In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 16 February 2022.
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AA predicts huge fuel hikes in March, with petrol expected to hit over R21/l for the first time BusinessLive reports that the Automobile Association (AA) predicts huge hikes will push fuel prices to record highs next month. Commenting on fuel price data released on Friday by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), the AA expects an increase of R1.25/l for 95-octane petrol, R1.24/l for 93-octane, R1.29/l for diesel and R1.22/l for illuminating paraffin. International petroleum prices are contributing entirely to the expected increases with the stronger rand buffering what would have been more significant increases. Given the current outlook, petrol prices in SA will skyrocket above R21 for the first time, with 95-octane petrol in Gauteng costing about R21.39/l and 93-octane R21.13/l, outstripping the record high of R20.42/l in December last year. Diesel and illuminating paraffin will also increase to levels never seen before. The biggest leap, though, will be in illuminating paraffin — a fuel used by many for heating, cooking and lighting. The price in March 2022 could reach R13.19/l from its current price of R11.97/l, which would represent a whopping 56% increase year-on-year. The new prices will come into effect on 2 March. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive SA’s consumer inflation eased slightly in January from 5.9% to 5.7% Mail & Guardian reports consumer inflation eased to 5.7% in January, down from 5.9% the month prior. According to Statistics SA, the main contributors to the 5.7% annual inflation rate were food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, transport and miscellaneous goods and services. The 5.9% annual increase in December was the highest since March 2017, when the rate had been 6.1%. The January slowdown in inflation was helped by lower fuel prices. But while fuel prices eased in January, this relief was temporary. February saw a hike in the cost of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin, which will likely reflect in February’s inflation figures. In January, the SA Reserve Bank lifted the repo rate — which affects the cost of borrowing — for a second time since November, raising it to 4%. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sarah Smit at Mail & Guardian Fix fuel pricing model rather than pushing up fuel levies, AA urges ahead of budget speech The Citizen reports that the Automobile Association (AA) has urged that more be done, and fast, to curb high fuel prices impacting consumers across the country. The association once again renewed its call for government to review the current fuel pricing mode, not only for consumers, but the economy as a whole. “Our economy is closely linked to the fuel price; it is a major input cost in the manufacturing, retailing and agricultural sectors. We have noted before that a review of the current structure of the fuel price, as well as an audit of all the elements which comprise the fuel price, should be done sooner rather than later,” the AA’s indicated in a statement. As such, it has called on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to initiate an overhaul of how fuel prices are calculated in the upcoming Budget Speech on 23 February. The AA has also urged Godongwana not to push up fuel levies, which are part of the fuel price, which the association said would be “counter-productive” and would impact mostly the “poorest of the poor”. The general fuel levy currently sits at R3.93 per litre. In 2021, it was R3.77. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy is at R2.18, up from R2.07 in 2021. Combined, this adds R6.11 to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in SA. Any adjustments to be announced by Godongwana will be implemented in April. One immediate solution posed by the AA is to review the funding of the RAF. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen
Crime-hit health workers fed up with lack of security at public hospitals The Star reports that the SA Medical Association (Sama) is concerned that doctors and health-care workers will start looking for work in other countries if security in public hospitals is not improved. This was indicated after the attempted rape and hijacking of a Mpumalanga doctor last week and the recent killing of nursing assistant Lebo Monene at the Tembisa Hospital. “On Tuesday night, a doctor at the Mapulaneng Hospital in Mpumalanga was attacked while on her way to the doctor’s residential quarters after her shift. She was hijacked, robbed at gunpoint, and the perpetrators attempted to rape her,” Sama’s spokesperson, Dr Simonia Magardie, reported. Sama's vice-chairperson Mvuyisi Mzukwa lamented that doctors were frustrated because their safety was not guaranteed in public hospitals. Sama has sent a letter to Minister of Health Joe Phaahla about the matter. Mzukwas said Sama was also intending to engage political parties. “We are trying to point out to government that if we allow this to continue, we are going to face serious challenges when it comes to the skill set shortages in the country because we are going to see many more health-care workers emigrating to other countries and leave this country behind with its own challenges,“Mzukwa stated. He pointed out that the difference between private and public hospitals was that the private sector invested heavily in security. “There is better control in private hospitals and the CCTV cameras are functional. In the private sector they try hard to secure their employees,” Mzukwa noted. He also cautioned that doctors would opt out of night duty if they felt that the risks of being a victim of crime were high. Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the government was as concerned about the safety of health-care workers and was doing its best to mitigate crime risks at hospitals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa in The Star of 18 February 2022 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Strikes cost Tiger Brands R120m in operating income in last quarter of 2021 Moneyweb reports that fast-moving consumer goods giant Tiger Brands revealed in a voluntary trading update last week that industrial action at its key bakeries and ‘snacks & treats’ business units in the last quarter of 2021 cost the group R120 million in operating income. This was one of the contributors to a 1% fall in group revenue for the period. Tiger Brands reported that its bakeries, snacks & treats and rice categories were the major drivers behind the fall in group revenue. It said intense price competition, illegal work stoppages as well as supply challenges were some of the issues which impacted sales in these categories. In November, workers at the group’s Beacon Sweets and Chocolate factory in KwaZulu-Natal embarked on a wage strike. The workers, members of the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union (Amitu), were asking Tiger Brands for a 7% wage increase. Although the Snacks & Treats business has made significant progress in restoring supply, it is anticipated that full supply will only be achieved in July 2022. In October the group experienced a wildcat strike at its Albany bread factory in Germiston, Gauteng. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Akhona Matshoba at Moneyweb
Security and cleaning staff camped outside Edenvale Hospital want salaries, reinstatement EWN reports that over 40 of Edenvale Hospital’s security and cleaning staff remain camped outside the hospital in the hopes that their plight will be heard. Saturday marked 21 days since they began their protest, demanding to be paid three months’ salaries and to be reinstated after being unfairly dismissed following seven years of service. Members belonging to the South African Cleaners, Security and Allied Workers’ Union said the company that hired them, Jackcliffy Trading, could no longer be found at its registered offices or telephonically. The protestors indicated they had no choice but to camp outside their physical place of employment, which was the hospital. One man said: “The worst time was in December, during Christmas, because we had nothing. I couldn’t even go back home. My child is in school and even now, I can’t pay school fees. As you can see, I have nothing, the last time I was paid was back in August.” Another woman explained: “This has painfully affected us, more so because I’m a single mother and I have three children. We are dependant on that salary for everything. I wasn’t prepared for not getting a salary.” Read the original of the report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN
Senior managers in government to get cash payment Fin24 reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration announced on Thursday that senior management working for government, who did not get a salary increase in 2021/22, will now get a cash gratuity backdated to 1 April. They will also get a 1.5% salary increase in line with public service arrangements that provide for "pay progression" every year. The cash gratuity is the same as was awarded to the rest of the public service last year. The top grade of senior managers will get R1,818 a month before tax and the lower grades R1,695. Head of the budget office in National Treasury, Edgar Sishi, said that the 1.5% was already part of the budget framework. The cash gratuity would cost government R230 million. "No adjustments to budgets are being done for this purpose. Departments will absorb the cost, which is very small," he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 Dlodlo emphasises that labour unions don't 'negotiate salary increases' for senior government officials News24 reports that according to Department of Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, she – and not labour unions – has the sole prerogative to determine wage increases for senior government officials. Dlodlo was taking issue with the Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) public statement that it "vigorously pursued" salary increases for senior management members (SMS) in the government. Dlodlo's office announced last week that senior government employees would receive a salary increase. This part of the workforce was not included in the wage negotiations for the 2021/2022 financial year. The salary increase is 1.5%. A cash incentive will also be paid, backdated to 1 April. The minister said that, unlike public servants in lower band levels one to 12, she determined the salary increases of senior managers – levels 13 to 16 - in consultation with the finance minister. She pointed out that labour unions only interacted in a negotiation process at the Public Sector Bargaining Council for workers on levels one to 12. Dlodlo added that labour unions were entitled to engage with her office on behalf of senior members. However, such engagements were simply consultative and did not amount to a negotiation process. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zintle Mahlati at News24
SABC looking for hundreds of contractors after axing 877 employees in 2021 Fin24 reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which is not out of the woods financially, is looking to hire close to 500 workers in 2022. This comes in the wake of the public broadcaster axing 877 workers in 2021, which cost R177 million in severance package payments. Last week, Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) was told that the SABC was not generating enough revenue and that the broadcaster was still struggling to cover its costs despite a bailout, which was paid in tranches of R2.1 billion and R1.1 billion in its 2019/2020 financial year. Now the SABC is once again staffing up and advertised this month for 484 freelance jobs, primarily for its SABC News division, ranging from news journalists, editors and producers for TV and radio, to camera operators and video editors, vision controllers, line record operators and bulletin writers, as well as make-up artists. Gugu Ntuli, SABC group executive of corporate affairs and marketing, indicated: "The advertised independent contractor roles are intended to attract diverse skills of individuals who are willing to be engaged for various assignments as and when they become available which is often within a short notice. The SABC has duly budgeted for this purpose." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thinus Ferreira at Fin24
Chair of SA Medical Association Angelique Coetzee steps down following controversial comments TimesLive reports that the chair of the SA Medical Association (Sama), Dr Angelique Coetzee, has stepped down from the position. Sama said on Friday that Coetzee was vacating the role with immediate effect, but that she would remain an ordinary member of the Sama board. Coetzee had announced her resignation during a Sama board meeting on Thursday night. Coetzee’s resignation came days after Sama publicly distanced itself from statements made by her during an interview on CapeTalk radio in January. During the interview, the doctor said the admission process to medical schools was politicised. Coetzee alleged that race played a role in determining acceptance to medical faculties, in many instances more than the applicant’s matric performance, and that different criteria existed for different race groups with regard to admission requirements. Sama said Coetzee had apologised unreservedly for any emotional hurt her statement might have caused and, after considerable deliberation, the Sama board had accepted her apology. The vice-chair of the Sama board, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, has taken over the role of interim chair. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive ‘Sama slaps on a bandage while avoiding the wound’ Michael Morris, head of media at the SA Institute of Race Relations, writes about events at the SA Medical Association (Sama) following the comments of its now ex-chair, Angelique Coetzee, on admission to medical schools in a radio interview in January. Dr Coetzee reportedly said race played a role in determining admission to medical schools, was sometimes more important than the applicant’s matric performance, and that there were different admission criteria for different race groups. In Morris’ view and given the emphasis on race in most fields nowadays, Coetzee’s comments “seem neither implausible nor indelicate.” If she was wrong, that can surely be explained. But Sama’s response suggests “transformation” can’t really be spoken about with any candour. It empathised with “the pain and rage” caused by her “regrettable remarks”, which it said did “not represent the ethos of the association and the democratic principles it stands for”, and were “incorrect”. The key passage in Sama’s statement reads: “The board acknowledges that Dr Coetzee's interpretation of the admission requirements is incorrect, and that entrance processes for medical students are much more complex and thorough than what was stated in her opinion.” But Morris queries whether ,when an opportunity arises to address a pressing issue head on, it is enough for a professional body to fudge it with protestations that entrance processes are “much more complex and thorough”, and that candidates are selected “inter alia on merit and ability”. In his view, South Africans are mature enough “for an adult conversation about the kind of society most of us want”. Read the above opinion piece in full at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Monday’s Eastern Cape taxi strike called off after Premier Oscar Mabuyane's intervention News24 reports that a province-wide taxi strike aimed at bringing the Eastern Cape to a standstill on Monday over a R100 million debt owed to taxi operators by the provincial transport department has been temporarily called off. This followed two crisis meetings this weekend between Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane and the provincial branch of the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco). On Sunday, Santaco chairperson Zola Bishop Yolelo reported that Mabuyane had asked the taxi industry for seven days to settle the debt. Ever since last October, the Eastern Cape transport department has failed to pay scholar transport operators and owes the operators more than R100 million. On Friday, Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe said her department had made R73 million available to service the debt. She said R33 million of this money had already been paid out to operators and that the remaining R40 million had already been processed. The Algoa Bus Company in Gqeberha, which initially announced on Friday that it would not operate on Monday to protect its employees and passengers, has since announced that it would be operating. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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