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
Wednesday, 14 April 2021.
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Road passenger bus sector reaches 4% wage increase agreement News24 reports that the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC) has announced that on Tuesday employers and trade unions in the road passenger sector reached a 4% wage increase agreement for the coming year. SARPBAC general secretary Gary Wilson pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic had had a devastating impact on the passenger bus sector, resulting in some company closures and accompanying job losses. He said he was pleased that the parties had demonstrated a commitment to see the industry recover by agreeing to an inflationary wage increase. "Until Covid-19, we had seldom had a wage increase under 8% and that placed parties under a lot of pressure," Wilson said. He commended the parties for remaining positive in the face of challenges brought on by the pandemic. But, Mayibenathi Matwa of the Democratised Transport Logistics and Allied Workers Union (Detawu) said they viewed the 4% settlement as "a sell-out position" by the unions in the bargaining council. "As Detawu, we do not have a seat at the council. However, we do not believe the other unions were acting on the workers' mandate by accepting 4% when CPI is sitting at 3.6%. Basically this is a non-increase for workers." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at News24 Sactwu concludes 5.5% wage negotiations for woven cotton textile sector The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) announced on Tuesday that it had concluded its outstanding wage negotiations for the Woven Cotton textile sub-sector. General secretary André Kriel indicated that the agreement had been successfully concluded on Monday, under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council. Sactwu members in this sub-sector will receive a 5.5% wage increase, with effect from 1 March 2021. The agreement was struck between the Cosatu affiliate and theSouth African Cotton & Textile Processing Employers’ Association (Sactpea). About 8,000 textile workers employed in 72 companies nationally will benefit from this wage increase. Read Sactwu’s short press statement in the above regard at Cosatu News
R1m reward for information on Gugulethu cash-in-transit heist in which a security guard was killed in explosion to open safe News24 reports that a security guard was killed in an explosion during a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist in Gugulethu, Cape Town, on Monday afternoon, while three others were left injured. Two people have since been arrested for robbing one of the injured security guards of a firearm. Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said explosives were used to gain access to the safe in the vehicle. "In the explosion, one of the guards was fatally injured while three others sustained injuries. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and are yet to be apprehended." Muridili advised. Two men – aged 19 and 36 – have been arrested for possession of a firearm, which was identified as one of those robbed from security guards during the CIT robbery. A video has reportedly been circulating in which some Gugulethu residents can be seen running around the vehicle shouting that they wanted the money. A security guard is seen lying on the ground near the burning vehicle. The footage also shows someone stealing the firearm of one of the injured SBV guards. In a statement, security company SBV Services announced a reward of R1 million for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the robbers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24 Two police officers charged with stealing cash from CIT heist scene in Vaal Rand The Citizen reports that two police officers have been arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Vaal Rand in Gauteng on charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice. According to Colonel Katlego Mogale, Rapulane Tlholoe and Ndavheleseni Musetha, who were attached to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, attended to a cash-in-transit (CIT) crime scene in the Joburg Langlaagte area in January this year. During the heist, a group of armed men used explosives to bomb an armoured vehicle to gain access to the safe. One suspect was arrested while four others died from gunshot wounds they sustained in a shootout with police. Other suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, leaving the vehicle they had used to ram the armoured vehicle off the road burning. On arrival at the crime scene, the two officers allegedly placed the scattered cash inside four forensic seal bags to book them in at the police station. “On arrival, allegations are that the suspects only submitted two sealed forensic bags,” Mogale indicated. “Further investigation revealed that the suspects kept one torn sealed forensic bag with an undisclosed amount of money in their vehicle. More cash was discovered inside the cubbyhole and later placed in another sealed bag to be submitted as evidence, with one sealed bag missing.” The officers appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen
Two police officers and civilian arrested in connection with truck hijackings on R59, N3 and other Gauteng routes TimesLIVE reports that a VIP protection unit officer and a flying squad police officer have been arrested for alleged involvement with a syndicate which has been hijacking trucks on freeways in Gauteng. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said it viewed this as a major blow dealt to the syndicate by the national traffic anti-corruption unit. The two police officers and a civilian were arrested in Johannesburg on Tuesday, shortly after they had allegedly hijacked a truck. “The three — a member of the Ekurhuleni metro police department’s VIP protection unit, a member of the police flying squad and a civilian — were spotted driving a vehicle fitted with false number plates in the Johannesburg central business district. The number plates raised the suspicion of a member of the traffic anti-corruption unit. He kept the vehicle under surveillance while he called for backup from members of police crime intelligence and the Gauteng highway patrol. The joint team confronted the suspects and found them in possession of state-issued firearms. It was discovered the suspects had earlier allegedly dropped off a fully loaded truck at Strydom Park in Randburg. The RTMC said it was believed they were part of a syndicate that has been hijacking trucks on the R59, N3 and other routes in Gauteng. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
Condemnation of director-general’s ‘race baiting’ tweets against SAA Pilots Association The Citizen reports that according to SA Airways Pilots Association (Saapa) spokesperson Grant Back, it was regrettable that a government official had resorted to race-baiting and blatantly false accusations against his association. In a scathing attack on Saapa in an opinion piece on News24, Department of Public Enterprises director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi had claimed that an agreement between Saapa and SAA was “worse than any job reservation Act of the apartheid era” and it “completely violates a democratic order”. He also claimed that the association’s defence of the “evergreen” agreement, called the regulating agreement, promoted white pilots’ self-interests. Back said the association “and our pilots will not be used as scapegoats for the department-led failure of SAA”. The Democratic Alliance’s Ghaleb Cachalia, shadow minister of public enterprises, demanded Tlhakudi’s immediate suspension in a tweet. “He needs to be hauled over the coals and retract the statement immediately,” Cachalia said. Michael Morris, of the Institute of Race Relations, commented: “This is a cynical exploitation of race. It is unfortunate, imprecise and meaningless. Race is being offered up as an excuse for a shareholder’s inability to negotiate in good faith.” He added: “A pilot is a pilot, no matter what hue.” However, last October Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan emphasised that the new SAA would only have black pilots. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hein Kaiser at The Citizen Leaked letter from business rescuers shows striking SAA pilots could have received almost R1bn by now News24 reports that according to a letter dated 9 April 2021 from the SAA business rescue practitioners (BRPs) to the SAA Pilots Association (Saapa), if striking members of the association had accepted the BRPs’ latest offer, an amount totalling R704 million would have been paid out to them last week. A further R182 million would have been paid during the course of this week. The balance of ex-gratia and severance payments would have been made over the next three years, with the first payment in the amount of R71 million scheduled for payment in August 2021. Despite the BRPs having submitted their revised terms on the proposed settlement to Saapa on 1 April 2021, the organisation has apparently not to date responded. The amounts the BRPs would have paid out would have included an unpaid salaries settlement for the months of April to November 2020 (R314 million); notice pay (R68 million); leave pay (R184 million); and 13th cheque payments (R137 million). The BRPs told Saapa members in the letter that they found it "illogical" that the union had not accepted the settlement proposals. "It is even worse when faced with the reality that the ex gratia payments and the uncompromised full leave pay will no longer be available once the business rescue ends," the letter indicated. Saapa members have been locked out since 18 December 2020 and have recently started a strike in order to prevent the situation where the company lifts the lockout only for some pilots, especially training pilots, who are needed to get the airline back in the air again. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24
Fatal conveyor belt incident at Gold Fields’ South Deep gold mine Mining Weekly reports that an employee at gold producer Gold Fields’ South Deep mine lost his life in a mining incident on 13 April. The company reported that Vumile Mgcine, a shaft timberman, succumbed to injuries sustained while attempting to unblock a shute outlet on an underground conveyor belt. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) was advised of the incident and an in loco inspection, led by the DMRE and supported by trade union representatives and mine management, was scheduled to take place on 14 April. The mine said its HR team was providing assistance to the deceased employee’s family, which would also be supported in accordance with a range of the mine’s policies. "As I start my work at Gold Fields, there is no more tragic reminder of the overriding importance of safety at our mines than the death of a colleague. My heartfelt condolences go out to Vumile’s family, friends and colleagues. Management will do everything possible to support them in this hour of need,” said new CEO Chris Griffith. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
SA Bureau of Standards hopes to save R150m by retrenching 170 employees The Star reports that yet another public entity has embarked on a process that could result in the retrenchment of employees, barely a month after the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) let over 600 employees go. The SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) has issued a ‘section 189’ retrenchment notice to its employees. Up to 170 employees could lose their jobs by 15 May, from a headcount of 832. The SABS hopes to save R150 million once retrenchments are done. The process started with consultations in which the bureau told workers that a cash crunch and its “dire financial straits” had forced it to consider retrenchments. It said Covid-19 had exacerbated the cash crisis, as it had had negative effects on revenue generation efforts. One SABS employee said the writing was on the wall. “As we have witnessed, other entities already cut both blue and white collar workforce,” he noted. Speaking on Tuesday, SABS spokesperson Nils Flaatten insisted the body had merely embarked on consultations in line with section 189. “The SABS has not begun any retrenchment process,” he said. “The salary bill remains the highest expenditure item which if not reduced, would threaten the financial sustainability of the SABS,” he commented. Read the original of the report in the above regard at The Star
Eskom’s De Ruyter inquiry also puts procurement chief on the spot to prove racism allegations BL Premium writes that Eskom’s chief procurement officer, Solly Tshitangano, who has accused CEO André de Ruyter of racism, could be in the firing line himself should the probe that he has called for finds that his claims have no substance. The Eskom board of directors has appointed advocate Ishmael Semenya to inquire into a complaint made by Tshitangano against De Ruyter in which the latter is accused of having made five racially motivated appointments and for favouring white suppliers over black ones. However, Semenya has been asked not only to determine De Ruyter’s guilt or innocence but to make recommendations for any action that needs to be taken against “any specific individuals” in connection with the matters probed. Should the claims be debunked by De Ruyter — he has replied to all Tshitangano’s allegations in a detailed affidavit — Semenya may consider whether Eskom has been intentionally misled by Tshitangano. Tshitangano, who has been suspended, is also facing a disciplinary inquiry for non-performance, which the Eskom board has insisted must go ahead next week. While there has been tension between De Ruyter and Tshitangano since De Ruyter took a special interest in procurement after he took up his position more than a year ago, their relationship deteriorated sharply when De Ruyter took steps to suspend him in February on the grounds of poor performance. Tshitangano then wrote to the director-general of the department of public enterprises and parliament’s standing committee on public accounts asking for their intervention and detailing allegations of wrongdoing by De Ruyter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Proposed amendments to Employment Equity Act challenged by Institute of Race Relations BL Premium reports that proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA), which seek to give the labour minister the authority to set employment equity targets for employers across the economy, will trigger a flight of scarce skills and capital. This was told to MPs by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) on Tuesday. Parliament is holding public hearings on the contentious Employment Equity Amendment Bill. In its submission, the IRR said the bill, if passed, was likely to trigger excessive costs in the form of disinvestment and emigration. It would also deter investment, limit growth, reduce employment, add to inequality, and make recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown, which has caused unprecedented damage to an already ailing economy, even harder to achieve. The IRR pointed out that a comprehensive socioeconomic impact assessment had not yet been undertaken. The changes proposed in the bill would enable the labour minister, in consultation with the stakeholders of a particular sector, to set employment equity sector-specific numerical targets. The bill also seeks to strengthen compliance mechanisms. Cosatu backed the bill saying it was long overdue. The union federation’s Matthew Parks said: “It is fair, rational and empowers the state to deal with obstinate employers; equally, it allows for regional diversity, which is a matter requiring sensitivity; and it links state tender requirement to compliance with labour laws and good labour practices.” He added that the provisions requiring employers to consult unions were welcomed and would help strengthen collective bargaining and encourage labour market stability. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Former Nelson Mandela Bay human settlements boss ordered to pay back overpayment of R11.3m on Seaview property HeraldLive reports that former Nelson Mandela Bay municipality human settlements executive director Lindile Petuna must fork out more than R11m to reimburse the city after it overpaid a Seaview property owner in 2015 on his recommendation. The High Court in Gqeberha ruled that Petuna, who has since been employed by the Knysna municipality, was liable for the R11.3m loss. The court found he had also withheld critical information — that the market value of the land was R3m — when he made the recommendation to mayor Ben Fihla and the council. Petuna recommended that council approve the purchase of the land for R14.3m to develop low-cost housing. He claimed in the report that the city would immediately be able to develop 9.6 hectares of the property with a further 17.55 hectares added in future. This was despite a feasibility study from his own department that clearly stated only 5.08 hectares of the land was suitable for human settlements development. Petuna, who left the municipality in November 2015, had unsuccessfully argued that because he was no longer in the employ of the city and the fact that he had advised the council on the basis of reports from officials of the department of human settlements, he should not be held liable for the loss. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
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