In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 9 March 2021.
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Thirteen more vaccination sites made available for healthcare workers Moneyweb reports that more healthcare workers can expect to receive their jabs at locations within their proximity as more vaccine rollout facilities become available. The Department of Health has identified 13 private hospitals nationwide to be of service in the programme. The list is subject to change pending adjustments and the availability of more doses of the vaccine. The department requires that the chosen sites first vaccinate their own workers at risk of infection, and then those at selected hospitals identified in their catchment areas. A list of the sites is included in the report. Among the reasons for selection was the ability to enable as wide a geographic spread of the vaccine rollout as possible, given the number of untaken vaccine doses, according to a statement released by the Hospital Association of SA. The country is still in Phase I of the vaccination rollout, having inoculated 90,000 healthcare workers nationwide as at 5 March. The number of vaccinated workers is ambitiously forecast to soar over 1.2 million by the end of March, with a targeted administration of about 120,000 to 250,000 vaccinations per day. Currently, the country is administering 5,000 vaccinations daily. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Palesa Mofokeng at Moneyweb <https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/more-vaccination-sites-made-available-for-healthcare-workers/> Government still deliberating on phase 2 of Covid-19 vaccine plan BL Premium reports that according to a senior health department official, work is still under way to determine how to sequence people in the second phase of the government’s coronavirus vaccination strategy. The government’s vaccination strategy has three phases, starting with health workers, before broadening out in phase 2 to essential workers, people over the age of 60, adults with co-morbidities, and people living in congregate settings such as care homes. On Friday, Business for SA (B4SA) urged the government to sequence phase 2 by age, saying the limited number of vaccines available between March and June should be prioritised for the most vulnerable. The health department’s Anban Pillay said age was “certainly the highest risk factor” for death from Covid-19, and certain underlying conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, were also significant risk factors for more severe illness, but there were “a number of alternative views” on the sequencing of the four groups. “The health minister will need to take account of the various views and options before finalising our approach to the sequencing,” he indicated. Pillay said the government hoped to start phase 2 in early May. “This is obviously dependent on the quantity of vaccines we receive to complete health-care workers, then we can start with the phase 2 groups.” SA faces a vaccine supply crunch in the second quarter of the year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Court rules that an employee who was attacked at work by protestors can sue her employer for damages GroundUp reports that a former senior manager in the office of the Mpumalanga Premier has been given judicial authority to sue her ex-boss for damages for physical and psychological injuries she suffered when attacked by protestors while she was at work. The Premier and the Director-General attempted to raise a “special plea” in the matter brought against them by Catherine May Churchill, former chief director for policy and research. They argued that they should not be held liable, and she should put in a claim with the Compensation Fund. The High Court agreed, but the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) overturned that ruling and declared the Premier and the DG liable. Being attacked at work are not ordinarily “things that go with the job”, said the court. Churchill is claiming about R7.5 million in damages, the bulk being compensation for loss of income calculated from June 2017, when she resigned because of “intolerable work conditions”, to the date of her retirement, on the basis that she will never be able to work again. The final amount will still have to be determined by a high court. The attack on Churchill occurred in April 2017 during a protest by Nehawu members and is detailed in the GroundUp report. Her ordeal lasted three-quarters of an hour when she suffered physical injuries and, more importantly, psychological injuries that had left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The SCA ruled that Churchill’s injuries did not “arise out of her employment” and her appeal must succeed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp Concerns grow after five cops killed in KZN in past three weeks Daily News reports that Sergeant Thamsanqa Mbedu was the fifth police officer to be killed in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in the past three weeks after he was shot on Saturday night. According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, by Friday seven police officers had been killed in 15 days in SA. Mbedu was on duty performing investigation duties in the Iniwe area in Empangeni in an unmarked state vehicle and was alone. National police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili reported further: “The member was accosted by an unknown person who came from behind the police van, who then fatally shot at the member after an altercation.” Mbedu sustained 27 gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene. His firearm was not found in his possession. Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) provincial secretary Nthabeleng Molefe said they were deeply saddened by the widespread police killings. “There should be a unit dedicated to investigating incidents where police are killed, because if a police officer is suspected of having done something in the community then there is the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. We have also asked the police to shoot and kill, and we will represent them as a union because we see that now the police attacks are on the rise as if it is a matter of leaving the community alone so that criminals are left to fend for themselves,” Molefe commented. He urged the public to work with the police to arrest criminals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thobeka Ngema at Daily News Sanef condemns abuse, rape threats against eNCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger The Citizen reports that the SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has slammed the abuse and rape threats received by eNCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger. Sanef met with the eNCA’s managing editor John Bailey and managing director Norman Munzhelele on 4 March following allegations of racism against Dentlinger. In a statement, Sanef said the meeting, which reflected on the events of the past week, was “cordial but frank”. Dentlinger sparked outrage and was accused of racism after clips emerged on social media of her conducting interviews during the Budget Speech. A video suggested Dentlinger had been racially selective when enforcing mask rules during her televised interviews. Sanef condemned the online abuse and threats made against Dentlinger and said: “The abuse, which includes rape threats, have mostly been on online platforms and we believe the targeted abuse is uncalled for. The abuse of journalists, particularly women journalists, is rife on social media platforms. But we have seen the same kind of abuse at political events, rallies and protests marches where women journalists have been pushed, sexually harassed and subjected to verbal abuse. South Africans have a right to call out journalists when they err. But this should not degenerate into cyberbullying and misogyny as faced by Dentlinger,” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen
Denel allowed another time extension to comply with court order to pay outstanding 2020 salaries Engineering News reports that Denel has been granted yet another time extension to try and achieve compliance with a Labour Court order to pay its workers their full salaries and fulfil all its other contractual obligations towards them in respect of May, June and July last year. The Court has now given the state-owned defence industrial group a further delay, until 23 July, to come up with a practical programme to comply with the court order of 4 August 2020. The Court also ordered Denel to present it with an affidavit, reporting its progress in complying with the court order, a minimum of ten days before the Court reconvenes to consider the matter. Trade union Uasa responded: “The delay is painful for Uasa members in Denel’s employ who are in dire financial straits due to partial salary payments since last year July. The fact that (the judge) postponed the case again proves that Denel has no solid game plan to remedy the situation with its employees.” According to Uasa, Denel has invited it to a meeting “to discuss the way forward”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Steinhoff’s remuneration committee defines ‘long term’ as just one year Moneyweb writes that in what could be interpreted as an indication of the extreme precariousness of Steinhoff’s existence, the retail group’s remuneration committee defines ‘long term’ as just one year. Because of this unique perception of corporate ‘longevity’, CEO Louis du Preez’s annual bonus and one third of his long-term incentive were paid out in the same year and entirely in cash. In 2020, Du Preez’s accrued annual bonus and a portion of the long-term incentive, awarded at the beginning of that financial year, amounted to €1.5 million. It accounted for 44% of his total remuneration package of €3.4 million (R62.2 million). That was an increase of 26% on his 2019 package of €2.74 million (R49.4 million). Those figures are not going to go down well with long-suffering shareholders who, the remuneration committee noted, were concerned about the “size of the compensation packages in relation to the decreasing size and scope of the company”. Moreover, at last year’s annual general meeting, shareholders were concerned about the “lack of an equity-based compensation component with a sufficient long-term character, and the limited level of share ownership among executives”. It wasn’t just a matter of no long-term-based equity compensation, it was no equity compensation at all for the top executives. According to the recently released annual report, the remuneration committee considered shareholders’ concerns, then went ahead to pay the key executives huge packages of cash with not one share-based award in sight. So, shareholders might be inclined to assume that Steinhoff’s remuneration committee doesn’t believe the group has a future, even a 12-month-long future. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ann Crotty at Moneyweb <https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/steinhoff-remuneration-sure-to-raise-the-ire-of-shareholders/>
Neasa and Solidarity to partner to encourage employers to offer work-place training for technical students Engineering News reports that employer body the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa) has partnered with trade union Solidarity to encourage employers to provide technical skills training for students studying at the Sol-Tech facilities. Solidarity’s Guild for the Trades will provide training in technical skills for the industry through Sol-Tech and it will also offer continuing education and short courses, while Neasa will encourage its members to take in Sol-Tech students for practical work and provide permanent employment to them. Neasa will also encourage its members to sponsor study aid for students who are in financial need. Solidarity chief executive Dr Dirk Hermann indicated: “The agreement is historical in nature. It turns traditional trade unionism on its head. To negotiate training and job placements for members and their children is the most substantial benefit a trade union can offer its members. With a view to growth, employers and employees must join hands, especially during times of crisis. Skills acquisition is the best growth strategy that offers the largest return.” Solidarity plans to enter into similar agreements with other employers and employer groups. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Polity
Life insurance payouts exceeded R522bn in 2020 as death claims soared by almost 37% BL Premium reports that SA life insurers paid out more than half-a-trillion rand in benefit claims in 2020 as Covid-19 took a heavy toll. Claims and benefit payments to life cover policyholders rose 6.5% to R522.7bn in 2020, up from the previous year’s R491bn, according to long-term insurance statistics released by the Association for Savings & Investment SA (Asisa) on Monday. The total claims and benefit payments included retirement annuity and endowment policy benefits as well as claims against life, disability, critical illness and income-protection policies. Asisa’s figures showed that the life industry recorded 434,216 death claims in 2020, or almost 37% more than the 317,442 claims received in 2019. More than half of the death claims in 2020 were for funeral policies (266,321) while the rest were for life policies, credit life policies and other policies providing life cover. The increase in death claims “is not only related to Covid-19, it’s just a general increase”, Hennie de Villiers, deputy chair of Asisa’s life and risk board committee, indicated. There were some Covid elements in it “but it’s not only that”. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen insurers such as Momentum Metropolitan and Old Mutual increase their provisions for claims related to the virus. Even so, Asisa says the life insurance industry remains healthy as it has more than double the legally required capital buffer in place. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Garth Theunissen at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Eskom board to investigate racism allegation made against CEO André de Ruyter Moneyweb reports that the board of power utility Eskom says it will be investigating its group CEO André de Ruyter, regarding an allegation of racism made against him. This investigation follows allegations made by suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano against De Ruyter earlier this month, at a meeting with Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts. In a statement, the board said: “In light of the allegation of racism that has been made in the public domain against Group Chief Executive (GCE) André de Ruyter, the Eskom board of directors has resolved to initiate an investigation in order to establish the veracity and the basis to the allegation. The allegation not only brings Eskom into disrepute, but it also threatens to detract and distract the focus of the executive team and the GCE in particular from their critical job of restoring Eskom to operational and financial sustainability.” The board said it would appoint an independent senior counsel to conduct the investigation. De Ruyter, the former CEO of packaging group Nampak, was brought in to spearhead a turnaround the embattled power utility in January 2020, but has recently been accused of helping purge black suppliers, in favour of white suppliers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Larry Claasen at Moneyweb <https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/eskom-board-investigates-racism-allegations-made-against-ceo/>. Read too, Eskom announces racism probe into CEO André de Ruyter, at BusinessLive Disciplinary action to be taken over mismanagement at Robben Island Museum TimesLIVE reports that disciplinary action is to be taken against staff at Robben Island Museum after an investigation into allegations of mismanagement found a prima facie case for disciplinary steps. The Ex-Political Prisoners Association (EPPA) has for years bemoaned the state of management at the island, a world heritage site where political prisoners including former president Nelson Mandela and other liberation veterans were held. The state attorney appointed MacRobert Attorneys in June 2020 to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by the island’s management. The report was handed to the Robben Island Museum council on Monday with recommendations that included starting a disciplinary process. A statement from council chair Khensani Maluleke indicated: “The recommendations are still to be implemented, so at this point in time we can confirm that the investigation revealed evidence which sustains a prima facie case for disciplinary steps, in relation to one of the allegations.” Maluleke went on to say: “Out of respect of the RIM employees concerned, potential witnesses and the integrity of the disciplinary process as a whole, no further information can responsibly be provided at this stage.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aron Hyman at TimesLIVE Forensic probe into Estate Agency Affairs Board will include audit of fidelity fund and appointment of staff BL Premium reports that a non-profit group that is the largest representative body of estate agents in SA, the Real Estate Business Owners of SA (Rebosa), has welcomed a forensic probe into the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). Jan le Roux, CEO of Rebosa, which is taking legal action against the EAAB, said the audit called for by Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was a positive step towards resolving the EAAB’s long-standing problems. The probe follows criticism of the EAAB’s record in regulating an industry that oversees about 46,000 agents and 5,000 firms nationwide. Last month, Rebosa launched a legal challenge against the EAAB because of its failure to issue operating licences timeously. In her letter, dated 1 March, Sisulu said the scope of the forensic audit would cover events that occurred in select areas over the past two years. First there would be an audit of the Estate Agents Fidelity Fund, including all transactions and investments done and processes followed. The appointment of EAAB staff as well as tenders awarded and procurement processes followed would also be investigated. All legal matters attended to by the EAAB and how they were paid would be interrogated. The minister asked for co-operation for the audit and said that its cost would be for the account of the EAAB. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alistair Anderson at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Ministerial task team reports on sexual harassment in SANDF Pretoria News reports that according to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, sexual misconduct and gender-based violence have no place in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and perpetrators of such crimes must be rooted out of the armed services. The minister added that woman members of the SANDF could no longer continue to endure discriminatory treatment. She instituted a ministerial task team in late 2019 to look into sexual harassment and related crimes committed in the armed services. Reacting to the findings of the task team, Mapisa-Nqakula indicated that she had been interacting with female soldiers who had been abused and raped, and had seen and felt their pain. She was, however, proud that of 21 cases, 15 had been finalised and the offenders dismissed from the SANDF. Chairperson of the task team, Thoko Mpumlwana, said the way to deal with the scourge would be to establish a centre in the SANDF to deal with sexual misconduct. One of the recommendations of the task team was to start a process in the SANDF to change attitudes and mindsets, to prevent sexual misconduct from recurring. While a policy on sexual harassment has been drafted, it has not yet been signed off. Among the task team’s other key findings was that there were no consequences for those in positions of authority who actively discourage victims from reporting cases. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News
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