In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Eskom’s biggest unions distance themselves from illegal strike BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represent most of Eskom’s workforce of about 42,300 workers, have distanced themselves from the crippling illegal industrial action that resulted in the troubled power utility ramping up load-shedding at the weekend. They said on Monday they were not behind the unprotected strike, but gave tacit approval for it, saying they understood the workers’ struggles. That followed Eskom calling on striking employees to put the people of SA first and desist from unlawful and undemocratic conduct, after wage talks hit a deadlock last week. According to the utility, a sizeable number of people were not reporting to work. Meantime, Helgard Cronjé, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for the public sector, said the union’s members were not part of the strike “as we respect the fact that it is an essential service and that strike action would be illegal”. On Monday, the SA Police Service (SAPS) was called in to help the utility’s security personnel maintain order at eight power stations. Eskom provides an essential service and therefore industrial action is not permitted, but this has not stopped workers from embarking on a strike. If the unprotected strike continues unabated it could result in Eskom struggling to power the struggling economy, which has been trying to recover from Covid-19, the 2021 July unrest and recent flooding that hit three provinces. On Friday, Eskom was granted a court order stopping the unprotected industrial action at about nine of its power stations and facilities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Read too, Illegal Eskom strikers picket at eight power stations, at BusinessLive Numsa claims Eskom provoked the 'rage' that led to protests and more load shedding Fin24 reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has laid the blame for the protests at power stations that plunged SA into Stage 4 load shedding late last week at Eskom's door. Speaking on Monday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola denied any involvement by the union in planning the protests, but said they were a direct outcome of what she called Eskom management's unwillingness to negotiate wages with organised labour in good faith. Last Friday, Eskom reported that protests at Eskom operations following a deadlock in wage negotiations had escalated from protestors obstructing access to power stations to protestors attacking Eskom employees reporting for duty. Hlubi-Majola said Eskom leadership had to shoulder some responsibility for the disruptions to the entity's operations and added: "What is happening at Eskom is not a Numsa initiative. It is the anger of workers at the hands of the recklessness of Andre De Ruyter and his team for walking out of negotiations. All of the anger that you are seeing is as a result of Eskom, and unions have nothing to do with it." Eskom management on Friday denied walking out of wage talks. Instead, Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer said that the entity had tabled its final offer of a 5% wage increase, and certain quarters of organised labour had indicated that they would not accept it. The other unions in the now-deadlocked wage talks, namely the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity, have denied involvement in the protests and condemned any action that disrupted Eskom's operations. Meantime, Eskom has secured a court order against the protest action and has applied to the CCMA for assistance in breaking the deadlock and ending the protest disruptions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Thirteen wards at Fort Beaufort Provincial Hospital declared a health hazard by labour department GroundUp reports that a large section of Fort Beaufort Provincial Hospital has been shut down by the Eastern Cape Department of Employment and Labour, which has deemed 13 wards to be a health hazard. A hospital manager commented: “We are scared our hospital might be shut down … On 10 June the Department of Labour inspectors shut down 13 male wards in block 2 and deemed them a health hazard. Now the patients have been moved to block 5, which was used to admit Covid patients. Many wards, including the maternity ward, have leaking roofs because of the 13 December storm. In 2018 we were promised that our hospital would be rebuilt. Also, according to our organogram we should have ten groundsmen, but we only have two. Also we need 12 porters, but we only have two.” Another manager said: “I am worried that if the department does not urgently fix this hospital it is going to shut down and our people will be forced to go to Alice and to East London. This used to be one of the best hospitals … But since the democratic government took over, our hospital has become filthy and a place of negligence.” A former nurse at the hospital said: “Shortage of staff and linen has been a crisis for more than ten years there.” Yonela Dekeda, provincial health spokesperson, said the wards and not the whole hospital were issued with a probation notice in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. She outlined progress thus far with a 2018 master plan to fix the hospital, but added that the R350-million needed to a full refurbishment was not available. Staff shortages were “being addressed through the implementation of the current approved Annual Recruitment Process”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mkhuseli Sizani at GroundUp
Only two compensation claims and two appeals lodged against Covid-19 No Fault Compensation Fund Cape Times reports that Health Minister Joe Phaahla has revealed that two claims and two appeals have been lodged against the Covid-19 No Fault Compensation Fund since it was formed last year. The government set up the No Fault Compensation Fund in order to cover claims in the unlikely event of any severe vaccine injuries. Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Haseena Ismail had written to Phaahla enquiring about the total number of persons who had claimed from the fund. He had also wanted to know the number of claims that were rejected and claims that were processed, including the full details of the type of vaccines taken and all other relevant details. In his written response, Phaahla said claims against the No Fault Compensation Fund were only lodged after the conclusion of the assessment of an Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) by the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee. “It is not compulsory for an affected person with a causally linked injury to claim,” he indicated. Phaahla advised that two claims and two appeals had been sent to the No Fault Compensation Fund. “There are 68 eligible individuals causally linked to the use of the vaccine,” he indicated. The minister said, however, that none of the claims had been processed or rejected. “Not all claims will be eligible as the outcome of the event should be serious, thus either resulting in death, permanent or temporary disability,” he explained. Phaahla also said the 68 individuals linked to the use of the vaccine were not all serious. “Only serious outcomes will be compensated. The need for compensation will be determined by the adjudication panel,” he pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cele says agreement with truck drivers is that they will protest outside offices, not on highways TimesLive reports that police and truck drivers have come to an agreement that protesting truckers should do so in front of trucking companies' offices and not on the highways. This was indicated by Police Minister Bheki Cele on Monday at the Rural Safety Summit in Parys, in the Free State, which brought together parties concerned about crime in small-town SA. A recent three-day strike from 15 June affected the N17, N3, N11, N2, R59 and R74 roads. The N3 near Van Reenen's Pass was blocked for hours by protesting truckers last week. The truck drivers were protesting against the employment of foreigners in the industry. On Monday, Cele emphasised that anyone without proper driving qualifications, not just foreigners, should not be employed. He indicated: “The striking drivers agreed they will come to us if they find companies employing those without permits. It does not mean foreign nationals cannot work, but they must have proper papers. We agreed they won't block our roads and they'll toyi-toyi at your office and allow us to continue to do the work in the country.” Cele also made the point that there were a lot of truck drivers in SA. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Numsa shop steward at Implats contractor Reagetswe Mining murdered Fin24 writes that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has reported that one of its shopstewards, Mahlomola Hlothoane, was murdered at his home on Friday evening by two unknown gunmen. Police have confirmed the incident, and indicated that there have been no arrests yet. Hlothoane was a shopsteward at Reagetswe Mining, a contractor to Impala Platinum (Implats). Numsa is currently in a standoff with Reagetswe and two other Implats contractors – Triple M Mining and Newrak – over wages. Last week the Johannesburg Labour Court granted Reagetswe Mining an interim interdict against strike action at its operations. In a statement on Sunday evening, Numsa general secretary Irwin Jim condemned the "cold-hearted and brutal" murder of Hlothoane. The union said Hlotoane's murder was the second killing of a Numsa official organising at Implats operations. The statement claimed Hlothoane and Malibongwe Mdazo, who was murdered last year, were killed "for organising workers at Implats. Irvin stated: "Comrade Mahlomola was a Numsa shop steward who assisted the union by co-ordinating recruitment and mobilising workers at Implats. He was murdered on Friday night at his home in Rustenburg." Meanwhile, Triple M CEO Sipho Xipu said Numsa did not pass the company's threshold for recognition, and it could therefore only negotiate wages with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). According to Xipu, an interim court order was granted in favour of Triple M in its Labour Court application against Numsa, and a final order was scheduled for 18 August. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Thirty-nine people, including nine children under five years, rescued on Mpumalanga farm from alleged human trafficking ring The Citizen reports that two suspects have appeared at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on charges of trafficking in persons after the Hawks in Mpumalanga rescued 39 victims on a farm in Belfast. The suspects, both aged 32, were arrested on 24 June 2022. The Hawks said more arrests were imminent. Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Colonel Katlego Mogale, advised: “The 39 victims including 7 women, 9 children under the age of five and 23 males all over the age of 18, were rescued from a farm in Belfast.” The victims were rescued from the trafficking ring by the members of Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime, the Flying Squad, the Department of Employment & Labour and the Department of Home Affairs. Information from the Hawks indicated that the victims were trafficked from Mozambique and they were driven to Lydenburg, where the son of the farm owner and another trafficker allegedly met with the taxi driver and paid for the transportation of the victims. The victims were then taken to the farm in Belfast for labour. The rescued victims will be kept at a place of safety in Witbank. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgomotso Phooko at The Citizen
With a petrol price increase of about R2.50 expected in July, Outa calls for extension of R1.50 fuel levy reprieve BusinessLive reports that the war in Ukraine continues to keep the international price of oil bouncing between $110 and $120 per barrel, and for most of June this price has remained closer to $120, which is about 7% up on May. Also, the rand was weaker to the dollar for most of June, giving rise to under-recovery in the price of petrol. A fuel levy reprieve of R1.50 per litre has been in place for April, May and June. If minister of finance Enoch Godongwana reduces this to a reprieve of 75c per litre from 6 July to 2 August, as planned, motorists can expect a petrol price increase of about R2.50 in July, thereby increasing the price of 95 octane inland from R24.17 per litre to about R26.70. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) pointed out that the fuel levy was one of the tax elements the government was able to adjust at short notice to assist consumers. It said: “We believe the minister should not reduce the fuel levy reprieve to 75c in July, but should wait until the geopolitical factors, combined with an improvement in the rand exchange rate, are able to bring about a significant reduction in the price of petrol.” In the view of the organisation, while petrol prices remain above R22 per litre, the minister would be wise to retain the full R1.50 reduction. Outa also indicated: “We also believe the government must find a solution to the runaway costs of the Road Accident Fund (funded by another fuel levy of R2.18 per litre), which requires urgent professional intervention. This levy should either be reduced, or not tied to the price of petrol.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Parliament defends 3% pay increase for MPs News24 reports that amid a public outcry over a 3% increase for public office bearers, Parliament has defended the increase by noting that public office bearers last received a pay hike in 2019. Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a 3% increase for public office bearers based on the recommendation of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. The general response was that the increase was "tone deaf", to which Parliament responded: "Nothing could be further from the truth." Public office bearers like Ministers, MPs and MPLs last had salary increases in April 2019 when the commission recommended a 2.8 % increase, Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo pointed out in a statement. He went on to indicate: "Because of the prevailing and difficult economic conditions, it was important that the remuneration of the public office bearers be adjusted to enable them to cope with the rising costs of living. The average consumer inflation rate has been on the increase, and for 2021, it was 4.5%, which is higher than the averages recorded for 2020 (3.3%) and 2019 (4.1%) - resulting in the buying power of the disposable income becoming lower." Mothapo added: "Another important factor that must be highlighted - a matter that is sometimes misinterpreted - is the fact that salaries of MPs are published as a total remuneration package (total cost to company) and not cost-plus benefits." Mothapo pointed out that as an additional safeguard, South African MPs were barred from undertaking "any other remunerative responsibilities outside of their parliamentary work", unlike several other countries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24
Unemployed Cape Town youths given a leg-up through GABS artisan development programme Cape Argus reports that forty-three young Capetonians are undergoing an apprenticeship programme through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), which runs an artisan development programme affording opportunities for experiential learning at the Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS). The initiative awarded to unemployed youth provides youngsters with the opportunity to learn at the GABS depot and workshop, providing young people with valuable work experience in jobs requiring artisanal and technical skills. Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger commented: “We are working hard through our skills development programme to create more opportunities for young people to get the right qualifications, skills and experience for jobs available now and in the future. One of my priorities is to invest in local talent through targeted skills programmes so that they can leverage the opportunities that the private sector creates.” DEDAT provides monthly stipends to all its apprentices, 37 of who are in five different trades in GABS, including vehicle body builder, fitter and turner, spray painter, auto electrician and diesel mechanic. The other six apprentices are bus driver learners. “The partnership between DEDAT and GABS is a perfect example of how, when we work together, to make a difference in the lives of young people who have not been able to find work opportunities,” Wenger said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nomalanga Tshuma at Cape Argus
High Court deals major blow to state’s hopes of controlling where doctors work by way of ‘certificate of need’ BL Premium reports that the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) ambitions for controlling where doctors work have been dealt a massive blow by the High Court in Pretoria, after it declared the National Health Act’s provisions for issuing health establishments with a “certificate of need” unconstitutional and invalid. The ruling has “serious implications” for the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) and the DOH would seek a rescission of the judgment and challenge the matter in the Constitutional Court, its spokesperson Foster Mohale said. The department first flighted the controversial certificate of need scheme almost two decades ago, promoting it as a means to shore up health services in rural and underserviced urban areas. It has been vigorously opposed by doctors from the outset, who have argued they should be able to work where they choose. Now the High Court has in effect agreed with them, upholding an application brought by trade union Solidarity, the SA Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF), the Alliance of SA Independent Practitioners Associations (Asaipa) and four individual healthcare practitioners to declare sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act invalid. They argued that the scheme violated the separation of powers, was irrational, prescribed impermissibly vague criteria, and unjustifiably limited several constitutional rights. These included the rights to dignity, freedom of movement and residence, the right to choose a trade or profession, and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of property. The applicants named health minister Joe Phaahla, health director-general Sandile Buthelezi and President Cyril Ramaphosa as respondents, none of whom opposed the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Hawks launch inquiry into suspended Mhlathuze Water CEO and suspended CFO IOL reports that the Hawks have launched an inquiry that involves two senior officials of the troubled Richards Bay-based Mhlathuze Water Board, which has in the past few years been tainted by allegations of graft. The inquiry by the Hawks has dragged in suspended Mhlathuze Board chief executive Mthokozisi Duze and Babongile Mnyandu, the entity’s chief financial officer who is also on suspension. It is not clear what exactly prompted the inquiry, which could lead on to a full-blown investigation and prosecution. It is known that Duze has been on the watch list of the Hawks after a whistleblower wrote a letter to the crime-fighting unit and alleged that he was developing a mansion in the exclusive and lush suburb of Mtunzini, along the N2, near Richards Bay. The letter to the Hawks was sent early this year and it came at a time when the Mhlathuze Board had commissioned a forensic probe and had hired a private investigator to do some digging. The information about the inquiry is contained in two letters served on two Durban-based law firms in terms of which a Hawks investigator requested certain invoices and information. According to confidential court documents, the request for information appears to have been ignored by the directors of the law firms. The Hawks investigator, who cannot be named for security reasons, had to ask the courts to assist him through legal avenues. Duze said he was not aware of any investigation against him, but was only aware of a Hawks inquiry against him - which was eventually closed. Regarding charges preferred against Duze and Mnyandu, a spokesperson for Mhlathuze Water said they could not divulge them since that would prejudice the accused parties. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mavuso at IOL
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