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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Covid-19 national state of disaster to end soon, Cyril Ramaphosa announces in SONA BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has signalled an end to the national state of disaster. Delivering his state of the nation address (SONA) on Thursday, Ramaphosa said the only remaining hurdle was providing for health regulations to ensure that Covid-19 regulations were still in place. This included regulations around social distancing and mask wearing. He emphasised that Covid-19 vaccines remained the best defence against the virus. “We will do so (end the state of disaster) as soon as we have finalised legislation to manage the pandemic,” the President promised. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has long called for Ramaphosa to end the state of disaster, which has gone on for two years. It is, however, uncertain how long it will take to pass the legislation needed to contain and manage Covid-19. Apparently, the decision to end the national state of disaster came after a two hour discussion in the cabinet on Wednesday, with arguments for and against. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hajra Omarjee at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Ramaphosa focuses in SONA on economic reforms and prioritises Eskom and Transnet BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address (SONA) on Thursday dealt at length with a renewed impetus for the structural economic reforms that are regarded as critical to unlock economic growth. He acknowledged that fundamental change and fundamental reforms were needed to revive economic growth, a refrain that has been repeated for several years, with little progress being made. The President announced that the cabinet had approved an amendment to the Electricity Amendment Act for public comment that “will enable a competitive market for electricity generation and the establishment of an independent state-owned transmission company”. This is in line with the aim of unbundling Eskom into three separate units: generation, transmission and distribution. He said the long-delayed auction of spectrum will take place in about three weeks’ time. It will unlock new spectrum for mobile telecommunications for the first time in over a decade. Transnet will ask for proposals from private partners for the Durban and Ngqura Container Terminals within the next few months, which will enable partnerships to be in place at both terminals by October 2022. It will start the process of providing third-party access to its freight rail network from April 2022 by making slots available on the container corridor between Durban and Gauteng. On state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Ramaphosa said the Presidential SOE Council had recommended that the government adopt a centralised shareholder model for its key commercial state-owned companies. “This would separate the state’s ownership functions from its policymaking and regulatory functions, minimise the scope for political interference, introduce greater professionalism and manage state assets in a way that protects shareholder value.” The policy and regulatory framework for industrial hemp and cannabis will be reviewed. Ramaphosa also said his administration would focus more on fixing the country’s broken commuter rail network. Based on reports by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) and Thabo Mokone at TimesLive Pro-business SONA includes promises on lower costs, and cutting back on red tape Fin24 reports that in a state of the nation address (SONA) that focused in large part on encouraging business, President Cyril Ramaphosa promised the private sector that government wanted to lower its costs and cut red tape. He stated: "The key task of government is to create the conditions that will enable the private sector – both big and small – to emerge, to grow, to access new markets, to create new products, and to hire more employees. We all know that government does not create jobs. Business creates jobs." Around 80% of jobs in SA were in the private sector, Ramaphosa stressed. His speech mostly reiterated government’s existing initiatives, and contained few new fiscal pledges - apart from an extension of the social relief grant for another year. But Ramaphosa did include a few new announcements that will impact business. The most important was new legislative amendments that will enable the trading and reselling of power among private companies. This effectively ends Eskom's monopoly on selling electricity. The president's speech also contained a spirited attack on the amount of red tape in SA. "There are too many regulations in this country that are unduly complicated, costly and difficult to comply with. This prevents companies from growing and creating jobs," Ramaphosa pointed out. Accordingly, a "red tape team" will be set up in the Presidency to improve the business environment for companies of all sizes. This will be headed by Sasol chair and former Exxaro CEO Sipho Nkosi. Government is also reviewing the Business Act – alongside a broader review of legislation that affects small businesses – to reduce the regulatory burden on informal businesses. Labour regulations for small businesses may also be reviewed to encourage them to hire more people. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Helena Wasserman at Fin24 (subscriber access only) Ramaphosa extends R350 social relief of distress grant to March 2023 while replacement grant is being looked at BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has come to the aid of SA’s desperately poor by extending the Covid-19 social relief of distress grant of R350 a month for unemployed adults for a year to end-March 2023. It is estimated that the extension will cost the fiscus R50bn, expenditure made possible by the mineral resources boom that is expected to raise the 2021/2022 tax revenue target by R200bn. Details will be provided by Enoch Godongwana, the finance minister, when he tables the 2022/2023 budget on 23 February. The grant benefits about 10-million people. Addressing the nation in his sixth state of the nation (SONA) address in Cape Town’s City Hall on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said the government would continue consultations on a replacement for the grant. The President said that between now and end-March, government would “engage in broad consultations and detailed technical work to identify the best options to replace this grant. Any future support must pass the test of affordability, and must not come at the expense of basic services or at the risk of unsustainable spending. It remains our ambition to establish a minimum level of support for those in greatest need.” While there has been much debate — including among Ramaphosa’s own economic advisers — about the introduction of a permanent basic income grant (BIG), at its meeting this week the cabinet decided against that for now because of the absence of a funding mechanism. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Ramaphosa extends payouts for poor amid jobs-or-welfare tussle, at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Tembisa Hospital shooting: Violent acts perpetrated by cops rooted in on-the-job issues, says Popcru News24 reports that on Thursday, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) released a statement reacting to the murder of assistant nurse Lebo Monene. She was gunned down at Tembisa Hospital on Wednesday, allegedly by her partner, a police constable, who has been charged with murder. The constable is in critical condition in hospital after he turned the gun on himself. He gained access to the hospital using a vehicle with blue lights. Popcru indicated in the statement on Thursday: "Such regrettable acts dent the image of the SAPS (SA Police Service) as an organisation, and while we abhor and sturdily discourage such acts, their frequency among members, we believe, are partly as a result of the deep-rooted underlying challenges faced by many among the SAPS ranks." The union went on to comment that acts of suicide within and among members of the SAPS were at an alarming level, with an average of at least 20 reported cases over each of the past two years. It called for urgent measures by all stakeholders “to enhance their roles in curbing this trend as policing is becoming more stressful when compared to other careers or professions.” Meanwhile, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said it would be monitoring the situation closely as part of its constitutional mandate. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lwandile Bhengu at News24. Read too, Cop alleged to have killed nurse girlfriend at Tembisa Hospital charged with murder, at News24. And also, Shot Tembisa nurse, cop lover were separated, at SowetanLive Guard airlifted to hospital after being shot 'several times' in Joburg cash heist on Thursday News24 reports that a security guard was airlifted to a nearby hospital after being shot during a cash-in-transit heist in Nancefield Industrial in Johannesburg on Thursday. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said two Fidelity guards came under attack when they parked their vehicle on the pavement on Cavendish Road to collect money from a motor spares store. "It is reported that on their way out, the guards, who were carrying two canisters with an undisclosed amount of money, were met with a hail of bullets coming from the suspects. One guard was shot several times on his lower body and as he went down, the suspects allegedly robbed him of his firearm and one canister," Netshiunda indicated. The gunmen fled the scene in a grey Volkswagen Polo. The injured guard is in a critical but stable condition. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24
Striking workers claim they were attacked at Clover plant in Clayville, Ekurhuleni on Monday GroundUp reports that three striking workers were attacked on Monday evening at a Clover plant in Clayville, Ekurhuleni. A joint statement by the General Industrial Workers’ Union of SA (GIWUSA) and the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) said two taxis and a private car arrived at the Clayville factory around 6pm and the striking workers were attacked. One of the workers was “beaten badly” outside the factory. The other two workers “were taken into the factory where they were assaulted”, the unions claimed. A worker who was present at the scene said the two workers were only released after the police and an ambulance arrived hours later. The three workers were taken to Tembisa hospital. Two have since been discharged. Workers have been picketing at Clover factories and plants since November last year as part of a strike. They are demanding that Clover stop plans for further retrenchments, factory closures and salary cuts. They have also called for the company to reinstate dismissed workers. GIWUSA’s Charles Phahla said an assault case had been opened at the Olifantsfontein police station. The unions accused Clover of hiring the taxi drivers as “thugs and hitmen” to intimidate striking workers. Clover denied the allegations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masego Mafata at GroundUp Workers at University of Pretoria down tools over labour, wage dispute The Star reports that workers at the University of Pretoria (UP) downed tools on Wednesday in protest against changes made by management to their contracts and working conditions. The changes mostly affect security guards, cleaners and staff working in food services. Apparently, the security staff were also demanding back pay for overtime work they had not been paid for since 2016. Sam Mphuti of the Academic and Professional Staff Association of SA said management had introduced contracts for security and food services. The contracts also came with Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) regulations for security guards and the food services staff would be regulated by hospitality industry standards. He commented: “The conditions of PSIRA make it look like workers are working for a private company. We want them to migrate to university policy … when you are an employee of the university.” A spokesperson for the university said the union was making some accusations which were not true. The unions representing workers said on Wednesday that the strike would end when the demands of the workers were met. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa on page 2 of The Star of 10 February 2022
JMPD warns against fake metro police job ads, offers The Star reports that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has distanced itself from fake advertisements making the rounds on social media about jobs at the department. According to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, criminal were taking advantage of young people who were enticed to apply for the fake jobs they advertised. “Criminals are robbing young people of their money, ranging between R2,000 and R7,000 per person for fake jobs. JMPD jobs are not for sale, and we want to reiterate that no one is required to pay any sum of money for JMPD vacancies,” said Fihla. He added that some of the scammers had been arrested for selling fake JMPD jobs. Fihla explained that currently there were no vacancies available at the JMPD. Vacancy adverts would be placed in daily newspapers and on the City of Johannesburg’s website, but not on social media platforms. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sonri Naidoo on page 2 of The Star of 10 February 2022
Bungled payroll leaves education assistants in Eastern Cape unpaid for two months GroundUp reports that hundreds, possibly thousands, of education assistants and general school assistants in the Eastern Cape have not received their monthly stipends. More than 40,000 education assistants have been appointed in the province and they are responsible for things such as preparing classrooms for teaching and learning, handing out workbooks and textbooks, and preparing marking sheets and capturing and keeping marks. “The department hired us in November 2021 with the promise that all will be sorted out. However, some of us were not paid our December salary. Others were not paid for both December and January. I am one of those who has not received my salary for both months,” one education assistant, indicated. In a statement issued on 7 January, the Eastern Cape Department of Education had said a forensic investigation was underway after three officials were suspended for creating the payment mess. Spokesperson for the provincial education department Mali Mtima now said they were busy doing an audit to find out who was not paid and who received money not meant for them. Mtima told GroundUp: “We were paying the last ones on Tuesday. We are doing a mop up to ensure that every school or person that has not been paid gets paid. We are doing an audit of those that have been paid.” But as of Thursday, the education assistants that GroundUp spoke to had still not received their December or January stipends. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Joseph Chirume at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
KZN prisons boss, who has been on suspension since December 2019, cleared to return to work BusinessLive reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) prisons head Mnikelwa Nxele, who has been suspended since December 2019 on full pay, has been cleared to return to work after a dispute resolution body cleared him of charges relating to tender fraud and money laundering. However, in his ruling on 7 February, General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council arbitrator Katlholo Wabile found Nxele guilty of having failed to declare a property registered in his name and that of his wife. Wabile directed the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to issue Nxele with a written warning valid for six months from the date of the award. The department was ordered to pay Nxele’s legal costs. Nxele was suspended on December 2019 as a result of two separate investigations against him, one of which was ordered by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the other by the DCS. But the KZN prisons boss denied the charges, saying he was being targeted as he was viewed by colleagues as a likely candidate to fill the post of national commissioner of correctional services. Nxele started working for the department in 1986, rising through the ranks and occupying senior positions over the years. DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said on Thursday: “This is an internal matter involving the employer and employee. We will deal with it according to that protocol. We don’t want to be drawn into a public spat.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive
Limpopo teacher who 'abused his powers' by taking pupil to a lodge for sex should be dismissed, ELRC recommends News24 reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has recommended that a teacher be dismissed after taking a 14-year-old Grade 7 pupil to a lodge to have sex with her. The incident happened in October 2020 when the pupil was in Grade 7 and the two had sex at the lodge. The council found that Ofhani Andrew Konanani had breached his duty to act appropriately as a teacher. ELRC panellist M N Masetla stated: “The employee abused his position of power as a teacher by capitalising on the vulnerability of a minor child. He gave her money which she used to catch a taxi to meet him. Even when [the pupil] asked where they were going, he just said they were going to Sibasa [the lodge where he took her]. [The pupil] was clear that the employee had sex with her [and] during cross-examination, she stated that she told him that he was hurting her. I find, therefore that the employee is guilty of the allegations levelled against him.” Masetla noted that Konanani had simply offered a denial without challenging the pupil's version. Masetla concluded that those who behaved like Konanani could not be trusted with children and ruled as follows: "While the employee submitted that he has a clean record and is a breadwinner with a wife and dependents, these factors cannot mitigate enough to avoid summary dismissal." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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