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 roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 2 September 2022.
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Cosatu considering radical policies to curtail foreign employee numbers Sunday World reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is discussing radical policies that will significantly curtail the employment of foreign nationals in the country by compelling companies to limit such employment to 20% to 30%. The emotive immigration issue is shaping up to be one of the divisive issues dominating public discourse as the governing ANC gears up for the crucial December national conference and the 2024 elections. Cosatu’s policy position is being sponsored by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which wants a new law promulgated to introduce a quota on employment of foreign nationals. Other radical changes the union is pushing for include imposing hefty fines on companies that hire immigrants who do not have scarce skills. This resolution on the employment of foreign nationals is one of the key policy changes that the federation wants to realise as it gears up for its 14th conference to be held at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand from 26 to 29 September. The NUM recommends that the discussion over the hiring of foreign nationals should be conducted by Cosatu through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). The proposal comes as tensions between locals and foreign nationals over jobs and healthcare have reached boiling point. On Thursday, police had to use a stun grenade to separate EFF and Operation Dudula members, who clashed outside the Kalafong Hospital in Atteridgeville, over differences on illegal foreign immigration. For two weeks Dudula members had been camping at the hospital, blocking foreign nationals from accessing the facility. This came on the heels of a video that went viral in which Limpopo MEC for health Phophi Ramathuba was filmed berating an apparent illegal Zimbabwean national for seeking medical treatment at a local Bela-Bela medical facility. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by George Matlala on page 6 of Sunday World of 4 September 2022 Operation Dudula calls off protests at Kalafong hospital after ‘fruitful’ meeting with health minister Daily Maverick reports that on Thursday Health Minister Joe Phaahla visited the Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Pretoria where he met the hospital management and the leadership of Operation Dudula. Since early August, a group of Operation Dudula members had been holding anti-foreigner protests outside the hospital, with reports of patients and staff being intimidated. Operation Dudula had blocked the entrance to the hospital and turned away patients whom they believed were undocumented foreign nationals, based on the colour of their skin and the language they spoke. On Thursday, a violent scuffle broke out outside the hospital between members of Operation Dudula and members of the EFF, because of their contrasting views on migrants. This was not the first time the two groups have clashed. While the EFF butted heads with Dudula Operatives outside, Phaahla met with the Tshwane leadership of the organisation inside the hospital. Following what Phaahla called a “fruitful” meeting with the leadership of Operation Dudula at the hospital, the minister said Dudula’s leadership had agreed to stop protesting and would engage in further consultations with the government over the grievances it had raised. Some of the concerns raised by the group included “pressure on the hospital”, “long queues”, and “allegations of people stealing medicine and corruption”, which Dudula blamed on foreign nationals. “We have agreed that these are matters which are very important and which we can address without any need for picketing and demonstrations. On the basis of that, we have agreed on the process of engagement locally with the hospital management of Kalafong, but also at a provincial level with the leadership of Gauteng health,” said Phaahla. Operation Dudula’s Pat Mokgalusi said Dudula was satisfied with the engagement they had had with the minister. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Victoria O’Regan & Michelle Banda at Daily Maverick. Read too, Dudula Movement calls off hospital pickets, at SowetanLive
Zimbabwean Exemption Permits, due to terminate at end-December, extended for six months BL Premium reports that Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs), which were due to expire at the end of the year, by a further six months. But he has warned that there will be no further extensions. The decision will provide Zimbabweans living in SA on the basis of such permits more time in which to apply for other types of visas or permits. The decision to extend the permit was made on the recommendation of the departmental advisory committee led by Cassius Lubisi which was appointed to assess visa applications lodged by affected Zimbabwean nationals. The committee met on Thursday. “Another factor considered by the minister is that few Zimbabwean nationals have thus far applied for visas and/or waivers,” a statement issued by the DHA statement indicated. The minister is facing a legal challenge against his decision to terminate the exemption permits without consulting those affected and without giving adequate notice to Zimbabweans who have lived and worked for many years in SA on the basis of the exemption permit, which has been in existence in one form or another since 2009. 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. Based on reports by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) and at Moneyweb. Lees ook, Zimbabwiërs in SA se permitte verleng, by Maroela Media
Uber Eats suspends deliveries in some parts of Soweto as drivers are at risk TimesLive reports that Uber Eats SA will be suspending deliveries in some parts of Soweto from Monday due to driver safety risks. Head of operations Charles Mhango said the company prioritised the safety of users of the platform and had “engaged rigorously with delivery people through roundtables and surveys to better understand the realities they face on the ground when it comes to safety.” Based on those insights, the company said it had to put a pause on certain areas for delivery services. Merchants in those areas will continue to be fully operational on the Uber Eats app and eaters can still place orders, however, these will be limited to pickups. Mhango said drivers faced unique challenges on the road and those on two wheels were particularly vulnerable. He indicated: “We have various safety features tailored for them available at the touch of a button. These include a helmet detection and safety checklist, emergency contacts and an emergency button, which dispatches private security to the delivery person in the event of an incident. We also have partner injury protection provided by AIG Insurance to help support delivery people with the costs associated with injury while on the road.” The company hopes new safety interventions will improve conditions so deliveries can be reinstated. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Phathu Luvhengo at BusinessLive Cele must ensure cops 'adequately resourced' to combat police killings, says Ramaphosa, even as police budget is cut News24 reports that delivered the keynote address at the SAPS National Commemoration Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa tasked his Police Minister, Bheki Cele, to ensure that the police were “adequately resourced to prevent, combat, and investigate police killings". He said police officers represented the authority of the State, and any attack on them was a direct attack on the State and an attack on its citizens. "Minister Cele, I want to urge that your ministry drives the process of ensuring that the SAPS is adequately resourced to prevent, combat, and investigate police killings. All the perpetrators of these attacks on police must be brought to book,” Ramaphosa said. He added that to win the war against crime and police killings “we need to build healthy, stronger relations between the police and the communities they serve." Notwithstanding Ramaphosa's remarks that Cele should ensure that the police were adequately resourced to combat police killings, his administration has cut the policing budget for another year running. The police's total budget for the 2022/23 financial year is R100.695 billion, compared to the previous year's R100.474 billion. However, despite the nominal increase of about R225 million, the allocation in real terms decreased by R4.1 billion. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24. . Read too, SAPS officers who die in the line of duty pay the ultimate price, says Ramaphosa, at EWN City of Cape Town offers R100,000 reward for info about attacks on cops, municipal worker News24 reports that the City of Cape Town is offering an R100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those who targeted police officials and municipality workers. The reward was offered after two off-duty police constables were shot at traffic lights in Khayelitsha on Friday while travelling in a marked vehicle. In other incidents, City staff members and vehicles were targeted recently when taxi-related violence in Nyanga and surrounding areas reached boiling point on Friday. Seven people were arrested in connection with the violence. City mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith, said authorities were aware of claims that people in the taxi industry were collecting funds to hire "hitmen" to target police officers and other law enforcement services employees. Meantime, police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said a 72-hour activation plan had been put in place to ensure the arrest of the gunmen who attacked the police constables, aged 29 and 30, on Friday night. "The two [officers] stopped at the traffic lights in the marked vehicle and were shot at. They are both being treated for injuries in hospital," Van Wyk indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Lees ook, Twee Kaapse polisiebeamptes geskiet, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
NICD cautions that wastewater data indicate an 'impending Covid-19 wave' News24 reports that in its weekly wastewater surveillance report released on Friday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said an increase in respect of the week ending 23 August of Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in certain wastewater treatment facilities might indicate an impending wave. It reported that the increases were being seen in Daspoort in Tshwane, Goudkoppies in Johannesburg, Hartebeesfontein in Ekurhuleni, Sterkwater in Bloemfontein and the central wastewater plant in eThekwini. "These facilities will be closely monitored. The Omicron variant and its sublineages are present in wastewater across the Gauteng province,” the NICD said. Progressive Health Forum convener Dr Aslam Dasoo said although the picture was still unclear, a potential resurgence might be in the offing as early as October. He indicated that the next wave was likely to be no worse than the fifth, because no new variant of significance had been identified. “Things will become clearer over the next two or three weeks, but there is no cause for alarm and certainly no need for any new restrictions at this stage. The most important thing for the government to do is to maintain the robust surveillance by the Medical Research Council and the NICD and to redouble its vaccination rollout, especially focused on the over-50s," said Dasoo. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Lees ook, Ál meer tekens van naderende virusvlaag, by Maroela Media
Saftu calls on civil servants to prepare for strike after rejecting state’s 3% wage hike EWN reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) on Friday called on all public servants to prepare for a wage strike. Rebuffing a 3% wage hike as well as the state’s offer of a non-pensionable gratuity, the unions are demanding an 8% increase. Saftu said accepting the offer would mean workers would have lost real increases to their wages and pensions for three consecutive years since 2020. Treasury has been under pressure to cut government’s wage bill. Saftu said the cuts would result in police officers remaining understaffed with broken cars. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Eyewitness News at EWN
Teba Trust Fund trustees unhappy with R80m sale of Ubank to African Bank Business Times reports that trustees of troubled Ubank, which is under Reserve Bank curatorship, have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the decision to sell a majority stake to African Bank for R80m. Ubank was placed under curatorship in May after its capital adequacy ratio fell to about 3%. Zola Beseti of KPMG was appointed the bank’s curator. Mineworkers have a stake in the bank via the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents them through the Teba Trust Fund. African Bank announced last week that it would buy a majority stake in Ubank’s disclosed assets and liabilities for R80m and take on the lender’s employees and depositors. But a source close to Ubank said it was unfair and uncompetitive for the curator to name African Bank as the successful bidder. “African Bank and Ubank are doing the same thing. They operate close to each other ... where there is African Bank there is a Ubank branch in front. If you are doing the same thing, then obviously you are going to retrench,” he said in reference to the future of the bank’s 700 employees. Teba Trust Fund chair and former NUM president Joseph Montisetse said they were unhappy with the acquisition and had agreed to appoint a financial expert to look into the matter before they decided on a way forward. He said the trustees did not understand how African Bank could acquire Ubank for just R80m when it was worth more than R4bn. The trustees further wanted clarity on what the acquisition means for depositors’ money. NUM deputy general secretary Mpho Phakedi said the trustees would also engage African Bank over the acquisition. The Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines), which jointly administers the Teba Trust Fund with the NUM, said it had a meeting with the curator last Friday to update the trust on the choice of African Bank and the trust would convene a board meeting to deliberate on the matter and then pronounce its views on the transaction. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Worker-controlled Arnot OpCo fights bid by its joint partner to place mine into business rescue Business Times reports that directors of coal producer Arnot OpCo want the Johannesburg High Court to dismiss a business rescue application by its joint venture partner Salungano (formerly Wescoal), which last month approached the court to have the coal mine in Mpumalanga placed in business rescue. Salungano cited a liquidity crunch and corporate governance concerns, including the mismanagement of funds. But, according to the directors, the company has secured R250m in funding to keep afloat and pay its creditors. In responding papers, Arnot OpCo director Paul Kasongo disputed that the mine was in financial distress. He accused Salungano of “unilaterally” refusing to comply with its obligations to fund Arnot OpCo in terms of the memorandum of incorporation.” The joint venture was on paper supposed to be a model for worker-controlled mine ownership. It was formed in 2015 after Exxaro Resources exited the mine, leaving workers facing retrenchment. Eight former employees opted to revive the mine, forming a company called Innovators Resources, which entered into the Arnot joint venture with Salungano. Salungano took a 50% stake, Innovators Resources took a 25% stake and some 1,000 retrenched staff held the remaining 25%. But the parties were soon at each other’s throats, with Salungano accusing Arnot OpCo CEO Bontle Aphane – a former Exxaro project engineer – and other directors of flouting corporate governance principles and running the mine into the ground. A preliminary report by Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo found that the executives had mismanaged company funds. It uncovered irregular appointments, questionable salary increases, abuse of the shift allowance system and misuse of rehabilitation funds. On Friday, the court reserved judgment in the application for business rescue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Arnot Opco mine fights Wescoal, on page 16 of Sunday World of 4 September 2022 Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Exit strategy for SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux likely to be revealed soon Sunday Times writes that reports of Jurie Roux’s demise as SA Rugby Union (Saru) CEO have long been exaggerated, but his departure now appears to be moving out of the realm of fiction. Apparently, the rugby organising body is poised to reveal a parting of ways with their long-serving but embattled CEO. Saru had been under pressure to arrive at a definitive decision on Roux, who last December in an arbitration appeal tribunal ruling was ordered to pay the University of Stellenbosch R37m. The university accused him of making unauthorised payments to Maties rugby club while he was a senior director of finance at the university and chairman of the club. This activity predated his arrival at Saru in September 2010. But, Roux has been embroiled in a drawn-out legal tussle with the university, which has cast a negative light on his employer. Saru opted to take a passive approach towards their CEO as his highly questionable conduct occurred before he joined the organisation. But in May, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa called for the matter to be resolved with urgency. It would appear an exit strategy has now been brokered, with Roux potentially staying on in a bridging or handover period. “It will definitely be announced soon,” said a Saru insider. Multiple sources have indicated a decision is due soon, one even suggesting it will be next Saturday. “I’m not sure about the terms. Does he stay on for six months, or perhaps at the conclusion of the CVC deal? There are a few things that have to be resolved. To be fair, his exit has been on the cards,” said the source. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liam Del Carme at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). Read too, SARU boss forced out, at City Press (subscriber access only)
Culture of corruption still bedevils Eskom, De Ruyter laments BusinessLive reports that according to Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, a residue of corruption remains at the state-owned power utility as it tries to claw its way back from the damage caused by state capture. He indicated on Thursday that Eskom had uncovered active syndicates which operated at the utility’s power stations, resulting in it procuring equipment at inflated prices, which impacted on its balance sheet. As an example of the petty corruption, Eskom paid R80,000 for one knee guard, which retailed for R90. Corruption permeated the organisation “because it is deemed to be OK”, De Ruyter lamented. Eskom, which supplies 90% of the country’s power, is struggling under a R400bn debt burden, making it unable to afford to adequately repair and maintain its ageing power stations. De Ruyter said he had received emails from suppliers saying middle men were at times adding 30% to invoices on equipment that was being delivered by original manufacturers. But, De Ruyter said that adding more controls could slow down Eskom’s public procurement of specialised equipment and that “as soon as you implement controls, inventive criminals very quickly find ways around it”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive. Lees ook, André de Ruyter: ‘Korrupsie duur voort by Eskom’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Only one in five of Prasa train stations still functional BL Premium reports that SA’s passenger rail and freight and operators are spending billions of rand a year on security to clamp down on theft and vandalism of infrastructure which have threatened, at times, a near economic shutdown of the country. According to Hishaam Emeran, acting CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), the effects of economic sabotage on infrastructure owned by Prasa has led to the “near total decimation of the [rail] network.” The agency experiences ongoing rail and cable theft and vandalism of its stations and substations. Of a total network of 2,300km of signalling cable, 1,000km had been stolen, including 100km of rail, and out of 590 stations only 129 were still functional, Emeran said. “In 2018/2019 we were operating on 40 service corridors, now we are operating on only 15,” he reported. This has led to the number of passengers carried declining from 500 million a year to 17 million. Prasa is having to spend R7bn a year on security. The total cost to the economy of the deterioration in the operator’s network and service delivery is estimated at R15bn to R20bn per year. Collaboration between Transnet and law enforcement had led to more than 1,200 suspects being arrested, but the conviction rate was low, and the legal processes very slow, Derby lamented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Denene Erasmus at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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