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 morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared on Thursday,
20 May 2021 and recently.
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Cosatu tells affiliates to be ‘combat ready’ over public sector wage increases, while PSA loses faith in conciliation SowetanLive reports that as wage negotiations with government continue to hit a snag, Cosatu has called on its public sector affiliates to be combat ready to take their fight to the streets over their demand for an improved offer. The call has come because the government is standing its ground at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSBC) on offering a 1.5% increase together with a 12-months, monthly non-pensionable gratuity of R978.00, which unions have rejected in preference for their demand of 7%. While Cosatu unions are still engaged with government in the facilitation process at the PSBC, the Public Servants Association (PSA) declared a dispute and filed for a conciliation process last week, and is threatening to take to the streets should the government fail to revise its offer. Following its central executive committee (CEC) meeting held this week, Cosatu said its unions, which include the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), should stay at the negotiating table. But, general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the unions had to be ready for industrial action in case the government refused to change its offer. “The federation offers its full support to the public service unions and hopes that the ongoing negotiations will result in a settlement to avert a possible strike. But unions should continue to mobilise for any eventuality and remain battle-ready,” Ntshalintshali stated. In an indication that it was also contemplating to embark on a strike action, the PSA indicated this week that it was slowly losing faith in the conciliation process as no headway seemed to be taking place. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siviwe Feketha at SowetanLive NUM and Numsa adamant Eskom can afford 15% wage increase BL Premium reports that the two biggest unions representing workers at Eskom said on Thursday that if the power utility could spend billions of rand on contracts for coal and renewable energy independent power producers (REIPPs), then it could afford the 15% wage increase workers were demanding. In a joint media briefing, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said REIPPs and coal contracts, not wages, were the biggest cost drivers at Eskom. The utility, which is buckling under a R480bn debt pile, issued a statement on Wednesday saying its 1.5% wage increase offer was final. The offer is conditional on unions agreeing to a proposed downward variation of worker benefits including overtime pay, travel allowances, and employee transfer costs. The NUM, Numsa and Solidarity have all rejected Eskom’s proposals. The NUM and Numsa leaders said their members’ demands for a 15% wage increase — Solidarity is demanding 9% — were justified. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim commented: “For now, we are [still] negotiating. We are going to explore all avenues. If it comes to push, we might take legal action ... workers won’t perpetually fold their hands.” He indicated that the union would now mobilise workers to protest and demonstrate in support of their demands, adding that: “At some point, we won’t be in control of what workers do in those demonstrations and protests. Very soon, we think the country will be running into a crisis if there is no movement [from Eskom] to make a meaningful offer.” The wage talks adjourned on Thursday and will resume on 31 May. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only) NUM demands a 15% wage increase for workers in gold mining sector Fin24 reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has put forward a 15% wage demand for its workers in the gold mining sector covering a three-year bargaining period from 2021 to 2023. According to the union, it will be for the first time in the history of wage bargaining in the gold sector that negotiations will be conducted with individual companies, outside of the traditional centralised collective process. This year Harmony Gold and Sibanye Stillwater pulled out of the Central Bargaining Forum for the 2021 negotiations. "We don't support decentralisation as it will disadvantage workers because wage offers and conditions of employment will be different from one company to another," the union said. NUM acting general secretary, William Mabapa, remarked on Thursday that the 15% wage increase, with a minimum pay of R15,000, was "fairly reasonable and could be easily met by the employers". Other demands include that Employee Share Ownership Plan Scheme dividends be paid annually; paid annual leave be increased from 30 to 35 days; paid maternity leave of six months; minimum stand-by allowance of R5,000 per month; funeral benefits increased from R40,000 to R60,000; a skills-retention incentive of R4,600; long-service awards to be paid in an interval of five years at a minimum of R10,000; and ten days of Covid-19 leave. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo at Fin24
Gauteng MEC Mamabolo calls on City of JHB to intervene in dispute between Metrobus and union Demawusa EWN reports that Gauteng Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo on Thursday said it was time that government stepped in and mediated the dispute between Metrobus and Demawusa. On Tuesday, the bus company's court application to stop the strike by union-affiliated employees was struck from the roll with a cost order. Workers have been striking since early this month. The employees are seeking an 18% increase, a R15,000 Covid-19 allowance and a 14th cheque, among other demands. Mamabolo commented: “This is really serious, and we are worried as a province about what this is doing to households and families. We are now considering one option, which is to interact with the City of Johannesburg and get to understand how the city is approaching the matter.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public Protector intervenes in dispute between protesting artists and NAC over Covid funds GroundUp reports that the Office of the Public Protector (PP) is mediating the dispute between the National Arts Council (NAC) and a group of protesting artists who have been staging sit-ins for two months. Performers and creative have been staging sit-ins at the council’s offices in Newtown, Johannesburg since 3 March. They are demanding answers about the management of Covid-19 relief funds and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP). Earlier this week, the artists went to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture head office in Pretoria. According to a NAC statement on 14 May, over R200 million has been paid to 1,300 beneficiaries, which amounted to 70% of the total grant for the PESP of R285 million. Savage Tau, one of the protesting artists, stated: “That’s not true. The reason we’re here is because … it’s more than the PESP now … it’s about the Constitution – that the artists are not seen as employees but as freelancers. We die as paupers because of the law, which is not right.” At the end of April, Oupa Segalwe, spokesperson for the PP, announced that Advocates Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Kholeka Gcaleka would mediate the dispute. He reported that the advocates had met with Minister Nathi Mthethwa and members of the NAC council and had held a separate meeting with the artists at the end of April. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Julia Evans at GroundUp
Cosatu ‘worried’ about slow implementation of economic recovery and reconstruction plan BL Premium reports that labour federation Cosatu has criticised the government and the business sector for moving slowly to implement the economic recovery and reconstruction plan and has called for decisive action to address SA’s stubborn socioeconomic challenges. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the plan in October 2020, 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. The SA economy has been battered by the global Covid-19 pandemic, contracting 7% in 2020 and resulting in the loss of more than 1.4-million jobs. Briefing the media on Thursday following Cosatu’s three-day central executive committee (CEC) meeting, general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the federation was “worried about the slow pace” that the government and business were moving at to implement their commitments under the economic recovery plan. The CEC called on the private sector to stop making excuses and employing delaying tactics “when it comes to local procurement”. The labour federation, said Ntshalintshali, was working to ensure that unions, economic sectors, pension and investment funds all become “active and decisive champions of local procurement”. The stakeholders needed to demonstrate that buying local was about investing in quality, in sustaining local businesses, and in keeping jobs at home, he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Vaccinated SA health workers may get booster ImmunityBio shot Bloomberg News reports that ImmunityBio’s hAd5 T-cell Covid-19 vaccine candidate is being considered as a booster shot in a study of almost 500,000 South African health workers who have received Johnson & Johnson’s inoculation. The health workers, the first persons outside of much smaller studies to be vaccinated in SA, will need a booster, Glenda Gray, the co-lead of the South African studies, said on Wednesday. “It could be the universal boost that we are looking for. Hopefully we will start in a couple of weeks,” she indicated. The hAd5 T-cell kills infected cells and, in addition to the spike proteins found on the coronavirus, the shot targets the nucleocapsid protein, which is less prone to mutations. That could make it more effective against strains such as the one first found in SA in late 2020. ImmunityBio’s vaccine is in phase one trials in Cape Town, and the company has signed an agreement with SA’s BioVac Institute to produce the inoculation in the country should it win approval. ImmunityBio is majority-owned by SA-born biotech billionaire Dr Patrick Shoon-Shiong, who recently announced a R3 billion commitment to bolster pharmaceutical production in SA. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Antony Sguazzin at Fin24
Court date for interdict against Minister Sisulu regarding Cuban engineers set for 1 June Solidarity reports that it will be in court on 1 June to seek to obtain an interdict against the plans of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to import and deploy Cuban engineers. The trade union has brought an urgent application to the North Gauteng High Court to stop these actions by the Minister and her department. “We have already met with the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. They requested the opportunity to submit to us an alternative proposal, for which we set a deadline, and we have also extended this deadline twice. To date, however, no alternative proposal has been received. The matter is urgent and Solidarity cannot allow it to drag on any longer. Our legal team went ahead with urgent legal steps to stop the Minister’s plans,” said Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann. In its application Solidarity seeks an interdict that will, among other things, prevent any work being done on SA’s water infrastructure by Cuban engineers. The application also requests that no payments related to this agreement should be made. “Our priority is to promote the interests of South African workers,” Hermann commented. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Solidarity News
Gauteng teacher accused of raping pupil at school turns himself in and appears in court News24 reports that a Gauteng teacher who handed himself over to police in connection with allegations that he raped a pupil made a brief appearance in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court on Thursday. The matter was postponed to 27 May for a formal bail application. Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi attended court proceedings. He said educators and officials of his department "have a sacrosanct duty of ensuring that learners placed in our care are safe and protected" and that any educator or official who preyed on learners “has no place in the education system." The 38-year-old Umqhele Secondary School teacher is accused of raping a 16-year old pupil on the school premises in Ivory Park, Midrand, on Friday. The Gauteng Department of Education became aware of the rape allegations when the case was reported to its district office last week. The department said it had made available its psycho-social unit to provide support to the affected pupil and those close to her. It indicated that disciplinary processes against the alleged perpetrator had begun. The department added that the accused had tendered a letter of resignation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24. Read too, Teacher accused of raping pupil at school tenders his resignation, at TimesLIVE Gauteng teacher filmed slapping Grade R pupil suspended after protest by parents SowetanLive reports that it took a protest by parents to get the Department of Education in Gauteng to suspend a teacher who was filmed meting out corporal punishment to a Grade R pupil. The incident took place at Nchuncheko Primary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria on Thursday last week. The teacher will face disciplinary proceedings on Monday. In a five-second video that went viral on social media, the teacher can be seen slapping the five-year-old boy at least four times on the head. The boy's great-grandmother, Jostine Seabela, said the incident has left the boy and his twin brother, who was present when it happened, traumatised. “Just after the video went viral I received a call from the teacher asking me to lie on her behalf and tell the school that I am the one who gave her permission to beat the child to save her job,” claimed Seabela. She said she refused and told the teacher to “sleep on the bed that she made for herself”. Provincial education spokesperson Steve Mabona said they remained unequivocal in their condemnation of corporal punishment, which was outlawed in 1996. “We have never hesitated to act when such matters are reported and we will continue to prioritise safety at our school at all times,” he said. Mabona confirmed that the disciplinary hearing was scheduled for Monday. He said counselling would be offered to affected pupils. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Keletso Mkhwanazi at SowetanLive. Read too, Teacher suspended for beating Grade R pupil, at The Citizen
SAICA’s dismissal for sexual harassment of ‘beard-tickler’ upheld in Labour Court GroundUp reports that Labour Court has upheld the dismissal of a man who “tickled” a colleague’s face with his newly grown, long beard, and then hugged and kissed her. The matter before Judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje was a bid by fired SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) project manager Thandanani Umlaw to overturn a previous ruling by the CCMA, which found his dismissal to have been fair. In summary, the judge noted that in 2017 Ms S got into the lift with Umlaw and complimented him on his newly grown beard. When she asked him why he kept his beard long, he told her that he used it to “tickle” and proceeded to demonstrate what he meant by holding her, rubbing his bearded face against her face, hugging her, kissing her on her neck and face and “then for good measure”, kissing her forehead. For demonstrating his tickling prowess, Umlaw was dismissed for sexual harassment. He then unsuccessfully referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the CCMA. Judge Tlhotlhalemaje asked rhetorically: “Since when is being complimented on one’s looks an open invitation to give bear hugs, or reciprocate the compliment with a kiss, or even ask the person giving the compliment personal questions? The obvious answer is that it has never been, nor can it ever be. Normal civilised citizens will ordinarily reply with a simple ‘thank you’ and carry on with their lives.” The judge went on to comment: “The most disconcerting part is that he failed at the time and even in these review proceedings to appreciate the enormity of the consequences of his reprehensible conduct.” The judge also ordered that Umlaw pay the SAICA’s costs for the case Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp. Read too, Man who hugged, kissed colleague inside lift and said ’I’ve never done this to a white lady before’ fired, at The Star
Almost 80 municipal officers being disciplined for financial misconduct, with 29 from eThekwini Metro alone Moneyweb reports that according to National Treasury, disciplinary processes in respect of the 2020/21 financial year have been started against 79 municipal officials for financial misconduct in 15 municipalities. The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality accounts for the bulk of these, with disciplinary processes instituted against 29 people there during the period. The Moneyweb report lists the municipalities concerned. This information came to light when Treasury responded to parliamentary questions from Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Cilliers Brink. According to the department, the officials include two chief financial officers, seven cashiers and an array of revenue officers, debt collectors, clerks and managers. If the alleged financial misconduct constitutes a financial offence in terms of Section 173 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, charges have to be laid against the person concerned with the SA Police Service (Saps). Municipalities must also report in their annual reports all suspensions, disciplinary or criminal proceedings instituted in cases of financial misconduct. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Palesa Mofokeng at Moneyweb
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