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 roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 23 July 2021.
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Ramaphosa eases virus lockdown, announces post-riot relief Bloomberg reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that SA will move to adjusted alert level 3, from alert level 4, after the country passed the peak of a third wave of Covid-19 infections. He also unveiled a series of relief measures to help businesses and individuals recover from a week of deadly riots. The steps include reinstating a social-relief grant of R350 a month until the end of March, a R400 million government contribution to a relief fund and support for uninsured businesses. The government will also expand an employment tax incentive. “We have a duty to support those affected by this violence,” Ramaphosa said in a televised address. Since the pandemic hit in March last year, the government imposed stop-start curbs that shuttered thousands of businesses and added to already rampant unemployment. The nation’s misery was compounded by protests that erupted after former President Jacob Zuma was jailed this month on contempt-of-court charges and morphed into a looting spree in which thousands of businesses and street traders were targeted. At least 330 people died in the unrest, which the SA Property Owners Association estimated cost the country about R50 billion in lost output and placed 150,000 jobs at risk. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mike Cohen and S'thembile Cele at Moneyweb. Read too, As SA moves to level 3, curfew eased, booze back on sale and small gatherings allowed, at TimesLIVE Government lifts ban on alcohol sales Fin24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday following consultations with the National Coronavirus Command Council that the ban on the sale of alcohol has been lifted. He advised that the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption would be allowed from Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 18:00. On-site sales would be allowed from Monday as per licence conditions until 20:00. Restaurants, shebeens and bars can sell alcohol up to 20:00, but these outlets may only remain open until 21:00, with the general curfew remaining between 22:00 and 04:00. The payment of excise taxes by the alcohol sector will be deferred for a period of three months, to ease the burden on the sector as it recovers. SA has seen four alcohol bans since March 2020, lasting more than 160 days in total. The fourth one had been in place since 28 June and, according to the Beer Association of SA, it put almost 250,000 jobs at risk and cost the country's economy an estimated R64.8 billion. Last week, a bid by SAB against the latest alcohol sales ban was dismissed by the Western Cape High Court. Zoleka Lisa of SAB commented on Sunday that the decision to move SA to a level 3 lockdown "is an important step towards economic recovery". Sibani Mngadi of the SA Liquor Brandowners Association, while welcoming the lifting of the ban, said government’s use of prohibition had had “devastating consequences". Ramaphosa also announced on Sunday that gatherings – including religious gatherings and social events – could resume. Indoor venues may not accommodate more than 50 people at a time or, for smaller venues, more than 50% of their normal capacity. Outdoor venues are limited to 100 people. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo at Fin24. Read too, Judge dismisses SAB’s attempt to have booze ban lifted, at BusinessLive Social relief grant of R350 is back, and more people will now qualify Fin24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) will be reinstated until March 2022. The monthly grant of R350, administered by the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), will also be extended to unemployed caregivers who currently receive child support grants. Previously, anyone who received support from the state was ineligible for SRD payments. After more than R16 billion was paid to approximately 6.5 million monthly SRD recipients since May last year, the SRD expired in January 2021. Ramaphosa said a "slight improvement in revenue collection" would be used to fund the return of the SRD. Details on the reinstatement of the grant, including the process for application, will be announced shortly. Ramaphosa commented: “This will build on the strength of our existing social protection system, which is one of the greatest achievements of our democracy. No country can expect its economy to grow, or to live in peace and harmony, while many of its citizens remain marginalised, hungry and excluded." Read the original of the report in the above regard by Helena Wasserman at Fin24. Read too, Ramaphosa announces a string of social relief measures, at Independent Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Covid-19 vaccination: people aged 18-34 to be jabbed from 1 September News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that people between the ages of 18 to 34 would be able to be vaccinated against Covid-19 from 1 September. They will not need to have an appointment in order to get their jabs. Given sentiments expressed on social media, this generation has generally been worried that they would be left behind as the Department of Health works through the older generations. The news comes as vaccination doses reached the 6.3 million mark on Sunday, with 10% of the population having received a vaccine dose. The rate of vaccinations has increased to 240,000 vaccines every week day, compared with 100,000 vaccines every week day a month ago. Meantime, new infections are decreasing in Gauteng, which has been through a torrid third wave, but there are increases in some other provinces. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Seifsa reaches agreement with CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba to ‘mutually separate’ Engineering News reports that the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has announced that its CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba has left the organisation to focus on his consulting company. Seifsa placed him on precautionary suspension early in May, pending an unspecified investigation, which has been lifted by the federation. The parties reached an agreement to mutually separate, chairperson Elias Monage confirmed. Seifsa represents 19 employer organisations that have about 167,000 member employees. Nyatsumba said on Friday that his agreement with Seifsa governed what he could say publicly for now. “I have enjoyed my time with Seifsa, where I was the first-ever black CEO in the federation's 80-year history,” he added. Nyatsumba also said he was proud to have raised the federation’s profile beyond the metals and engineering sector. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read too, Seifsa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba resigns, at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Sipho Maseko to step down as Telkom chief as from 30 June 2022 Engineering News reports that Telkom Group CEO Sipho Maseko will step down as CEO and executive director of the company and its subsidiaries with effect from 30 June 2022. Maseko joined Telkom on 1 April 2013 and, during his eight-year tenure, evolved the business from a traditional fixed business to a portfolio of businesses comprising mobile, information technology, wholesale infrastructure business and masts and towers. “Under his leadership, the group has had many remarkable strategic achievements in its execution of its broadband-led strategy which are reflected in the group’s current healthy position,” the board said in a statement last week. The process to appoint a successor is apparently well underway and a designate group CEO will be announced in due course. Maseko will ensure the incoming designate’s orderly transition into the role. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Nzimande suspends Department of Higher Education's Director-General pending investigation News24 reports that the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Gwebinkundla Qonde, has been suspended pending a forensic investigation into the National Skills Fund. The suspension comes after a disclaimer audit opinion by the Auditor-General (AG) in respect of the 2019/20 financial year. In a statement, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande noted the precautionary suspension and went on to indicate: "The suspension of the DG is in terms of the Public Service Act and the SMS handbook. Following this precautionary suspension of Director-General Qonde, Minister Nzimande appointed the Department of Science and Innovation, Director General, Dr Phil Mjwara to act as the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training until the conclusion of the investigations and any process that may ensue thereafter." Mjwara was appointed with immediate effect from Friday. The AG found the National Skills Fund’s budget was materially underspent by R1.8 billion. It was also found that the entity did not have adequate systems to maintain records of commitments and earmarked funds. In addition, it could not be determined whether adjustments in the financial statement of R2.5 billion in respect of skills development funding had been necessary. In March the Nationals Skills Fund indicated that it had lodged a dispute over the disclaimer audit. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Read too, ‘Minister Nzimande targeted me from the start’, at City Press (paywall access only)
Maternity benefits should be extended to informal sector, says SA Law Reform Commission The Star reports that the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) has recommended the extension of maternity benefits to women working in the informal economy. Currently, only women in formal employment are eligible for at least four consecutive months of maternity leave. This is paid leave and the expecting mothers receive part payments from their employers and from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). It amounted to unfair discrimination that the maternal benefits were only extended to formally employed women, the SALRC said in a discussion paper published last week. The discussion paper stated: “A gap currently exists in the state’s social protection system, in that self-employed workers in the informal economy are excluded from receiving maternity and parental benefits when the mother enters confinement. This situation exacerbates the socio-economic problems of poverty and inequality between women and men, prevents women’s full economic participation, and impacts on their reproductive choices.” The SALRC’s discussion paper followed work that began in 2017 to find ways to extend maternity benefits to women who were self-employed and employed in informal sectors. The commission held workshops in parts of the country ahead of publishing the discussion paper. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongani Nkosi at The Star
SANDF captain fourth suspect in cash-in-transit heist at Oudtshoorn petrol station Independent Media reports that a 36-year-old SA National Defence Force (SANDF) member has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a cash-in-transit heist at a petrol station in Oudtshoorn. The robbery took place on 19 July. According to Western Cape police spokesperson Zinzi Hani, the member, who is a captain attached to the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, was arrested on 23 July as the fourth suspect to be charged in the matter. The arrest was a joint operation between the Hawks National Priority Violent Crimes team (NPVC) and the Attaqua K9 Unit from Oudtshoorn. According to Hani, security guards from Fidelity Cash Solutions were robbed while collecting cash from a petrol station. The SANDF member will make his first appearance in the Oudtshoorn Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances. His arrest followed the discovery a full SANDF uniform in the vehicle used by the other three suspects, none of whom were soldiers. A loyal service medal was pinned to the jacket with the name and rank of the SANDF member. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at Independent Madia. Lees ook, Soldaat vas oor transitorooftog, by Maroela Media
Amid deadly feud, Western Cape government suspends minibus taxi services on Paarl-Bellville route for two months News24 reports that Western Cape Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell has announced the suspension of the B97 taxi route between Paarl and Bellville for two months, from 26 July. This follows ongoing taxi violence that has claimed dozens of lives this year. "Two taxi ranks in Mbekweni, certain local route loading lanes at the Bellville Public Transport Interchange (PTI), the long distance facility at the Bellville PTI, the 'Paint City' rank in Bellville, and an informal rank in Bellville have also been closed to minibus taxis for two months," Mitchell advised. He went on to explain: “I took this extraordinary step to stop violence between rival taxi associations that has seen 24 people being killed and another 29 injured, and to deal with significant disruptions to public transport in the Metro South-East region.” Extra Golden Arrow bus trips have been scheduled between Bellville and Paarl for the two months. Commuters will also be able to use existing Metrorail train services between Bellville and Paarl. "The closure of these routes and ranks is expected to bring stability to the public transport environment in affected areas and to support the process of achieving a lasting peace," Mitchell added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24 Holomisa, Vavi meet Western Cape taxi bosses to help resolve crisis over suspension of major route News24 reports that UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi are holding urgent talks with warring taxi operators in Cape Town to help defuse the tension over routes. Vavi is attending in his capacity as the leader of a union federation. Drivers, passengers and people in the vicinity of the taxi shootings have been killed. Congress of Democratic Taxi Association's (Codeta) Andile Khanyi advised on Sunday: "We are going to meet at Bellville. We have also invited bishops, priests, and everybody to come and pray for us, because these killings need to come to an end." The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association's (Cata’s) Mandla Hermanus confirmed the meeting, sandwiched between mediation of the past weeks, and arbitration which starts on Monday. With children returning to school on Monday, the Western Cape Education Department called for calm. Many operators not part of the fight also did not work last week, leaving people with fewer options to get to their jobs. Some are scared of losing their jobs, and others have lost pay for days missed. Private cars were also shot at as commuters struggled to find alternative forms of transport. On Friday, Western Cape Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell closed the route from Mbekweni in Paarl to Bellville in a bid to prevent further violence. Commuters were advised to use Metrorail services functioning in their areas. Metrorail said the bulk of critical train operations and station management employees were able to return to duty from Monday after a Covid-19 incident, and lockdown Level 4 regulations, and would be able to help ease the situation caused by the suspension of the taxi route. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
After cyber attack, transport union Untu wants ‘decisive action’ to protect Transnet Moneyweb reports that after an apparent cyber attack on Transnet on Thursday, the United National Transport Union (Untu) appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa “to instruct all law enforcement authorities to take decisive action” to protect the state-run logistics and port operator.” Meantime, government said it was investigating whether the attack was possibly related to recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. On Friday morning, the websites of Transnet and its divisions were still offline, highlighting the extent of the group-wide IT outage, which caused trucking delays at the Port of Durban. However, in an update on the situation, Transnet said in a statement issued around midday on Friday, that it had “identified and isolated the source of the disruption to its IT systems”. It added that “technical teams continue to work around the clock to ensure that the impact remains minimal.” In a statement following the incident, Untu said Transnet was “one of the few financially viable state-owned enterprises in South Africa” and needed to be protected from sabotage, vandalism, and criminality. Untu’s general secretary Steve Harris commented: “It is heart-breaking that our ports and rail infrastructure, where employees have continued to place their lives in danger throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that goods, foods and commodities reach its destinations and to keep the economy going, has been so severely impacted by the criminal conduct of a few lawless individuals.” He also appealed to President Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele to explain why there was an absence of adequate law enforcement in the transport sector, specifically in the rail, ports, trucks, and taxi environments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Suren Naidoo at Moneyweb
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