In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 26 November 2021.
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SA to remain on level 1 lockdown, task team to look into mandatory vaccinations The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday evening on developments in respect of SA’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He advised that the new omicron variant was responsible for most of the infections found in Gauteng over the last two weeks, and that it was also showing up in all other provinces. “There are still a number of things about the variant that remains unknown, that our scientists in South African and other parts of the world are still hard at work to establish. Over the next few days and weeks as more data becomes available we will have a better understanding of whether omicron is transmitted more easily amongst people and whether it increases the risk of re-infection, and whether this variant causes a more severe risk of disease as well as how effective the current Covid-19 vaccine is against the omicron variant,” Ramaphosa indicated. He said SA would remain on alert level 1 lockdown going into the festive season. The National State of Disaster would also remain in place, and this along with the current alert level 1 lockdown would be re-evaluated in the coming days and weeks. Ramaphosa said the government had been working with various sectors and holding discussions with labour and community constituencies on implementation of mandatory vaccines for certain locations and activities. He said a task team would be appointed which would will report to cabinet. “The introduction to such a matter is a complex issue, but if we don’t address this we will continue to be vulnerable for more coronavirus waves and new variants,” the president stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Xanet Scheepers at The Citizen Business for SA wants unvaccinated persons banned from taxis, restaurants and taverns Fin24 reports that Business for South Africa (B4SA) has called on government to move fast and restrict access to public indoor areas that are not required for emergency use (such as hospitals, grocery stores and certain Government services) to vaccinated South Africans only. B4SA is an alliance of business people which works with the government, and other social partners, to mobilise corporate resources and capacity to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. B4SA’s call came after a new Covid-19 variant, which the World Health Organisation named Omicron, was identified on Thursday. “We need to rapidly move to a situation where only vaccinated individuals should be allowed to travel in buses, taxis and airplanes, or to eat and drink in indoor establishments such as restaurants and taverns. This is in line with global restrictions and based on the science regarding airborne disease. Ventilation and masks remain important, but we now need to look at enforcing a further layer of protection,” said Martin Kingston, B4SA’s chair. B4SA also called on employers to enforce restricted access to vaccinated individuals and implementing vaccine mandates wherever possible. The body furthermore called for lower limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings to be reintroduced. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24 More blows for tourism and restaurant trade as travel bans kick in Cape Times reports that in a major setback for the tourism and hospitality sector in the Western Cape, global travel bans on SA will be devastating for the local economy, which is reliant on international visitors during the December peak season. So said the provincial government as the tourism sector, among others, received a hammer blow with the announcement of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant and the subsequent globally imposed restrictions on SA. Premier Alan Winde said health officials remained on high alert, but no cases had been detected in the province on Sunday. “This is extremely distressing to me, especially because the WHO has made it clear that travel bans are not an effective response. Our economy needs help urgently, and that is why I call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce an emergency financial support package for this sector so that we can save jobs,” Winde said. Meanwhile, Hapiloe Sello of SANParks said they were bracing for mass booking amendments. The Restaurant Association of SA (Rasa) pointed out that arbitrary restrictions would destroy jobs and cripple a sector that had yet to recover from previous lockdown measures. Rasa’s Wendy Alberts said the sector was a major employer of the most vulnerable category of workers, and that half of the country’s restaurants had already been forced to close. “The government cannot exacerbate this crisis by adding restrictions of its own to the unjustified and unscientific panic response of foreign governments,” Alberts warned. Vinpro chief executive Rico Basson said the wine sector, linked to both international and domestic tourism, had been highly affected by the latest developments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Francesca Villette and Okuhle Hlati at Cape Times Home Affairs Minister tests positive for Covid-19, self-isolates EWN reports that Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. In a statement, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said the Home Affairs Minister was in good health and was self-isolating. He wished Motsoaledi a speedy recovery. This came as scientists worked to understand the new Omicron variant, which the World Health Organisation has dubbed a ‘variant of concern’. The National Coronavirus Command Council met on Saturday to discuss developments around the pandemic – including the growing number of infections. South Africans have been urged to vaccinate and comply with Covid-19 safety measures. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masechaba Sefularo at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cape Town policeman shot dead on Friday by robbers fleeing scene of robbery and hostage situation News24 reports that a Table View policeman was shot dead on Friday morning while responding to a robbery and hostage situation in Cape Town. Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said police received a call for help during a robbery at Killarney Gardens. Police and a security company rushed to the scene where four people were robbing a business at the industrial park, while holding staff hostage at gunpoint. However, instead of surrendering, the robbers ran out, brazenly shooting at the police in a bid to get away. Police returned fire, and the area quickly became the scene of a shootout between the robbers and police. "Sadly, a 48-year-old police sergeant from Table View, who sustained a gunshot wound to his head, died on arrival at a medical facility in the area," Potelwa reported. One of his colleagues was shot in the leg. A 34-year-old man suspected to have been one of the robbers was wounded and arrested at the scene, and another, a 36-year-old, was arrested further afield, also with a gunshot wound. Police launched an extensive search to track down the rest of the gang. The Hawks are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Five Impala Platinum miners missing after mudslide on Sunday AFP reports that Impala Platinum (Implats) announced on Sunday that five mineworkers were missing following a mudslide at a platinum mine northwest of Johannesburg. Seven employees were working at the bottom of a shaft at the mine in Rustenburg, "when the area became inundated as a result of a mud rush," Implats indicated in a statement. Two of the workers escaped with minor injuries. The platinum producer said search and rescue teams were still searching for the missing workers. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Fin24. Read too, Implats searching for five miners following ‘mud rush’ at foot of Rustenburg 6 shaft, at Miningmx Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa says his removal was unlawful City Press reports that Joseph Mathunjwa is fighting to retain his position as president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), despite a scathing court ruling last week that declared his election unlawful. Last Monday, acting Judge Sandile Mabaso of the Labour Court ruled that his re-election as Amcu president in 2019 had not been valid. He found that Mathunjwa had not been employed in the mining and construction sectors since 2013, which was when he had been retrenched. But Mathunjwa, in his appeal papers filed a day after Mabaso’s judgment, stressed that, by virtue of being a union member in good standing, he was eligible to contest for the Amcu presidency. Mathunjwa and Amcu argued that the courts did not have the jurisdiction to rule on whether his election had been lawful or not. The original application to set aside Mathunjwa’s election was launched by Nkosikho Joni, a former Amcu deputy president, who was elected at the same conference but was dismissed last year. While Joni succeeded in getting Mathunjwa removed, he failed to prove his case against Amcu treasurer-general Jimmy Gama, whom he said was not qualified to contest the 2019 election. Joni had also hoped that the court would declare Mathunjwa’s decision to expel him from the union unlawful and unconstitutional, but the judgment stated that he had no locus standi, or a right to bring the legal action, so he was granted no relief in that regard. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Queenin Masuabi at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, Amcu to appeal judgment setting aside Mathunjwa's election as union president, at TimesLIVE Exxaro secures second weekly vaccination day as Covid-19 infections spike at Grootegeluk mine Miningmx reports that Exxaro Resources said it would implement a second weekly vaccination day at its Grootegeluk Complex (GGC) in Limpopo province after confirming active Covid-19 cases had increased to 88 as of 27 November. “Despite the sudden surge in numbers, there’s yet no hospitalisation case to date,” reported Mzila Mthenjane, executive head for stakeholder affairs at the thermal coal producer. Of the newly infected employees, 34 had been vaccinated. The company said none of the 88 active cases were displaying severe Covid-19 illness or symptoms and that 33 were not displaying any symptoms. All 88 are in isolation as per the protocols. The Department of Health will conduct a second vaccination date on Tuesdays in addition to the Thursdays currently set aside for the company’s employees – of which 76% have been fully vaccinated. Exxaro employs 6,417 people at GGC. “This will aid in increasing the number of employees and community members to get vaccinated in and around the Lephalale community,” said Mthenjane of the second vaccination date. A total of 68.91% of Exxaro’s employee and contractor workforce across the business has been vaccinated. The company is working on reaching herd immunity of 80% ahead of the festive season. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx
New Joburg mayor puts freeze on appointments in the city News24 reports that newly elected City of Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse has issued a moratorium on filling vacant positions in the city because there is currently no political oversight in the city to keep watch over decisions made by the administration. Phalatse indicated: “We do not have a majority government in Johannesburg, and we need to put in place coalitions first that will take the city forward. I have already issued an order for a moratorium to be placed for the filling of all vacancies, permanent and temporary. The moratorium includes the extension of employment contracts and the conversion. This is done to protect the integrity of the municipality." The mayor decided on the freeze after consultation with the acting city manager. The decision to freeze the filling of vacant posts followed her election as mayor of Johannesburg on 22 November. She was elected through the support of opposition political parties because the DA does not have a majority in the city. Phalatse has yet to appoint a 10-member mayoral committee because negotiations with opposition political parties have yet to be concluded. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zintle Mahlati at News24
'We are determined to do as much as we can to empower military veterans', Ramaphosa tells MPs News24 reports that on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa answered questions in the National Assembly and gave the assurance that he would resolve issues that affected military veterans. He told MPs that a government-wide approach was needed to ensure that military veterans could enjoy the fruits of the freedoms they helped to bring about. This came in the wake of the October drama when some military veterans held two government ministers and a deputy minister hostage during a meeting in Pretoria. The group of veterans was demanding millions in reparations for their role in the anti-apartheid struggle. Some 53 war vets have been charged in connection with the hostage incident. Ramaphosa said: “The important part is that they need to be empowered either through skills and entrepreneurship. They should have a sense that they are part of the economy. Where there are procurement opportunities, they should participate.” He added that there had been progress in reviewing the Military Veterans Act: "The Department of Military Veterans will be restructured after the Act is amended. Costing is underway for the pension policy. It will require a common approach to all departments.” Provincial offices have apparently been capacitated to assist military veterans. Noting that military veterans faced "many complex" challenges, Ramaphosa went on to indicate: "A moratorium on applications for education support has been lifted, and the Department of Military Veterans is now receiving and processing new applications" Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24. Read too, Military veterans’ pensions may be paid within months, says minister, on page 10 of The Citizen of 26 November 2021
BankservAfrica reports that take-home pay plummeted in October Business Report writes that take-home pay in the private sector showed the steepest monthly decline in October since September 2019. This was revealed in the latest BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI). BankservAfrica’s Shergeran Naidoo reported last week that real take-home pay declined by 3.1% on a year-on-year basis last month compared with the 4.1% growth registered in September. There were a number of reasons for this fall. In October last year, more casual workers were in the process of returning to work, which resulted in the high BTPI base. In contrast, data reflected a smaller pool of payments to casual workers, which contributed to the sharp fall between last month and September this year. The local government elections on Monday, 1 November, which was declared as a public holiday, also saw some employees receiving their pay after the beginning of this month, thus lowering the BTPI numbers for last month. Economist Mike Schüssler commented that as the three-month moving average of the number of people paid stayed relatively stable, it was believed that some of the October payments occurred in September. “The nominalised take-home pay for October was R15,042 compared with the R15,266 recorded in September. In real terms, the average take-home pay was R12,412 in October,” Naidoo indicated. According to the BTPI data, SA’s take-home pay has stayed between R12,000 and R13,150 over the past 25 months, indicating that salaries in the formal sector have not changed drastically over the years. In the past four months, the typical pay has remained below R11,000. Meanwhile, for the second consecutive month, private pensions increased under 10% in nominal terms. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Given Majola at Business Report
No to on-set sexual harassment The Citizen reports that the days when women would be improperly touched or spoken to in a sexually denigrating way on set may be coming to an end, if the male-dominated film industry adheres to a new code of conduct for good practice. Gender-based violence (GBV) experts last week told a webinar about the impact of the scourge in the local film industry. This has led to the launch of the code of good conduct for good practice, with production houses forced to abide by it. On the progress the film industry was making in dealing with GBV, Londeka Mlawuza, board member of Sisters Working in Film and Television, said: “We are advocating a safe working environment – free from sexual harassment, discrimination, an environment of equality and pay parity. We have found that sexual harassment or GBV has become the barrier to women being treated equally or moving up the ranks in the industry. Sisters Working in Film and Television created the code of conduct for good practice, which affects everyone involved in the industry – government, film producers and suppliers.” The document is in the form of a booklet, which was meant to educate and push everyone into line to pledge to stamp out all forms of GBV in the film industry, said Mlawuza. On how rife GBV was in the film industry, Sisters Working in Film and Television board chair Zanele Mthembu referred to the results of a survey conducted by the organisation in 2017, which revealed that of 81 women surveyed, 23% claimed they were non-consensually touched while working in the industry. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brian Sokutu at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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