In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Calls for sweeping changes to be made at ‘outdated’ Nedlac Sunday Times Daily reports that the Black Business Council says it will lead a charge in calling for the reviewing of the “outdated” mandate of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). BBC president Elias Monage said the body might have served its purpose when it was started two decades ago, but it had reached its limits and changes needed to be made. “At that time we had three labour federations, Cosatu, Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) and National Teachers' Union (Natu) and today we have many organisations that are not represented at Nedlac. That means you need to reconfigure a structure that talks about policy issues, trade and other related issues in the country,” Monage observed. He said a lot of changes had happened in the labour market in terms of the organisations and representation since 1994, and a number of organisations had evolved. For example, the BBC cannot be represented by Business Unity SA (Busa) because “our needs and what is happening on the ground is not the same”. Monage went on to remark: “We cannot continue as though it's business as usual. The reconfiguration of Nedlac needs to ensure we all participate in coming up with solutions that will assist to deal with the circumstances facing the country after 28 years. For example, the government is talking about a social compact and that compact continues to exclude majority of the people.” SA's second labour largest federation, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), indicated that it had made an application to be part of Nedlac. Its spokesperson Trevor Shaku said they did not know what was causing the delay. Nedlac executive director Lisa Seftel was not immediately available for comment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Amanda Khoza at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only)
Lack of support for shutdown shows unions need to change to ensure they don't become irrelevant The Citizen writes that according to certain experts, the low turnout of workers during this week’s “national shutdown” showed a lack of labour unity and that trade unions in SA were in desperate need of change. The relatively low numbers participating in Wednesday’s demonstrations and stay away organised by Cosatu and Saftu clearly showed a lack of support for the strike. As the country entered what was called the “post-industrial era”, the future of unions was becoming more irrelevant, political analyst Andre Duvenhage argued. In his view, there was still a place for unions in SA, but there was no place for unions that were completely unrealistic and used “conflict and violence” as mechanisms to pursue their goals. “Many of these trade unions should head back to the drawing board, reconsider their situation and strategise within a new context,” he said. Duvenhage maintained that trade union bosses were not transparent and that there was an issue of mismanagement and poor levels of governance. “The problem is they played politics, which was problematic,” he asserted. Political analyst Levy Ndou said unions would remain relevant if they advanced the interests of the workers and that the fragmentation of unions was the cause of low turnouts. “If union bosses occupy positions for a long time, they may run out of ideas. There needs to be more people who will bring new ideas. Unions in SA were associated with certain individuals and that needs to change.” Ndou opined. Prominent economist Dawie Roodt said unions needed to work in reinventing themselves and become modern representatives of labour and labour interests. “There are a lot of personal agendas and powerplays [among union bosses] and the people who are paying the price include the unemployed and workers,” Roodt stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lunga Simelane at The Citizen (subscriber access only) Numsa in financial trouble, misses shutdown The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) could not participate in Wednesday’s national shutdown because of financial constraints. In a letter sent to the union’s constituency earlier this month, the union pointed out that it was facing legal challenges that had forced it to spend chunks of money on litigation. Deputy general secretary Mbuso Ngubane wrote that the union had been experiencing financial challenges for some time and that it was struggling to meet its monthly commitments. “Numsa is generally in financial challenges in that it struggles to meet its financial obligations on monthly basis and this can be attributed to recent lockdowns, which produced massive retrenchments which affected Numsa’s monthly income,” Ngubane advised. The letter further indicated that Numsa had to avail budgets for regional conferences which ultimately led to the national congress. “As if it was not enough, unfortunately we currently have to pay legal cost because of the dispute before the court regarding the status of the national congress,” Ngubane lamented. In an interview with a local broadcaster, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said that even though Numsa could not participate in the national shutdown the unity of workers was important. He called for a restructuring of the economy in order for tangible changes to take place towards the realisation of youth employment and better working and living conditions for all South Africans. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Saftu affiliate embarks on wage strike at RCL Foods’ Pieman’s brand Fin24 reports that Workers at RCL Foods’ Pieman’s brand announced on Thursday that they were embarking on a strike over their current wages. The SA Industrial Commercial and Allied Workers Union (Saicwu), an affiliate of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), announced the industrial action on Wednesday. Saicwu president Simon Munyai said workers have kept productivity at high levels at Pieman's, with more than 500,000 pies baked daily, but claimed the employer had no interest in negotiating better wages for workers despite labour revising their demands downwards. "Saicwu declared a dispute after the employer demonstrated that they are not willing to negotiate wages, which is R30 hourly rate from the genuine demand of R50 per hour on top of the current rate, benefits, and working conditions of the workers in good faith," said Munyai. Over 500 workers belonging to the union are reportedly already demonstrating. RCL Foods said that it had had multiple negotiations with Saicwu and deliberations at the CCMA, but an agreement on annual wage increases had not been able to be reached. Noting that the union's current demand equated to a 36% average increase over three years, RCL said it remained committed “to ongoing engagement with our employees to reach a wage deal that will strike a balance between the interests of all of our stakeholders, including consumers and employees." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 Eastern Cape Health to pay overtime claims of striking forensic pathology workers IOL reports that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has committed by 7 September to pay the overtime claims of forensic pathology services workers who have embarked on a wildcat strike. Workers affiliated with the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) had stopped working overtime, demanding their claims be immediately paid. This resulted in a delay in collecting bodies in parts of the province. The strike was followed by a meeting between senior management and Nehawu leaders on Wednesday evening in an effort to ensure workers went back to working overtime. Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda indicated: “The department received the thumbs up from the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to pay the overtime claims. The approval was sought because all overtime claims 30% above salaries have to be approved by the DPSA.” Despite the decision by the department, Nehawu leaders stressed that no agreement would be reached until the union got a mandate from its members. The department is also investigating the cause for the delay and will set measures in place to prevent future delays in the payment of overtime. Another meeting has been called for Monday afternoon in hopes of fully resolving this matter so workers can return to work. “Until the matter has been resolved, the department will continue with its contingency measures that are in place to ensure services do not grind to a halt,” said Dekeda. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisipho Bhuta at IOL Injured Middelburg municipal workers to lay attempted murder charges and to sue council TimesLive reports that the Steve Tshwete local municipality workers who were injured after they were allegedly shot at by security guards employed by the council during a protest at the municipality’s head office in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, will be laying charges of attempted murder. They also intend to sue the council. Workers’ representative Kgosi Makwati said they were waiting for the three injured workers to be discharged. “We are going to lay the charges of attempted murder and sue the council. This will be against the municipality, the security company, the acting municipal manager and the executive mayor in their personal capacities,” he indicated. The shooting incident came after the dismissal of 16 employees who had allegedly raised concerns over the appointment of 30 bodyguards by acting municipal manager Thokozile Nkosi in April, costing about R3m. Workers downed tools in solidarity with the 16 employees. The protesting workers said guards flew a drone over the crowd, which they started stoning. Tshepo Maseko died during the subsequent incident from a wound to the back of his head. Makwati said two of the three injured were still critical. Makwati advised: “The strike is still on. We are very disappointed and angry that even after the death of our colleague, the shootings and the illegal security guards, they are not considering anything, how the security guards were procured. We think they are still playing games, and we know that the ANC and the DA are in this together, so both parties are involved in the looting of this municipality.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLive
Sibanye’s Neal Froneman calls on government to provide military support in effort to stem scourge of ‘zama zamas’ Miningmx reports that Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, said on Thursday that the increased incidence of illegal mining in SA, perpetrated by people referred to locally as ‘zama zamas’, required the support of the country’s military. “It is a tremendous problem. It is very unfortunate that it’s a problem that only gets recognised for the reasons of some young girls being raped. That’s a tragic incident in its own right,” he commented. There was a national outcry after eight models were raped on 28 July when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump near Krugersdorp was attacked by heavily armed men. A mob subsequently attacked alleged illegal miners. “The fact that illegal mining is now very visible is in my mind a good outcome,” said Froneman of the outcry. “We should declare a state of emergency and should involve the military,” he stated, adding that intervention was required at a high level owing to the sophisticated nature of illegal mining activities. “We have requested special assistance from the police. It won’t be solved by dealing with the obvious issue of illegal miners; we have to address the syndicates and deal with this internationally, and stop focusing on individuals that are abused at the lower end of illegal mining,” Froneman maintained. He went on to comment: “It happens because of a lack of jobs. It’s a poverty issue. It is the manifestation of lower economic growth. It is a big issue and much bigger than the poor illegal miner we continue to arrest”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Motsoaledi says Lesotho special permits will also end soon Bloomberg News reports that SA plans to end most of the special permits for foreigners as it revamps its immigration policies to manage an influx of economic migrants. A special dispensation allowing Zimbabweans to live and work in SA will expire at the end of this year, while similar concessions for about 90,000 people from neighbouring Lesotho will expire in 2023 and won’t be extended. Permits for Angolan residents were terminated in August 2021. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi noted that SA was not “targeting” any particular nationality. He said many “economic migrants” abused the nation’s asylum provisions by falsifying reasons for leaving their countries and commented that implementing sovereign laws wasn’t xenophobic. SA is grappling with a 33.9% unemployment rate and the presence of foreigners in SA has sparked resentment among some locals, who see them as competitors for scarce jobs, health care and housing, and the country has been wracked by intermittent xenophobic violence. A video on social media this week showed Phophi Ramathuba, head of the health department in Limpopo, reprimanding a Zimbabwean patient for seeking treatment in SA. Residents from the neighbouring country put a “huge strain” on Limpopo’s medical facilities, she said on the clip. Ramathuba later clarified that nobody would be denied medical service, while reiterating that she stood by her comments. The SA Medical Association said it “deplores the manner” Ramathuba chose to address the challenges facing the health care system. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by S'thembile Cele at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public Works DG Samuel Vukela finally bows to pressure, takes early retirement City Press reports that Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPW&I) director-general (DG) Samuel Vukela has finally bowed to pressure and has taken early retirement. Vukela, who was last month reinstated to his post following a protracted battle with his political head, DPW&I Minister Patricia de Lille, this month requested to be released on early retirement. He had just returned to work earlier this month, but is now on his way out. De Lille said that after applying her mind, she had accepted Vukela’s request. She wrote to Vukela: “I will further instruct the human resources chief directorate to commence forthwith with the necessary exit processes related to the granting of this request and to expedite this matter to be concluded by the indicated date effective end-August 2022. Let me take the opportunity to wish you well in your retirement from the public service.” In July, the Presidency and the DPW&I lost a court attempt aimed at preventing Vukela from returning to work after failing to overturn a General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council ruling, which had ordered that he returned to work immediately. The bargaining council found earlier this year that De Lille had unfairly suspended Vukela in July 2020. This was after allegations surfaced of excessive spending on the funerals of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former cabinet minister Zola Skweyiya and former chief of state protocol Billy Modise at a cost of R76 million to the government. Since 2020, Vukela had been at home while earning R1.8 million per annum. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Abram Mashego at City Press (subscriber access only)
National Lotteries chief operations officer Phillemon Letwaba resigns under a cloud GroundUp reports that embattled National Lotteries Commission (NLC) chief operations officer Phillemon Letwaba has resigned with immediate effect, just weeks before he was due to appear before a disciplinary hearing to answer charges of abusing his position to enrich himself and his family. The board of the NLC has yet to accept Letwaba’s sudden resignation. Letwaba’s resignation on Wednesday came just days after the sudden resignation of NLC Commissioner Charlotte Thabang Mampane. GroundUp had revealed that her luxury North West golf course home was paid for from a Lottery grant to build a school in Limpopo. Letwaba, who was suspended for a third time earlier this month, was facing charges in terms of the Lotteries Act, which included receiving financial benefits from recipients of Lottery grants. He was controversially cleared of similar charges when he faced a disciplinary hearing in March. A decision was taken by the new NLC board to charge him again after receiving legal advice that there were problems with the manner in which the hearing had been conducted. The new hearing had been due to begin earlier this month, but was delayed after Letwaba’s lawyer objected to the lawyer appointed to chair the hearing. The new hearing, before another chairperson, was scheduled to begin early next month. Letwaba’s contract at the NLC was due to expire at the end of November. Letwaba previously denied the allegations against him, including in a previous disciplinary hearing. He is suing GroundUp for defamation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Raymond Joseph at GroundUp. Lees ook, Nóg ʼn grootkop by lotery bedank, by Maroela Media
'Why doesn't Kieswetter want us?' SARS whistleblower asks as she bemoans appeal to her reinstatement Fin24 reports that two days after winning her case to be reinstated at the SA Revenue Service (SARS), whistleblower Hope Mashilo says she is baffled by the tax agency's decision to appeal the ruling. On Monday, the Johannesburg Labour Court rebuked the tax agency for how it had treated Mashilo and her colleague Tshebeletso Seremane. Mashilo had previously been an executive in the agency's workplace wellness programme, while Seremane position had been that of executive: integrity and organisational culture. The two were dismissed by SARS during the tenure of its former commissioner Tom Moyane for resisting a company-wide restructuring that forced them to accept lower-paid positions. The court heard that as "domain specialists", the previously productive SARS employees spent their time reading newspapers as they had nothing to do. When Mashilo and Seremane persisted in questioning the utility of their new jobs and how they fitted into the agency's grand restructuring, they were dismissed. Mashilo went so far as to send a complaint to then-minister of finance, Nhlanhla Nene, expressing her concerns. The court ruled that hers was a protected disclosure and dismissed the "meritless" argument that she was not a bona fide whistleblower. As she was gearing up to return to SARS's head office, news broke that the revenue service was seeking to appeal the ruling. Mashilo said she was still trying to understand what, exactly, the agency wanted to appeal. In a short statement, SARS said the court had made a "material error in arriving at its conclusion", without providing more information. In spite of how she has been treated, Mashilo says she wishes to again work at the revenue collection agency. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Taxi operators torch four buses, municipal vehicle in retaliation for Cape Town’s ‘Amaphela clampdown News24 reports that taxi operators in Nyanga targeted Golden Arrow buses on Thursday morning after a City of Cape Town clampdown in the area on illegal sedan taxi operators, known as "Amaphela", sparked violent protests. Protesters set at least five vehicles alight, including four Golden Arrow buses and one City vehicle. According to locals, the violence was linked to taxi operators being unhappy with an operation aimed at impounding taxis and illegal operators in the area. Golden Arrow spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed that three of the four buses had been petrol bombed. "In the first incident, no injuries were reported, but our driver suffered head injuries in the second. The information available to us currently would seem to link this to a traffic operation earlier today in the area where several taxis were impounded," she reported. Dyke-Beyer called on the authorities to fulfil their mandate “to ensure the safety of our drivers and passengers." Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) secretary Dumisani Qwebe said they would engage with taxi associations to help stop the violence. Western Cape Mobility MEC Daylin Mitchell condemned the attacks. DA provincial spokesperson on transport Ricardo Mackenzie said the damages were estimated at close to R10 million. "Not only does this further strain commuters and our transport infrastructure, but also proves that lawlessness and zero accountability in our justice system are allowed to prevail," he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Lees ook, Golden Arrow loop weer deur in Kaapstad, by Maroela Media
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