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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Eskom recovers from pension fund R30m it paid in for Brian Molefe BL Premium reports that Eskom has recovered the R30m unlawfully paid to its pension fund in 2016 for former CEO Brian Molefe’s benefit. According to the state-owned power utility, the North Gauteng High Court in July reaffirmed a 2018 high court judgment that had reviewed and set aside an early retirement agreement between Molefe and Eskom in 2016. In terms of that agreement, Eskom paid about R30m to the Eskom Pension & Provident Fund (EPPF) to boost Molefe’s early retirement benefits. In July, Judge Norman Davis of the North Gauteng High Court confirmed the 2018 high court judgment that the pension fund should repay the money to Eskom. Molefe stepped down as head of Eskom in November 2016, just 15 months into the job, after being implicated in a report on state capture by former public protector Thuli Madonsela. As part of his early retirement, Molefe elected to receive one-third of his pension benefits as a lump sum. Those benefits were realised through a payment of R30m by Eskom to the EPPF. But in the 2018 judgment, the court set aside Eskom’s decision to accept Molefe’s “early retirement”, as well as its decision to reinstate him as CEO. Judge Davis also ordered Molefe to repay the pension fund R9.8m, comprising an initial lump sum of about R7.8m, plus pension payments he received up to October 2019 and taxes of R2m that the fund had paid to SARS. The EPPF confirmed in a statement that the R30m had been repaid, but said it had not yet received the payment of nearly R10m from Molefe as he has sought leave to appeal the decision. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Denene Erasmus at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Eskom recovers the R30m it 'unlawfully' paid to former CEO Brian Molefe, at Engineering News. En ook, Eskom kry sy R30 miljoen terug, by Maroela Media
Three cops killed in Vereeniging on Wednesday after truck skips stop sign, drags police vehicle 500m News24 reports that three police officers died after their vehicle was hit by a truck in Vereeniging, Gauteng, on Wednesday morning. National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the officers were conducting crime prevention patrols at around 04:45 when a truck failed to stop at a four-way crossing. "The truck drove into the SAPS vehicle and dragged the said vehicle for at least 500m until it came to a standstill," Mathe reported. The three officers were declared dead on the scene. The truck driver was arrested and faces charges of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving. A week ago, a SA Police Service (SAPS) member died and another was left severely injured when an aircraft crashed at Rand Airport in Germiston. The two were Warrant Officer Willem Erasmus, who died, and the pilot, Captain Casper Swanepoel, who is receiving medical treatment for severe injuries. Four technicians, who provided helicopter maintenance, were also killed in the crash. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 Durban court employee injured by stray bullet in gang-related shooting TimesLive reports that there was pandemonium at the Durban Magistrate's Court on Wednesday when a court employee and a person accompanying two murder accused were injured in a gang-related shooting. The shooting occurred in Somtseu Road near a taxi and bus stop adjacent to the court. Several men, understood to be part of the Cartel gang from Wentworth, south of Durban, were walking towards the entrance before the start of a murder case when the occupants of a Kia Sportage pulled up beside them and opened fire. A 21-year-old man, who was with the two accused, was shot twice in the right elbow. As the men fled towards the court's entrance, bullets cut through the air, one of them clipping a court employee on his ankle. The 34-year-old was rushed to hospital. A police source alleged the incident stemmed from the bloody war between the Hollywood and Cartel gangs over drug turf in Wentworth. Shortly after the incident a meeting was held with court staff. Staff were furious they weren't notified about high-profile, 'sensitive and dangerous' appearance. A senior court official from the provincial security office said the case had not been pegged as high-profile. One court employee said that before the shooting a fight had broken out outside court 10 prior to the accused’s' appearance. “We had to call security to get extra police into our court. That shouldn't be the case,” the employee complained. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Orrin Singh & Mfundo Mkhize at TimesLive. Read too, Three injured after shooting outside Durban Magistrates’ Court, at The Citizen. En ook, Skote klap buite Durbanse hof, by Maroela Media Disgruntled pupil at Pietermaritzburg school allegedly sets teacher's car alight TimesLive reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education department has condemned an incident in which a pupil allegedly torched a vehicle belonging to a Northbury Park Secondary School teacher. The school is in the Northdale suburb of Pietermaritzburg. The department’s spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa, on Wednesday said a video of the incident had been brought to the department's attention. “We condemn this barbaric act. I have just spoken to the district director who will visit the school on Thursday morning to address the matter,” said Mthethwa. The video depicts the school's parking lot where three men are frantically trying to douse the raging flames. Fire extinguishers were used to put out the fire, but the car was already damaged. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the culprit is a grade 10 pupil who had earlier had a clash with the teacher. Mthethwa said such an incident had not been heard of before, adding that they were “shocked and disappointed”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mfundo Mkhize and view the video clip at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Compensation Fund audit for 2021-22 postponed until March 2023 so that matters from previous audits can be dealt with Cape Times reports that the auditing of the finances of the Compensation Fund (CF) for 2021-22 has been postponed until next year to allow the institution to deal with matters from audits of prior financial years. The Fund provides compensation to employees who are injured or contract diseases through the course of their employment. It is financed by levies paid by employers. “In order to make sure that the financial statements we prepare for the financial year ending March 2022 is accurate and are supported by documents, there was a request to postpone the audit. The Auditor General and the National Treasury were notified,” CF Commissioner Vuyo Mafata advised. Mafata said they would submit a proper audit report at the end of March 2023. He made the statement along with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) when he was briefing the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) this week on corrective measures regarding their finances. The CF and UIF have obtained disclaimers of audit opinions over many years. Mafata said Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi had approved the secondment of personnel from the private sector to assist with clean audit action and also deal with areas that did not attract relevant skills. Meanwhile, UIF commissioner Tebogo Maruping said the fund has a clean audit action plan aimed to make sure internal controls were preventative and detective. Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the funds would be called to give a progress report before the end of the year. He commented that unless people at the two entities got a keen appreciation of the gravity of the adverse impact their institutions had on the people who depended on them, things were not going to change. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at Cape Times
Putco workers vow to continue strike action, despite threat of termination The Citizen reports that Putco (Public Utility Transport Corporation) workers have vowed to continue striking for a salary increase and bonuses dating back to 2020, despite the bus company confirming it would be firing about 1,000 employees for the illegal strike. The employees parked their buses last week, demanding a 6% wage increase and their backpay. On Wednesday, bus drivers picketed outside the Soweto and Pretoria depots, and were given until 5pm to submit written submissions giving reasons as to why they should not be dismissed. Police presence was heavy as striking workers blocked management from exiting the premises. Many drivers apparently sent their written submissions before the deadline via email and other means because they were alarmed by the havoc taking place at the work premises. Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said the company would still be carrying out terminations as promised and confirmed receiving written submissions from some employees, as requested. Indicating that the company had obtained a court interdict, Xulu said: “We can confirm that operations are still disrupted by the employees embarking on an illegal strike. There are still blockades.” Another matter arose when passengers demanded refunds for their unused tags. One passenger said they used R800 a month for the bus tag and R200 a day on taxis. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphumelele Khumalo at The Citizen. See too, Putco bus drivers refuse to back down, at eNCA. And also, Putco workers’ strike hits commuters in the pocket, at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
March by protesting Durban Solid Waste workers along Berea Road on Wednesday over labour dispute The Mercury reports that dozens of protesting Durban Solid Waste (DSW) workers marched along Berea Road in Durban on Wednesday morning. A video of the protesters was shared on social media platforms in which they can be heard singing as they marched, with hooting vehicles behind them. A metro police van is also seen behind the protesters to monitor the situation. Metro police confirmed the presence of a large group of protesters on Berea Road. eThekwini Municipality deputy mayor Philani Mavundla said the city was not aware of a strike. According to a councillor, the protestors were from the Expanded Public Works Programme, some of whom were based in DSW. On Tuesday night, the city announced that there would be a temporary disruption in refuse collection and street sweeping in some areas “due to a labour dispute”. The following areas were said to be affected, namely uMlazi, Mayville, Berea South, Bellair, South Coast, Chatsworth South, Chatsworth North, and the Bluff. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Karen SinghThami Magubane at The Mercury
'Zama-zamas' are threatening tourism at Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga News24 reports that the picturesque mountainous area of Graskop in Mpumalanga draws in large numbers of tourists all year round as it is home to the iconic Bourke's Luck Potholes. However, a very present danger belies the serenity of the environment. Residents and staff in the surrounding area live in fear for their safety as ‘zama-zamas’ (illegal miners) dig for one of Graskop's other natural wonders, namely gold. The illegal miners who have descended on the area have been described as heavily armed. While scores of tourists capture the beautiful cylindrical holes and the water flowing in the Blyde and Treur rivers, zama-zamas conduct their illegal activities behind a small hill a few hundred metres away. The illegal miners sometimes work in broad daylight, with some visitors oblivious of their illicit activities, and return at night to blast the rock with explosives. A short distance from the potholes, another group of illegal miners has taken over a hiking trail, forcing officials to abandon all hiking activities over fears for the safety of their guests. Near the trail sits the defunct Bourke's Luck Old Mine, which has been closed for decades, but operations at an old shaft are in full swing. Several men were seen going inside the mine shaft carrying buckets and sacks on their heads, while another group of men were seen emerging. Near them stood a man carrying what resembled a rifle. But, Bourke's Luck Potholes is not the only area feeling the impact of illegal mining. "We are affected by illegal mining in most of our tourism areas," said Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s Mduduzi Vilakazi. "Tourists are no longer comfortable hiking," he claimed. Meanwhile, police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala moved to assure visitors that their safety was paramount. Mohlala said the province had deployed various specialised units and a government multi-faced approach to target illicit mining. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscriber access only) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Solidarity submits comments opposing proposed Higher Education Policy On Wednesday, Solidarity submitted comments on amendments to the Higher Education Policy proposed by the Department of Higher Education and Training earlier this year. According to the trade union, the proposed policy poses a particular threat to private institutions in that it seeks to place them in the trusteeship of so-called fully-fledged universities, which will result in those institutions having to downgrade themselves from university status to university college status. “It is unfair of the government to force private institutions to give up their status as university when they meet the requirements as stipulated. These proposed downgrades will have a direct impact on the credibility of those institutions’ academic functioning. Prestige and status in the academic sector are important and contributes to any institutions’ continued existence – something that should not be threatened by nonsensical changes to legislation. This not only hinders the careers of lecturers and other employees in the sector, but also hinders the development of skills and access to higher education,” said Johan Botha, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity. Solidarity further believes that it is unfair to place private institutions under a trusteeship and that it threatens such institutions’ right to exist. Botha went on to explain: “Solidarity’s comments are aimed at preventing the centralisation of the higher education sector and the bureaucratisation of the system. We will not sit back and look on as the government impoverishes the South African higher education with its obsession with power.” Read Solidarity’s press statement on the above matter at Solidarity News. Lees ook, Wysigings aan hoëronderwysbeleid ‘bedreig private instellings’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
PIC ordered by CCMA to reinstate fired CFO Matshepo More BL Premium reports that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has been ordered by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to reinstate Matshepo More as its CFO. More, who held the position under the fund manager’s former CEO, Dan Matjila, approached the CCMA in October 2021 after she was fired. Seeking reinstatement, she argued that the PIC failed to follow procedure when terminating her employment. “The PIC board is considering the arbitration award and will take advice on the way forward in this regard,” spokesperson Sekgoela Sekgoela indicated. The ruling may, in the interim, put on hold the PIC’s search for a new CFO. Brian Mavuka has been acting CFO since the PIC terminated More’s contract. The PIC, which manages R2.2-trillion in pension and social funds on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund, opposed the application. More was fired in 2021, two-and-a-half years after she was suspended from the PIC for her involvement in irregularities related to the PIC’s R4.3bn investment in Ayo Technology Solutions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Student teacher who called learner who later committed suicide a ‘sissy boy’ probed The Star reports that the North West University (NWU) has confirmed that it is investigating its student teacher said to have called a Grade 9 PJ Simelane Primary learner sis bhuti (sissy boy). Tiro Moalusi subsequently committed suicide by ingesting rat poison following this homophobic slur allegedly at the hands of the student teacher who was at the school for her teaching practicals. "It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of the learner. The incident has been brought to our attention and we have also communicated to both the Minister of Basic Education and the Minister of Higher Education that we have launched our own investigation into the matter," said NWU spokesperson, Bertie Jacobs. He advised that the investigation was still ongoing. The student teacher has been withdraw from her duties. Moalusi's death sent shock waves across the country's education system, resulting in a series of investigations by various institutions, including the Gauteng Department of Education, the SA Council for Educators (SACE) and the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The 15-year-old learner died on 16 August. He had tried to get other teachers to help him resolve the homophobic comments made by the student teacher but no one came to his rescue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Star
ANC MP angry at transport officials glossing over Central Line situation and masked gunmen Cape Argus reports that National Transport Department officials were criticised by ANC MP Lawrence McDonald during their briefing to the transport portfolio committee on the department’s first quarter performance, railway safety and marine bills. The officials presented a report on the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and also focused on the improvement of rail signalling along Cape Town’s Central Line. Their presentation pointed to 10,000 jobs created by Prasa through its public infrastructure projects, and a reduction by 50% in incidents of personal safety, theft and vandalism of passenger rail infrastructure. However, McDonald was unimpressed that the officials’ reports did not touch on the more current issue on the Central Line, particularly the Netreg-Bonteheuwel railway that has been ground to a halt by criminals. A video of two masked men firing assault weapons near the train station recently made headlines and attention on social media. It surfaced shortly after reports that reconstruction of the Central Line in Bonteheuwel had been suspended until Prasa could fortify its security between Netreg and the Cape Town stations. Speaking before the committee, McDonald complained: “Netreg at the moment has been taken over by thugs. They are shooting at the construction people. They are shooting at the security (guards). They are literally taking over a station that belongs to Prasa, and nothing is being done about it.” Officials said they would look into the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Soyiso Maliti at Cape Argus
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