This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Labour Court denies Numsa leave to appeal, congress remains interdicted Fin24 reports that the Labour Court (LC) has denied the National Union of Metalworkers of SA’s (Numsa’s) application for leave to appeal its ruling interdicting the union’s controversial and currently ongoing national congress. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim and Numsa president Andrew Chirwa were re-elected unopposed at the congress on Wednesday evening. A group of formerly suspended officials, who had initially brought the case for the interdict, as well as their lawyers, now argue that the latest ruling effectively declares the elections invalid. Numsa meanwhile said it had lodged an application for direct access to the Labour Appeal Court (LAC), and that by doing this "we have suspended the operation of the decision handed down". This meant the congress, according to the union, would continue as planned. The LC handed down its ruling on Thursday morning after Numsa appealed a weekend interdict compelling the union to rectify the suspensions and congress arrangements before going ahead with the gathering. In the meantime, Numsa lifted the suspension of officials and continued with the congress. Thursday's ruling said that if leave to appeal were to be granted, the decision of the LAC would have no practical effect for either of the parties because the union decided to proceed with the congress despite the interdict. "In my view, the mootness of this appeal is plain. The interdictory relief sought has been overtaken by events. The action which it was formulated to prevent has occurred. The relief which was sought is now perfectly academic," Moshoana's order indicated. The formerly suspended officials have apparently advised their lawyers to draft a contempt of court application. Read the full original of the informative report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24. Read too, ‘Numsa’s court order defiance an unwise move’, says judge as he denies union leave to appeal, at City Press Chirwa vows that if necessary Numsa will head to ConCourt over interdicted congress Fin24 reports that according to newly re-elected National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) president Andrew Chirwa, the union's leadership intends to defend the outcomes of its interdicted national congress, even if that means approaching the Constitutional Court (ConCourt). The union continued with its national congress at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday, even as the Labour Court denied it leave to appeal an interdict that prevented the event from kicking off until the union had complied with its own constitution. Apparently, formerly suspended officials of Numsa, who successfully appealed their suspensions at the Labour Court last week, are considering a contempt of court application against the union because it pressed on with the still interdicted congress. Chirwa shrugged off the Labour Court's denial of the union's application for leave to appeal, saying that the judge concerned was the very person who interdicted the congress in the first place. He said the union would send an application directly to the Labour Appeal Court for a hearing. Chirwa also said the union would have to address the conduct of officials who "sabotaged" the congress internally. "This is a tactic to ensure that they invalidate this congress. We are in a war. But we are clear that these are not comrades. The enemy is in the house and once we realise that there is a snake in the house, we must crush it," he warned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 Numsa’s Irvin Jim accuses Saftu leaders of trying to 'sabotage' union’s interdicted congress Fin24 reports that Irvin Jim, general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), has accused the leadership of the union's umbrella federation, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), of trying to influence, and even sabotage its national congress. Jim was addressing Numsa members at the union's interdicted national congress on Wednesday evening. Later that evening he was re-elected unopposed as the union's secretary-general. Numsa held its congress despite a Labour Court (LC) interdict ordering the union to lift the suspensions of members and ensure, before proceeding, thatit could hold a congress consistent with its own constitution. Numsa's appeal against the ruling was heard on an urgent basis at the LC on Wednesday and was unsuccessful. The initial LC case was initiated by Numsa's second deputy president Ruth Ntlokotse, who had wanted her suspension overturned. She claimed she was suspended to keep her from running for Numsa president at the congress. Andrew Chirwa ran for the position unopposed and was elected. In May, Ntlokotse was elected Saftu president at the federation's congress. Jim said the relationship between Saftu and Numsa – its biggest member union – had become so fraught that the federation was working to undermine the leadership of the union. "We never thought that ahead of a Numsa congress, this movement that we catalysed, we would be undermined… The leadership of Saftu has been reckless and arrogant. When you talk about interference, they look to do as they please," said Jim. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Manhunt for three men who shot, killed Timbavati game ranger Anton Mzimba and seriously wounded wife News24 reports that three assailants have yet to be apprehended after shooting game ranger Anton Mzimba dead, and injuring his wife at their home near Bushbuckridge on Tuesday night. The men shot Mzimba's wife in the stomach after she saw them shooting her husband. She is fighting for her life in hospital. According to earlier reporting, there had been claims that Mzimba, who was head of ranger services at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, was the target of a syndicate because of his anti-poaching efforts. He had received several death threats, but turned down offers for alternative accommodation. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said they could not speculate on the motive for the shooting and this would form part of their investigation. The trio approached the Mzimba home in Edinburgh Trust on Tuesday at around 19:00, asking for water for their vehicle which they claimed had problems. They pounced on Mzimba who was shot several times before the assailants opened fire on his wife. The men fled the home empty-handed and have yet to be apprehended. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at News24. Read too, 'Whispers of death threats': Game ranger Anton Mzimba was in danger, but insisted on doing his job, at News24 (subscriber access only). En ook, Veldwagter se vrou ook geskiet, veg om lewe, by Maroela Media. En verder, Veldwagter moontlik deur stropers geteiken, by Maroela Media City Power senior technician killed in blast at Roodepoort mini-substation TimesLive reports that a senior City Power technician was killed in an explosion at a mini-substation he was working on in Roodepoort on Thursday morning. Wilro Park had an outage and Kallie van Vuuren and another technician were working to find the fault in Molopo Street when a switch blew up. Van Vuuren, who had worked for City Power for more than 19 years, was badly injured and paramedics certified him dead on the scene. “It is a sad day for us at City Power as we lost one of our own, a hard-working individual who dedicated his life serving the City of Johannesburg and City Power,” City Power acting CEO Tshifularo Mashava said. He added: “We will provide the necessary support to the family of our colleague during this time of need.” An investigation will be conducted into the incident and the cause of the explosion. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at TimesLive. Lees ook, City Power-tegnikus sterf ná ontploffing, by Maroela Media Five Eastern Cape TVET college employees killed in collision with truck on Wednesday News24 reports that five employees from an Eastern Cape-based TVET college were killed when their vehicle was involved in a crash with a truck on Wednesday. The five, who worked at Ikhala TVET College, were in a work vehicle and were on their way from the central office in Komani (formerly Queenstown) to the Aliwal North campus when the accident happened. Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (DHES&I) Minister Blade Nzimande sent condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and fellow students of the five employees (identified in report). Nzimande noted the unfortunate incident happened at a time when the DHES&I was holding an inaugural two-day TVET Colleges Strategic Industry Partnerships Summit, aimed at fostering dynamic and strategic partnerships between the department, TVET colleges and industry. Read the original of the report in the above regard compiled by Botho Molosankwe at News24 Armed men target HR files in Arena Holdings office burglary in which no staff were harmed TimesLive reports that a group of armed men forced their way into the Arena Holdings head office in Johannesburg on Wednesday night. They held up the front gate and reception security at gunpoint. “They then proceeded to the second floor where they took two computers, before going to the first floor where they forced open HR cabinets and a storeroom, which hold some files,” said group CEO Mzi Malunga. It is not clear as yet what they were looking for or what they took from the HR storeroom. None of the staff who were in the building at the time were harmed. Police were conducting a detailed sweep of the area on Thursday morning. The company said it was engaging with its security service providers to beef up security in the building. Arena Holdings is the publishers of several newspapers including Sunday Times, Business Day, Financial Mail, The Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ramaphosa’s plans for social compact slammed by both business and unions Bloomberg News reports that leading South African business and trade union organisations have criticised both the content and tardiness of a plan by President Cyril Ramaphosa to form a so-called social compact to revive the ailing economy. Labour federation Cosatu said it would not accept the weakening of workers’ rights and the head of Business Unity SA (Busa) said the lobby organisation was dismayed at how long it had taken the government to put together the plan. In his February state-of-the-nation address, Ramaphosa said a social compact would be achieved within 100 days as he would seek to bring together the government, business, labour and civil society to chart a path forward for a languishing economy. Busa’s Bonang Mohale said on Thursday: “The reason the deadline was not met is because of lack of delivery from the side of government, we must be clear on that. As business we were ready to proceed and we don’t know why the target was not met.” A 32-page document authored by the government and entitled “Framework for a Social Compact in South Africa” was distributed to business and labour leaders this month. The proposals made by government have angered both groupings. Those recommendations include lower entry-level wages and a reform of labour laws. Business has been asked to set firm investment pledges, moderate executive pay, improve job security and agree to “revenue measures” to expand the social welfare net. Cosatu said it would not support a pact that sacrificed the hard-won rights of workers. Mohale said the concerns of business were around the government’s lack of ability or resolve to implement its plans. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Antony Sguazzin & S'thembile Cele at Fin24
Further court challenge to government’s decision to scrap Zimbabwean Exemption Permits GroundUp reports that the Zimbabwean Immigration Federation has launched an application in the Pretoria High Court to challenge the scrapping of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs). This follows a similar court bid by the Helen Suzman Foundation. The federation says it represents more than 1,000 Zimbabwean nationals who, issued with ZEPs, have lived legally in SA for more than ten years. Now, at the stroke of a pen, they face deportation at the end of December. In total, it is estimated that Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision, which was ratified by Cabinet, will affect about 182,000 Zimbabweans. The federation is seeking an interdict restraining the government respondents, including the minister, the department of home affairs, the police and border control, from detaining or deporting any holder of a ZEP, pending a further application, still to be filed, to review and set aside the minister’s decision. In November 2021, the minister decided not to renew the permits and gave holders a “grace period” of 12 months to either apply for “mainstream visas” or leave the country. Federation director Vindiren Magadzire said the dispensation for Zimbabwean nationals, which had been in place since 2009, had allowed Zimbabweans to live, study and work in SA. They could purchase property and join pension funds. Many had married South Africans and had children born in SA at local schools. All of this was now in jeopardy. He also pointed out that SA has been a safe haven for Zimbabweans who fled political violence, abductions and torture, and also persecution of gay people. The minister is expected to oppose both applications. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
When people ‘renew their love’ for the ANC, staff will be guaranteed to get paid their salaries TimesLive reports that ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe’s explanation for why the governing party cannot guarantee that its staff will be paid on time has been met with mixed reaction, with some calling it irresponsible. Speaking at the ANC’s gala dinner on Wednesday before the party’s national policy conference this weekend, Mabe said the ANC was not a bank robbery syndicate that could predict when it would get money. “If the ANC was running a cash-in-transit heist, then it would say: ‘No, we know the robberies we’re going to be conducting in the next two months will give us enough’,” said Mabe. He went on to indicate: “The ANC depends on the people. It is the trust of those people and once the people renew their love, trust and confidence in the ANC and start to reinvest their resources, we will be able to sustain this organisation of Nelson Mandela.” Unpaid staff picketed at the party’s provincial offices across the country, threatening to interdict the national policy conference. Finance committee member and social development minister Lindiwe Zulu assured staff that they would get their money soon: “The treasurer’s office, and Paul Mashatile himself, is doing everything to ensure we get the money. Even the policy conference, we are paying for going there. We must appreciate and realise that the ANC doesn't have a factory where it goes and gets money. The money must come from us as members.” Zulu said another reason for ANC’s money woes was its membership fees had been “too low for too long”. The fee is R12 annually. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at BusinessLive In run-up to policy conference, ANC averts full-blown action by staff by paying June salaries City Press reports that at the last-minute on Thursday, the ANC averted a widely anticipated court interdict application by staff and further protest action targeted against its policy conference. ANC employees were reported to be contemplating interdicting the organisation from hosting the conference, which started with a presidential gala dinner on Wednesday and is scheduled to end on Sunday. Among the top lawyers they approached to represent them was Advocate Dali Mpofu. As President Cyril Ramaphosa was addressing guests during the gala dinner on Wednesday night, the staff protested outside. However, in a bid to avoid the embarrassment of the protests, which had started earlier in the week, the party paid all its unpaid employees their June salaries on Thursday, with a promise to pay the July salaries after the policy conference. Despite receiving their salaries, some employees proceeded to picket outside the delegates’ accreditation centre in Turffontein, Johannesburg, on Thursday. The employees were demanding to be paid their July salaries as a matter of urgency. ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe told the media that the party was doing everything to raise funds so that staff salaries would be paid. He said the issue of salaries, raised by staff members, was being addressed not because of the policy conference, but because it involved people’s livelihoods. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Norman Masungwini at City Press
Suspended deputy police commissioner faces misconduct charges City Press reports that suspended Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Francinah Vuma has been notified that she is facing charges of misconduct. A letter dated 19 July from National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to Vuma advised her that he has commissioned a report into allegations of misconduct against her. Vuma’s charges relate to a Pretoria High Court ruling in which she was found to have not cooperated with an investigation by police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) by not handing over or declassifying documents for the Ipid to investigate certain allegations of fraud and corruption. Last weekend, City Press revealed how Masemola, along with police officers based at the counter-intelligence division, raided Vuma’s office leaving with loads of documents. Earlier this month, Vuma submitted a protected disclosure to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the head of the Hawks, General Godfrey Lebeya, among others, detailing allegations of corruption, defeating the ends of justice and political interference within the police service. In the 12-page letter dated 6 July, Vuma said there had been attempts to have her removed from her position by some of her colleagues and people from outside to “obstruct certain investigations against [national police commissioner Masemola’s colleagues] his seniors and his acquaintances”. Vuma, who is responsible for asset management in the SAPS, claimed she had rebuffed several attempts by her seniors to sway contracts to benefit certain companies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Abram Mashego at City Press Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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