In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Eight dead, officers critically injured in wild shoot-out in Rosettenville on Monday TimesLive reports that multiple suspects were killed and some police officers critically injured on Monday afternoon in a shoot-out on the South Rand in Johannesburg. ER24 reported that eight people were killed and four law-enforcement officers injured in a gun battle in Rosettenville near the South Rand Hospital. This after a police helicopter pursuing cash-in-transit suspects took fire. ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring indicated: “Medics found a man lying in the road while two other men were found in a light motor vehicle. Five other men were found in the nearby premises. All eight men were assessed and found to have succumbed to their numerous gunshot wounds. Nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead. Four law enforcement officers had already been taken across the road to South Rand Hospital for urgent treatment. Once stabilised, two men were airlifted by private medical helicopters to another private hospital while another officer was transported by ambulance. The fourth officer went privately to a nearby hospital.” Police minister Bheki Cele, who went to the scene, reported that a heavily armed cash-in-transit gang had shot at the helicopter and injured one or more people on board. Cele described the suspects, armed with AK-47 rifles, as “heartless people who are prepared to kill”. He said the gang numbered about 25 in total and some of them were from KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe and Botswana. They had been using hijacked high-performance vehicles. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nomahlubi Sonjica And Alex Patrick at TimesLive Security guard killed, another injured in attack on Monday in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal News24 reports that a security guard was killed and another injured in a shooting in Umlazi, Durban, on Monday. "It is alleged that today at 13:00, two security guards were escorting a courier vehicle on Yeni Veni Road in Umlazi B Section when they were attacked by two armed males who were driving a vehicle," police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele reported on Monday. According to the police, the armed males shot both the security guards. One guard, 47, was shot in the neck and stomach. He died on the scene. The other one was shot in the head and was taken to hospital for medical attention. The victims were also robbed of their firearms. In a statement on Monday, Emer-G-Med said paramedics responded to the scene in B section to find the two men seated in a vehicle. The driver was found in a critical condition and was airlifted to a specialist facility. The paramedics found that the passenger had sustained fatal injuries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Canny Maphanga at News24
SA changes Covid-19 vaccination rules to try to boost uptake Reuters reports that SA’s health department advised on Monday that it was changing Covid-19 vaccination rules to try to increase uptake, as inoculations have slowed and the country has ample vaccine stocks. The government is shortening the interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine from 42 to 21 days and will allow people who have received two doses of Pfizer to get a booster dose three months after their second shot as opposed to six months previously. It will also offer the option of “mixing and matching” booster jabs, with adults who were given one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) vaccine being offered either a J&J or Pfizer booster two months after their J&J shot. Adults who received two doses of Pfizer will be allowed J&J as well as Pfizer as a third dose. “The decision regarding which vaccine to administer as a booster should be guided by vaccine availability,” the health department said in a statement, adding that if both vaccines were available at a vaccination site, then using the same vaccine was preferred. SA has so far fully vaccinated 28% of its roughly 60 million population, or 42% of its 40 million adults. That is a far greater percentage than many other African countries but well short of government targets. SA has recorded the most coronavirus infections and deaths on the African continent. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alexander Winning at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Following agreement on Friday, striking University of Pretoria workers back at work on Monday GroundUp reports that a strike by hundreds of University of Pretoria (UP) workers affiliated to the Academic and Professional Staff Association of SA (APSA) has been called off following an agreement with management on Friday. Union representatives had been in negotiations with management over their demands for several days. The workers reported for duty on Monday, ending the strike which had started on 9 February. They had been demanding a 10% wage increase, a once-off R3,000 payment, and better working conditions. The workers concerned were in-sourced in 2016. They included cleaners, security guards, gardeners, and food service workers. APSA general secretary Boitumelo Ben Senokoane claimed that they had achieved what they had set out to do during the strike, which was that staff be treated fairly, get the same benefits and enjoy the same rights. Senokoane added: “For us, the biggest victory is on job grading because job grading implies a possible increase in salary adjustments.” He said the process had to be finalised within six months. University spokesperson Rikus Delport said they were still working on a long-term solution to some of the workers’ demands, but that UP was confident “that any impasse can be resolved through constructive engagement and without putting the long-term sustainability of the University at risk.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mosima Rafapa at GroundUp. Read too, University of Pretoria staff back to work after protests over working conditions, at TimesLive Clover strike: Two suspects charged with murder of security firm employee Fin24 reports that as details emerged about a second security officer to be killed at Clover's operations, two suspects arrested for the killing have appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court on charges of murder, attempted murder and robbery. The suspects, Nkosinathi Mbatha and Mohale Shokane, were arrested on Thursday after officer Terence Tegg was pelted with bricks and beaten to death. Tegg, who worked for the security firm Personal Protection Services (PPS), was assisting two colleagues who were under threat when he was cornered by his killers. Tegg was a former Recce, a member of the South African Special Forces Brigade. He reportedly previously worked in the Middle East. The killing came amid an ongoing strike at Clover by the Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) and the General Industries Workers' Union of SA (Giwusa). In January, Fidelity security guard Tsephe Molatsi was also attacked and killed - allegedly by Clover protestors. The unions are striking over wages and in protest about a merger between the dairy producer and Israeli-based Central Bottling Company's subsidiary Milco. The company has allegedly cut jobs despite job creation being a condition of the merger's approval. A National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson said the case was placed on the roll for 2 March for further investigation and that the suspects would remain in police custody. In a statement, Clover said it would cooperate with Tegg's employer PPS, Fidelity and the SA Police Service to find the other assailants in the two incidents and bring them to justice. Fawu’s Moloko Phakedi denied union involvement in the killings and urged Clover as well as the authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Satawu lists its demands, including an 11% salary increase, for bus drivers Pretoria News reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has joined the calls by labour for salary increases in the bus services sector to improve the lives of workers. Satawu became the latest union demanding that bus owners in the country adjust the salaries and benefits of workers in the next financial year, which starts in April, when it tabled an 11% across the board salary increase demand. Spokesperson Sipho Mabaso said the union made the salary demand in the collective bargaining wage negotiations taking place in the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (Sarpbc), and also demanded a list of improved benefits. The union has asked for a minimum wage increase of R10,000 a month across the board, and introduction of a compulsory industry health-care scheme whereby 80% of contributions were paid by the employer and 20% by the employee. Mabaso added that the union had declared a dispute because protracted negotiations with employer organisations such as the SA Bus Employers Association and Commuters Bus Employers Organisation had deadlocked. Satawu has also demanded a subsistence and travel allowance increase across the board for each night an employee is required to sleep out. Meanwhile, Numsa told Sarpbc that it wanted a R4,200 (54%) wage hike for the lowest paid bus drivers. It has also demanded a one-year agreement that will see workers receive industry medical aid, with the bus owners paying 80% for the scheme. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News
In support of ‘unpaid security guards’, special needs pupils shut out teachers at Soshanguve school TimesLive reports that teachers at Filadelfia Secondary School for pupils with special education needs were turned away on Monday after pupils locked them out in support of “unpaid security guards” and over safety concerns. Pupils at the school in Soshanguve, Pretoria, said they did not feel safe as the guards had allegedly not been paid for two months, and some of them did not have money to commute to work. “If we let them [teachers] in, they are going to teach us and leave us here unsafe. What if someone comes with guns — where will we run to?” asked one pupil. Pupils called on the education department to intervene urgently. “We are going to lock the gate until the government comes and addresses us,” said another pupil. The school gate was locked with a chain as pupils sat in front of the security office. Security guards at the school demonstrated last week, demanding payment from a security company. Andries Potsane of the SA Cleaners, Security and Allied Workers' Union (Sacsawu) confirmed that pupils were supporting the security guards. “They maintain that they must be paid and those who are suspended [for demanding payment] must be brought back to work,” he reported. Potsane said that according to the company, it had not been paid by the department. Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the protest and that officials were working on finalising the administrative process to pay the affected service providers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLive
Cabinet to consider wide-ranging proposals to professionalise SA's public service News24 reports that wide-ranging reforms for SA’s public service are on the cards, chief among them being a stronger emphasis on “merit-based recruitment and appointments”. On Monday, the Cabinet Committee on Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development announced a raft of proposals to "professionalise" the public service. Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, a co-chairperson of the committee, pointed out that a framework for the professionalisation of the public service was gazetted in December 2020. She reported that the work of a ministerial task team, established to undertake an extensive peer review, had now been completed. The revised framework will be presented to Cabinet within the next two months. According to Dlodlo, there will be a stronger emphasis on merit-based recruitment and appointments. "The principle of merit shall apply at pre-entry level, as well as to assessments, progression, and promotion. This reform will require a review of public sector recruitment frameworks and practices. [We are] introducing instruments to undertake integrity testing before any individual joins the public sector. We are serious when we say we want ethical public servants who serve with the highest degree of integrity," she indicated. During his recent State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa also touched on the professionalisation of the public service. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24. Read too, Public service reforms on the cards together with proposal that HODs be hired for 10 years, at IOL Dlodlo says no progress made on lifestyle audits for ministers as focus should be on lower levels in public service BL Premium reports that nearly a year into conducting lifestyle audits for public servants, the government has yet to make significant progress with those for cabinet ministers and their deputies. This was indicated on Monday by Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, whose department is tasked with implementing the audits. She said the focus should instead be on directors and chief directors in the public service. Those of the ministers will come at some point, she said. “You will find public servants at chief director level wearing Chanel, having beautiful houses, wearing Ferragamo every day and flaunting their wealth. Those are the people that we need to be targeting ... we would be paying lip service if we know that there is wealth that is unexplained at director or chief director level [of people] who are living well beyond what we would determine,” Dlodlo pointed out. The audits for public servants followed the publication of compulsory guidelines for all audits of public servants in national and provincial departments, as well as state-owned enterprises. These were approved by former DPSA Minister Senzo Mchunu in April 2021. However, the guidelines exclude members of the executive. The audits have been in the pipeline since the 2014 establishment of the public administration ethics, integrity and disciplinary technical assistance unit in the DPSA. Lifestyle audits for public servants have long been punted by President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of a clampdown on corruption. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Nehawu gives ConCourt ultimatum to deliver judgment on public sector wage increases contained in 2018 agreement The Star reports that trade union federation Cosatu’s biggest affiliate has warned Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to deliver the judgment on a public service wage dispute within two weeks or face protests. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has told Justice Zondo that otherwise it would march to the apex court in protest over the time it has taken for the court to give its ruling. Nehawu has taken the extraordinary step of demanding that the ConCourt deliver its decision. “We wish to record that the matter was heard in the ConCourt on August 24, 2021 and to date the judgment remains outstanding. The union deems that period to be excessive as it is now in excess of five months,” Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha pointed in a note to Justice Zondo. The matter relates to the non-implementation by the state of the last leg of the three-year wage agreement entered into in 2018. The government warned at the time that implementing the agreement would cost R29bn alone. Nathi Mncube, spokesperson for the judiciary, indicated: “The parties will be the first to know when the judgment is ready for delivery. That will be followed by a media alert the court issues to the meadia and public.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba on page 2 of The Star of 21 February 2022 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Former top spy Arthur Fraser confirms he did not graduate from 'London University' News24 reports that a day after being exposed for having lied on his official CV about being a graduate of the prestigious University of London, former controversial top spy Arthur Fraser said that he had, in fact, obtained his degree from the London College of Communication in 1995. At the time, the college was officially known as the "London College of Printing". It was reported on Sunday that Fraser had lied when he claimed on his CV, on the websites of the State Security Agency (SSA) and the Department of Correctional Service (DCS), that he had obtained a BA (Hons) degree in Film and Television from the prestigious University of London. Fraser's CV referred to the "London University", but he never studied at the university. On Monday afternoon, Fraser's attorney, Eric Mabuza, released a statement in which he lashed out at News24 and its sister publication, City Press, for publishing a "false" and "vindictive" story. He provided a letter from the secretary and registrar of the University of the Arts in London (UAL), stating that Fraser had been a student at the London College of Communication (formerly the London College of Printing), which is one of six colleges that make up the UAL. The UAL, previously known as The London Institute, only received status as a university in 2004. Fraser graduated in 1995. Referring to the allegation that he might have lied to various state departments, including the SSA, about his degree, Mabuza said on Fraser's behalf that it was "preposterous and shameful" to suggest that he had lied about the qualifications that were recorded on his "official CV". Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24. Read too, Zuma man’s fake degree, at City Press (subscriber access only)
Recording of disciplinary hearing of fired SABC news boss missing ahead of CCMA hearing TimesLive reports that the full recording of the disciplinary hearing against fired SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) news boss Phathiswa Magopeni is nowhere to be found, only two months after she was hauled over the coals. Magopeni sought access to the full record of the hearing to mount a case in the CCMA against the public broadcaster for unfair dismissal. The disciplinary code of the SABC stipulates that a chair of a disciplinary hearing against an employee must keep a full record of the proceedings and ensure that electronic records are available. All records of the hearing, the code says, must be in the custody of the human resources department of the public broadcaster and shall be provided to the affected employee or legal representatives upon request. However, it has since emerged that neither the SABC nor the disciplinary hearing chair, advocate Nazeer Cassim, have the recording of the hearing which sat in December before Magopeni was shown the door last month. Her post has since been advertised. The CCMA hearing is scheduled for 7 March where it remains to be seen how Magopeni will present her case without the full records of the hearing. The origin of Magopeni’s problems is the airing of an interdicted Special Assignment episode under her watch as the overall accounting officer for all news content. However, it is also believed that she is a victim of ANC interference in the running of the SABC after the governing party’s head of elections, Fikile Mbalula, blamed her for the ANC's election misfortunes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande AmaShabalala at TimesLive
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