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 Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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SA has lost well over a million jobs already due to loadshedding, claims economist Mike Schüssler Moneyweb reports that the ongoing power cuts in SA are expected to result in the shedding of at least 350,000 jobs, despite projections of 3.9% economic growth for 2021. This is according to a research report by accounting firm PwC, which notes that the return of load shedding in the fourth quarter, after 11 weeks of no power cuts, undermines economic growth. The report adds that although the global economic environment is favourable for trade-dependent South Africa, domestic challenges such as the ongoing power cuts continue to cloud scenarios for the remainder of the year. According to chief economist at economists.co.za, Mike Schüssler, SA has lost well over a million jobs already due to loadshedding. He pointed out: “Think of all the businesses that didn’t start up and businesses that have closed down, the mines that haven’t expanded because there’s no power, and the extra refinery that we were going to have in Coega that didn’t come. There [are also] thousands of small farms that didn’t make it and had to consolidate. That meant job losses.” Schüssler noted that the electricity issues have also had a negative impact in respect of attracting investors, so further injuring economic growth. He concluded that it was “quite clear” that the country had lost millions of jobs and “trillions of rands over these 14 years” because of the electricity situation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Palesa Mofokeng at Moneyweb. Read too, Opportunistic push for sugar-tax rise in pandemic deals another blow to jobs, at BusinessLive
Rheinmetall Denel munitions plant safety questioned by Uasa following explosion News24Wire reports that safety at the Rheinmetall Denel Munitions plant in Macassar, Somerset West, has been called into question after an explosion on the premises on Sunday night. Trade union UASA said it was "anxious about the safety of those employed by the state-owned weapons manufacturer". Spokesperson Abigail Moyo stated: "This reckless lack of concern for the well-being of workers is completely unacceptable. UASA wants proof that qualified explosion and other managers are placed at all Denel divisions. Moyo commented further: "The safety of workers cannot be jeopardised by plants that are operating without qualified managers to oversee processes. We trust that the company will conduct a thorough investigation into the events leading up to the explosion and expect an update as a matter of urgency. UASA needs to be able to ensure its members that they are operating in a safe environment, as is their right as employees." No casualties were reported in Sunday's blast. The explosion is the second in three years. In an explosion in September 2018, eight factory workers died. A public inquiry into that explosion is under way. Meanwhile, the families of the eight people who died in the 2018 blast have called on the Department of Employment and Labour to suspend the company's explosives licence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Opera singer’s blouse ripped off by police as protesting artists clash with police at Nathi Mthethwa's office SowetanLIVE reports that artists were dragged to clear the way for vehicles at the entrance of the minister of sports, arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa's Pretoria offices on Tuesday. A group of five artists were among creatives who blocked the entrance of the building. In videos and pictures posted by the group, opera singer Sibongile Mngoma was left topless after her blouse was stripped off by the police. The creatives had visited the department’s offices wanting answers on the memorandum of demands they submitted last week. The situation was so tense that metro police, members of the SA Police Service and army were brought in to allow the staff locked inside to leave the building. The department and creatives were supposed to have met on Tuesday morning, but the meeting was postponed at the eleventh hour to Friday. When the artists arrived in the morning, the building was protected by squad of security personnel, but the artists said they were not going anywhere until they were attended to. “They decided to postpone the meeting at the 11th hour. I received a text when I was on my way here from Bloemfontein. I refused to allow that to happen,” Mngoma said. Last week, the artists tabled their demands in which they wanted Mthethwa to resign over what they said was lack of understanding of the industry. The group further demanded the public release of the forensic report on the mismanagement of Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) funds. They further wanted the department to release all information regarding recipients of Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) funding. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Patience Bambalele at SowetanLIVE
Harmony Gold suffers another mineworker fatality Mining Weekly reports that on Tuesday gold producer Harmony Gold Mining Company advised that an employee had been fatally injured following a shaft-related incident at its Doornkop mine, near Soweto, on Sunday afternoon. “We are deeply concerned about the unfortunate incidents at our mines and will continue to drive our safety humanistic transformation initiative, to reinforce a proactive safety culture throughout our company,” Harmony CEO Peter Steenkamp indicated in a statement. Mining activity in the affected area has been halted while an investigation is under way. The mining industry and unions have in recent weeks expressed concern about the regression in the health and safety performance in the industry. The number of fatalities so far this year is higher than the number of fatalities recorded over the comparable period of 2020. The Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) last week called for the MineSafe summit to be held as soon as possible after the local government elections to "urgently address the regression in safety". Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Harmony Gold “deeply concerned” as fatalities at its mines run into double figures following Doornkop incident Miningmx reports that mining fatalities moved into double figures at Harmony Gold this calendar year after the gold producer reported the death of a miner at its Doornkop operation, west of Johannesburg. “We are deeply concerned about the unfortunate incidents at our mines,” said Peter Steenkamp, CEO of Harmony in a statement. He committed to improving the group’s safety record through a “safety humanistic transformation initiative”. Of the 10 reported fatalities at Harmony’s operations, the majority have been ‘falls of ground’ related to seismic activity. Previous incidents occurred at its Kusasalethu, Mponeng, Target, Tshepong South (Phakisa), Bambanani and Target mines. The Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of |Mines) said last month that the mining sector was heading for a second successive increase in mining fatalities this year. The gold sector has recorded the highest number of fatalities with 23, followed by the platinum sector with 14 fatalities compared to the previous year. The leading cause of fatalities remains falls of ground. “We are seriously concerned about this regression in safety. With the regression we are experiencing, we need to put a lot more focus on technology and modernisation to improve skills and mining methods to keep employees safe,” said Themba Mkhwanazi, chair of the CEO Zero Harm Leadership Forum. A MineSafe summit supported by Government’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and organised labour, along with the council, has been organised for this month. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx Magistrate explains how inquest into Lily Mine tragedy will proceed News24Wire reports that the magistrate presiding over the inquest into the 2016 Lily Mine tragedy that left three families desperate for answers about their loved ones, has explained how the matter will proceed. The proceedings are being held in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court and are aimed at determining what happened to Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda and whether anyone can be held responsible for their deaths. Although their bodies have yet to be recovered after a shipping container they were working in fell into a sinkhole on 15 February 2016, they have been presumed dead. Magistrate Annemarie van der Merwe will be assisted by two seasoned mining engineers as assessors. Van der Merwe pointed out that the inquest was not a criminal trial and would not be treated like one. "Witnesses will testify on statements that were given following the tragedy. They will be allowed to comment on their statements. Witnesses will be allowed to add where they would like to add. The prosecutor will lead evidence of witnesses. In instances where witnesses testify on the alleged deceased families, a lawyer representing the families will be allowed to ask questions," Van der Merwe explained. "The purpose of this inquest is not only to determine the deaths in question but if a person was responsible for the death," she indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read too, Inquest into Lily Mine tragedy starts as families plead for return of loved one's remains, at News24 Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Record petrol high of over R19.50 a litre in Gauteng and inland provinces from Wednesday Moneyweb reports that SA fuel prices will hit record highs as of Wednesday, with the price of petrol spiking to over R19.50 a litre in Gauteng and other inland provinces. This comes as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced on Monday night that the price of petrol (both 93 and 95 ULP & LRP) will increase by R1.21 a litre and diesel (0.05% and 0.005% sulphur) by R1.48 a litre as of 3 November. According to the DMRE, illuminating paraffin (wholesale) will increase by R1.45 per litre, while illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) will surge by R1.93 a litre. The surge in fuel prices comes largely on the back of the spike in international crude oil prices and a weakening rand. This will put even more pressure on the SA Reserve Bank to hike interest rates when its Monetary Policy Committee meets later this month. The latest fuel price increases announced by the DMRE are even higher than those forecast by the Automobile Association in October. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Moneyweb. Read too, AA questions Mantashe delaying fuel price bad news till after voters had made their mark, at The Citizen
Sakeliga warns that new law will push more skilled people to leave South Africa BusinessTech reports that business group Sakeliga has opposed the proposed Companies Amendment Bill, which it warns will harm the business landscape and ultimately push more skilled people to leave SA. The Draft Companies Amendment Bill, which is currently open for public comment, would require some firms to disclose information on directors’ remuneration and prescribed officers. Furthermore, it will require that companies disclose the average remuneration of all employees and the ratio between the total remuneration of the top 5% highest-paid employees and the total remuneration of the bottom 5% of the lowest-paid employees of the company. Sakeliga pointed out that the available pool of high-demand senior executives was quickly diminishing, meaning that when shareholders approached an executive, they knew the offer must be handsome due to the executive very likely having available opportunities abroad. Similarly, the supply of labour at the lower and mid-levels was so high that it would not make economic sense to remunerate staff on par with international levels for the same work. “This Competition Amendment Bill is exactly what the economy needs much less of. Its core problems revolve around improper reporting requirements and political discretion around ethics committees,” claimed Piet le Roux, Sakeliga chief executive. These concerns were echoed by Business Leadership SA (BLSA) chief executive Busi Mavuso, who warned that sections of the Bill would impact SA’s attractiveness as a place to do business. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech Wage freeze for top municipal employees BusinessTech reports that Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has announced a wage freeze for top municipal workers in South Africa. In a government gazette published on Tuesday (2 November), Dlamini-Zuma said that, after consultations with the relevant authorities, it was decided that a 0% cost of living adjustment would be made for the different members of municipal councils for the 2020/2021 financial year. This means that the latest wages, last updated in April 2020, will remain in effect. At the country’s largest and most populous municipalities, executive mayors can earn as much as R1.4 million a year, while their deputies can earn R1.1 million. In the country’s smaller municipalities this figure drops to R782,000 for executive mayors, and R632,025 for their deputies. In addition to their annual wages, top municipal workers can expect a number of other benefits including a motor vehicle and travel allowance; out of pocket expenses; cell phone allowance for councillors; data bundles; and special risk cover Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech
Staff at Mthatha hospital have to travel 500km daily to do the institution’s laundry Sowetan reports that Department of Health (DOH) employees at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH) in Mthatha have to travel close to 500km daily to Mdantsane to do the institution’s laundry at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (CMH) because of faulty machines at their own hospital. According to workers, only one washing machine and one dryer are working. One source explained that they took turns to travel to CMH, where they did the laundry overnight. “It is not just the NMAH linen that we wash, but Bedford and Mthatha General Hospital laundry as well. Theatre laundry is done at a laundromat in Mthatha.” DOH spokesperson Yonela Dekeda confirmed that the laundry was not “functioning at its full capacity due to unforeseen breakdown.” She said there were delays in receiving parts from abroad because of Covid-19 restrictions. Another source who works at the laundry said: “You find piles of dirty laundry. It’s just that we need jobs, but working like this is not good.” Dekeda said approval “has been granted to contract these workers up to the end of March 2022. When a revised organogram [for the hospital] is approved, the recruitment processes will take place.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ziyanda Zweni on page 4 of Sowetan of 2 November 2021
Treasury announces changes to draft laws that will allow pension fund investments in infrastructure Fin24 reports that Treasury has published tweaks to proposed legislation that will allow retirement funds to invest 45% of the money they manage in South African infrastructure. Earlier this year, Treasury announced that Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act would be changed to allow retirement funds to invest in bridges, roads, cellphone towers and other infrastructure. Importantly, this would be optional in that retirement funds would not be obliged to invest in infrastructure. But the proposal will allow retirement funds investments of 45% in South African infrastructure, with an additional 10% in African infrastructure outside of SA - bringing the total maximum infrastructure exposure to 55%. Following comments from stakeholders, Treasury announced changes to the proposed regulations on Tuesday. These include changing the definition of "infrastructure", which has been revised to be "any asset class that entails physical assets constructed for the provision of social and economic utilities or benefit for the public". The 'social' aspect of the definition will accommodate impact investing by retirement funds. Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. A two-week public comment period has been announced for the new amendments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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