In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Government to oppose Solidarity’s court application to lift state of disaster Solidarity reports that the government has announced that it would be opposing the trade union’s court application to lift the state of disaster. The case is set to be heard on 20 April. According to Solidarity, there is no reason for the state of disaster to remain in force because the conditions for the state of disaster have expired and it must therefore also be ended. In Solidarity’s view, the government’s indication that it would oppose the court application confirmed the necessity of continuing with the case despite promises that some of the lockdown measures would be eased. “On the one hand, President Ramaphosa claims in public that the government wants to lift the state of disaster, but on the other hand, they are fighting any attempt to lift the state of disaster in court. This creates the impression that promises about ending the state of disaster are just as empty as those of smart cities or the fight against corruption. Without external pressure, such promises will never realise,” said Dr Dirk Hermann, CEO of Solidarity. Earlier this year, Solidarity and AfriForum, respectively, submitted court documents in which these organisations requested the courts to declare the continuation of the current state of disaster invalid. Solidarity argued in its court documents that the continuous extension of the state of disaster was irrational and extremely harmful to the economy as well as to social and political norms in South Africa. Read Solidarity’s full statement on this matter at Solidarity News. Lees ook, Regering baklei teen ophef van ramptoestand, by Maroela Media Universities get an ultimatum to drop Covid-19 mandates by Tuesday or face court action TimesLive reports that the Universities Alliance SA (Uasa) has demanded that universities reconsider and abandon their vaccine mandate policies by the close of business on Tuesday. If this was not done, the alliance said it would be left with no alternative but to engage in litigation. In a statement issued on its behalf by Stephen G May Attorneys, Uasa said the policies were “irrational, medically unjustified [and] in any event wholly outdated”. Numerous universities implemented vaccine mandates in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Uasa, which is made up of students, parents and staff from universities throughout SA, is acting with the African Christian Democratic Party. Both are acting “in terms of section 38 of the constitution ... to defend the constitutional rights of affected people at universities through various means, including, if it cannot be avoided, through litigation”. The attorneys said the stance adopted by both parties had nothing to do with an “unscientific outright rejection” of vaccines generally. However, they believed the mandates constituted forced experimentation. According to the statement, Universities SA, an umbrella organisation comprising 26 public universities, endorses these mandates. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mbalula refuses to engage with ‘angry and violent’ driving instructors over NaTIS system EWN reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Monday warned that those who threatened employees at driver testing centres would be dealt with accordingly. Mbalula was speaking at the Akasia Licencing Centre in Centurion. On arrival, the minister was met with angry protesters who demanded the scrapping of the national administration traffic information system (NaTIS) booking system, saying it did not work for the public. Instructors at driving schools began protesting after they were stopped from making bookings. Changes made by the Gauteng provincial government to the driving licence and testing booking systems block third parties from booking services on behalf of individuals or groups. Driving school owners and taxi drivers gathered at the Akasia Licencing on Monday. When Mbalula arrived, they started shouting at him. The minister responded by saying he would not deal with people who were angry and violent. “These people are violent, they are swearing and came here with guns. I am going to talk to the minister of police to look at the law and order aspect of this situation,” Mbalula exclaimed. He called for calm and restraint, saying the primary objective was to make sure that the needs of motorists were met. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN. Read too, Driving school instructors say online booking system is a scam, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Tshiamiso Trust starts to clear backlog of 12,000 silicosis and tuberculosis claims Mining Weekly reports that the Tshiamiso Trust, created to settle silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) class action suits against six mining companies, has started a process of responding to 12,000 claimants on the outcome of their claims following a backlog of up to eight months for claims lodged before April 2021. The trust covers cases of silicosis or TB in miners from 82 affected mines of Africa Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye-Stillwater and Gold Fields, through the periods of 12 March 1965 to 10 December 2019. In a statement, the trust said that as it matured and improved its systems and processes, it had come to the point where it could provide individuals with “comprehensive information and reasons” on their outcomes, particularly where the claimant was found to be medically ineligible. Tshiamiso Trust CEO Daniel Kotton advised that the trust could inform between 120 and 140 individuals of the results of their claims, daily. Out of 153,906 registered claims with the trust, 76,488 lodgements have been made, and 31,564 benefit medical examinations have been conducted. Since it was established, the trust has awarded thousands of compensation payouts. Currently, the trust pays an average of between 30 to 40 claims, to the value of R3-million, a day. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Doctors rally against increases in HPCSA registration fee, which has increased by nearly 30% in the past two years The Citizen reports that doctors have resorted to signing a petition to try and stop the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) from yet again increasing registration fees. They now have to fork out an additional 13%, but claim the council is never available to assist them. The new fees for this year apply to all boards, including dieticians, psychologists, emergency care practitioners, occupational therapists and optometrists. The fees, which were gazetted last month, range from R531 for a medical intern to R7,446 for a medical or dental specialist. A psychologist will have to fork out R1,616 while a visiting psychology student has to pay a registration fee of R813. In an online petition – which has garnered more than 23,000 signatures – medical practitioners say the hike is unfair. It totals up to nearly 30% in the past two years. “It is unjustifiable to raise the registration fees by this amount once again, as doctors across the country struggle for weeks and months to obtain documentation from the HPCSA,” said Louie Kuhn, who started the petition. Former chair of the SA Medical Association (Sama), Dr Angelique Coetzee, said the fees were for administrative purposes and to take on any medical litigation doctors might face. But it seems medical professionals have now lost trust in the HPCSA despite having had meetings with the council in October last year to discuss the exorbitant registration fees. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rorisang Kgosana at The Citizen
Limpopo’s special economic zones expected to create 21,000 jobs, but EFF says it’s all talk but no action The Citizen reports that Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha hopes that setting up special economic zones (SEZs) will salvage the province’s economy, currently ravaged by mass job losses, poverty and underdevelopment. Mathabatha said in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) last week that more than R500 million had been set aside for the SEZs in Musina and Makhado in Limpopo. He indicated that when the SEZs projects got off the ground, they were expected to create 21,000 jobs for unemployed youth, adults, women and people living with disabilities. “The manufacturing, agro-processing and logistics hubs of the project are finally taking off. We are well on track in turning the Musina-Makhado corridor into a melting-pot of industrial activity,” said Mathabatha. “Already 21 companies with a potential to invest R45 billion and create over 8,000 jobs have shown interest. The first phase, covering 316 hectares, will integrate the expansion of an already existing industrial hub focusing on building a mining input supplier precinct,” Mathabatha added. But, according to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Mathabatha was all talk but no action. The party said he had been making promises of job creation in the SEZs for the past three years without anything tangible to show for it. The Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Jacques Smalle pointed out SEZs of such magnitude were highly dependent on excellent road and rail infrastructure and stable electricity and water supplies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Japho Matlala at The Citizen
Gauteng health department pays outstanding salaries of medical interns News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has paid the outstanding salaries of more than 50 medical interns who for the past two months did not receive their salaries. The department confirmed on Monday that 53 out of 56 interns received their salaries for January and February. "The other three interns' appointment process is still under way, subject to the conclusion of the administrative issues," department spokesperson Kwara Kekana advised. She went on to explain: "The department has 429 medical interns positions that are funded annually. However, [the] national Department of Health has historically allocated interns in excess of the baseline allocated budget that [the] department has." An additional 203 interns were allocated for 2022. The department has had to first confirm additional full funding for any excess interns allocated to the province beyond the available baseline of funded posts, which has unfortunately resulted in delays in payments to some of the interns. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24. Read too, Junior doctors finally being paid what they are owed, Gauteng health says, at BusinessLive
Principal of Grosvenor Girls' High School in Durban suspended amid racism row News24 reports that the principal of Grosvenor Girls' High School in Durban has been put on precautionary suspension while an independent panel investigates allegations of racism and financial irregularity at the school. The Department of Education advised on Monday that principal Linda Jorgensen's suspension was on advice received from the panel. The department said pupils would be issued with letters to inform parents "of the process to be undertaken and a request to parents to allow those learners who wish to testify, to do so". Last week, the EFF in Durban went to the school to demand the removal of the principal. The allegations at the school include financial irregularities and a hair policy that is discriminatory and focused on black pupils. Pupils were also incensed after a fight between two pupils led one to tell the other that the school was for white pupils. Allegedly, when the school principal was informed of the comment, she said that the pupil was entitled to her opinion. Two weeks ago, pupils refused to attend classes and demanded that the racism allegations be resolved. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sting operation leads to arrest of KwaZulu-Natal traffic cop for allegedly taking a bribe News24 reports that a KwaZulu-Natal traffic cop was arrested on Friday on charges of corruption after allegedly taking a bribe. The traffic cop – 44-year-old Dumisani Mchunu who is based at the Umvoti Local Municipality – appeared in the Greytown Magistrate's Court on Friday and was released on R1,000 bail. The matter was postponed to 1 April for further investigation. Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Bonnie Nxumalo indicated that Mchunu allegedly stopped a man who was driving a motor vehicle with Gauteng registration plates on Durban Road in Greytown last month. "He allegedly informed him (the motorist) that the vehicle had false registration plates (and) then he impounded it. It is further alleged that he demanded R10,000 to release the vehicle," Nxumalo reported. The matter was reported to the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation team and a clandestine sting operation was conducted. . During the operation, there was an exchange of money, which led to Nxumalo’s arrest. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24
Former Western Cape MEC Albert Fritz denied access to full report on alleged sexual misconduct News24 reports that former Western Cape Community and Safety MEC Albert Fritz has been denied access to the full report compiled by Advocate Jennifer Williams into allegations against him of sexual misconduct. Fritz, who was also the former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in the Western Cape, advised on Monday that his legal team was currently drafting papers to challenge the report in court. "It is, however, absurd that I, as the 'accused', cannot get access to the full report," he complained. According to Fritz, the entire ordeal of the past two months was the result of a politically orchestrated campaign to assassinate his character, and ensure his departure from both political office and the provincial executive. Last week, a scathing report by Advocate Williams found "sufficient credibility" in the allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse levelled against the former MEC. Premier Alan Winde immediately sacked Fritz, after receiving the findings of the independent probe. Fritz subsequently also resigned as the DA provincial leader. Winde's spokesperson said the full report had not been made available to any party in the matter to ensure the confidentiality requested by the complainants. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 Free State teacher fired for 'hugging, kissing' a pupil at school News24 reports that a Free State teacher has been dismissed after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a Welkom secondary school pupil in November 2018. The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) found that the teacher, MA Fokwebe, "hugged the learner, grabbed her hard and kissed [her] with [an] open mouth twice on her lips at Welkom Secondary school". In the view of the Free State Department of Basic Education Fokwebe had violated professional conduct, but because he had shown remorse by pleading guilty to the charge, an appropriate sanction should be a final written warning and three months’ suspension from work without pay. However, ELRC commissioner Khuduga Tlale said Fokwebe's conduct amounted to abuse of a sexual nature committed against a pupil and, therefore, he should be summarily dismissed. "I have considered the totality of circumstances to decide whether dismissal would be a fair and appropriate sanction if it was not mandatory. It is important to note that sexual assault on a learner is a standard that should not be breached and that [the] conduct was unwelcome and unwarranted," Tlale indicated. "My finding is aimed at the protection of children and, in particular, vulnerable young girls," Tlale stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
As fuel price rises, taxi operators mull fare hikes SowetanLive reports that taxi operators say rising fuel costs could lead to increases in fares as they seek to recover losses. According to officials of the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) and the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), commuters will hear at the end of month whether fares will increase as a result of the recent fuel price hike. Gauteng Santaco spokesperson, Midday Mali, said taxi operators were definitely concerned about the recent fuel price increase, which came into effect on Wednesday and the association would engage its members on whether fares should be increased. He commented as follows: “We are considering increasing fares but we have it at the back of our minds that we are ferrying the poor of the poorest. People are unemployed. We are ferrying pupils, people going to work and people are not paid accordingly. These are some of the factors we are going to take into consideration when making our decision. NTA spokesperson Theo Malele called for government intervention to assist the taxi industry. “The government should exempt the taxi industry from paying some of the heavy levies on fuel. I cannot, at this point, say if we are going to increase fares and at what margin. But there is sentiment that this might be the case. We will meet provincially on Thursday and the national executive committee will meet on March 23 to find solutions on what we will do,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka at SowetanLive
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