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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Public sector employees may be forced to take Covid-19 vaccine News24 reports that if Covid-19 vaccination rates don't improve, government might make it mandatory for all public service employees. This was indicated in a circular from Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) director-general Yoliswa Makhasi, which was sent to all government director-generals and heads of departments encouraging them to improve vaccine uptake in the public sector. The circular, dated 27 October, stated: "Discussions are ongoing with stakeholders and organised labour to consider the introduction of a mandatory vaccine mandate, along the parameters of OHS [occupational health and safety] direction in case the voluntary uptake does not increase to an acceptable level as set by the Department of Health.” Makhasi also encouraged departments to develop awareness and share credible information about vaccinations with employees. Earlier this year, the Department of Employment and Labour issued a revised Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures on vaccinations in the workplace. The directive indicated that employers must do a Covid-19 risk assessment in the workplace, depending on operational needs. Employees and employers must also find a reasonable resolution when employees refused to be vaccinated on medical and constitutional grounds. If the government goes ahead with mandatory vaccinations, it would be joining the likes of Discovery Health and the University of Cape Town (UCT). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tebogo Monama at News24 Solidarity sends lawyer’s letter to UCT about mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations Trade union Solidarity indicated on Thursday that it had sent a lawyer’s letter to the University of Cape Town (UCT) relating to the institution’s policy on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination of students and employees. According to Solidarity, the policy is unlawful, is a threat to the livelihoods of university employees and discriminates against students who, for whatever reason, would refuse to be vaccinated. Solidarity Youth Manager Paul Maritz said: “As a public body, the university must comply with various sets of legislation and legal principles. This policy is in conflict with almost all forms of regulation the university is subject to. This policy is plain irrational and unfair. From the outset it is a major infringement on the constitutional rights of students as well as the university’s employees.” In its letter, Solidarity demanded that UCT should review and reject this policy. Solidarity further contended that it was inconceivable for the university to issue such a policy at the present time of the year when students and prospective students had already reached an advanced stage of the application process for next year. “This policy changes, as it were, the university’s admission requirements and it is not within UCT’s power to randomly tamper with such conditions,” Maritz argued. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Solidarity News. Lees ook, UK kry prokureursbrief oor verpligte inenting, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
'Not gonna happen' say employer associations as they rail against Numsa's plan to extend steel wage deal Fin24 reports that two employer associations in the metals and engineering sector say the chances of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) getting it right to extend its wage deal with the Steel and Engineering Industry Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) to other employers and workers in the sector are slim, and any attempt to do so would be met with resistance. On Friday, Numsa announced that it had ended its strike in the sector after concluding a deal for a 6% wage increase with Seifsa. It indicated that it would be looking to have that agreement extended to all businesses in the sector. In order to have the deal extended, Numsa must approach the Metal and Engineering Bargaining Council (Meibc), which will have to make a formal request to Minister of Labour and Employment, Thulas Nxesi, who must exercise his discretion to make a determination. National Employer Association of SA (Neasa) CEO Gerhard Papenfus maintained flatly that Numsa would not succeed in getting its agreement with Seifsa extended to other employers in the sector, including those represented by him. “That's not gonna happen. We will block it. I have blocked it for ten years now. I blocked it in 2011 and we will block it again. They simply don't have the representation required to do it. They can try but they will fail," said Papenfus. SA Engineers and Founders Association (Saefa) director Gordon Angus said that he did not see a strong chance of Numsa extending its deal in a way that was legally and constitutionally consistent. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said there were still a few steps in the process before Numsa could approach Minister Nxesi for a formal determination that would extend the agreement. Labour and Employment spokesperson Musa Zondo confirmed that Nxesi had not received any request from the MEIBC to extend Numsa's deal. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Following protests, transport department moves to ban foreigners from driving SA registered trucks using foreign permits Engineering News reports that the Department of Transport (DoT) anticipates that foreign nationals will soon be unable to drive South African registered trucks while in possession of foreign professional driving permits (PDPs). This was indicated after the renewed closures of national roads (the N9, N10 and N3) by SA truck drivers and small truck operators this week in protest against the employment of foreign nationals as truck drivers at SA companies. In April, the DoT published an amendment to the Road Traffic Act regulations, which incorporated a provision that a PDP issued by a foreign country would only be applicable to a vehicle registered in that country. “Once this regulation comes into effect, a foreign national will, therefore, not be permitted to drive a South African registered truck using a foreign PDP. The amendments to the regulations are now before Parliament for comment as required by law, and we anticipate publishing amended regulations by the end of November,” the department advised. In addition to the amended regulations, the DoT said it was also strengthening the process of validation and verification of immigration documents, work permits and foreign drivers’ licences. “Our national Road Traffic Act requires foreign operators to make use of an operator permit/card … These cards will have a one-year validity period and non-compliance with relevant laws will result in the deregistration of the operator in question,” the DoT explained. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed his appreciation for “the peaceful manner in which the [truck drivers] conducted their protests”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Out-of-work City of Ekhurhuleni protesters claim labour department glitch prevents them from getting social grants GroundUp reports that former employees of the City of Ekhurhuleni, who marched to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) in Braamfontein on Wednesday, say they have been failed by the authorities and will not vote on Monday. The group claimed they have no work or UIF money, but can’t access social grants because they were still on the DEL’s database. About 50 other former employees of the City of Ekurhuleni and other people took part in the march organised by Simunye Workers Forum. Protesters demanded that the DEL should clear their names from the employees’ database so they could access social grants. The marchers handed over a memorandum to the DEL’s Sipho Mthethwa. It read: “We represent communities across Ekurhuleni, where many of our unemployed residents are unable to access the measly R350 grant because of the Department of Employment and Labour. Many of us are also former workers employed under Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) schemes, like the Lungile Mtshali Community Development Project. Thousands of Lungile Mtshali workers were dismissed in 2015 but we are still on the [labour department’s] system for UIF which prevents us from accessing the grants.” Mthethwa indicated: “We will deliver the memorandum to our leaders. However the issue of grants is beyond us and should be taken up with Sassa.” A Sassa (SA Social Security Agency) spokesperson said: “If your R350 grant was rejected because of UIF and you don’t agree with that please log on to www.srd.sassa.gov.za and click on the Appeals tab to lodge your appeal.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberly Mutandiro at GroundUp Opera singer Sibongile Mngoma vows to protest again if Arts Minister Mthethwa isn’t removed The Star reports that after spending several days sleeping outside government offices in Pretoria, opera singer Sibongile Mngoma says she will do it again if Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa is not removed. Mngoma and several artists spent a number of days camping outside the Department of Arts and Culture offices in Pretoria in protest against the ill treatment of artists by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. Mngoma is now home but said she had to sleep outside to stand up for artists. Mngoma and other artists have been complaining about the poor treatment that the arts industry has been receiving throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. ’’Most actors and musicians have been without income since the beginning of the first lockdown last year. The pandemic has affected their gigs and bookings, leaving some artists broke and unable to pay their living expenses. There have also been complaints about relief meant for artists. I would not do something that was not worth it. We are struggling to get attention from a department that has been ignoring us for 19 months. We are trying to make sure that the plight of artists is highlighted,” Mngoma said. She was able to meet with officials of the department on Monday and there will be another follow-up meeting next week. “They will tell us on Monday where Nathi Mthethwa’s resignation is. I am not going to let this go,” the songstress asserted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Star
Three employees killed at Sasol’s Bosjesspruit colliery on Tuesday Mining Weekly reports that on Tuesday (26 October) at about 17:00, an underground water compartment incident occurred at Sasol Mining’s Bosjesspruit colliery, resulting in the deaths of three employees. The Bosjesspruit colliery is an underground mine in the Secunda Mining Complex. Sasol reports that emergency medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene and all other employees were safely evacuated. “The relevant authorities have been informed and we are working with them to investigate the root cause of the incident. Sasol remains committed to the health and safety of our employees, community and the environment,” Sasol stated. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) again expressed concern about mineworker safety. Earlier this month AMCU had raised the issue in a letter to Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Minimum wage rate for domestic workers takes centre stage as Ramaphosa woos women voters ahead of polls News24 reports that in a bid to appeal to the biggest voter constituency, namely women, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said plans were afoot to ensure that the average salary for domestic workers would, by 2022, be equal to the national minimum wage. Ramaphosa, who was on the campaign trail in Ekurhuleni, also promised that government was working towards employing enough inspectors to ensure that they could check on the working conditions of all domestic workers and ensure that they were not exploited. Addressing a Cosatu women's event in Tembisa Mall, Ramaphosa said that while women made up the greatest number of registered voters and had in past elections been the most active voters, they did not enjoy the fruits of democracy. This was because of persisting inequalities and a lack of opportunities, which forced many to accept exploitative conditions as domestic workers. Ramaphosa added that he too was a child of a domestic worker and their plight was one that was close to his heart. According to Ramaphosa, government was already at an advanced stage of ensuring that by 2022 the wages of this workforce were at least equal to the national minimum wage. Currently, domestic workers earn between R2,614 and R2,916 a month as their minimum wage is capped at R19.09 per hour. With effect from 1 March, the national minimum wage was increased for 2021 from R20.76 to R21.69 per hour. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Juniour Khumalo at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA’s take-home pay spikes in September, but the momentum likely to be short-lived Moneyweb reports that according to the latest BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI), the average take-home pay of South Africans saw a spike, before adjustment for inflation, of 13.5% in September 2021, reflecting the fastest growth on record. However, with disruptions in the supply chain and the recent July unrest, this upward trend was unlikely to continue, BankservAfrica cautioned in the index results released on Thursday. “The nominalised average salary was R15,794 in September 2021, one of the highest on record and in years. In real terms [after taking inflation into account], the average salary was R13,047, representing a substantial growth of 8.3% year-on-year,” said BankservAfrica’s Shergeran Naidoo. The unexpected growth in salaries was attributed to several factors including overtime pay for SA Defence Force (SANDF) and the SA Police Service (SAPS) members who were deployed to monitor and control the unrest in July. BankservAfrica indicated that this added almost R1 billion in overall salaries. Another contributing factor was the adjustments in civil servants’ salaries. According to the index, these added payments “reflect the delayed implementation of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council’s salary adjustment for civil servants for a cash allowance that is back payable” for the period from April 2021 to March 2022. Another factor was the low base for take-home pay in September last year. “All these factors indicate that the average take-home pay will not increase at September’s rate in the next month or so,” commented Mike Schüssler, chief economist at economists.co.za. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Palesa Mofokeng at Moneyweb
PIC fires its CFO, after two years on suspension and just as the current board's tenure is about to end Fin24 reports that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has finally parted ways with its CFO, Matshepo More, who has been receiving a full salary from the company for two years since being suspended in March 2019. The outgoing chairperson of the PIC board, Reuel Khoza, said at a briefing on Thursday that the PIC board had received a report from the chairperson of the inquiry into alleged misconduct and misdemeanours on More’s part and that she had been found guilty of neglect of her duties. "The board, upon very serious reflection and review, felt that in fact, the misconduct and the dereliction of duty were severe enough to warrant her being requested to leave the position," Khoza indicated. He said while it had taken "very long" to complete More's disciplinary process, and the PIC had lost a lot of money paying her salary over that time, it had had to follow due process. Earlier in October, the PIC faced scrutiny for paying the salaries of several of its suspended employees who had been fingered for wrongdoing in the Mpati Commission report. Apart from More, other suspended executives who received their salaries included the PIC's former executive head of impact investments, Roy Rajdhar, who resigned in June 2021, and the former executive head of human resources, Chris Pholwane, who is currently on special leave. It will now be up to the new board - yet to be announced - to finalise other disciplinary processes and recover monies that the PIC has lost. Although More has been dismissed, the PIC said she would leave with her pension. Meantime, the asset manager has referred on the Hawks several transactions that More was implicated in. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Londiwe Buthelezi at Fin24
Former home affairs official handed four-year prison sentence for issuing fraudulent IDs News24 reports that a former Department of Home Affairs official has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment for fraud and corruption. The Durban Magistrate's Court sentenced 44-year-old Sbulelo Malanda on Monday. She was sentenced to four years' direct imprisonment for three counts of fraud and another four years' imprisonment for three counts of corruption. She was further sentenced to six months' imprisonment for contravention of the Immigration Act. Her sentences will run concurrently. According to a statement released by the Hawks on Wednesday, Malanda worked at the Department of Home Affairs' Umzimkhulu offices at the time the crimes were committed. "In 2017, she colluded with her accomplices and assisted the foreign nationals to obtain South African identity documents fraudulently. As a result, those foreign nationals unduly benefitted from social grants from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa)," Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo advised. Seven people were arrested in August 2017. Malanda's accomplices were found guilty in 2018. Malanda was found guilty in June 2020. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24
SA troops to stay in Mozambique for another three months, at a cost of nearly R1bn TimesLIVE reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deployment of SA soldiers to Mozambique's terrorist-ravaged Cabo Delgado province by another three months, at a cost of almost R1bn. “This serves to inform the National Assembly that I have extended the employment of 1,495 SANDF personnel for service in fulfilment of an international obligation towards SADC, to support Mozambique to combat the acts of terrorism and violent extremists in Cabo Delgado province,” Ramaphosa advised in a letter dated 15 October to National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. He indicated that the extension would be for three months from 15 October to 15 January 2022 at an expected cost of R984,368,057. SA soldiers have been in Mozambique since 15 July and were initially deployed for three months. Mozambique was besieged in March by insurgents allegedly linked to Islamic State who overran the gas fields town of Palma, killing dozens of people and displacing many. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisiwe Makinana at TimesLIVE
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