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 Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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President laments that scarcely a day passes without reports about men attacking, violating and killing women TimesLive reports that speaking on Tuesday at Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal during the government’s official commemoration Women’s Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa said gender-based violence was a stain on the celebrations. The day commemorates the bravery of thousands of women of all backgrounds and cultures who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest against the pass laws. Ramaphosa said women in SA today still had little to celebrate: “Hardly a day goes by in this country without a report of women being attacked, being violated and being killed by men. This cannot continue, the women of SA have had enough of being afraid.” The president noted that women feared going out after dark, being attacked in their homes and being preyed on in classrooms. They also feared for the safety of their children and relatives. Ramaphosa attributed the daily violence experienced by women to men with no respect for women, who felt they could do what they like with their girlfriends or partners because they had bought them airtime or groceries. The government was determined to strengthen the fight against gender-based violence through legislation, he said. However, Ramaphosa emphasised that the government could not dismantle the culture of gender-based violence on its own and that silence was no longer an option. “On this Women’s Day I want to call on every South African to play their part in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide by speaking out,” he exhorted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zimasa Matiwane at BusinessLive. Read too, Women should be compensated for house work says Ramaphosa on Women's Day, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Police Minister to meet with long-distance bus companies amid concerns of violence, intimidation News24 reports that Police Minister Bheki Cele has promised to meet with long-distance bus services amid concerns of violence, extortion and intimidation in the industry. Speaking on Monday, Cele advised that he was planning a meeting with bus companies as well as the taxi industry in coming days. He said the police were considering boosting the number of police officers on highways and went on to indicate: "It's impossible for us to patrol all the roads, but what we want to do is patrol the routes these bus companies drive on because that is very important, especially for the passengers." According to the long-distance bus industry, the attacks are becoming increasingly violent and sophisticated. Intercape bus company last week briefed the Western Cape legislature's standing committee on transport and reported that so far in 2022 there had been more than 80 attacks, including 19 shootings and 29 incidents of rocks being thrown. There had been 150 attacks in 2021. News24 previously reported that taxi associations were trying to squeeze bus companies out of the market by threatening their drivers, shooting at them, throwing rocks at buses, and limiting their use of stops in the Eastern Cape. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Read too, Intercape pleads for intervention as terror campaign intensifies, at Engineering News. En ook, Aanvalle op busse by ‘krisispunt’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mohlakeng residents unimpressed after 'AmaBherete' abandon search for zama zamas after an hour TimesLive reports that an operation by police to snuff out zama zamas (illegal miners) in Mohlakeng, Randfontein, on Tuesday ended in disappointment for the community as no arrests were made. Police members, part of a new tactical response team called the “AmaBherete”, were deployed to the area after unrest on Monday when community members took matters into their own hands, ransacking and burning down the homes of alleged zama zamas. The community had joined others in other areas on Johannesburg's West Rand to hunt down the illegal miners in an effort to clamp down on informal operations. There has been an outpouring of anger after the gang rape of eight women at a disused mine in Krugersdorp on 30 July. On Tuesday, a group of officers stood atop a hill, close to the sports ground where community members gathered, watching a soccer game. Many of the members strolled around casually chatting as they combed the bushes. Less than an hour after their arrival, police abandoned their search after they had found no zama zamas. “They’re not serious. You can tell by how they walk that they don’t know what they’re doing,” commented one man. While many residents were left disappointed by the police's unenthusiastic efforts, despair filled the hearts of those who were victims of the community's wrath on Monday. Basotho women and children in the area, at eMahostel, were caught in the middle when the community rounded them up and threw their belongings in the streets. Malehlwa Sejalo, a mother of two, said she had nowhere to go. But Wise Kobe, a resident, said there was nothing wrong with what they were doing as they were “cleaning their area”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLive. Lees ook, Inwoners brand zama-zamas se besittings, by Maroela Media SANDF clarifies notice to have troops on standby to support police to contain unrest News24 reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) says that should President Cyril Ramaphosa authorise the deployment of troops to support the police to contain further unrest, it would be to preserve life, health and property and would not be "against people". The statement by the SANDF on Monday followed a leaked defence force warning instruction, dated 6 August, stating that soldiers might be called "to play their secondary role... to support or cooperate with the South African Police Services (SAPS)". The document stated: "The situation in the Republic of South Africa is gradually deteriorating into unrest due to criminality that is taking place with the borders, which has been exacerbated by a perceived lack of action from security forces to combat criminality. It is in this regard, the SA Army Infantry Formation has been ordered to go on 25-hour standby in anticipation of deploying in support or cooperation with the SAPS." SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Andries Mahapa said this was never intended for public consumption as it was an internal document for planning and coordinating purposes within the SANDF. Mahapa said the document was released on social channels and landed in the wrong hands, which he felt was then taken out of context in terms of the warning and operation order. Mahapa said that if Ramaphosa gave the go-ahead, the number of soldiers to be deployed would be confirmed by the intelligence team. Ramaphosa would have to inform Parliament before ordering such a deployment. Violent protests have erupted recently in Gauteng's West Rand, sparked by the gang rape of eight women in Krugersdorp by suspected illegal miners. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zandile Khumalo at News24. Read too, SAPU calls re-establishment of abandoned police units to help combat crime, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Legal team hopes most of the Marikana civil claims will be amicably settled Pretoria News reports that with the 10th commemoration of the Marikana massacre around the corner, it is hoped that most of the civil claims instituted against the government in the latest round of litigation will be amicably settled. This hope was expressed on Monday in the North Gauteng High Court by the legal team acting for the miners. Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba had set three weeks down to attend to the Marikana matters and he earlier expressed his satisfaction at the progress made thus far. Over the past two weeks, legal teams representing the government made settlement offers to the legal team representing about 54 miners who were injured when the police opened fire on them. The claimants also include people who were arrested by the SAPS at the time and detained. Charges were later withdrawn against them. The bulk of the past two weeks were used considering the offers and draft orders, containing the individual agreements reached, and they were presented to Judge Ledwaba so that he could make each an order of court. While counsel remained mum about the amounts agreed upon, the summonses issued in each case against the police ranged between R1 million to R3 million. The highest amount claimed where a miner was shot and still has the bullet in his body runs into several million. Several of the miners were at court, anxiously awaiting word on whether their matters would be settled. Lawyer Andries Nkome, who represents the bulk of the claimants, said about 50% of the matters had been settled thus far. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at Pretoria News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ismail Momoniat to hold the fort at Treasury for a year beyond August BL Premium reports that Ismail Momoniat, interim director-general at the National Treasury, will remain in that position for 12 months beyond August as the department continues its search for a permanent replacement for Dondo Mogajane, who vacated the position in June. Momoniat’s contract has apparently been extended by a year to work on specific projects, such as finalising SA’s antiterrorism and anti-money laundering efforts to avoid greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FTAF), as well as the medium-term budget policy statement in October. Mogajane recently left his position as director-general of the Treasury after 23 years of working for the department. In July, he was appointed chair of the Government Employees Pension Fund board. Momoniat, who was deputy director-general for tax and financial sector policy for 22 years, was moved into the position in June and was initially expected to go into retirement at the end of August, after which a new permanent director-general was to have been appointed. The vacant director-general post was advertised in June. Michael Sachs, a former head of the National Treasury’s budget office, is said to have declined the director-general post, leaving the race for the third-in-command of SA’s national purse wide open. It was previously reported that the Treasury was considering various internal candidates for the position, including Duncan Pieterse, head of asset and liability management, and Edgar Sishi, who at present heads the budget office. External candidates who could be considered for the position include Kenneth Creamer, who is part of the ANC's economic transformation technical team. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Nursing council hits back at claims it prevented private hospitals from training nurses News24 reports that the SA Nursing Council (SANC) has denied allegations that it prevented private hospitals from training nurses to address personnel issues. The council was responding to backlash it received during a two-day Hospital Association of SA (HASA) conference last week. SANC spokesperson Sizeni Mchunu said the allegation that it restricted private hospitals from training nurses "was factually incorrect, untrue and irresponsible". The organisation received criticism for restrictions on the number of training places private hospitals offered. This, the conference heard, undermined a HASA proposal tabled at the Presidential Jobs Summit in 2018 that the private sector needed 50,000 nurses to help tackle the country's critical shortage of healthcare professionals. Mchunu said: "Such a statement was gravely opportunistic and condescending, considering that each application for the programmer accreditations is evaluated on its merit and strength." She hit back at Netcare nursing education executive Toy Vermaak's statement that the SANC slashed the hospital's annual intake without reason a few years ago. "Vermaak intentionally leaves out critical information that she is well aware of relating to the changes in the nursing education and training as informed by overall changes in the higher education landscape. Ms Vermaak is also aware of the rationale and reasons for such determinations," Mchunu said. Netcare group director human resources and transformation Nceba Ndzwayiba commented: “The shared industry perspective reflects a clear need for nurses to be trained in greater numbers, and to gain specialised skills and experience. These are truly critical skills, which are necessary for growing the capacity needed to provide quality healthcare for all South Africans.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zandile Khumalo at News24 Charlotte Maxeke staff have to use own cellphones to call doctors to emergencies SowetanLive reports that for three weeks, medical staff and clerks at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital have had to turn away transferred patients or used their own money to buy airtime as the hospital's telephones have broken down because of loadshedding. Clerks have have to use their own phones to make emergency calls to doctors, arrange for transfers and surgeries. Staffers indicated that in emergency situations they had to scramble among themselves to raise money to buy airtime. A nurse at the cardiology unit said she made sure she had airtime to contact doctors in case of resuscitation emergencies. “In this unit, time matters. We do not have the time to try see if we can get airtime before calling. Doctors are not stationed here, they do their rounds in other parts of the hospital and we need to be able to call them as quick as possible. A minute late might cost us the life of a patient,” she explained. Two other nurses who work in the neurology department said they struggled to co-ordinate patient transfers to other units and have, in some instances, used WhatsApp to communicate with their colleagues. Administrative staff said casualty and trauma units were a nightmare, with some patients being turned back. “It costs me about R150 a week to make calls and I don’t even get to make all the calls I want to. It’s an administrative nightmare," an employee complained. Gauteng health department spokesperson Motaletale Modiba said it might take another two weeks before the lines were restored as some parts needed to be imported. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at SowetanLive
Disgruntled ANC staff members ‘disgusted and disappointed’ with Ramaphosa over non-payment of salaries Pretoria News reports that ANC employees have expressed “disgust” and “disappointment” at continuous promises from President Cyril Ramaphosa to come up with a solution to the party’s salary and provident fund woes. The governing party failed to pay its employees their July salaries after promising last week that they would pay all outstanding salaries. The employees claim that provident fund contributions have not paid over in spite of being deducted from their salaries for the last three years. According to a staff member, 12 ANC workers have died over the last three years and their families were battling to access their provident funds. ANC staff representative chairperson Mvusi Mdala said Ramaphosa had to start taking the staff seriously and care for their well-being. “If the ANC can’t take care of its staff, how can they take care of society?” Mdala asked. He indicated that employees were going to hold a nationwide virtual meeting to decide on what action to take. “We will be meeting on Wednesday and we are going to come up with a solution. We have to be careful with the labour laws because we can't wake up and launch a stayaway. There are laws to be considered but we will take to the streets in protest if we have to,” Mdala said. ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the party was communicating with staff members through their representatives in an effort to resolve the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at Pretoria News
Financial Sector Conduct Authority orders massive fines, removal of trustees from private security guards' retirement fund Fin24 reports that SA’s financial watchdog, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has ordered that five members of the board of trustees of the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF) be removed for improper conduct. Five former and one current trustee were also fined up to R230,000, for, among other things, flouting procurement and tender policies between 2011 and 2017. The privately administered fund oversees retirement, funeral and death benefits for SA’s security guards. It has around 600,000 members and assets worth R10 billion. "Board members who continue to serve on the PSSPF have been asked to vacate their positions within 10 days of receiving their sanctioning letters from the authority," the FSCA indicated. The members in question are Cobus Bodenstein, Zithulise Mqadi, Marchel Coetzee, Anna Maoko and Jonnes Hlatswayo. Those members who have already left the board have been served with penalty fines ranging from R10,000 to R230,000. The current and former trustees who have been fined are Bodenstein, Zazi Zulu, Bonginkosi Qwabe, Simon Jackson, Hennie Myburg and Sipho Miya. The FSCA did not say what each been fined. All trustees found guilty of wrongdoing can appeal to the Financial Services Tribunal. The FSCA started probing the fund in 2017 following allegations of wrongdoing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24. Read too, FSCA sanctions trustees of Private Security Sector Provident Fund, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Billionaire Mandla Lamba ordered by CCMA to fork out R750,000 to fired worker City Press reports that Agilitee SA, the company of self-proclaimed billionaire Mandla Lamba that manufactures electric vehicles, has been ordered to pay more than R750,000 to a senior employee who was dismissed last year. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) awarded Agilitee SA’s former business development and partnership director Christa Brits an attachment order after she was fired three months into her contract. Speaking on Friday, Brits said she had been fired a month before Christmas without any explanation. Brits started working for Agilitee SA in August and was dismissed along with two of her subordinates three months later. She was supposed to have earned R83,333 a month, along with benefits, but she allegedly never received her full pay or the benefits. “I never received a company car, like they had promised, I had no medical aid or any company benefits ... I had a good package [on paper], and I should have known that it was all too good to be true. But I thought I should hold on [to the job] because it [the company] is such a good initiative,” she said. When she filed an unfair dismissal case, Brits approached trade union Solidarity to represent her at the CCMA. Lamba was not present at the hearings, but was represented by the then CEO, Bonisile Roberts. Roberts later informed the CCMA that she had resigned from Lamba’s company as well. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Julia Madibogo at City Press (subscriber access only)
SIU freezes former Transnet executives' properties pending final determination of review application SowetanLive reports that the Special Tribunal has granted a preservation order to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Transnet to freeze five luxury properties worth millions of rand belonging to two of the state entity’s former executives and their spouses. In a judgment handed down on Monday, the Special Tribunal prohibited Zakhele Lebelo, his wife Alletta Mokgoro Mabitsi, Phathutshedzo Brighton Mashamba and his wife Matlhodi Phillicia Mashamba from selling, leasing, donating or transferring their luxury properties in Rosebank and Dainfern. ''The SIU and Transnet have obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze five luxury properties in gated estates, and pension benefits valued at approximately R1.8m, linked to Transnet executives and their spouses, pending the final determination of civil proceedings for recovery of damages or losses and disgorgement of secret profits,’’ said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago and Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi in a joint statement on Tuesday. The judgment came after an SIU’s investigation found that Lebelo and Mashamba allegedly received kickbacks for awarding contracts to service providers. The SIU investigation revealed that the acquisition of the properties was allegedly funded by money received from service providers contracted by Transnet. Therefore, the luxury properties constitute proceeds of unlawful activities. The luxury properties are now under the care of a curator. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka at SowetanLive. Read too, SIU freezes Transnet exec’s luxury properties and pension benefits, at The Citizen. En ook, Voormalige Transnet-hoës se bates, pensioen bevries, by Maroela Media
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