OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Security company G4S offers R1m for info leading to arrest, conviction of robbers who killed a guard

News24 reports that G4S Cash Solutions has offered a R1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of armed men who robbed and killed an employee. Heavily armed robbers attacked the guard on 25 February at around 15:00 at Mnandi Spar, along Tulip Road, in Centurion. The guard was loading a secure cross-pavement cash-collection unit into an armoured vehicle when he was accosted and shot with an R5 rifle. G4S Cash Solutions CIT director, Kevin Govender, stated: "The criminals absconded with the cash device, but were unable to access any cash as the security technology installed across G4S devices is aimed at rendering the money unusable." Two of the perpetrators were filmed on CCTV camera.   Govender said the R1 million reward was meant to assist in the successful arrest, prosecution and conviction of the criminals involved. Indicating that the company was devastated at the tragic and senseless loss, he went on to advise: "Cash-in-transit (heists) and cross-pavement attacks are becoming more violent. This is deeply concerning because it puts the lives of our people in danger… Our message to would-be criminals is clear - don't bother attacking our teams because you will get away with nothing of value." He called on Crime Intelligence, the SA Police Service, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, and the ministers who led them, to prioritise cash-in-transit crimes.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24

CLOVER STRIKE

Clover denounces acts of violence during strike affecting staff and operations

TimesLive reports that dairy producer Clover, which is involved in negotiations with trade unions to resolve a months-long strike, has denounced the violence affecting its staff and operations.   Talks between the company and unions are being facilitated by the CCMA. Clover said that since the industrial action began, there have been almost 200 acts of violence. A breakdown of cases lodged with the police include: Murder — 2; Attempted murder — 3; Malicious damage to property — 109; Attack of staff members’ residences — 7; Assault — 12; Robbery — 1; Intimidation — 40; and Invasion of retail premises — 15. The company said it was having weekly meetings with the police on the progress of investigations. Clover commented further: “To date, 16 suspects have been identified and four arrests have been made in respect of the murder of [security official] Terence Tegg. The union membership of each has been identified.   The murder case has been postponed to March 2. There have been a further 30 striking workers identified in other related violence and intimidation. Internal disciplinary action is being taken against all these employees to have them dismissed from the company.” Clover spokesperson Steven Velthuysen said the company amended its offer to unions at discussions on Monday to try to resolve the dispute. “A follow-up meeting will be held this week and unions will return to their members for a mandate,” he indicated.

Read the original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive

Clover obtains ‘firm commitment’ from unions that they will oppose strike violence

Fin24 reports that as dairy producer Clover continues to operate under the spectre of recent bloodshed, it says it has received a commitment from striking unions to stand against violence at its operations.   This follows the deaths of two security personnel in the period since the strike began late last year. While Clover has blamed striking unions for the violence, the unions have denied involvement. Along with a commitment from unions to oppose the deadly violence, Clover has also held multiple meetings with labour and the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, to seek a solution to the attacks.   Clover said it had increased its security presence at its Olifantsfontein operation since Fidelity security guard Tsephe Molatsi and Personal Protection Service official Terence Tegg were killed by assailants while guarding Clover's operations.   Last week, Nkosinathi Mbatha and Mohale Shokane appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court and were charged with the murder of Tegg as well as attempted murder and robbery. The SA Police Service (SAPS) is still investigating Molatsi's killing.   According to Clover spokesperson Steven Velthuysen, there have been no further incidents since the attack on Tegg and Clover has had held weekly meetings with the SAPS leadership for updates on the violence and measures implemented to prevent it. Velthuysen said there was a "firm commitment" from the unions that they did not condone violence and that they would also communicate this to their members on strike. He advised that striking employees were in the minority, as the 869 employees on strike made up 11.5% of the company's workforce.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24

As strike enters fourth month Clover workers feeling the pinch, but are determined not to give up their demands

GroundUp reports that thousands of Clover workers across the country have been on strike since the end of November last year, meaning they have not been paid for three months. Workers affiliated with the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) and the General Industrial Workers’ Union of SA (GIWUSA) are demanding that Clover stop plans for further retrenchments, closure of factories, cuts to salaries and for dismissed workers to be reinstated. According to the unions, about 2,000 people have lost their jobs at Clover so far. The employees also want the company to be independent of the Israeli company Central Bottling Company (CBC), which acquired Clover through the Milco SA consortium in 2019. There have been two failed negotiations between Clover and the unions mediated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. This week the Department of Employment and Labour is intervening to try to find a solution. Since the strike started, workers have been picketing outside the Clover plant in Clayville, Ekurhuleni from about 6am until 5pm almost daily.   A striking employee, William Satekge, lamented: “We have had to rely on relatives to help us with food and money for our bills.   I haven’t been able to buy groceries for my family or pay my rent and my landlord’s patience is wearing thin.”   But, says Satekge, going back to work would mean “accepting slave conditions”.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masego Mafata at GroundUp

OTHER STRIKES

Seven licencing centres in Joburg closed as strike by driving school operators over online bookings continues

News24 reports that on Wednesday the City of Johannesburg was forced to shut down seven of its licencing departments after protests over booking dates intensified. The ongoing strike by driving schools in Gauteng over the online booking system forced the City to close the centres to save lives and properties.   "Changes made by the Gauteng government to driver's licence and testing booking system, which blocks third parties from booking services on behalf of individuals or groups, have left many groups and people dissatisfied. Our licencing departments and testing stations have been affected by this protest. This is despite the decision to change the booking system being a directive by the Gauteng government," the City advised. It went on to indicate: "The province-wide protest action is an attempt by the affected groups of runners and individuals who benefitted from the previous practice to get the Gauteng government to heed to their demands. The City's licencing department has unfortunately also fallen victim to the unrest. Centres have therefore been forced to stop operations." The affected centres are the Midrand, Strijdom Park, Roodepoort City Hall, Region E, Langlaagte, Ormonde and Eureka House licencing departments. However, the Randburg and Dube licence departments are still operational.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24

PROTESTS

Fourteen outsourced workers arrested at protest at Groote Schuur over termination of employment contracts

News24 reports that fourteen people have been arrested during a protest over the termination of Groote Schuur Hospital's ward service assistants' contracts.   Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the 14 were arrested around the Cape Town hospital on Tuesday on charges of public violence. Protesters started their action over the weekend and it continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some toyi-toying on the road near the busy hospital and police attempting to get them to move on. On Tuesday, protesters lit small fires at strategic points in roads leading to and from the hospital. The EFF in the Cape Metro threw its weight behind the protesters, saying they should be brought on board as permanent workers instead of facing termination by a contractor. The Western Cape health department considers the protestors employees of the recruitment company that placed them, and said they should take their grievances to the recruitment agency. "The hospital cannot be held responsible as to whom companies employ when they have a tender awarded to them. The hospital is merely a client of this company and cannot dictate how they manage their business," the department advised.   The 14 are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court soon.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24

MINING LABOUR

Solidarity accepts Sibanye-Stillwater’s 5% pay rise at gold mines

BL Premium reports that Solidarity, which has about 700 members at Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations, has accepted the company’s revised wage offer. The offer will see so-called ‘artisans, miners and officials’ get wage increases of 5% a year over the course of a three-year agreement. The offer makes provision for monthly increases of R800 (including an additional R100 housing allowance) for so-called Category 4 to 8 employees for the next three years. “We are no longer in dispute with the company. We informed the company in writing on Tuesday,” said Riaan Visser, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for mining. Solidarity was part of a coalition of mining unions, including the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Uasa, that is demanding an increase of R1,000 a month or 6%. Last week, after rejecting the latest revised wage offer, the unions indicated that they were getting ready to embark on a “massive strike of more than 30,000 workers” at Sibanye’s gold operations. Balloting of the unions’ membership on Tuesday was overseen by officials of the CCMA. Visser said Solidarity members did not take part in the balloting process. “On Monday we informed the other unions that we won’t participate in the balloting for a strike because we undertook a mandate-seeking process on February 21 and February 22. They indicated that they want to accept the offer and don’t want to participate in balloting for a strike,” he indicated.   The vote counting was under way on Wednesday, with results expected soon. Sibanye-Stillwater spokesperson James Wellsted said the company would comment only after it got a formal notice of intent from all the unions in the coalition.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read Solidarity’s press statement on this matter at Solidarity News. Lees ook, Solidariteit aanvaar Sibanye-loonaanbod, by Maroela Media

STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES (SOEs)

Denel employees in bid to attach R4.3m in assets after court order to pay outstanding salaries ignored

Fin24 reports that a group of 14 current and former employees of Denel says its next step is to attach around R4.3 million held in an RMB corporate bank account after the state-owned arms manufacturer failed to comply with a court order to pay their unpaid salaries dating back to May 2020. The North Gauteng High Court granted the order in January this year. Denel did not oppose the application and was ordered to pay up by 3 February. According to the group’s lawyer, Ipeleng Motshegoa, payment has not yet materialised.   Consequently, the group decided to attach assets of Denel and opted for a corporate bank account at RMB.   According to Motshegoa, a warrant of execution to attach the money stipulated in the court order and pay it over to the group of claimants was served on RMB on 25 February. Denel was apparently informed on 24 February that this step would be taken. "According to the sheriff, the bank has been requested to freeze that Denel account, but we are not sure if this has been done already. We are still urgently trying to ascertain that," Motshegoa indicated. Denel told Fin24 that it was not aware of the matter of a bank account being frozen or any attempt to do so. In the recently tabled National Budget, Denel was allocated R3 billion to settle interest payments. This amount was inclusive of the R2.9 billion announced during the medium-term budget policy statement in November 2021.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• SABC promises Scopa it will not need another bailout, at BusinessLive

RESIGNATIONS

Oceana, which owns Lucky Star brand, announces yet another top-level resignation

Fin24 reports that following the resignation of its CEO and the suspension of its chief financial officer, fishing company Oceana's company secretary has also resigned. Oceana, which owns canned fish brand Lucky Star - along with other fish production and cold storage assets - has delayed the release of its results for the year to end September several times due to two accounting issues.   The first concerns the accounting treatment of the group’s 25% shareholding in New Orleans-based company Westbank Fishing. A whistleblower raised concerns about the treatment, which was investigated by ENSafrica Forensics. A preliminary probe found no evidence of "fraud, misappropriation or loss of funds or management of override of controls arising from any of the matters raised". Secondly, PwC raised concerns about the dating of signatures on an internal document relating to a R60.5 million insurance claim that was paid out to Oceana. The company announced on Tuesday that company secretary Adela Fortune would leave the company in mid-March, "to pursue other opportunities".   Last month, Oceana's CEO, Imraan Soomra, voluntarily resigned - a week after the company suspended its chief financial officer, Hajra Karrim, who faces a disciplinary process. On Friday, Oceana said in a statement that, based on the preliminary feedback received from ENSafrica, “no current or former employees and/or directors were likely to be implicated in any matters resulting in financial loss to the company”.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24

WORK PERMITS / QUOTAS ON FOREIGN NATIONALS

As Huawei strives to keep quotas battle out of court, critical skills list shows IT skills gap

Fin24 reports that as government stares down a disproportionate lack of critical skills in the information technology sector, Chinese-owned Huawei says it is conducting ICT skills transfer and training programmes aimed at reducing the skills gap. This comes as Huawei and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) have been engaged in talks in a bid to resolve an ongoing battle over employment quotas out of court. Huawei Technologies SA wants to reach an out-of-court settlement with the DEL over claims that the company violated SA's employment equity regulations. A 2020 audit showed that the key technology supplier employed an overwhelming 90% foreign nationals. It faces a possible fine of R1.5 million or 2% of the unit’s revenue. The DEL has since vowed to conduct an employment audit among foreign-owned companies in the country to establish compliance with labour regulations.   But locally the information technology sector faces a lack of critical skills – and Huawei is not the only party to flag it. Out of the list of 101 jobs considered by the government to be in short supply, more than 20 of them are in IT. The critical skills list was gazetted by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi earlier this month and included data scientists, ICT systems analysts, ICT analyst, network analyst and electronic engineer technicians. Foreign nationals recruited for such jobs are allowed to enter the local labour market on a critical skills work visa. The shortage of ICT skills stands in unfortunate contrast to the country's high unemployment rate at 34.9%, with young people most affected.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo at Fin24

ALLEGED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT / ABUSE

'This was not politically motivated', says Western Cape Premier Alan Winde on firing MEC Albert Fritz

News24 reports that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has shot down claims that the release of the findings of an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against former Community and Safety MEC Albert Fritz was politically motivated. Winde appeared before the Standing Committee on Community and Safety on Wednesday, a mere 24 hours after the release of the much-awaited findings in a report compiled by advocate Jennifer Williams. Opposition parties held back no punches when they grilled him over his decision to fire Fritz. Winde told them: “This was not politically motivated. This was about justice that gender-based violence is dealt with decisively and that people are given a proper platform to deal with this and there are consequences.” Williams told the committee: "The allegations range from sexual comments, inappropriate touching, attempts to kiss and kissing without consent and sexual intercourse. They range over a number of years and a number of incidents." Fritz broke his silence on Tuesday after resigning from the Democratic Alliance.   He vowed to take the report on review and to approach the courts. "It is absolutely clear that the last two months' ordeal is a consequence of political orchestration in order to assassinate my character and ensure my departure from political and executive office,” Fritz claimed.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Read too, Western Cape ANC calls on Winde to axe Fritz as member of legislature, at EWN

Four suspended officials still under investigation in Albert Fritz sexual misconduct matter

EWN reports that while former Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz's fate has been sealed, four officials in his former department are still under investigation. Premier Alan Winde announced on Tuesday that Fritz had been fired from the provincial cabinet with immediate effect. This was after receiving an independent investigation report compiled by Advocate Jennifer Williams into allegations of sexual misconduct reportedly against young women recruited to work for his office. In January, four officials in the Community Safety Department were placed on precautionary suspension. Odette Cason from the premier's office said that the investigation was continuing and was being conducted by the provincial people management unit. She indicated that, given that the officials in question were public servants, those matters were being conducted in accordance with labour law.   Cason advised that Williams' terms of reference had been focused solely on the allegations made against Fritz.   The police's Novella Potelwa said that to date, no criminal cases had been opened. The police also initiated an inquiry after several parties came forward.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaylynn Palm at EWN