In our morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared yesterday
and early today.
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Experts call for restrictions to limit impact of third wave of Covid-19 infections SowetanLive reports that with Covid-19 daily infections having exceeded the 4,000 mark in the past weekend, the government has been urged to consider moving the country to lockdown level 3 or to hit hotspot provinces and districts with localised restrictions. Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Saturday that the country had recorded 4,236 daily infections, bringing the number of active cases to 39,369. However, the country’s infection figures are not high enough for it to be considered the third wave as yet. SA is also going into the second week of phase two of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, currently targeting people who are over 60 years. Prof Mosa Moshabela from the University of KwaZulu-Natal said on Sunday that for the government to avoid the adverse effects of the third wave, new restrictions needed to be considered to limit movement of people. “A countrywide level 3 lockdown should be considered, if not that then maybe the government can target provinces and districts that are hotspots and impose level 3 and even an alcohol ban because alcohol encourages gatherings and movement of people,” said Moshabela. Under lockdown level 3, alcohol sales are only permitted at certain times, beaches and public parks are closed, a strict curfew is imposed, and there is a limit on numbers of people at gatherings. “If we don’t impose restrictions immediately, we will find ourselves piling up cases of infections and deaths. We have to learn from the mistakes from the second wave,” Moshabela warned. Prof Adrian Puren of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the government needed to urgently put infrastructure in place such as ensuring hospital capacity and oxygen supplies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lindile Sifile at SowetanLive As Covid-19 cases increase, Ramaphosa refers alcohol industry’s concerns about possible new ban on alcohol sales to Nedlac BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has referred the liquor industry to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) after the industry raised concerns about a possible ban on alcohol sales. The National Liquor Traders Council [NLC] and Liquor Traders Association of SA, which represents big players including the bulk of township-based taverns and bottle stores, wrote to Ramaphosa on Sunday requesting a meeting to discuss the response to the growing Covid-19 infections and a possible third wave in the country. The government introduced alcohol bans on three separate occasions in 2020, totalling about 20 weeks, in bids to reduce the number of trauma patients in hospitals. The bans attracted widespread condemnation for the devastating effect on the economy, including R38bn in lost liquor sales, R27bn less tax revenue, job losses and billions in cancelled investment. Now there are fears that another ban may be on the cards as Covid-19 cases surge and the government struggles with the vaccine rollout. In their letter, the liquor industry bodies said where restrictions in economic activity were required, these should be explained with clear end dates. “This allows businesses to plan, rather than facing an open-ended disruption which is significantly more difficult to manage and leads to far greater business distress and job losses. Setting clear end dates, or at least clear criteria upon which restrictions would be lifted (such as infection rates) is vital,” said Lucky Ntimane on behalf of the industry. Last week the lobby group SA Alcohol Policy Alliance (Saapa) called for a fourth alcohol ban. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Vavi wants Metrobus to recognise the rebel union that has been on strike for four weeks The Star reports that according to Zwelinzima Vavi of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), the indefinite Metrobus strike will only end when the City of Johannesburg recognises rebel union the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA (Demawusa) as a bargaining partner. This was said as the Metrobus strike entered its fourth week, with no end in sight. The City has tried interdicting the strike but failed. Seemingly, the majority of workers want to return to work, but because of threats of intimidation and attacks they are afraid to do so. Demawusa, a Saftu affiliate, has about 100 members at Metrobus while more than 700 belong to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu). “They are going to have to recognise the union. The apartheid regime refused to talk to Samwu until they were forced to. The workers are determined to teach Metrobus a lesson,” Vavi opined. “The unity of workers should be about advancing the interest of the workers. All of those Demawusa members were members of Samwu. There would be no Demawusa if Samwu had not abandoned them,” he stated. Samwu has distanced itself from the strike and spokesperson Papikie Mohale said Demawusa and Saftu were being unreasonable. Demawusa is seeking an 18% pay hike, a figure that Metrobus has described as impossible. Metrobus spokesperson Goodwill Shiburi said Gauteng Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo was in talks with stakeholders to try to resolve the issue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Star Labour Court dismisses application by SAA pilots to prevent airline from using scab labour Fin24 reports that the Labour Court on Monday dismissed an application by the SAA Pilots' Association (Saapa) that sought to prevent the state-owned airline from using so-called 'scab labour'. At issue were vital training functions needed for the airline to kick off operations again. The union's members have been locked out since 18 December and later went on strike to prevent scab labour – that is, workers hired to fill in for the absent union members – from being used by the airline. In April this year, Saapa approached the Labour Court with a similar aim, but the matter was postponed until 15 June. At the time, SAA denied it intended to use scab labour or that Saapa members faced imminent harm. On Monday, Judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje ruled that there was no need for the application for interim relief some 17 days before the main application was to be heard on 15 June, when the parties could "fully ventilate" the issues raised. He added that SAA "clearly has a right" to prepare to kick off operations from 1 July, and it would suffer greater harm if relief were granted to the pilots. He also noted that the airline intended, for training purposes, to replace four pilots who were not affected by the lock-out – three whose lock-out conditions had been lifted, and one who had never been locked out. In its application for interim relief, Saapa, which represents nearly 90% of the pilots at SAA, had argued that the hiring of the replacement labour was not allowed in terms of a long-standing Regulating Agreement between the airline and Saapa. The association indicated on Monday that it would be launching an application for leave to appeal against the latest judgment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24
Transport union Untu to interdict Prasa over implementation of 5% wage increase BL Premium reports that the majority union at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) says it will this week interdict the cash-strapped rail passenger operator for failing to implement a 5% wage increase that forms part of a multiyear agreement signed with unions. The United National Transport Union (Untu) has instructed its legal team to file an urgent labour court application against the state-owned rail operator to compel it to pay the 5% salary increase. In October 2020, Prasa signed a wage deal with Untu and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) that gave its workers a 5% salary increase each year for three years. Untu general secretary Steve Harris said they placed Prasa on terms to pay the increase after it failed to do so at the end of April 2021. “Untu placed its urgent application on hold after Prasa CEO Zolani Matthews gave the leadership of the union the undertaking to pay during a [recent] meeting, but pleaded for time to sort out challenges with the department of transport and with the Treasury,” Harris reported. “The initial extension was given until May 7 2021, but Prasa once again asked the union to bear with them. Prasa is playing for time, while the Treasury seems to believe that it is above the law and can simply ignore collective agreements parties entered into,” Harris added. Untu spokesperson Sonja Carstens said they expected to serve Prasa with court papers by Wednesday at the latest Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
General Manager of Rio Tinto's Richards Bay Minerals shot dead on Monday whilst travelling to work Miningmx reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a company controlled by Rio Tinto, confirmed that its GM Nico Swart had been shot dead on Monday morning whilst travelling to work. “The circumstances of the shooting are unknown at this stage and the incident is being investigated by the South African Police Services (SAPS),” said RBM, adding that it was cooperating with the SA Police Service (SAPS). More than 20 high-caliber bullets were sprayed into Swart’s vehicle in Meerensee, a residential area about 25 minutes from RBM, shortly before 7am, according to a report by the Zululand Observer. Swart was 47 years old and had worked at RBM for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. The murder has sent shockwaves through Rio Tinto, which told Bloomberg News in April that it was unsure when a $463m expansion of RBM would proceed because of security problems. Work on the project was halted two years ago. RMB employs about 5,000 workers and exports titanium dioxide slag. The project, known as Zulti South is intended to extend the life of the entire operation as commercially viable ore at other sites is depleted. RMB initially targeted completing the project this year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Miningmx Community conflict around Richards Bay Minerals appears to have stepped up BL Premium reports that a senior manager at Richards Bay Minerals (RMB) in northern KwaZulu-Natal was shot dead on Monday while driving to work at the mineral sands operation, which has been the source of violent community conflict. The circumstances of the attack on Nico Swart, GM of operational services, are as yet unknown. RBM is owned by Australia’s Rio Tinto. There has been violence and intimidation at the RBM operation since 2016. Rio Tinto stopped its investment in its new R6.5bn Zulti South project since December 2019 because of community unrest and violence, with an employee shot and wounded. At the time Rio cited an “escalation of criminal activity towards Richards Bay Minerals employees” as its reason for stopping work at Zulti. The rest of its operations continue to produce titanium dioxide. Rio Tinto has been tight-lipped about the troubles around RBM, keeping its communication on the matter to a bare minimum. Meantime, the IFP has listed three people killed in what it said were events linked to violence around the RBM operations. One of those killed was human resources manager Ronny Nzimande, who was shot dead outside his house in 2016. Earlier that same year, the leader of a jobseekers’ committee dealing with RBM, Thokozani Mbika, was shot dead. “We are concerned about what appears to be a growing disturbing culture of violent and criminal activities being orchestrated to eliminate and intimidate leadership of RBM,” the IFP said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Allan Seccombe at BusinessLive (paywall access only). Read too, KZN premier calls for calm after RBM mining executive gunned down, at TimesLIVE Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Defence at Marikana trial probes sequence of events as cross-examination of witness continues News24 reports that the murder trial of former North West deputy police commissioner Major General William Mpembe and his five co-accused continued in the North West High Court in Mahikeng on Monday. Defence advocate Kobus Burger continued with his cross-examination of Sergeant Benjamin Mahume. Burger sought to understand the sequence of events on 13 August 2012 when police and mineworkers clashed at Lonmin K3 shaft in Marikana. Striking miners were allegedly looking for other miners who had reported for duty at the K3 shaft, when horrific scenes unfolded. Five people died, namely mineworkers Semi Jokanisi, Phumzile Sokhanyile and Thembelakhe Mati, and police officers Hendrick Monene and Sello Lepaaku. Mpembe, retired Colonel Salmon Vermaak, Constable Nkosana Mguye, as well as Warrant Officers Collin Mogale, Joseph Sekgwetla and Khazamola Makhubela, are in the dock in connection with allegations relating to the events, which happened three days before the infamous Marikana massacre. Mahume was a constable attached to Rustenburg Public Order Policing (POP) unit on that day and was ordered to go to the mine to support officers from other units who were on the scene. He was questioned about what defence lawyers believed were discrepancies between a statement he submitted to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in February 2017 and evidence he had given in court. Burger represents Vermaak, who was the North West police airwing commander on that day. Mahume was testifying during his fifth day of cross-examination. The trial resumed on 10 May and is expected to run until 28 May. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24. Read too, Marikana trial: 'No truth is coming out', say mineworkers' families, at News24
Proposed new law will force wage gap disclosure City Press reports that government is finalising legislation aimed at highlighting the huge gap in what companies’ highest paid bosses and the lowest paid employees earn. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said during his budget speech last week that a new law stipulating that companies have to disclose the gap in remuneration “would be finalised within 60 days”. It will require disclosure of wage differentials in companies, stronger governance on excessive director pay, and enhanced transparency on ownership and financial records. An amendment to company law “is required to tackle the gross injustice of excessive pay,” Patel said. But, Madelein Burger of law firm Webber Wentzel said that, between the 2019 version, last month’s version and an amendment to the latter, it was uncertain which “new law” the minister had been referring to. The Companies Amendment Bill of 2018 was published in the Government Gazette in September 2018 for comment. Since then, several unofficial versions of the bill have been distributed for discussion, the latest of which was last month. Burger noted that this year’s unofficial version of the bill provided for the gap in pay between high- and low-paid employees to be made public, as well as the gap between the average of 5% of the highest-paid employees versus the average of 5% of the lowest paid. That version does not indicate what would count as unacceptable. It is also uncertain what Patel means by “finalise”. According to the minister, the legal provisions will not prescribe salaries. According to Burger, the unofficial version of this year does not prescribe any remedies or steps regarding the payment gaps, but the remuneration policy must be approved every three years. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Riana de Lange at City Press. Read too, Patel’s plan to address the inequity of executive pay, at Moneyweb. And also, Law on wage disclosure is a step towards greater equality (editorial), at BusinessLive
R6.3bn cut in KZN education budget will 'severely' affect pupils and teachers, MEC warns SowetanLive reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education MEC Kwazi Mshengu says a R6.3bn budget cut will severely affect pupils, teachers and the building and renovation of schools. Speaking at his department’s budget vote for 2021 on Thursday, Mshengu said the budget cuts over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) meant that the available budget would not sufficiently cater for both filled and vacant personnel numbers on the system. The allocated budget of just more than R53bn has been spread thinly to cover various costs, including administration, public ordinary school education, independent school subsidies, infrastructure development, early childhood development, and examination and education-related services. “The effect of the budget cuts of R6.3bn will severely be felt by learners in the classroom. Because of these budget cuts, it is now a reality that we will have classrooms that will be left without educators; that schools will not be sufficiently supported by district offices; that head offices will not be able to effectively support the entire system,” Mshengu said. He went on to add: “Cutting off unnecessary and unapproved travelling of staff members; limiting approved travelling kilometres to 1,750; capping KZN cars' petrol cards to R3,000 a month; cutting on legal costs; proper management of staff leave and exit packages; and consolidation of small and non-viable schools — these measures will not fully mitigate against the effect of budget cuts.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mluleki Mdletshe at SowetanLive More than 700 Eastern Cape schools closed, more to follow SowetanLive reports that the Eastern Cape department of education has closed more than 700 schools and almost 400 more face closure due to the department’s restructuring and rationalisation process. Figures obtained by Daily Dispatch show that 776 schools have closed, while 394 are pending closure. The document seen by the newspaper does not indicate a time period, but indicates that the department is in the process of restructuring. According to the department, the rationalisation is not only due to migration patterns between provinces, but to reduce inefficiencies within the department. According to the parliamentary monitoring group, rationalisation refers to the “carefully” planned and implemented process of discontinuing schools that have become non-viable due to a decline in enrolment. The merger and closure of schools aims to improve the quality of education. The department said 556 schools had closed in the past five years, while low enrolment was the issue at some of the schools. It also indicated that pupils had moved from the rural areas to urban areas such as Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Bay. Yet, one of the big problems was that when schools closed, pupils were not adequately budgeted for with regard to scholar transport thereafter. Another problem was that learners were put in a more concentrated space. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gugu Phandle on page 8 of Sowetan of 24 May 2021 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Putco bus fire along Moloto Road that left six dead to be independently probed Pretoria News reports that the Department of Public Roads and Transport Infrastructure has launched an independent forensic investigation into the burning of a Putco bus that left six people dead and several others in need of urgent medical attention on Friday. MEC Jacob Mamabolo made the announcement on Sunday when he visited Steve Biko Academic Hospital where one of the victims who suffered serious burns and smoke inhalation when the fire erupted on the notorious Moloto Road was being treated. The bus, travelling from Marabastad, was carrying 63 passengers and headed for Tweefontein in Mpumalanga when smoke erupted, forcing passengers to escape the bus to save their lives. Putco spokesperson Matlakala Motloung indicated that the company had appointed independent investigators and fire experts to look at this issue and report back on what happened, because they did not know what could have caused the fire as the bus had recently had a major service. Mamabolo said the department was aware that Putco was investigating the matter, but they were not going to depend on it and would rely on their own independent investigation, which would provide recommendations that would be followed by the government. He said he would have a meeting with Putco management to discuss that they could not continue having their buses on the roads if there were frequent incidents of fire. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News. Read too, Families in desperate search for bus fire victims, at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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