s Matthew Parks, business and government representatives will formally endorse the union federation’s proposal to use the pensions of public servants to reduce Eskom’s debilitating debt pile. A year ago, Cosatu proposed a package of measures to rescue Eskom, including converting R100bn worth of the power utility bonds held by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) into equity. Parks advised that the proposal will be signed at Tuesday’s annual summit of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). Cosatu’s social compact initially sparked an outcry among pensioners whose roughly R2-trillion savings are managed by the PIC, while investors were worried about the impact of the proposed plan on SA’s financial system. But Cosatu has since toned down the proposal, taking on a more market-friendly stance that will ensure that investments by pension funds in Eskom are in line with investor mandates and fiduciary duties are not compromised. The virtual summit, to be addressed by Deputy President David Mabuza, will be held under the theme, ‘social compacting for economic recovery in the time of Covid-19’. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Nedlac’s annual summit focuses on ‘social compacting for economic recovery in the time of Covid-19’ BL Premium reports that National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) held its annual summit on Tuesday under the theme, “social compacting for economic recovery in the time of Covid-19”. The virtual summit was addressed by Deputy President David Mabuza. The coronavirus pandemic ravaged the economy in 2020 as businesses were forced to shut down during the most stringent parts of the national lockdown. The economy subsequently lost 2.2-million jobs and is forecast to contract 8% in 2020. In October, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which hinges on an expanded public employment programme, a R1-trillion infrastructure effort mostly leveraged from the private sector, a pledge to accelerate energy generation, and a raft of structural economic reforms. National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) general secretary Narius Moloto commented that the summit had to deal with the question of “how do we manage the resurgence of Covid-19 without closing down economic activity”. Business Unity SA (Busa) CEO Cas Coovadia said the summit would review the role of Nedlac during the pandemic. It would also tackle the issue of economic recovery because “it is central to the crisis facing SA today”. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only – scroll down)
Cape Town’s firefighters under attack again News24 reports that Cape Town firefighters don’t seem to be getting a break from attackers after a brick was thrown through the window of a water tanker in Lakeside. The firefighters were also threatened as they attended to a fire in Overcome Heights on Saturday. They also had to have a police escort to an informal structure burning in Khayelitsha. "Their jobs are made all the more difficult when they come under attack from the very communities they are trying to save. I appeal once again to residents to respect the job our firefighters do in difficult circumstances,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith. According to Smith, firefighters fought 292 fires between Friday and Sunday. These included 23 informal and 24 formal residence fires, as well as grass and bush fires. "Communities need to step up and not only condemn these acts, but also report the perpetrators. The very lives of residents are at stake if firefighters are prevented from doing their jobs," said Smith. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24 Cape Town paramedic saved by his own bulletproof vest while on duty in Mitchells Plain EWN reports that there has been yet another attack on Cape Town ambulance staff – this time in Mitchells Plain. On Tuesday morning, two EMS personnel were on a call in Beacon Valley when they came under attack. The two paramedics had been called out to assist a patient in Beacon Valley, which is classified as a red zone area as attacks on emergency staff have occurred previously in the area. When they stopped at the patient's home, a man ran towards the ambulance, pulled out a firearm and fired a shot through the driver’s window of the ambulance. The paramedic was hit in the chest, but fortunately, he was wearing his own bulletproof vest. No arrests have been made. Deanna Bessick of EMS reported that this wasn’t the paramedic’s first brush with death: “He was previously stabbed in the back with a knife in the same area where he and his colleagues render an essential service.” Over a week ago, an ambulance crew was also held up at gun point in Khayelitsha. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaylynn Palm at EWN
Ters applications by small businesses that closed due to lockdown were 99.9% unsuccessful TimesLIVE reports on the results of the SA Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) Covid-19 Impact Report, conducted by Finfind in partnership with the department of small business development and other stakeholders. According to the report, 60% of SMMEs were unable to trade during lockdown level 5. Existing debt, lack of cash reserves, outdated financials, no access to relief funding and an inability to operate during the lockdown forced the closure of 42.7% of small businesses in SA. The report found that only 47.9% of business that closed applied for Covid-19 relief funding — and 99.9% of those funding applications were rejected. Robynne Erwin of Finfind indicated that most of the job losses happened a few months into the pandemic. “For example, full-time jobs were reduced by 60% and part-time by 76%.” The survey also showed that the use of casual labour reduced by 53% and small businesses used 41% fewer consultants than they had before the pandemic. “The reality is that small businesses do not have the same resources available — and therefore their ability to survive the shock of lockdown is very precarious. This affects significantly their abilities to create jobs and work opportunities for casual labourers and consultants,” said Erwin. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE
AngloGold Ashanti chairperson Sipho Pityana resigns with immediate effect, Maria Ramos to take over Reuters reports that AngloGold Ashanti's (AGA’s) chairperson Sipho Pityana has resigned with immediate effect and will be replaced by independent non-executive director Maria Ramos. This was announced by the gold producer on Tuesday, without giving a reason for Pityana’s departure. Ramos, who has been an AngloGold director since May 2019, is a former chief executive of Absa Group. Prior to that, she was CEO of Transnet. Pityana was first appointed to the board in 2007. AGA noted that since Pityana assumed his role in 2014, its debt had been cut by more than 70%, the portfolio had been simplified, the rehabilitated Obuasi gold mine in Ghana had begun production and safety had improved. AGA has sold its remaining SA assets to rival Harmony Gold as part of its plan to shrink its portfolio and focus on assets with higher returns. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Brenda Berlin springs surprise by stepping down as acting CEO of coal development firm MC Mining Miningmx reports that Brenda Berlin has resigned as acting CEO of MC Mining, the London- and Johannesburg-listed coal development firm. Berlin gave no reason for her departure, which will be effective 15 February. Her resignation is a surprise given that she indicated in September that she intended to take up the role on a permanent basis. Her departure also comes before full funding of the $32m Makhado coking and thermal coal project in Limpopo province is fully nailed down. MC Mining said an executive search was “in progress” and that it expected to appoint a permanent CEO “within sufficient time to allow for an orderly handover”. Berlin joined MC Mining in April 2018 after serving as executive director and CFO. She was appointed acting CEO in February. She was previously CFO of Impala Platinum. “The Covid-19 pandemic has made the past year incredibly challenging and Ms Berlin has been instrumental in navigating the company through these turbulent times and in securing the majority of the funds required for Phase 1 of the Makhado Project,” said MC Mining chairman Bernard Pryor. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx. See too, MC Mining looking for new CEO, at Mining Weekly Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Pilots Association says government plans to slash SAA workers’ pay from eight months to three Bloomberg reports that according to a trade union leader, the government has asked workers at SA Airways (SAA) to accept three months’ pay rather than the eight months they are entitled to by labour law and the terms of a business rescue plan. The offer was made at the weekend and would not be accepted “on our watch,” Grant Back, chair of the SAA Pilots Association, said on Monday. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) paid R1.5bn to the administrators of the bankrupt national airline last week, but the money cannot be used because the administrators say the conditions imposed breach labour and companies regulation. SAA, which was placed into business rescue in December 2019. Its business rescue plan details a hierarchy of payments, including severance packages for dismissed workers. Under the Companies Act, when a firm is placed into business rescue, advisers are the first to be paid, followed by secured creditors and employees for work during the business rescue period. The DPE wants some of the money to be given to SAA subsidiaries, which were not part of the business rescue, Back stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Antony Sguazzin at BusinessLive Department of Public Enterprises tells unions to stop undermining SAA business rescue process TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has urged trade unions representing employees at SA Airways (SAA) to finalise the business rescue process, including the full and final settlement of deferred salaries for employees. It also accused “certain unions” of “deliberately undermining the process”. The DPE said in a statement on Monday night that these unions “seem to be in alliance with opposition parties to undermine the business rescue process.” Spokesperson Richard Mantu pointed out that the government had had to make deep cuts to its delivery programmes to ensure the R10.5bn released by the National Treasury was made available. He went on to say: “Further, the voluntary severance packages made available to departing SAA employees had ensured that these employees are not left destitute on leaving SAA. “ The DPE called on unions to negotiate in good faith, not only save the airline but to enable SAA employees to receive their unpaid salaries in time for the festive season. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLIVE
Telkom on the hunt for new finance chief after Tsholofelo Molefe left for MTN BusinessLive reports that Telkom is in need of a finance chief after Tsholofelo Molefe left the partially state-owned operator for competitor MTN, but the question is how Telkom will be going about filling the position. When Molefe was appointed CFO at Telkom in June 2018, she had been the group’s deputy finance chief for two years. So, a succession plan seems to have been in place at the time. Molefe’s responsibilities have now been taken over by an acting CFO, pointing to no obvious replacement this time around. A look at recent executive movements in the industry indicates that Telkom may look to poach someone from one of its telecoms competitors or look for talent in finance or banking companies. Recently, mobile operator Vodacom appointed Raisibe Morathi as its CFO, taking her from Nedbank, where she had been group CFO since 2009. Taking someone from financial services wouldn’t be unusual for Telkom. Lunga Siyo, CEO of Telkom Business, joined the telecoms operator from Standard Bank two years ago. The possibilities are plenty, but the ongoing convergence of telecoms and financial services points to those as the most viable pools of talent for the role. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
AfriForum’s court bid to overturn Angie Motshekga’s decision on matric exam rewrite to be heard later this week Pretoria News reports that the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria will later this week hear an urgent application to reverse the decision by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga that two leaked matric exam question papers be rewritten by all learners. Civil rights organisation AfriForum is assisting four learners in lodging the urgent application. Several unions, including the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), are also planning on challenging the minister’s decision. Willie Spies, acting on behalf of the four learners, said they would ask that each learner who was not involved in the irregularity have their exam papers marked and results released. They want the minister to be interdicted from destroying any answering scripts on any of the two exam papers. Motshekga announced on Friday that matric learners would have to rewrite the final exam in the maths paper 2 as well as the physical science paper 2. The minister apparently based her decision on an interim report that about 195 learners had seen the question papers beforehand. Natasha Venter of AfriForum said rewriting the two exams would unfairly disadvantage about 400,000 matrics who had written the exam honestly and that the department should instead focus on the guilty persons. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at Pretoria News Dismissal of principal of Parktown Boys’ High upheld on appeal The Citizen reports that Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona on Monday confirmed the dismissal of Parktown Boys’ High School headmaster Malcolm Williams. He was initially dismissed on 18 October after he was found guilty of two counts of misconduct following the death of learner Enock Mpianzi. The learner was unaccounted for after he drowned during an orientation camp at the Nyathi Bush and River Break in Brits this year. Last month, parents saw red when Williams continued to report for duty after he appealed the ruling shortly after the dismissal announcement in October. The school governing body’s spokesperson, Kim van As, advised that the school was notified on Monday that the Gauteng education department had upheld its decision to dismiss the headmaster. The lawyer representing Mpianzi’s parents, Wikus Steyl, said Enock’s father believed it was all fair and well that Williams had been dismissed. A former parent of the school, whose son had been one of the victims of abuse there in 2018, said Williams’ dismissal had been long overdue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer on page 6 of The Citizen of 8 December 2020
Crime Intelligence boss can’t be served with suspension letter because he is on ‘sick leave’ News24 reports that a bizarre turn of events has seemingly left the police’s Crime Intelligence Unit rudderless, with top brass unable to serve Lieutenant General Peter Jacobs with a letter of suspension while he is on "sick leave". Apparently, a letter has been prepared, but has not been served. The looming suspension of Jacobs is the latest instalment in a series of scandals to befall the Crime Intelligence Unit, which has seen a string of commanders find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Documents which set out charges to be faced by Jacobs, as well as a notice of an intention to suspend him, put a R1 million Covid-19 PPE procurement deal at the heart of the drive to oust him from his post. A slush fund meant for secret operations was allegedly used. In an official notice which sets out the alleged misconduct, three contraventions of police policy have been laid at Jacobs’ feet. The notice contemplating his suspension, dated 30 November, allowed him 48 hours to make representations. Apparently, Jacobs has written to police management to counter the claims. Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi, the Deputy National Commissioner of Management Advisory Services, is presently overseeing the division. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeff Wicks, Sipho Masondo and Kyle Cowan at News24
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