In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 26 August 2022.
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Transnet and its two unions declare wage deadlock, possible strike looms Reuters reports that Transnet on Friday announced a deadlock in its wage negotiations with two trade unions, raising the prospect of a strike that could further cripple the state-owned logistics company and impact the economy. In a statement, Transnet said a wage dispute had been formally declared with the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) after negotiations which commenced in May. Transnet indicated that the unions had rejected its offer of a 1.5% increase on employees' pay, excluding medical and housing allowances. "Their position remains unchanged from the previous rounds of wage negotiations, with a demand for a 12% increase on annual guaranteed pay, as well as other demands which add up to a total increase in labour costs of 21%," Transnet advised. UNTU’s Cobus van Vuuren said they had rejected Transnet's offer as it was way below the inflation rate, recorded at 7.8% year-on-year in July. He explained that the formal declaration of a dispute allowed a 30-day "cooling off period" for further negotiations with Transnet. Satawu described Transnet's offer as an "insult", but said it remained open to further negotiations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Industrial Development Corporation staff on verge of picket action as grievances over salary increases take the spotlight Saturday Star reports that staff and management at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) will be sitting around the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) table on Monday in the hopes of finding a solution to avoid a planned picket by disgruntled workers. At the centre of employees’ grievances is the issue of a 5.8% salary increase offer, which the workers have rejected. An IDC employee said part of their dispute was a once-off financial relief for staff, but there were also complex underlying issues that had led to the dispute. The staffer claimed: “We haven’t received a performance bonus in 3-4 years. For the financial year 2020/2021 as per our financials on our website, it shows we made a profit not just as a group but as IDC itself, better than in 2019/2020. The employee added that staff felt they were “neglected, unappreciated, overworked and somewhat operating under fear.” If the planned picket goes ahead, it will apparently take place during lunch hours in order to not disrupt operations. Head of Corporate Affairs at the IDC, Tshepo Ramodibe, said management was aware of the potential industrial action and remained committed to resolving outstanding issues. Workers will hold a staff meeting on Tuesday to give staff picketing rules and to inform them of when picketing will start. The employee said if the ongoing negotiations remained fruitless, they would proceed to get permission for a full industrial strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Norman Cloete at Saturday Star
Sibanye-Stillwater engaged in wage negotiations at its platinum operations Business Times reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater, whose SA gold mines were rocked by a three-month strike, flagged a risk of supply if employees embarked on industrial action at its platinum group metals (PGM) operations. The group indicated on Thursday: “Though many of the SA PGM producers have concluded wage negotiations, any social disruption or industrial action could further affect supply.” Sibanye is the only PGM producer that has yet to sign a wage deal. Its peer Anglo American Platinum struck a five-year wage deal with 90% of organised labour after five meetings in May, Impala Platinum signed a five-year wage agreement a month later with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and Northam signed a five-year deal at its Zondereinde mine a year ago. Sibanye’s Richard Stewart advised that Sibanye had formally commenced wage negotiations at its PGM operations at the end of July and into early August. Stewart commented: “We publicly heard from the Amcu that they would like to conclude these negotiations in four meetings, and I think that is something we would agree with if possible. From our perspective we would like to see these concluded by the end of the third quarter.” Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman said employees wanted a five-year wage agreement “and we hope the unions will take note of what their members want”. Stewart said longer wage agreements would bring more stability, but it was important to recognise that “we cannot pay a premium for a long agreement.” He added: “We are in a volatile inflationary environment. To be fair to all stakeholders including employees, if you are considering a longer-term agreement, that needs to be flexible to cater for an inflationary environment [.] in the future, and that works both ways.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only) Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Security guard shot in the face at filling station in Bushbuckridge, robbers flee with cash TimesLive reports that police in Mpumalanga have launched a manhunt for five armed robbers who shot a security guard, who was collecting cash at a filling station at Garelane in Bushbuckridge on Friday afternoon, and made off with the money. The guard entered the kiosk alone shortly before 2pm while his driver waited outside. As the guard was about to exit the kiosk with the money trunk, one of the suspects shot him in the face. “The suspect then grabbed the money trunk with an undisclosed [sum of] cash. He was joined by the other four suspects and ran to the road towards Shatale where they disappeared,” police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala said. The guard was immediately transported to hospital where he is receiving medical attention. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SowetanLive. Lees ook, Wag in gesig geskiet tydens roof, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Construction sector cautious even as jobs grew in the second quarter Business Times reports that the construction sector added 104,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2022, but industry leaders say it is still too early to talk of a rebound since the number of people employed remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the industry was one of four that added more than 100,000 jobs quarter on quarter, and helped take the total number of new jobs to 648,000 in the three months to end-June. Gregory Mofokeng, CEO of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, said the sector was clawing back losses after being hit hard during the Covid-19 lockdown, when several thousand workers were laid off. “The context is that we are recovering jobs we have lost. We are not at a point where we are saying we are adding new jobs. It is a reversal of fortunes just to normalise,” he noted. Mofokeng added that the construction industry had been in recession and had continued to lose jobs even though the overall economy was showing signs of recovery. As such, the numbers were nowhere near where they should be. “A lot of jobs that are being created are entry-level, and the reason for that is many throughout the difficult period decided to keep skilled employees. You will not see a lot of skilled jobs being created, the jobs are coming in at the lower end of the ladder – it shows the intensity of the programme,” Mofokeng pointed out. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has previously said that underspending by government departments was a significant contributor to the lack of jobs. Mofokeng said the council was seeing a rise in projects headed by state-owned companies, led by Transnet, and Eskom. SA’s metros and public works were also increasing infrastructure projects. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
ANC using migrant ploy as an ‘escape route’, political experts reckon The Citizen writes that some political experts reckon that the ANC’s sudden populist approach towards illegal migrants is an escape route because it has failed on immigration policy. The governing party is under pressure from the opposition and civil society groups opposed to illegal immigrants accessing free basic services and jobs in SA while authorities do nothing about it. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has admitted the ANC has no immigration framework and that, since 1994, all laws and regulations have been passed without such a framework. The experts were commenting on last week’s controversial statements by MEC for health in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who accused illegal foreign nationals of abusing the province’s healthcare system. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga commented: “It’s not the government’s policy to take a populist stance on an immigration issue. The MEC’s attitude is a strategy by the ANC to be seen to be siding with the people, while knowing that the source of the problem is a bad policy and declining capacity in state institutions. It’s a great escape route for government to distance itself from the problem it caused.” The ANC has been under mounting pressure from ActionSA, whose leader, Herman Mashaba, has taken a hard line on illegal migrants. A similar stance was taken by the Patriotic Alliance and African Transformation Movement, while Operation Dudula activists have engaged in street protests. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Eric Naki at The Citizen (subscriber access only) I was right and won’t apologise over remarks about Zimbabweans abusing health system, says defiant Limpopo health MEC Sunday Times reports that Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba has flatly rejected calls for her to apologise or resign following a video in which she berated a Zimbabwean patient who had sought surgery at a public hospital. She said she would not say sorry for taking out her frustration about the influx of foreigners on the patient. And she defended her encounter as appropriate, saying she only berated the patient after she had received treatment. Ramathuba said calls for her axing came “from the middle class, who do not use public hospitals”, and that her views had the support of the majority of Limpopo citizens. “As a leader you are leading a constituency and you must listen to that. The constituency I represent is suffering. I am the voice of the 91% of Limpopo citizens using public health care and if they say I must go, I will go. But I cannot be told by the less than 9% who know they are comfortable where to go,” she asserted. Ramathuba, a qualified medical doctor and rising star in the ANC, said she would be steadfast in her mission to deal with “illegal migrants” from Zimbabwe who crossed the border to seek medical care in Limpopo. The MEC said she had raised the issue within ANC structures and that the ANC had adopted her stance as policy, viz.: “Those who say this issue has never been discussed are lying. Go and read ANC policies and the NHI [National Health Insurance], these issues are there. We just do not want to grab the bull by the horn and implement our own resolutions.” However health experts canvassed on the matter said there was a tendency to “scapegoat’’ foreigners and blame them for the failings of the SA health system. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande AmaShabalala at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi and Gauteng health CFO Lerato Madyo suspended amid R850m tender probe IOL reports that the Gauteng government has placed the chief financial officer of the provincial Department of Health and the chief executive officer of the Tembisa tertiary hospital on precautionary suspension, effective from 26 August. Tembisa hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi and CFO Lerato Madyo face serious allegations pertaining to the improper procurement and payment of service providers at Tembisa hospital. The SIU is probing dodgy tenders to the extent of over R850m. It was reported last week that the hospital had procured skinny jeans valued at R500,000 in June last year. But in a radio interview, Mthunzi denied that the hospital had purchased skinny jeans, and said they had purchased sutures instead, which were used by surgeons at the hospital. He said the wrong material code had been used during the procurement process. The Gauteng provincial government said the two senior officials were being placed on suspension to ensure that their presence in the office did not impede the investigations. It is believed that the R500,000 dodgy purchase was one of many which former health department chief director of financial accounting Babita Deokaran was trying to expose in the public healthcare sector. She died in a hail of bullets outside her Johannesburg South home in August last year. Six suspects have been arrested in connection with Deokaran's death. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisipho Bhuta at IOL. Lees ook, Hoës van GP-gesondheidsdepartement tydelik gepos, by Maroela Media Under fire Gauteng health department CFO fights back City Press reports that despite being put on suspension on Friday, Gauteng health department chief financial officer (CFO) Lerato Madyo is not going down without a fight and has compiled a 20-page report responding to the allegations against her. The spotlight has been on Madyo since the exposure of wide-scale fraud in the department and the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran last year. Madyo is accused of not acting on a report into possible fraudulent payments from Tembisa Hospital. In her report, she said that the alleged R850 million reported as having been fraudulently paid out by the hospital was misleading. She argued that she was not involved in the payment of suppliers or supply chain management. Despite her explanation, Madyo was served with a suspension letter on Friday. Madyo was ordered to surrender her work equipment and not to set foot in the office until further notice. Premier David Makhura has also instituted a forensic investigation into the matter. Gauteng health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said Madyo’s report was inconsequential as she had already been suspended. “Premier Makhura’s office has started with the proceedings of the case,” Modiba pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Norman Masungwini at City Press (subscriber access only) Former DAFF director-general and CFO face fraud charges The Star reports that the former Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) director-general (DG) and the department’s former chief financial officer (CFO) are facing charges of fraud regarding an alleged irregular tender apparently worth R65 million. Lawyers for former DG Michael Mlengana and former CFO Jacob Hlatshwayo made a brief appearance last Monday at the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town on their behalf. The matter was postponed to October. The exact charges facing the two accused remain sketchy, apparently because the charge sheet has yet to be finalised. Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk could only confirm that the Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit was investigating a fraud case and that “two suspects were charged, and the case is running in court”. Mlengana and Hlatshwayo were arrested and charged with fraud at Cape Town Central police station a few months ago, but were later released with a warning. It is believed that the charges are related to a tender awarded for the fencing of the Kalk Bay and Hout Bay harbours in Cape Town, which through years of neglect had become hubs of criminal activity and vulnerable to poaching. Mlengana, who joined the DAFF as DG in 2016, said he viewed the charge against him as a counter-attack by some of his former colleagues, whom he had previously charged in connection with “abalone and processes or fruitless and wasteful expenditure and all those types of things that I found wrong (when he joined the department)”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongani Hans on page 4 of The Star of 26 August 2022 Ramaphosa authorises SIU probe into alleged corruption and maladministration at NSFAS IOL reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been authorised to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and recover any financial losses. Under Proclamation R.88 of 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to launch a investigation in relation to two functions of the organisation and also recover money lost by the state as a result of the corruption. The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1 April 2016 and 26 August 2022. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the first part of the investigation would look into the scheme’s finances, while the second part would look into the allocation of loans, bursaries and any other funding payable to students in terms of the provisions of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act of 1999. The SIU’s investigations will also look into unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the NSFAS or the state, including the causes of maladministration. They will also investigate any unlawful or improper conduct by employees or officials of the NSFAS or the service providers in question, their employees or any other person or entity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisipho Bhuta at IOL. Lees ook, SOE kom vir NSFAS, by Maroela Media Probe by SIU into NSFAS long overdue, says Nehawu EWN reports that in the view of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU’s) probe into the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is long overdue. The union has welcomed the SIU investigation in terms of a presidential proclamation six years in the making. The SIU will probe the management of NSFAS finances and look into the allocation of loans and bursaries. Nehawu said glaring corruption at Nsfas has compromised the higher education sector and stifled access to education for thousands of students. The union believes corruption is directly responsible for some students' lack of funding, housing, and academic exclusion. "As Nehawu we have been in the forefront over the years, fighting the scourge of management, maladministration and corruption at Nsfas which has had a direct bearing on the poor and the needy students and especially those of the working class," said spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi. The SIU said it would also investigate any unlawful conduct by employees of the scheme as well as service providers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Veronica Mokhoali at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Attempted cover-up after sex worker drugged and robbed senior police officer at his home Sunday Independent reports that police top brass are trying to cover up for a major-general who allegedly took a sex worker to his house for a night of passion where she allegedly drugged him, ransacked his home and stole his service firearm, bank cards, cellphone and laptop with sensitive information. The general from crime intelligence went to Villieria police station in Pretoria on 6 August to open a case of housebreaking and robbery. He allegedly told police that he was robbed by armed suspects at “around 04:06 to 04:13” in the morning while he was sitting in a car with a friend and that the “suspects entered premises from an empty house next door.” But he allegedly failed to disclose that he had brought a woman to his house while his wife was away and that she drugged him before ransacking his house. “The laptop and the tablet stolen contained classified information including crime intelligence budget as well as some of the police informers’ details,” a senior police officer claimed on Saturday. Sources within the police said a crime intelligence officer who was part of the unit investigating “the housebreaking and robbery” at the General’s house, was allegedly removed from the case to silence him after he recovered the stolen items. “They are now trying to charge the investigating offer with extortion claiming that he tried to blackmail the General after he allegedly interviewed the sex worker who confessed to the robbery and drugging,” another officer claimed. “This case was taken from the initial investigator and given to crime intelligence in Gauteng to make sure that the culprit is protected and the matter is covered up,” the source alleged. The policeman involved refused to answer any questions and referred all the questions to the police spokesperson. The Independent Police Union of SA (IPUSA) has called on the national commissioner to suspend the general “with immediate effect and allow investigations to take place”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mzilikazi Wa Afrika at Sunday Independent
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