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 early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
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Cele confirms that SAPS Covid-19 death toll has climbed to 636 Independent Media reports that according to Police Minister Bheki Cele, the SA Police Service (SAPS) has lost more than 600 officers due to Covid-19. Cele, who was delivering his budget vote speech in the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday, said they would continue to intensify crime fighting in hotspot areas, but with many officers having lost their lives, the impact of Covid-19 has been felt in the police force. “We have painfully lost hundreds of our employees both uniform members and support personnel across departments and entities. To date 636 police members have died of Covid-19 related complications and 29,334 have recovered. Many of them could not get their well- deserved dignified send off because we had to observe Covid-19 regulations. Policing under the Covid-19 pandemic has left the sector with numerous lessons and unmatched level of experience; of policing against all odds,” said Cele. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Siyabonga Mkhwanazi at Independent media Durban construction worker crushed by heavy machinery, airlifted to hospital Independent Media reports that a Durban construction worker was crushed by heavy machinery during an industrial accident on Wednesday morning. According to Netcare 911’s Shawn Herbst, paramedics responded to reports of an industrial incident at a construction site in Wyebank, Durban West Region. Herbst reported further: “Reports indicate that the driver of a construction vehicle lost control while ascending an embankment. The patient sustained serious injuries when the heavy machinery rolled over him, crushing him. The patient was treated on scene by emergency care practitioners while a Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance stood by. Once stabilised, the patient was flown to a specialist facility for the care he required.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at Independent Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Employment and labour minister says his department must ‘talk less’ and do more to fix Compensation Fund Mail & Guardian reports that Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has told MPs his department needs to “talk less” and do more to combat the years of irregular expenditure and mismanagement that have plagued the Compensation Fund (CF). “[T]here must be less talk now. And there must be, actually, acting involved,” he indicated on Tuesday to the portfolio committee on employment and labour, which had called the managers and heads of department of the CF and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to account before it after a damning presentation in May by the Auditor General (AG). The CF has received disclaimers from the AG for several years because of insufficient information being provided on its financial statements. The AG reported that internal controls at the UIF and Compensation Fund were “weak” and “concerning” and had “resulted in a prolonged situation of unauditable information for a period of 10 years, especially from the CF”. Nxesi told the committee that his department was finalising its latest plans for submission to the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa). On 19 May, Scopa ordered the department to facilitate a forensic investigation into the affairs of the CF. “We are hard at work coming up with the action plans which have to be submitted. We were given 21 days from the day we appeared [before Scopa]. And even those action plans as we finalise them we have to also show the AG [auditor general that the plans] are addressing what is supposed to be addressed,” said Nxesi. The portfolio committee said the department must provide information on its plans to parliament by the end of July, before it met again in August. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Eunice Stoltz at Mail & Guardian
Independent facilitator proposes below-inflation hikes for local government employees BL Premium reports that after parties failed to hammer out a new wage hike deal for local government employees, an independent facilitator has proposed below-inflation wage increases. This year, parties in the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (Salgbc) had unanimously agreed, for the first time, to embark on facilitated negotiations to promote harmonious labour relations. Advocate Naledi Burwana-Bisiwe was appointed to facilitate the wage talks, with the aim of stepping should the country’s 257 municipality, represented by the SA Local Government Association (Salga), and unions fail to find each during negotiations. After the parties couldn’t agree on a wage deal following the fourth round of wage talks last week, Burwana-Bisiwe was asked to broker a deal acceptable to all parties. In her draft “Facilitator’s Proposal” report, Burwana-Bisiwe has proposed a three-year wage deal, with employees getting a 4% wage increase in the first year, followed by projected consumer price index (CPI) minus 1% for the second and third years of the agreement, respectively. She has also proposed a freeze on all benefits linked to salary increases, as well as a provision that in the event of unforeseen supervening circumstances, a party may tender to “withdraw from the agreement”. But, Dumisane Magagula of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said Burwana-Bisiwe’s proposal was “biased towards the employer, while labour’s demands have not been taken into consideration”. He indicated|: “We will, therefore, be taking the proposal to our members while in the same process balloting for a potential strike as required by the law.” Johan Koen of the Independent Municipal and Allied Workers Union (Imatu) said he would be in a position to provide a detailed response on Thursday. A Salga spokesperson said while the association had received the facilitator’s report, it was too early to give a detailed response. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Labour Court reserves judgment in Untu’s dispute with Prasa over implementation of wage increase EWN reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg has reserved judgement in a wage-related dispute involving the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa). The United National Transport Union (Untu) had brought an urgent application to force the rail agency to adhere to a collective agreement and pay this year's 5% wage increase. According to Untu, a wage increase of 5% was due on 1 April but Prasa failed to make the payments. The union's Sonja Castens said that the agency did not provide any reasons why it could not do so. “No employer should be allowed to just ignore an existing collective agreement because collective bargaining is one of the pillars of our Labour Relations Act,” she remarked. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaylynn Palm at EWN. Read Untu’s press statement on this matter at Untu News ANC staff to picket nationally next week over late payment of salaries TimesLIVE reports that African National Congress (ANC) staff intend to embark on a nationwide picket next week over the governing party’s failure to pay salaries on time. The party is in financial trouble, with mounting debts to SA Revenue Service (Sars) and non-payment of contributions to its provident and pension funds. By 5 June, ANC staffers had not received their May monthly salaries. It was reported last month that the ANC owed Sars at least R80m in PAYE deductions it had not passed on to the tax collector. The party was also in arrears by at least 28 months — about R140m — on its provident fund contributions. However, according to staffers, all of these monies had been deducted from salaries. Staff members have now decided to embark on a nationwide picket to air their frustrations, party spokesperson Pule Mabe indicated on Wednesday. “After repeated challenges of late salary payments, ANC staff will picket on June 15 at Luthuli House and all provincial and regional ANC offices in protest. Though staff were informed that officials are attending to the ANC cash flow challenges, the feeling of grievance about their conditions of employment has reached critical point,” Mabe said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgothatso Madisa at BusinessLive. Read too, ANC pleads for three-month extension to sort out finances, but workers are ready to down tools, at News24. And also, ANC-personeel wil staak oor salarisse, at Maroela Media
Preparations are 'advanced' to get SAA flying again and pilots will be ready for that, DPE assures parliament News24 reports that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) told MPs on Wednesday that before SA Airways (SAA) takes to the skies again, it would ensure that its pilots have the necessary training and hours needed for the task. DPE acting director-general Advocate Melanchton Makobe indicated that the training of pilots was a "very important aspect" of the process to get SAA operational again. "SAA is known as a very safe airline and we will not compromise," said Makobe. This assurance was echoed by Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Phumulo Masualle, who said: "Preparations to get SAA flying again is quite advanced and, regarding concerns raised by [an MP] about whether the pilots are ready, I want to say the issue of the safety of passengers is very important and we will not be in favour of just having pilots fly without taking due regard to regulations." Members of the SAA Pilots' Association (Saapa), which represents nearly 90% of the pilots at SAA, have been locked out since mid-December last year. While still locked out, Saapa members declared a strike earlier this year to prevent a situation where the company could lift the lock-out for only some pilots, especially training pilots, who are needed to get SAA back in the air again. Makobe told MPs that R800 million of R7.8 billion transferred to SAA to date to implement its rescue plan had been ring-fenced for outstanding salaries, pending a court case. Next week, the Labour Court is set to hear an application by Saapa regarding its payment claims and whether SAA's actions have been lawful in using so-called "scab" labour for pilot training. "SAA and the pilots are nearing getting a settlement. Talks are at an advanced stage, and we expect a settlement. The only outstanding issue is the amounts pilots are requiring and the period of the lockout,” said Makobe Rea Other internet posting(s) in this news category
North West government anxious to prevent relocation of Clover factory from Lichtenburg and loss of over 300 jobs TimesLIVE reports that North West premier Tebogo Job Mokgoro has dispatched a team led by agriculture and rural development MEC Desbo Mohono to meet the management of the dairy manufacturing company Clover in an effort to halt the looming relocation of the company to Durban. Clover recently announced it intended to close down its plant in Lichtenburg, citing disruptions to their operations caused by poor water and electricity supply. The company also indicated that poor road infrastructure had increased operational costs and affected suppliers. Mokgoro said the municipality could not afford to lose the Clover operations as this would have devastating consequences for more than 300 families. Clover has about 380 permanent and 40 temporary employees. It further employs about 20 general workers, 20 truck drivers and truck cleaners. Other employment opportunities emanate from enterprise development programmes such as subcontracting, said the premier’s office. The MEC visited the factory on Tuesday. The premier’s office said Mohono and the intervention team, which comprises two other MECs and municipal managers, would engage Clover’s top management as soon as possible to understand the issues and find an amicable solution to the current situation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE. Read too, North West government officials rush to Lichtenburg to halt closure of Clover cheese factory, at News24 Workers picket as Africa Cash & Carry in Brown Mines is threatened with closure over tax evasion issues The Star reports that employees of Africa Cash & Carry in Crown Mines in Johannesburg protested on Tuesday after being told the store could be closed soon due to tax evasion issues. The food and grocery wholesaler specialises in bulk buying and attracts business from small spaza shops from different townships. Imports and exports are also part of the store’s specialisation. However, workers downed tools for some time on Tuesday while picketing outside the doors of the store. They were apparently told by a curator and a SA Revenue Services (Sars) official that the company could be closed in six weeks. he workers put together a media statement in which they expressed concern about losing their jobs. “We are scared of losing our jobs. We were told that a curator has been appointed and that there is no owner. We are only at work for six weeks and if we don’t find an owner, the company will get liquidated,” the workers indicated. They said some among them had been working there for 20 years. The staff claimed the store was profitable and making millions and they could not understand how it could find itself on the way to liquidation. By late Tuesday afternoon, employees were back at work and trading had resumed at the store. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa on page 2 of The Star of 9 June 2021
Parktown Boys’ principal reinstated after losing his job over learner Enock Mpianzi’s death Mail & Guardian reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has ordered the Gauteng Department of Basic Education (DBE) to reinstate Parktown Boys’ High School principal Malcolm Williams. He was dismissed by the department after the drowning of 13-year-old learner, Enock Mpianzi, at a school camp in January last year. Williams was dismissed by the department in December 2020. The DBE said at the time that it had found Williams guilty of two of the three charges he had faced. Williams will return to his duties on 1 July. The ELRC also ordered that Williams be paid for the six months that he had not been working. In a statement released on Wednesday, the DBE said it was disappointed with the ELRC’s decision to have Williams reinstated. Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said: “We are not fully happy about the outcome of the case, but also realise that this matter has been dragging for too long, negatively affecting all who are affected. In that light, we will look for advice from experts, with a view to finding a last resolution to the matter.” In May, the DBE reached an out-of-court settlement with the Mpianzi family, which had sued the department for negligence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongekile Macupe at Mail & Guardian. Read too, Parktown Boys' principal wins fight against dismissal after Enock Mpianzi drowning, at TimesLIVE. And also, Parktown Boys' High principal reinstated, will be paid for the six months he hadn't worked, at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Supporters of Jeremy Vearey march to parliament after the top cop's dismissal TimesLIVE reports that chants of “Hands off Jeremy Vearey now!” were heard outside parliament on Wednesday as church leaders, community workers and activists marched in support of Maj-Gen Jeremy Vearey after his dismissal from the SA Police Service (SAPS) last week. “We are finding bodies on our streets because good men like Jeremy Vearey, Andre Lincoln and the rest of them are being persecuted. They want them away because we have corrupt police officials who are working with the underworld,” claimed Henrietta Abrahams from the Bonteheuwel Development Forum. A memorandum was handed over to a parliamentary official by the dean of St George's Cathedral, Rev Michael Weeder. “It is evident in the systematic hounding out of the service of dedicated and committed police officials — the most recent example is that of the firing from the force of Maj-Gen Jeremy Vearey — the beneficiaries of the absence of these persons from the fray are the country's ganglords and their allies in SAPS; the Judases in our ranks who sell their soul and betray their fellow officers for bloodstained pieces of silver,” said Weeder. Vearey was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing found him of having brought SAPS into disrepute because of disparaging comments he made on Facebook about national police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Anthony Molyneaux at TimesLIVE. Read and watch too, 'Hands off Jeremy Vearey!' Supporters take to the streets over top cop's dismissal, at News24
Probe into R80m earned by 500 employees of City of Tshwane ’without working’ Pretoria News reports that the City of Tshwane has instituted a probe into a staggering R80 million paid as monthly salaries to more than 500 general workers hired by the municipality in 2019 for doing nothing. The workers’ contracts were terminated in October last year after it was concluded that the posts were redundant. On 26 May, they marched to Tshwane House demanding to be reinstated into their positions, urging the City to figure out where they could be suitably placed for work. During the march, workers confessed that they had not performed any work for the municipality since their appointments in November 2019. “They were supposed to work in the waste department as general workers, but what happened is that they never got to work because there was no one willing to communicate with them. For 12 months taxpayers’ money was used to pay them while they were not performing any duties,” their leader, Cedric Cele, stated. Tshwane chief of staff Jordan Griffiths said on Tuesday that the municipality had instituted an investigation into the dubious hiring process for the workers, who were taken on board without specific job descriptions. He was reacting to the public comment by ActionSA provincial campaigns manager Abel Tau, who demanded that the City open “an investigation into the R80m salaries bungle engineered by the DA”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rapula Moatshe at Pretoria News
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