In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 10 December 2020.
|
Covid-19 masks being used by SA health workers fail UCT safety tests TimesLIVE reports that masks being used by thousands of SA health workers to protect themselves from Covid-19 infection have failed safety tests. None of the 12 brands of KN95 masks tested at the University of Cape Town (UCT) offered the protection provided by the “gold standard” N95 mask, according to the results of a study published on Wednesday in the SA Medical Journal (SAMJ). KN95 masks - mainly made in China - have flooded into SA amid a pandemic-related worldwide shortage of the highly regulated N95 masks. Prof Keertan Dheda, the head of pulmonology at UCT's medical school, said he and his team at the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity decided to test the KN95 masks amid “growing concern” about their quality and “circulation of counterfeit masks”. Examples of 12 brands were obtained from individuals, distributors and hospital doctors and they put three of each through a battery of tests alongside N95 masks and surgical masks. Concluding his SAMJ article reporting the results, Dheda wrote: “None of the 12 brands of KN95 masks tested [comprising 36 masks] met stipulated safety requirements known to prevent infection by dangerous respiratory pathogens including [tuberculosis] and SARS-CoV-2 [which causes Covid-19].” He made several recommendations, starting with stronger oversight by the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dave Chambers at TimesLIVE Three injured in Germiston factory 'explosion' on Wednesday TimesLIVE reports that according to paramedic service ER24, three people were injured in an “explosion” at a Germiston factory on Wednesday afternoon. In an initial media release, ER24's Ineke van Huysteen said that paramedics arrived about 3pm and found a patient with fatal injuries. However, in a later release, she indicated: "No fatalities on the scene as reported earlier. Unfortunately, we made a mistake in our earlier press release." A medical helicopter was used to airlift two of the injured to hospital, while the third was taken for treatment via ambulance. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Covid-19 relief funds efforts hampered by weaknesses in state systems, says auditor-general BL Premium reports that according to newly appointed auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke, if it were not for weaknesses in the government’s systems, Covid-19 relief funds would have reached more people, although she also noted that there has been some improvement in the controls. Maluleke released her office’s second audit report on Covid-19 relief funds on Wednesday. This was three months after the first report found incidents of fraud and double-dipping, overpayments, underpayments, and the invalid rejection of beneficiaries, especially in the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) and in the SA Social Security Agency’s (Sassa) R350 temporary relief grant for the unemployed. “If our processes were better we could have got much more out of this major effort,” Maluleke opined. She pointed out that the information technology systems, processes and controls used in government were not agile enough to respond to the changes needed. And, the lack of validation, integration and sharing of data across government platforms still resulted in people, including government officials, receiving benefits and grants to which they were not entitled. But, Maluleke reported that there had been a good attempt to implement recommendations from her office’s first report. Maluleke’s office will release its third special Covid-19 report, which will focus on local government, in mid-2021. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Quintal at BusinessLive (paywall access only) SIU still probing Ters issues that led to suspension of top UIF officials EWN reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) on Wednesday said that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was still looking into the issues that led to the suspension of the entity’s top executives in September. UIF commissioner Teboho Maruping was suspended, along with the fund’s CFO, COO, and head of supply chain management, after the Auditor-General (AG) flagged a number of issues during his audit of the multi-billion rand Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters). According to UIF spokesperson Makhosini Buthelezi, the SIU could release its report on its investigation at the Department of Employment and Labour later this month. The executives are being probed after the AG’s report showed that there were numerous gaps, risks, and inadequate controls as well as verification processes for the Ters scheme, which was set up to cushion workers and businesses from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the suspended executives have not been charged with any discrepancies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Theto Mahlakoana at EWN
Workers, community members protest against KwaSizabantu Mission after 20 workers fired News24 reports that disgruntled workers at the controversial KwaSizabantu Mission, supported by dozens of members of the community of KwaMxhosa and surrounds, have embarked on a strike against the mission over the alleged unfair dismissal of around 20 Emseni Farming workers. Last month, the workers at Emseni Farming – a business owned by the leaders of KwaSizabantu Mission – downed tools and questioned their salaries. Allegedly, they have since been dismissed. One community member said: "Three weeks back, [the mission] fired 24 workers, suspended five and gave all workers a final warning. They are trying to threaten them, [saying] they are gossiping about the mission outside and they are even telling [the] media about things happening inside the mission. All roads are blocked here on the R74." The community member indicated that they were there to support Emseni Farming workers because of the conduct of the mission, which was believed to have betrayed workers, following a boycott of KwaSizabantu Mission products. Emseni Farming supplies fruit and vegetables to popular retailers in South Africa. However, following an exposé by News24 on allegations of abuse, cultism and financial crimes at the mission, retailers suspended their business there. One of the workers who was fired a month ago, Vukile Mzuza, claimed that he was dismissed after the mission accused him of "informing" the media about what was happening at the mission – a claim he denied. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Azarrah Karrim at News24
Another two mining fatalities brings SA’s 2020 total to 58 deaths so far Mining Weekly reports that the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) has lamented another two mine fatalities, one at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Rowland shaft, in the North West, and another at the Blyvoor gold mine, on the West Rand. Sibanye confirmed that an employee had been fatally injured. “This is tragic and obviously not acceptable, and we are investigating the incident together with the regulators and other stakeholders,” the precious metals producer said. It also confirmed that it would “implement any remedial action required” once the investigation had been concluded. In a separate incident, a mineworker was killed after falling through a sub-shaft at the Blyvoor gold mine. Amcu said early reports indicated that a cement platform leading into the cage (mining shaft elevator) failed, resulting in the worker falling into the shaft itself. These latest fatalities bring the fatality figure for the SA mining industry to 58 so far this year, which is already seven more than the final figure of 51 fatalities in 2019. Read the original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Samwu to decide at CEC meeting early in 2021 whether or not to support ANC in local government elections BL Premium reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has threatened to withdraw its support for the ANC in 2021’s local government elections. The largest municipal union in SA will convene its central executive committee (CEC) in February or March 2021 to decide whether to support the governing party or not. While all affiliates of union federation Cosatu have always used their grassroots structures to campaign for the ANC during elections, relations between the two allies have been strained of late. This has come after the government’s decision to not implement public-sector wage increases in April. Samwu has also cited the rampant corruption in the government and the ANC. “We want a meeting with the ANC so that its leadership can explain why municipal workers should continue voting for the ANC. We want to raise serious questions on governance issues, such as a lack of service delivery, financial irregularities and corruption in municipalities,” said Samwu’s deputy general secretary Dumisani Magagula. He went on to say: “We are not going to give them a blank cheque. Our support will be based on principle. We are not going to support them just because we are an affiliate of Cosatu, which is an alliance partner of the ANC.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Moves finally made to fill top Treasury posts, but overall vacancy rate at senior management level still high BL Premium reports that in a sign that the government is finally moving to fill key positions and address concerns about capacity at the National Treasury, it has made two permanent leadership appointments in recent weeks. The cabinet recently announced Duncan Pieterse as the deputy director-general for economic policy; and Tshepiso Moahloli as the deputy director-general for assets and liability management at the Treasury — a post central to the management of the government’s borrowing activities at a time when the country is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the economic hit from Covid-19. These divisions — along with other units inside the Treasury — had been without permanent heads for more than a year and even longer, despite a pledge last October to get the cabinet to provide a special undertaking to fast-track senior appointments at the department. The appointments of Pieterse and Moahloli reduces the number of its most senior deputy director-general posts with acting heads, from five out of 10, to three. However, other positions, notably the chief procurement officer and the accountant-general, without permanent heads. Though the Treasury’s overall vacancy rate sits at 11.8%, the vacancy rate at senior management level was a much higher 19% at the end of November. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lynley Donnelly at BusinessLive (paywall access only) New director-general appointed for Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Engineering News reports that during a virtual meeting of Cabinet on 2 December, Nomfundo Tshabalala was appointed Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) director-general. Former director-general Nosipho Ngcaba retired in June. Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu both welcomed Cabinet’s approval, adding that the appointment came as a “shot in the arm” for the newly-created department. According to the department, Tshabalala’s knowledge of economic development and public sector management would help the DEFF implement strategies and programmes in a constrained resource environment, and at a time when the country was implementing an economic recovery programme with the so-called green economy as one of its six key sectors. The DEFF also said that Tshabalala had developed a strong reputation as a specialist in public finances, debt management and other methods that governments used to finance social and economic development. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sadtu in court move to interdict education department’s decision that leaked matric papers must be rewritten BL Premium reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) says in a court application that the decision by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to order matric pupils to rewrite two leaked matric examination papers is unlawful and must be interdicted. The union wants the decision to be reviewed and set aside on the basis of illegality. It also wants the court to hear argument on why an interdict on withholding the outcome of results of innocent pupils should not be made final. The department ordered a rewrite on Tuesday and Thursday next week of the second mathematics and physical science exam papers after the papers were leaked and seen by 195 pupils. According to Mugwena Maluleke, general secretary of Sadtu, exam papers had been leaked in the past, but rewrites were not ordered and the culprits were merely dealt with. Maluleke said there was no reason for the DBE not to have taken the same route on this leak. Sadtu’s court application will be heard on Thursday with that of four matric pupils backed by lobby group AfriForum, Maluleke indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Claudi Mailovich at BusinessLive
Police's national crime intelligence division in crisis after suspensions of five more senior cops News24 reports that the police's national Crime Intelligence (CI) division has been plunged deeper into a leadership crisis with the suspensions of five high-ranking officers on Wednesday and Thursday. This comes less than a week after police commissioner General Khehla Sitole moved to suspend CI boss Lieutenant General Peter Jacobs and just two days after deputy national commissioner Major General Sindile Mfazi assured CI commanders around the country that there was "no crisis". Sources have confirmed that Chief Financial Officer Major General Josias Lekalakala, as well as Intelligence Plan and Monitoring head Brigadier Deon Lombard, had been served with letters of suspension on Thursday. Three other colonels in the administrative arm of the unit were placed on suspension alongside them. Apparently, the leadership bloodbath related to the use of the Secret Services Account - a shadowy slush fund used to bankroll covert operations and pay informers - that had been accessed to purchase Covid-19 PPE. All are understood to be facing misconduct charges relating to a R1 million purchase, while Lombard and Lekalakala are understood to be facing additional charges over the approval of a planning document. The rash of suspensions has rendered offices which were pivotal to the functioning of the CI Unit vacant, sources said, adding that it threatened to bring operations "to a standstill". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeff Wicks & Kyle Cowan at News24
Supreme Court lambasts KZN judge for taking four years to rule on ‘riot’ damages case relating to Numsa GroundUp reports that the Supreme Court of Appeal has lambasted a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) judge for taking four years to deliver a judgment involving a civil claim for damages emanating from a strike. In its ruling, the court said this was “an unconscionable dereliction of duty”. The matter before the SCA was an appeal by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) against a ruling by Judge Anton Van Zyl in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in favour of Dunlop Mixing and Technical Services. The company had claimed for “riot” damages, through the Gatherings Act, arising from a protected strike which had turned violent. The SCA overturned his ruling, saying the act did not apply because the industrial action had been a picket “in furtherance of a protected strike” authorised under the Labour Relations Act, which gave immunity from civil claims. Towards the end of the judgment, the court noted the four-year delay and said: “The judgment (of Van Zyl) gives no explanation for this extraordinary delay. We were informed by counsel that whereas the underlying labour dispute had long since been resolved, the consequences, in the form of civil litigation (for damages), are self-evidently not. The prejudice caused by a delay of four years is manifest. How it can take the judge four years to decide this issue and to deliver his judgment defies understanding.” The judges said if there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, Van Zyl should have set it out in his judgment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at TimesLIVE Killer sentenced to eight years in jail for murder of off-duty Cape Town cop in 2013 News24 reports that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has secured the conviction and sentencing of a cop killer for a murder in 2013. Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani reported that Nkosinathi Mjodo, 25, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on charges of murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the possession of ammunition in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Mjodo murdered off-duty police officer Sergeant Donal Monjwa on 24 June 2013. Monjwa was attached to the Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG) Unit based in Cape Town and had gone to purchase airtime at a local shop. He left his partner in the vehicle and, upon exiting the shop, he saw four unknown men approach the vehicle and speak to his partner. Monjwa challenged the men and slapped one of them in the face. A second man belonging to the group tried to intervene and that’s when a third man shot Monjwa behind his right ear. After the group fled the scene, Monjwa was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “Mjodo was given an eight-year jail sentence for murder and this sentence will run concurrently with that of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition,” Hani indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at News24
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page