In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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State considers Covid vaccine passports for businesses and public amenities BL Premium reports that health minister Joe Phaahla told MPs on Tuesday that the government was exploring the scope for businesses and public amenities to demand proof of Covid-19 vaccination from patrons. He said he was "quite certain" that once SA had attained sufficient vaccine coverage, business owners and the government could legally require the users of their facilities to be vaccinated. "Our own preference would be for people to come voluntarily. But you can’t have your cake and eat it. If you want to enjoy your right not to be vaccinated, you can’t also say you have the right to put other people at risk," Phaahla told the National Council of Provinces. He went on to explain that persons who had been vaccinated were less likely to transmit the virus if they became infected, because they had a lower viral load than people who had not been inoculated. The issue of vaccine passports has previously been flighted by Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba, who has been lobbying the liquor industry to sell only to people who have been inoculated. As of 30 August, SA had administered a total of 12.29-million vaccine doses, but only 5.8-million people out of a total adult population of 39.8-million were fully immunised. Phaahla expressed concern about what he described as a "very strong, orchestrated and organised" campaign to discredit coronavirus vaccines, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, SA considers limiting public amenities to the vaccinated, at Engineering News NICD says 6.1m South Africans now fully vaccinated against Covid-19 EWN reports that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says that over 6.1 million South African are now fully vaccinated with either the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the double dose Pfizer jab. About 15% of the country’s adults are fully vaccinated compared to about 24% of those 18 years and older who are just partially vaccinated against the coronavirus. The national health department called for a faster rate of vaccinations in SA to prevent the development of further mutations. It is aiming to vaccinate 70% of the country's 39 million adults to protect the population against future waves of Covid-19. The country has seen an increased demand for vaccines over the past two weeks after government's vaccination programme opened to all people 18 years and older last month. This saw provinces reaching new daily vaccination records. Meanwhile, the third wave of Covid-19 infections seems to be lingering much longer in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, which has again recorded the bulk of South Africa’s 9,544 new infections. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Veronica Mokhoali at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Controversial social security green paper withdrawn to ‘obtain clarity’ on issues raised BL Premium reports that according to the Department of Social Development, it withdrew the green paper on comprehensive social security and retirement reform so that clarity could be obtained on some of the issues raised. It plans to release the paper again once those issues have been addressed. The green paper, which was not approved by the cabinet or Treasury, elicited an outcry of opposition from business and trade unions alike. It was withdrawn by social development minister Lindiwe Zulu in a notice in the government gazette on Tuesday, less than two weeks after it was first gazetted. The motivation for the green paper was said to be “systemic weaknesses” in the private retirement system, which excludes millions of workers. The department estimated that 6.2-million workers with formal jobs have been left out of the system. One of the green paper’s more controversial proposals, which drew the ire of trade unions, was the requirement that all employees be mandated to contribute 8%-10% of their qualifying earnings up to R276,000 to a government-run National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which would pool resources to provide retirement, survivor, disability and unemployment benefits. On the release of the green paper, the Treasury insisted that it was not government policy and that its proposals had not been tested against its tax and fiscal policies. Business also pointed out that the green paper had not taken into account the views that it had expressed in Nedlac, which had been discussing social security reform for the past five years. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Solidarity welcomes withdrawal of green paper on social security reform Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday welcomed the withdrawal by the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, of the controversial green paper on social security reform, which included a proposal for the establishment of a National Social Security Fund (NSSF). According to Dr Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive Officer of Solidarity, the green paper was at its core “absurd, irrational, unworkable and unconstitutional”. He said the withdrawal was a victory for taxpayers who had pushed back. The green paper suggested that between 8% and 12% of employees’ salaries be deducted for the NSSF and 10 percentage points extra tax be levied for an increased basic income. Solidarity had commenced with legal action against Zulu last week and gave her 30 days to withdraw the green paper because the correct process had not been followed. “However, it is not only the process that was wrong. The Green Paper is rotten at its core. It is impossible to take more tax money from taxpayers. It is worrying that such an irrational Green Paper was published as part of the legislative process. It creates uncertainty about policy amongst ordinary workers, businesses and investors,” said Hermann. Solidarity said it would continue with legal action against the green paper if it came to life in another form in the future. Read Solidarity’s press statement on the above matter at Solidarity News
Speeding fitness trainer accused of assaulting JMPD officer granted R500 bail News24 reports that a Gauteng motorist, who is alleged to have attacked a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer and racially abusing her, has been released on R500 bail. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, 25-year-old Slade Wood appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday after he was arrested on Saturday night. He is accused of attacking Inspector Masuku (full name and rank withheld), who is attached to the K9 unit. Masuku was in Eloff Extension, Johannesburg, on Saturday at around 22:00 when she saw a vehicle driving recklessly and at speed. After stopping the vehicle following a chase, Wood allegedly attacked her. Wood, believed to be a fitness trainer, allegedly grabbed Masuku from behind, and started strangling her. The motorist also allegedly threw Masuku to the ground and kicked her in the face while he verbally assaulted her with racial slurs. Masuku was saved by a passing e-hailing driver. Wood was arrested and detained before appearing in court on Monday. The matter was postponed to 21 October for further investigation. Meanwhile, Masuku was recovering at home with injuries to her head, face, left eye and right shoulder. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24 Five accused of killing two North West cops who bodies were found in burnt-out police vehicle appear in court News24 reports that four men and a teenager accused of killing two police officers in Mareetsane briefly appeared in the Itsoseng Magistrate's Court in North West on Monday. "The state intends opposing bail for all five, including a 16-year-old minor. His bail application will be heard separately under the child justice court regulations," said a National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson. The accused face charges in connection with the murder of two North West police officers whose charred bodies were found in a burnt-out police vehicle on 27 July. The officers had disappeared two days before while on patrol. They had apparently come across a vehicle suspected of carrying stolen goats and reported the incident to their commander, but then disappeared. Their bodies were later found in a burnt state vehicle. The case has been postponed to 13 September 2021 for a bail application. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24 Gauteng health department witnesses in PPE investigation fear for their safety after murder of Babita Deokaran TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng health department staff who are witnesses in a corruption investigation being conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) fear for their safety after the brazen murder of their corruption-buster colleague. Babita Deokaran died in a hail of bullets last week. While six suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with her murder, some staff are on tenterhooks. A finance department employee who contributed to the SIU investigation said Deokaran had stopped many dubious transactions, but she was now afraid: “I’m asking myself if I will be next. The killing of Babita has left many of us with so much fear because people would rather see others dead than go to jail.” An employee in the supply chain department was also concerned about his safety and was changing routines. “I’ve moved from my place temporarily while I try to figure out what to do or hear if the SIU will offer us protection because it is clear this investigation has angered a lot of people,” he said. Another supply chain staffer, who is also a witness in the SIU investigation, said Deokaran's killing had left her numb. “This is really a tough situation and a part of me regrets being a witness. I’m at a point where I’m thinking of turning a blind eye to any future irregularities I may pick up,” she said. The employees said most staff in both units were witnesses in the SIU investigation and only a handful of their colleagues were not. They acknowledged it might be difficult for the SIU to give protection to all witnesses, but wished some form of protection could be given. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLIVE. Read too, Dying to tell the truth: SA government fails whistle-blowers, at Independent Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Former contract workers who are now jobless take to streets in Tshwane The Citizen reports that former City of Tshwane contract workers took to the streets of Pretoria on Wednesday to hand over a memorandum to the Democratic Alliance (DA). This was in another desperate attempt to get answers after hundreds were left unemployed when their contracts expired in October last year. They claim they were unfairly dismissed. Cedric Cele, leader of the contract workers, said they hadn’t received any feedback in the past 11 months. “For months now, no answers and no updates from the City. So we here to hold the DA accountable,” Cele said, adding that “cheap politics were to blame for being unemployed”. When the new administration took over in October last year, no one bothered to relook at the expired contracts, Cele stated. “With the upcoming local elections, we cannot have a mayor or a mayor candidate who neglected his workers. Before they tell us what they are going to do they must tell us what happened,” he said. DA councillor Mpho Mehlape-Zimu said the workers must remember there was a clear separation between the party and the state. Mehlape-Zimu told workers to bring their contact details to the office so that the DA could request a report from the City in hopes of getting the workers answers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen. Read too, Ex-Tshwane City staff demand answers from DA after 600 ‘unlawful dismissals’, at EWN
As funds slowly trickle in, DPE hopes SAA subsidiaries will be sustainable again Fin24 reports that Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi was on Wednesday unable to advise MPs exactly how the funds made available by Treasury for subsidiaries of SA Airways (SAA) would be spent, but said the aim was to make the ailing companies sustainable again. The subsidiaries have received just short of R1 billion of a total of R2.7 billion approved by Parliament for re-allocation from the R10.5 billion earmarked for SAA's business rescue plan. Some R784 million has been allocated for SAA Technical (SAAT), R107 million for Air Chefs and R100 million for Mango. Low-cost airline Mango recently went into business rescue, while retrenchment processes are under way at SAAT and Air Chefs. For Mango, R100 million in funding for the business rescue process has been received from government. Employees’ salaries for July and August are in the process of being paid by the business rescue practitioner. "We hope there will be a meeting of minds between managements and unions regarding the restructuring of SAA's subsidiaries in a sustainable way and align them to current market demand,” said Tlhakudi. SAA's interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo commented that the financial challenges of SAA's subsidiaries would likely continue due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry. He added: "We do expect, however, that as SAA starts flying again, business at SAAT and Air Chefs will start picking up too.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Former health minister Zweli Mkhize could face criminal charges relating to Digital Vibes contract Sunday Times Daily reports that former health minister Zweli Mkhize could face criminal charges for his role in the controversial Digital Vibes contract. In a presentation to parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said Mkhize might have committed actions of criminality and failed to execute his function in compliance with the constitution, general oversight responsibilities in respect of the affairs of the national health department and obligations in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). It was also the SIU’s conclusion that Mkhize caused irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to be incurred, might have acted contrary to a relevant cabinet decision, and might have been negligent when approving budgets in respect of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and Covid-19 media campaigns. Possible conflict of interest existed in the appointment of Digital Vibes. Among the host of issues relating to the scandal, a second bidder for the work was disqualified irregularly. Mkhize resigned as health minister last month, vowing to challenge the SIU findings and claiming that it had a predetermined outcome and a closed mind in its investigation of the contract. SIU head Andy Mothibi said Mkhize’s resignation would not hamper their ongoing investigations. He advised that they continued to receive information and allegations of wrongdoing involving the Digital Vibes contract, even after submitting their final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the end of June. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisiwe Makinana at Sunday Times Daily PPE investigations by SIU have cost over R350m BusinessLive reports that the estimated cost of the investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into irregular and corrupt procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) by government departments is R351m. As at end-June, the potential amount recoverable was R1.39bn. This was indicated by unit head Andy Mothibi to MPs on Wednesday. He stated in a briefing to parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) that if the R1.39bn involved in cases before the Special Tribunal at end the of May was recovered, the R351m would have been money well spent. The Special Tribunal was set up to fast track the adjudication of corruption cases. Mothibi said that a further R100m in potential losses had been prevented by advising departments not to make payments on the basis of irregular contracts. The SIU will submit a new progress report to the Presidency on Friday to update the one submitted at end-June based on cases up to end-May. A final report on the bulk of finalised PPE investigations will be submitted to the Presidency by end-November. Scopa chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa pointed out that the R351m could have been much better used and described the PPE corruption in the midst of pandemic as a crime against humanity. Mothibi bemoaned the length of time it was taking for departments to institute disciplinary processes against those implicated in the corruption and to blacklist the companies involved. He urged state institutions to expedite these matters. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Government shoots down demand for military veterans to receive one-off R4m payment each TimesLIVE reports that the government has rejected demands for military veterans to be paid a one-off R4m each for their contribution to the struggle against apartheid. Deputy minister of defence and military veterans, Thabang Makwetla, revealed this during a sitting of parliament's defence and military veterans portfolio committee on Wednesday. A departmental delegation led by Makwetla briefed the sitting on the progress made by a presidential task team set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year following protests by the veterans’ association. The task team is led by Deputy President David Mabuza and is looking at the grievances of the military veterans, which include complaints about joblessness, lack of housing and nonpayment of other benefits to veterans and their families. “The critical question which the portfolio committee must be aware of, which preoccupied the task team, was to respond to a demand by military veterans, who marched, that they be given a one-off R4m payout to each of them. And of course there was a political rationale that they advanced why they believe they are deserving of that kind of support,” said Makwetla. He said the issue was difficult for the government to resolve, with veterans staging a sit-in at the Union Buildings. Makwetla advised that the task team instead decided to prioritise the payout of the military veterans' pension, as envisaged by the law. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aphiwe Deklerk at TimesLIVE
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