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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DA proposes safety audits at Gauteng hospitals as staff work in fear of attacks from patients News24 reports that according to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng, public hospital staff in the province are working in fear, after several staffers were slapped, punched or bitten in 43 attacks by psychiatric patients at 17 public hospitals since January last year. This information was revealed by Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in response to questions from the DA about the attacks. Allegedly, psychiatric patients are not kept in properly secured psychiatric wards and attacks also happen in departments outside of psychiatric units. Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital had the highest number of attacks. In one instance, according to Mokgethi, a patient who wanted to be discharged assaulted a cleaner before attacking a doctor a few days later. Security guards were on strike at the time. Accordingly, the DA's spokesperson on health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, has proposed that Gauteng public hospital safety audits be conducted. Where security risks were high, especially at hospitals that received psychiatric patients, adequate steps must be taken to ensure the safety of personnel and patients, he said. Bloom claimed facilities were inadequate even though pledges had been made to improve mental healthcare after the widely publicised Life Esidimeni tragedy. He added: “Staff and mental health patients are victims of this neglect which needs to be rectified as soon as possible. It's yet another failing of a department plagued by mismanagement and rampant corruption.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zandile Khumalo at News24 Alleged killer of off-duty cop who intervened in hijacking appears in Durban court TimesLive reports that a man arrested in connection with the murder of an off-duty policeman appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. W/O Michael Jameson, 52, was shot while picking up his daughter from school when he noticed a hijacking. He tried to prevent the hijacking but came under fire and was killed. Jameson was attached to the Durban public order policing unit. The suspect, Phinda Shongwe, 33, was arrested in Hammarsdale, outside Pietermaritzburg. The state opposed bail and claimed Shongwe assaulted the driver of a C63 Mercedes-Benz, valued at R750,000, to hijack the car. Shongwe, who was remanded until his next court appearance on 21 September, was also recently arrested in connection with a Hammarsdale robbery. SA Community Crime Watch CEO Steven King described Jameson as an “exceptional, dedicated policeman who paid the highest price”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mfundo Mkhize at TimesLive
Private security guards welcome wage increases over next four years SowetanLive reports that security officers in the private sector have welcomed the monthly wage increases they will receive over the next four years. On Tuesday, trade unions and employer organisations represented in the private security sector signed an agreement that will run for four years. In the first year of the deal, which comes into effect in March 2023, employees will get a 13% increase. In the second year of the agreement, which was signed at the National Bargaining Council for the Private Security Sector at Midrand on Tuesday, workers will get a 6.5% increase, followed by 7.5% hikes in years three and four. Last week, security officers across the country threatened to down tools if employers did not increase their salaries by 16%, which translated to a R900 monthly wage increase every year over the next three years. Kungwini Amalgamated Workers’ Union spokesperson Khumbulani Moyo commented as follows on the agreement: ''We welcome the increment. This will assist the employees greatly. The workers’ salaries will gradually increase and they will be able to do things like apply for bank loans and become financial active, something they could not do before with their extremely lower salaries.’’ Hamilton Ntonga, who works as a guard at the OR Tambo International Airport, said the increase would help him to purchase more food items for his family. Ntonga, 57, earns a monthly salary of R4,377 and lives with his wife and four children in Katlehong on the East Rand. He has been working in the industry for over 30 years. Ntonga spends R1,400 a month on transport to commute to work in Kempton Park from Katlehong on the East Rand. The increases will see him earning up to R7,827 by March 2027. Based on reports by Mpho Koka at SowetanLive and Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive Numsa denies throwing dismissed Putco workers under the bus in wage deal Business Report writes that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has denied throwing 105 workers dismissed by Putco under the bus after a settlement agreement was signed on Tuesday night that upheld their dismissal for misconduct during protests which affected more than 22,000 commuters. Numsa announced that the settlement agreement reached with Putco included the implementation of a 6% wage increase on 1 October 2022 for all employees who had been in employment since 1 April 2020 and were still employed by the company at the conclusion of the wage agreement. In a statement quoting general secretary Irvin Jim, Numsa's spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the dismissal of the 105 workers would stand, but they individuals would have the opportunity to lodge an internal appeal by no later than 16 September. "We tried very hard to negotiate for the unconditional re-instatement of the 105 workers who were dismissed. Unfortunately, the employer was adamant that he would not accept them back. What is in the agreement is the only compromise he would accept where they can make representations through an internal process," Hlubi-Majola indicated. She said Putco had based its decision on the fact that the work stoppage was unprotected, which was a very difficult hurdle for the union to overcome. "Sixty-five of the 105 workers are Numsa members, and we will defend them. If we do not succeed through the internal process, we will explore other avenues which are available to us in terms of the Labour Law," Hlubi-Majola advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Banele Ginindza at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cederberg Municipality’s application to back out of bargaining council wage agreement dismissed The Citizen reports that the Cederberg Municipality in the Western Cape has been ordered by the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) to pay this year’s salary increments after its application to be exempted from a wage deal on the basis of financial distress was dismissed. The municipality was party to a three-year wage agreement signed at the bargaining council and paid the first leg of the increment last year. A month before this year’s increase was due to be paid, Cederberg lodged an application at the SALGBC to be exempted from paying wage increments to its 345 workers. The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) opposed the application. In her ruling on Monday, arbitrator Arthi Singh-Bhoopchand said the municipality’s financial problems did not happen overnight and that it ought to have budgeted for the wage increments. “The municipality was aware or had to have been aware for some time of the financial challenges. Yet it resolved only as late as May 2022 to apply for an exemption, and that too after choosing not to budget for the increase,” the arbitrator found. Despite its financial problems, the municipality paid consultants and agreed to repay its Eskom debt at an additional interest rate of 2.5% above prime. Such decisions, said Singh-Bhoopchand, showed that officials never prioritised worker’s salaries. According to Samwu’s Dumisane Magagula, at least 13 municipalities have so far tried to renege on the wage agreement. The Newcastle Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has also not paid this year’s wage increment, and has not lodged an application for exemption, Imatu said in a statement on Wednesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
Zama zama infighting suspected as mutilated bodies found next to N1 freeway near Maraisburg offramp The Citizen reports that the badly mutilated bodies of six suspected illegal miners (zama zamas) were found scattered near the N1 freeway Maraisburg offramp, in the west of Johannesburg, on Wednesday morning. A passerby found the first body lying on one side of the offramp and alerted the community patrol. The SA Police Service (SAPS) was called to the scene, where, after searching the area, they found a further five bodies. The sixth body was found in a wetland in the veld near Main Reef Road. A final body count will be announced once police officers – with the help of helicopters – finish their patrols around the crime scene. “Some of them had their eyes gouged out, some had their hands chopped off, one face was beaten in with a rock — it was terrible,” Basil Peters of the Bosmont Community Patrollers reported. SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the bodies of the suspected zama zamas were found with gunshot wounds, but “we do not know what the motive is.” According to the community, there has been an influx in the area of zama zamas, who allegedly travel through an underground tunnel. Bosmont CPF officer Faried Domingo said zama zamas have been a problem in the area for more than a year. “The main problem over the past five to six weeks is the situation has spread and it has become more intense. We have gunshots ringing through the night,” said Domingo. He added there was little police visibility in the area. Investigations will determine if the six bodies found in Maraisburg belong to foreign nationals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgomotso Phooko at The Citizen. Read too, Six 'zama zamas' shot, bludgeoned and mutilated, at TimesLive. En ook, Liggame langs N1 gevind, by Maroela Media Young first-time illegal miner who paid R100 to be a zama zama killed in alleged war between illegal mining groups News24 reports that on Monday, a 25-year-old unemployed Zimbabwean man asked his neighbours for R100 as he wanted the money to pay to get access to work as an illegal miner in one of the disused mining shafts along the N1 in Maraisburg. On Wednesday morning, his eldest brother wept as he identified his body in a veld not far from the mine. The young man was one of the six dead bodies discovered along the N1 by police in what is believed to be an ongoing war among illegal mining factions. According to the deceased's brother, his sibling arrived in the country last November. He indicated: “He needed the R100 to pay to go underground. It was his first time going to the mine. He has been unemployed for a while. He said we can't stay in a house together with no money and that's why he decided to go there. And, with bad luck, now he is dead.” The dead man worked as a security guard and was fired for sleeping while on duty. He recently worked at a local car wash in New Canada, where they live. According to the brother, his sibling wanted something that would bring in more money. But he told him he was not comfortable with him joining the zama zamas. While police are investigating, in his back-room shack in New Canada, the dead man's brother is grappling with how he will break the news of the death to his family back home. "I don't know where I am going to start. How am I going to tell my parents?" he said whilst crying. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tebogo Monama & Yeshiel Panchia at News24 (subscriber access only) Jagersfontein slimes dam disaster
Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Petrol price set to go down in October, but diesel to go up IOL reports that early indications show that the price of petrol looks set to come down in October, while diesel will go up. According to unaudited mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund, the price of both 95 octane and 93 octane petrol is set to drop by somewhere between 50 cents and R1 per litre next month, depending on how the international oil price and rand scenarios play out between now and month-end. Diesel will likely go up by something in the region of 70 cents a litre, while the price of paraffin should go up by around seven cents. Petrol prices in SA are affected by the rand/dollar exchange rate, and changes to international petroleum product costs. The petrol retail price is regulated by the government, and changes every month on the first Wednesday of the month. Both 93 and 95 unleaded petrol decreased by R2.04 on the first Wednesday of September, bringing down the price of 95 petrol inland to R23.38 a litre, from a record high of R26.74 in July. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molaole Montsho at IOL
Cosatu in North West wants struggling Ditsobotla municipality, which unable to pay August salaries, disbanded SowetanLive reports that Cosatu in the North West has called for the embattled Ditsobotla local municipality to be disbanded after the local authority was unable to pay salaries in August. On Monday, disgruntled employees stormed a council meeting, demanding their salaries. In a statement, labour federation’s North West secretary, Kopano Konopi, called on the provincial government to invoke Section 139(1)(c) of the constitution and place the municipality under administration. The municipality is currently under Section 54 intervention, which means the province is assisting the municipality with its finances. “The council continues to fail to perform its function in the municipality. Furthermore, it has resisted all forms of intervention which was provided to the municipality. The call for its disbandment is also informed by the high level of anarchy and organisational defiance that exists in that municipal council, especially from the deployees of the ANC, which is the majority party in that council,” Konopi indicated. He went on to say: “As Cosatu, you can’t have politicians holding the city to ransom. August salaries were not paid because there's no signatory. June salaries were paid late and now there's the concern that September salaries won't be paid either.” A week ago it was reported that the provincial MEC for Cogta, Lenah Miga, told parliament that the municipality was stable after the appointment of an acting municipal manager. It was previously reported that the municipality has had 14 municipal managers, four mayors, and four speakers in the last six years. The latest appointment brings the number of municipal managers to 15. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nomazima Nkosi at SowetanLive
Solidarity threatens health department with legal action over adverts for ‘illegal’ NHI posts BusinessTech reports that Solidarity has sent a lawyer’s letter to the deputy director general of the National Health Insurance (NHI), Nicholas Crisp, demanding that he cease hiring activity for the prposed state-run health scheme – because it doesn’t yet exist. The Department of Health has started advertising positions for the NHI, with 44 jobs listed in an August newsletter. But, Solidarity has pointed out that the NHI bill is still in parliament being processed and is nowhere near being finalised. The trade union has threatened legal action if Crisp does not withdraw the advertisements. “Dr Crisp’s own statement on the NHI is that no official announcements can be made regarding its rollout or implementation as the bill has yet to go before parliament. Solidarity, therefore, finds it worrying that Dr Crisp is voicing conflicting opinions and apparently is persisting with the implementation process,” the union noted. It pointed out that the positions under advertisement involved much more than mere technical skills as the advertisements were for senior management positions, the remuneration in respect of which would amount to millions of rands per year. “Without heeding the impact further expenditure would have on the already ailing state coffers, Dr Crisp is rolling out his NHI. This he does under the guise of efficiency and reinforcing capacity, but how does one want to strengthen the capacity of something that does not yet exist?” the union asked. It said the job advertisements clearly indicated that the government was determined to implement its plans without regard for established democratic processes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech. Read Solidarity’s press statement regarding this matter at Solidarity News. Lees ook, Senior poste vir omstrede NGV geadverteer, by Maroela Media
Gauteng public sector remains topmost offender in latest corruption report Engineering News reports that Corruption Watch (CW) has revealed in the sixth edition of its ‘Analysis of Corruption Trends’ (ACT) report that fraud made up the majority of whistle-blower reports in the six months ended 30 June, and that these issues were most prevalent in Gauteng. According to the nonprofit organisation, about 1,030 whistle-blower reports were received by the relevant SA authorities between January and June, highlighting how public and private sector corruption continued to obstruct basic human rights. CW noted that fraud accounted for 35% of total reports, while abuse of authority – including victimisation of whistle-blowers – and maladministration, made up 17% of the reports, respectively. Bribery and extortion-related reports followed at 16% and procurement irregularities at 15%. The highest number of reports, accounting for two-thirds of all corruption reports received during the period, stemmed from Gauteng (43%), followed by the Western Cape (9%), and KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo (8% each). The report showed that 62% of complaints classified as corruption stemmed from the public sector, while 25% originated from the private sector. The remainder of complaints were classified as “unknown” or “none”. The most common corruption types in the private sector were fraud, at 56%, and maladministration, at 25%, mostly compliance related. On the other hand, corruption trends in the public sector related to abuses of authority, bribery and extortion, and procurement and employment irregularities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Three more Mpumalanga officials held in R60 million fraud, theft and money laundering case News24 reports that three Mpumalanga officials have been arrested on R60 million fraud, theft and money laundering charges and are expected to appear in court on Thursday. The suspects, who work for the Mbombela Municipality, Mbombela Traffic Department and White River Traffic Department, were arrested at their respective departments on Wednesday morning. This brought to nine the number of arrests in connection with the illicit practice of "money dumping" by extending expired vehicle discs and having money paid to officials, instead of the department. According to Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane, six of the suspects who worked as administrators were arrested in July and have since been released on bail. The latest suspects to be arrested worked as clerks in different registering authorities in Mpumalanga. "It is alleged the three colluded with administrators, who worked at the help desk of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, to conduct illicit transactions that cost the state a loss of R60 million in unpaid licence fees and penalties," Zwane said. He explained that the modus operandi involved changing the ownership of affected motor vehicles into the name of an unsuspecting individual, a deceased person, or a dormant company. Fees and arrear penalties would then be passed on to the unsuspecting individual or companies before vehicle ownership was changed back to the rightful owner without any debt. "In some instances, fees were dumped onto government vehicles using a GG authority code," Zwane indicated. The six suspects arrested in July will return to court on 29 September. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zandile Khumalo at News24. Lees ook, Valke slaan toe op Laeveldse amptenare in verband met vervalsde lisensieskywe, by Maroela Media
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