In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 19 November 2021.
|
Tiger Brands threatens legal action following strike violence Fin24 reports that according to Tiger Brands CEO Noel Doyle, the company might head to court for an urgent interdict to halt a violent strike in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The Black Cat, Tastic Rice, and Jungle Oats producer also owns the Beacon brand under its snacks and treats division, where the workers have been on strike in KwaZulu-Natal for the past week. The strike began after Tiger Brands and the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union (Amitu) recently reached a wage negotiation impasse. On Friday, Doyle said there had been very high levels of violence and intimidation during the strike and two workers had been "savagely" assaulted on Thursday. The CEO explained that although the company would be meeting with the union for further discussions on Monday, it might also file an application to interdict the strike before that, given the violence and intimidation. "We really respect everybody's right to take industrial action but the level of intimidation that we saw [on Thursday] is quite unconscionable and that makes the environment quite difficult and it makes it difficult for us management, to make contingency plans," he said. Doyle added the double-digit basic increase the union wanted would be a challenge for the underperforming business and would set a precedent that would impact the entire company. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penelope Mashego at Fin24 Supported by Cosatu, Saccawu calls for consumer boycott of Massmart amid low wage strike turnout BL Premium reports that the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) is set to ramp up its indefinite strike at retail giant Massmart by calling for a consumer boycott of the company’s 413 stores across the country from Monday. Sithembele Tshwete, the union’s spokesperson, said on Sunday that Saccawu would intensify the industrial action from Monday, in an effort to get management to table a revised wage offer and address some of the grievances the union had raised. “We are asking our brothers and sisters to not cross the picket lines because we are fighting a company that is hell-bent on treating workers as commodities. The strike continues because the employer has not come back to the negotiating table. The strike is about the dignity of workers. This company is paying workers less than the minimum wage of R4,200,” he said. Saccawu, which claims to have about 20,000 of Massmart’s 45,000-strong workforce, embarked on an indefinite strike from Friday in support of its demand for a R500 increase across the board. It has rejected management’s proposal of R320. The union is also disputing alleged unilateral restructuring and changes to terms and conditions of employment affecting the group's customer relation officers. In a strike update on Sunday, Massmart said that less than 23% of Saccawu’s membership participated in the strike action on Friday, with a reduction to around 11% over the weekend. Saccawu is an affiliate of labour federation Cosatu. Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the federation supported the industrial action. “The federation is calling on all South African consumers to support this legitimate struggle for workers in defence of their rights by boycotting Massmart stores effective from Monday,” said Pamla. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Fears that Massmart strike could spread within retail sector Business Times reports that the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) on Friday began an indefinite strike at Walmart-owned Massmart, sparking concern this could spill over into the rest of the sector, which is already facing rising costs and a weak economy. Saccawu spokesperson Sithembele Tshwete said the union was “busy talking” to staff at other retailers who could inflict pressure on Massmart in the “form of a sympathy or secondary strike”, and the union would “announce this one soon”. Casparus Treurnicht of Gryphon Asset Management commented that there “is always the possibility” of this type of industrial action affecting other retailers. Alec Abraham of Sasfin Wealth noted that “invariably any large-scale industrial action at retail level” could have a knock-on impact and affect general consumer confidence overall. The strike comes amid Massmart’s turnaround plan, but corporate affairs executive Brian Leroni said this strategy would not be affected by the strike as only a small proportion of the group’s total of 45,000 employees were participating and contract staff had been brought in, meaning there was more than enough capacity. By late Friday afternoon, Massmart estimated that fewer than 23% of Saccawu’s members had participated in the strike and said “stores are operating smoothly”. However, Tshwete said workers “that are inside the stores are not our members but replacement labour brought in by the company, purportedly from labour brokers”. Saccawu is striking to demand a 10% wage increase at Massmart’s Builders division (where the company has apparently offered 4%); at Game the union wants staff who were retrenched earlier this year to be reinstated in their original jobs; and it wants better car and cellphone allowances for about 170 Makro customer relationship officers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at Business Times
Cash-in-transit robbers shoot and wound security guards in Pretoria on Friday, steal undisclosed amount of money News24 reports that two security guards were shot and wounded just after 10:00 on Friday when cash-in-transit robbers attacked them on the N1 and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said a G4S cash van was making its way from Pretoria to Marble Hall in Limpopo when it was attacked near Hammanskraal Avenue. The cash van was blown up with explosives and an undisclosed amount of cash taken. "The escort vehicle was also shot at. At this stage, we can confirm that two security officials have been shot and wounded and rushed to a nearby medical facility for medical care," Mathe indicated. It is not yet known how many robbers were involved in the attack. Read the original of the short report compiled by Botho Molosankwe in the above regard at News24
CCMA starting to receive complaints of people being fired for not taking Covid-19 vaccine Sunday Independent reports that Covid-19 vaccines are not mandatory in SA and yet some employers have started firing or retrenching unvaccinated employees. Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) director Cameron Morajane has confirmed that so far they have received 10 referrals. The CCMA has “redlined” or flagged these as matters of national importance. Last month, the Department of Employment and Labour ruled that companies that make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for their staff would have to compensate their workers should they suffer side effects, illness or death from the jab. And President Cyril Ramaphosa had declared in one of his “family meeting” statements that Covid-19 vaccines were not mandatory. But he clearly left the door open for individual companies and establishments to formulate their own policies. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the union had received some complaints of workers being told by their employers that they must be vaccinated or face dismissal. “We are intervening in those instances, including helping the workers to register their cases with the CCMA. We are also engaging those employers to reverse the dismissals and to persuade the workers on why it’s important for them to vaccinate,” he indicated. Pamla added that Cosatu strongly supported the need for everyone to vaccinate as they have been proven internationally to be safe and highly effective in saving lives, but could not support dismissing workers. Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union general secretary Lerato Mthunzi also said they have been receiving complaints, enquiries and lodging of grievances from their members. National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the union strongly encouraged vaccination, and that they had not received complaints. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Manyane Manyane at Sunday Independent Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Several ANC leaders join staff picketing outside NEC meeting over unpaid salaries IOL reports that several ANC leaders employed in the party’s head office, Luthuli House, on Sunday joined staff protesting outside the venue of a special national executive committee (NEC) over non-payment of salaries. NEC members, including former Cabinet ministers Nomvula Mokonyane and ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini, as well as party spokesperson Pule Mabe and head of the Presidency Sibongile Besani, were among the protesting staff. Mabe said they were also affected by the ANC’s failure to pay salaries since August, as they were also employed by the party. ˝The situation cannot persist, the situation cannot go on like this,” he said. Mabe warned the ANC that if it wanted to retain its skilled personnel it must ensure that they have job security, incentivise them regularly and pay them their fringe benefits. “We will not leave the (NEC) meeting, unless we agree on what needs to happen,” he promised. According to Mabe, the issue of non-payment of staff would be top of the agenda before the NEC and the national working committee. ANC staff representative Mandla Qwane said the ANC had undertaken to pay salaries by the end of November. A meeting has apparently been scheduled for Tuesday between staff representatives and ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte as well as party management. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at IOL
UASA, Implats sign settlement agreement over leave deduction during 2014 Amcu strike Mining Weekly reports that almost eight years after the 2014 strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) at Impala Platinum (Implats), trade union UASA has signed a settlement agreement with the platinum producer relating to the unlawful deduction of accumulated leave from members’ accounts in the wake of the AMCU strike action. UASA members who were employed at Implats at the time did not take part in the AMCU strike but were prevented from going to work owing to the violence and intimidation during the strike action. UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo indicated in a statement: “Because the mine could not guarantee a safe workplace, workers were forced to go back home.” Consequently, UASA filed a court case against Implats in respect of Section 23 of the Mines Health and Safety Act, which deals with the right of employees to leave a dangerous working place. On 21 January 2020, the Labour Court ruled in UASA’s favour, but Implats appealed the judgment. “UASA is most pleased that a positive outcome in the form of the settlement agreement has been yielded to our members after so many years,” Moyo indicated. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read UASA’s press statement on the above at UASA News Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Eskom officially declares Lethabo distribution line tower collapse an act of sabotage Mining Weekly reports that Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has confirmed that the collapse of a distribution-line tower providing power to the coal conveyor system at the Lethabo power station, in the Free State, was a “deliberate act of sabotage”. The sabotage occurred at about 18:00 on Wednesday, 17 November and was implemented in such a way as to ensure that the tower collapsed on to a second distribution line, providing double redundancy to the conveyor system. Eight of the H-frame tower’s 24-mm cable stays were deliberately cut either with a hacksaw or an angle grinder, and the tower was also directed to fall uphill so as to deliberately damage the second distribution line. Had it not been for the efforts of the utility’s distribution staff to restore power supply to the conveyors via an innovative engineering solution, Lethabo would have shut within six hours of the incident. Eskom is working with the Hawks unit within the police investigate the incident, which occurred in an area that has never before been considered a cable theft hotspot. De Ruyter said the fact that nothing was stolen from the site also pointed to sabotage, rather than an economic crime. He declined to speculate on the motive, saying only that it was “extremely disappointing” that certain individuals would actively seek to increase the intensity of load-shedding and its negative economic consequences. Eskom also refused to comment further on a forensic investigation under way at the Matimba power station, in Limpopo, where three units tripped on 17 November when a team working on the dry-cooling fans at the power station allowed an extension cord to drop on to a transformer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Tarnished auditing profession battles to attract new talent, says new Deloitte CEO Business Times reports that Ruwayda Redfearn, who has been named the first female CEO of accounting firm Deloitte Africa, says the audit profession, which has been mired in scandal, is struggling to attract auditors. “Because of scandals which have focused highly critical attention on the profession it is becoming increasingly pressurised and more stressful to be a registered auditor,” she indicated. The work of auditors, not least at Deloitte, which was badly tarnished by its failures at African Bank, Steinhoff and Tongaat Hulett, is under scrutiny, which she described as “intense and uncomfortable”. Redfearn added: “It's absolutely warranted, because in our world trust is the ultimate currency, and when that trust is threatened or diminished we need to act decisively.” But it has made the auditing space a very challenging one to be in, she noted. And so, even though the number of chartered accountants in SA is increasing — including black and female CAs — the number of registered auditors is decreasing. And those joining the profession are not staying. “We're not able to keep them in the profession and get them to the point where they can sign off on audited financial statements,” Redfearn reported. One of her biggest challenges will be to turn this around without relaxing processes that, “rightly, are becoming a lot more vigorous”. Redfearn commented further: “We need to be more deliberate about retaining people in the profession, and attracting them into the profession. Specifically, people of colour from disadvantaged backgrounds. It's something I am quite passionate about.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Barron at Business Times (subscriber access only)
Gauteng MEC says acting municipal managers of Sedibeng, Emfuleni 'have no legal standing' as they were appointed without council approval News24 reports that Gauteng's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Lebogang Maile, has designated a local government practitioner to oversee the inaugural council sittings in Sedibeng and Emfuleni after it emerged the acting municipal managers were appointed without council approval. Maile briefed the media on Sunday, ahead of the councils' meetings by the 23 November deadline. "It has come to our attention that erstwhile executive mayors at Sedibeng and Emfuleni appointed acting municipal managers without obtaining council approval as required by the peremptory provisions of section 82(1)(b) of the Structures Act. This means that the appointees in question have no legal standing to preside over the first meeting of the new municipal councils of Sedibeng and Emfuleni," Maile advised. Local government administrator and former Rand West mayor, Mpho Nawa, has been appointed to preside over the first council meetings in Sedibeng and Emfuleni, Maile said. The Sedibeng district municipality comprises of Emfuleni, Lesedi and Midvaal local municipalities. Once an ANC stronghold, Emfuleni, in Vanderbijlpark, was one of the hung councils in the province, where no political party attained a majority in the recent local government elections. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at News24
Prasa CEO suspended after discovery of concealed UK citizenship Fin24 reports that on Sunday, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) confirmed that it had placed CEO Zolani Matthews under precautionary suspension after finding out that he had UK citizenship. In a statement, Prasa’s board said it found out about Matthews’ citizenship last week after the State Security Department declined his top secret security clearance. The board said Matthews had deliberately failed to disclose that he was a British citizen. “This came as a shock to Prasa and upon perusal of a declaration form signed on 8 May 2021 by Mr Matthews it was evident that he deliberately concealed this fact,” the board’s chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane indicated. Ramatlakane explained that Matthews was on precautionary suspension to allow for an investigation to be done “without interference”. The board stressed that Matthews was still a Prasa employee pending the investigation into the issue. Prasa has appointed David Mphelo as acting CEO. Read the original of the short report in the above regard compiled by Penelope Mashego at Fin24See too, Prasa CEO suspended over UK citizenship security fear, at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). En ook, Prasa-hoof oor ‘sensitiewe saak’ geskors, by Maroela Media
Following release on bail, VBS corruption-accused back at work, with education department’s blessing Saturday Citizen reports that corruption and money laundering-accused Johannes Mohlala is back at work as North West education department administrator following his release on bail, ostensibly with the blessing of the Department of Basic Education (DBE). Mohlala and two others are facing charges of contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act, corruption, and money laundering, in connection with the illegal investment of millions of council funds in VBS Mutual Bank. The erstwhile municipal manager of Fetakgomo Greater Tubatse municipality in Limpopo and his fellow accused were on Wednesday released on R5,000 bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. “He was back at work the following day, working from home, and signing off on documents and making key decisions as if nothing has happened. We were shocked, considering the fact that he is facing such serious charges,” an official commented. After his arrest, DBE Minister Angie Motshekga had said in a statement that she had noted Mohlala’s arrest and that in view of this development, she would move swiftly to appoint another person to the position. She announced Mohlala as North West provincial education department administrator in July 2018 as part of national intervention team deployed to stabilise the province following deteriorating governance. At the time of his appointment there were no charges levelled against Mohlala. But despite the charges he now faces, Motshekga’s spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed that Mohlala was back at work as he had not yet been found guilty of any crime. “He should be at work because he has not been suspended nor found guilty of any crime. If there are any developments (Motshekga) will make a public announcement about it,” Mhlanga said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at The Citizen
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page