TOP STORY – COVID-19 RELIEF FUND FOR ARTISTS

Angry artists want to know what happened to their Covid relief money

Sunday Independent reports that over the past few weeks various artists in the arts and culture sector have staged a sit-in at the National Arts Council (NAC) offices in Newtown, Johannesburg, to protest against corruption and lack of support for artists. They also raised concerns about how the R300 million fund that was supposed to be distributed equally among artists was instead mismanaged.   The cultural and creative industries, also known as the gig economy, have not been working because of Covid-19 lockdown regulations and restrictions because many in this industry rely on bookings for entertainment venues. To relieve the financial burden on entertainers and artists, R300 million was made available. However, there are allegations that the NAC has mismanaged the funds and artists have been demanding answers. Opera singer Sibongile Mngoma, who has been at the forefront of the sit-in, said the process to apply for the relief fund was difficult and that the council was hiding its mismanagement of the funds. “The biggest bone of contention is that the funds were supposed to have been paid by the middle of January but this did not happen so that people could complete their projects by March 31. So far they’ve managed to pay less than 50% of artists. Even with that, they have not paid half of the allocated budget. They are telling us that they’ve paid about 400 people and yet the budget for this PESP (Presidential Empowerment Stimulus Programme) is R300 million and so far what they have been able to say they’ve paid is R57 million. Where is the rest of the money and why isn’t it getting to the artists?” she asked According to the NAC’s Dr Sipho Sithole, the council now has R285 million of which R53.3 million had been paid by 22 March, with 1 215 applicants approved. He said he was confident the council would meet its deadline set for 31 March, if all re-issued contracts have been returned and signed.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lesego Makgatho at Sunday Independent. Read too, Creatives demand their money, by Norman Cloete on page 4 of Saturday Star of 27 March 2021

Cape Town artists staged performances on Saturday in protest over NAC’s management of Covid-19 relief funding

News24 reports that artists gathered at the Artscape Plaza in Cape Town on Saturday to demand answers from the National Arts Council (NAC) over relief funding meant to support artists affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. They presented a variety of performances highlighting the skills and talents of a highly specialised industry "which has been decimated by Covid-19" and in solidarity with opera singer Sibongile Mngoma and a group of 20 artists who have peacefully occupied the NAC offices in Johannesburg. The arts industry is questioning the NAC's allocation of R300 million, handed over as part of the Presidential Economic Stimulus Package (PESP) last year. The event organisers said while some artists received funds initially, many of the disbursements were then reassessed and the funding recalled. Mngoma commented: "The groundswell of support across the country shows that our cause is shared and of utmost importance. Sit-ins, hunger strikes and protest marches – these are clarion calls for meaningful change in the agencies and government departments that are tasked with the care of arts and culture.” She called on creative industry practitioners across SA “to unite and take action wherever they can so that truth, transparency and progress can prevail and our industry can get up off its knees and thrive."

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24

Previous board to blame for delay with relief funds, says National Arts Council

The Citizen reports that the National Arts Council (NAC) has blamed its previous board for failing thousands of artists who have desperately waited for Covid-19 relief funds over the last year to no avail.   The council set up a R300 million funding facility last year to provide relief for projects which were cancelled because of lockdown restrictions and those who wished to organise projects that would employ out-of-work artists. By the end of last year, the budget for the relief roll-out had doubled to over R600 million promised to just 1,374 successful applicants. But on the ground, performers, creatives and artists languished as the process stalled with the coming in of new council members in January. According to Dr Sipho Sithole, one of the new council members, the board had to halt the process when they realised the budget had inexplicably doubled and some applicants had been funded for more than one project. “What the NAC did [stalling the distribution] was in order to correct and address what we perceived to be imbalances, unfairness and an uneven plane.   The previous board had already adjudicated and approved all successful applicants by 30 December and there were 1,374 of them. We then discovered when we came in, that they had approved more applicants than the money they had,” Sithole explained. He went on to state: “When they realised they had gone over budget, they decided to only announce the success of 600 applications and left out the 751. When we asked them how they came to that decision they gave us all sorts of reasons that were not acceptable.” The NAC has been the target of a nationwide campaign by performing artists to account for the elusive funds.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni at The Citizen (paywall access only)

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

Fragile alcohol industry warns that fourth Covid-19 sales ban will be devastating

BusinessLIve reports that wine industry body Vinpro, which is arguing that Western Cape provincial authorities should have the power to make alcohol legislation during the state of disaster, will have its day in the High Court in Cape Town on 28 and 29 April. The organisation has taken President Cyril Ramaphosa, minister of co-operative governance Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Western Cape premier Alan Winde to court, arguing that provincial authorities are best placed to decide on when and if alcohol restrictions are needed.   Provincial authorities manage hospitals and give liquor licences and as such they are in a better position to make the call, it argues. Recommendations have been made to the national coronavirus command council to restrict alcohol sales over the Easter holiday period, as there are fears a third wave of Covid-19 infections. Some in the industry fear a fourth complete ban on alcohol. Alcohol industry research calculates the three previous bans meant it sold almost 25% less alcohol over a year, losing R36.3bn in revenue, with 200,000 jobs in both formal and informal sector put at risk.   SA Liquor Brand Association CEO Kurt Moore commented: “A fourth ban on alcohol sales will be devastating to an industry that was decimated by three bans and is only starting its economic recovery.” Boyce Lloyd, CEO for wine and brandy producer KWV, said that even sales bans on some days would affect the battered industry:

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Katharine Child at BusinessLive

DA says government ‘failed’ in lockdown, wants no more booze bans or curfews

The Citizen reports that on Sunday, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen called on government to “trust science” and to “apply common sense” before the Easter holidays, labelling lockdown a “crude response” to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is widely expected that the country will be placed on a higher lockdown level this coming week. While level 2 has been mooted, it is unclear if interprovincial travel will be banned and if alcohol sales will once again be limited or completely banned.   A stricter curfew could also be on the cards. “Exactly one year into our lockdown ordeal, the full picture of the damage caused by nation-wide lockdowns has become clear. We know that these lockdowns were not used for their stated intention.   But yet government persisted with this crude response to the virus because it was the only weapon they seemed to have in their armoury,” Steenhuisen indicated in a statement.   He added that the country could not afford the “blunt tool of nation-wide lockdowns”. Steenhuisen stated that that alcohol sale bans and stricter curfews only served to ‘decimate’ the restaurant industry.   The opposition leader said that without a mass vaccination programme, one could only rely on personal responsibility regarding mask wearing, hygiene and social distancing. “While it is too late to save many thousands of businesses that did not survive the past twelve months of lockdown, it is not yet too late to save those that are now on the verge of ruin. That should be government’s top priority. That, and acquiring the quantities of vaccines needed to return our society to a semblance of normality,” he said.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES

Trade unions encourage Limpopo health workers not to attend to emergencies during lunch over roster dispute

News24 reports that seven trade unions in the health sector in Limpopo have accused authorities of reneging on an agreement over the new duty roster system and have resolved to resume strike action. The initial intention to strike was suspended earlier in March to allow for talks with authorities. But, at a media briefing in Polokwane on Friday, the unions indicated that the date for the strike would be announced at a march by workers to the offices of the premier and the health department. According to Jacob Molepo of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), unions have suspended all talks with health authorities until the head of department, Dr Thokozani Mhlongo, is removed from her position. Mhlongo is accused of "deliberately" misleading Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba and the unions in respect of the new duty roster to be designed by line managers at each provincial facility. They are also demanding the removal of deputy director-general for healthcare services, Dr M Dombo. The unions have adopted a resolution to encourage workers – including nurses and doctors – not to respond to any emergencies when on lunch. The rationale is that the lunch hour is not included in the working hours under the new duty roster. The workers will also disregard any instruction to work when off duty, "to avoid accusations of looting from the departmental budget as outlined by the HOD during her media conference". Health authorities have indicated that they are willing to continue discussions with the unions. A provincial health spokesperson said the department expected all employees to honour their obligations or face the consequences, within the law, for their actions.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Russel Molefe at News24

WAGE NEGOTIATIONS

NUM could seek pay hikes of up to 10% at power utility Eskom

Fin24 reports that ahead of wage negotiations scheduled for next month at power utility Eskom, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is considering demanding pay increases of as much as 10%. The union has about 16,000 members at Eskom and is still discussing an opening demand for the next three-year deal, according to Khangela Baloyi, the labour group’s energy sector coordinator. An 8% minimum raise would be reasonable to start with as salaries have been eroded by inflation, he stated. The utility bowed to pressure from labour in the 2018 wage negotiations, agreeing to a one-time cash payment and annual increases of at least 7%. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) also hasn’t decided on demands, while it does have concerns about potential job losses as the utility begins a transition to green energy, according to spokeswoman Phakamile Hlubi. The wage talks, to take place between 20 April and 31 May, were "unpredictable" by nature, Eskom said, declining to speculate on the outcome. "We believe that parties are mature and will conduct themselves in a manner that will serve the interest of all employees, the organisation and the country at large," a spokesperson said.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by S'thembile Cele at Fin24

Municipal workers union Samwu threatens national strike over zero wage increase

BL Premium reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has threatened to go on a national strike after the National Treasury urged municipalities in a circular to implement a 0% wage increase for workers during the 2021/2022 financial year. The union indicated that it would use all legal avenues to force the employer to agree to its wage demands. Samwu deputy general secretary Dumisane Magagula said the union was disappointed by the Treasury’s attempt to interfere and collapse collective bargaining. “What agitates workers the most is that this announcement by the National Treasury is meant to pre-empt salary and wage negotiations in the two bargaining councils that we negotiate in, being the SA Local Government Bargaining Council, which is inclusive of the country’s 257 municipalities, and the Amanzi Bargaining Council, which is inclusive of the country’s 12 water boards,” said Magagula. In his view, the Treasury’s posture was an attempt to “seek to influence the outcomes of negotiations that will be starting on March 29”. Samwu is demanding a one-year wage agreement of a R4,000 salary increase across the board, a R15,000 minimum wage, a R3,500 housing allowance, 80% employer medical aid contributions, 25% employer contribution towards pensions, six months’ paid maternity leave and one month’s paid paternity leave. Magagula said the union would not fold its arms and watch while “workers’ power is eroded”.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

APPOINTMENTS / VACANCIES

Quarter of top Gauteng municipal managers don’t have minimum requirements for their jobs

SowetanLive reports that more than a quarter of the Gauteng municipality's top management do not have the minimum requirements for the positions they hold. As at March 2020, of the 110 senior managers, only 80 were compliant, the report of an independent committee of inquiry commissioned by Gauteng co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Lebogang Maile in August 2019 has revealed. The report also shows that only 58% of supply chain managers have the required minimum competencies for their jobs. The Municipal Systems Act defines the minimum competencies required for appointments in municipalities in areas of financial management, strategic planning, leadership and governance, but is lacking in defining the requirements for technical areas such as engineering. According to the Cogta report, local municipalities are unable to attract the requisite skills given the salary packages on offer at metropolitan municipalities and in the private sector. It further states there has been a loss of primary technical skills such as suitably qualified or experienced plumbers, electricians, and artisans at smaller municipalities to either the private sector or larger municipalities. A specific skill that is fast disappearing from municipalities is accounting.   “The inability to attract professionals such as chartered accountants and practising engineers has impacted the strategic capacity of municipalities. The remuneration of these professionals is regarded as being beyond the rates prescribed for public service,” the report indicates.   In Johannesburg, the vacancy rate for top management is 29% and senior management 10%. In Tshwane, the overall vacancy rate is 26%, largely the effect of political instability.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpumzi Zuzile at SowetanLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Loyiso Jafta replaced as acting director-general of the State Security Agency *SSA), at News24

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

Civil aviation authority and Pravin Gordhan take aim at SAA pilots association

BL Premium reports that the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa), which is investigating a dangerous incident during take-off of an SA Airways (SAA) plane last month, has hit out at critics questioning its objectivity. Sacaa said it would not be drawn into “political fights” between SAA and its pilots, whom it suggested were involved in misinformation. SAA pilots, 90% of whom belong to the SAA Pilots Association (Saapa), have been locked out since December in a labour dispute over the conditions of their retrenchment. The news that an SAA Airbus A340-600 bound for Brussels experienced an “alpha floor protection event” on 24 February during take-off from Johannesburg has been accompanied by a raft of claims. In a statement on Thursday, Sacaa suggested that the misinformation was being driven by a party that was in dispute with SAA. SAA has been mothballed since September and none of its pilots have flown recently, which is a requirement that must be met through simulator or other training. Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan fired his own broadside at Saapa, which he said was lobbying MPs and influencing their understanding of the SAA issues. “Members of Saapa are doing everything possible to sabotage SAA from getting off the ground. I don’t think committee members must [allow themselves to] be lobbied. What the pilots’ association is doing is highly detrimental to what we want to do as government, which is to get the airline off the ground,” he told MPs. Grant Back, chair of Saapa, said that his organisation had been completely neutral in all its statements on the issues of the Brussels flight.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

SAAT SALARY PAYMENTS

SAA Technical apparently finds way to pay March salaries in full

Fin24 reports that a coalition of unions at SA Airways Technical (SAAT), namely Solidarity, the Aviation Union of Southern Africa (Ausa) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), informed their members on Thursday that it was still unclear whether there would be any money to pay the salaries this month. But, SAAT management confirmed on Friday evening that arrangements have been put in place to have 100% of March 2021 salaries paid to all SAAT employees on 1 April 2021. It is not clear where the money will come from. SAAT is a subsidiary of SA Airways (SAA). Unlike SAA, its subsidiaries - SAAT, Mango and AirChefs - are not in business rescue. SAAT's acting CEO Terrance Naidoo said on Thursday that the company remained a solvent business that carried the support of its shareholder – the Department of Public Enterprises – as a strategic asset, essential for the aviation sector in SA and the African continent. But, he reiterated that SAAT was “at this stage faced with financial challenges in the face of the Covid-19 impact on air travel, like many other players within the aviation sector.”

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24

UIF

Employers in limbo on increase to UIF contributions cap announced by Mboweni in February

Fin24 reports that National Treasury has finally clarified the status of an increase to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) regular contributions of employers proposed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during his budget speech in February. Under the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act (UICA), employers and employees must contribute 1% of the remuneration paid to the employee to the UIF. But while the contribution was previously capped at R14,872, Mboweni announced that the UIF contribution ceiling would be increased to R17,712, with an effective date of 1 March 2021. According to head of tax technical at Tax Advisory Jean du Toit, National Treasury published a draft notice which stipulated the effective date of the increase as 1 March, but withdrew it two days later. "It is a good thing that the ceiling has been increased, which has remained stagnant since 1 October 2012, especially as more people may have to rely on it in current circumstances. From an employer's perspective, however, we have seen that the announcement has caused some confusion. The Budget Review indicated the increase is immediate and there appears to be little awareness about the withdrawal of the notice and the postponement of the increase," Du Toit indicated. National Treasury said last week that the draft regulations were published together with the budget for public comment and after those have been processed, the final regulations would be gazetted by the minister.   However, employers remain in limbo about how this coming month's contributions should be handled.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24