In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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York Timbers tears up recognition agreement with Numsa, eyes ‘healthier labour relations’ Fin24 reports that JSE-listed York Timbers is hopeful that the worst of its battles with its workforce are behind it now that it has severed ties with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa). The forest owner and solid-wood processor suffered a crippling strike between April and June that resulted in widespread damage, arson and intimidation of employees. Following legal battles, it dismissed Numsa's call for leniency towards its members, also terminating the union's recognition citing a "material breach". York, which employs about 2,000 staff, saw its profits crash by three quarters in its year to end-June. Speaking on Wednesday, CEO Gerald Stoltz said that since the dismissal of a "significant portion" of its staff base during the strike, the group had actively been employing people from local communities in Mpumalanga. He claimed this was having a stabilising effect on labour relations at the firm. Stoltz said it was "extremely important" for the company to hire locally, especially given that its operating footprint was "quite rural," and characterised by high levels of unemployment, particularly among the youth. In his financial results presentation, Stoltz explained that what had created problems was that previously the company had in place "production villages" next to its plantations with many former employees there coming from areas far away from operations. According to Stoltz, much of the intimidation of employees during the strike happened in those production villages. York’s other new strategy was to establish work place forums which promoted communication between employees and their supervisors. Explaining the basis of the breach that led to the termination of the recognition agreement with Numsa, Stoltz said: "Their constitution does not make provision for bargaining in our sector, which is the sawmilling sector, so that was the breach that they were not able to remedy." This does not mean another union may not emerge to represent workers at York’s operations. "Being quite a big employer which employs more than 2,000 wage employees, we will always be pursued by unions and for them the drive is membership," said Stoltz. Numsa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Herald reporter in safe house after community members threatened to 'deal' with her TimesLive reports that the SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has condemned threats and intimidation directed at a journalist working for The Herald in the Eastern Cape. The reporter is in hiding in a safe house after her publication saw screenshots from a community WhatsApp group where members were allegedly threatening to “deal” with her. This follows a protest she covered earlier this month where locals clashed with foreigners in Plettenberg Bay. According to a statement issued by Sanef, the reporter was this week forced to leave her home because of threats of violence by community members in KwaNokuthula township. Sanef indicated: “The Herald editor Rochelle de Kock told Sanef the reporter was now staying in a safe house. So bad has the situation become that the reporter and the publication decided her news reports will no longer carry her name to mitigate the intimidation and make her feel more at ease in a community in which she too is a member.” De Kock told Sanef the reporter was covering a protest march, along the N2 in Plettenberg Bay, by a large group of locals that clashed with foreigners on 1 September, when she was accosted. “They pushed her around and demanded she deletes the footage she had taken. They threatened to break her phone. She was shaken by the incident and we told her to leave the scene,” De Kock said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLive Partial roof collapse at Potchefstroom court 'a wake-up call', according to aggrieved workers News24 reports that persons who work at the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court say a partial collapse of the roof this week was due to a lack of maintenance, but the Department of Public Works claims the building was inspected less than a year ago and a contractor has been on site. According to workers, however, the building was last inspected about a decade ago. Parts of the roof collapsed on Monday afternoon, leaving workers and scores of people stranded. The collapsed roof affected the cash hall, offices used by officials dealing with child maintenance and the civil court clerk. "This situation could have been averted. The department ignored its responsibilities. I have been working here for many years and have never seen an inspection conducted here. This building is old. It needs regular maintenance. What happened on Monday was a wake-up call. Something big is going to happen should the government continue ignoring their responsibilities," one employee claimed. Another worker claimed their lives and health were at risk and went on to state: "We don't know when the tragedy is going to happen. We are observing that this building is decaying, and the infrastructure is not maintained. One day, this entire building is going to collapse. […] We have been complaining to our senior who ignored us.” Staff have complained about numerous issues (detailed in news report). Yet, the public works department claimed it was regularly maintaining the building. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nine arrested for operating illegal gold refinery in Randfontein TimesLive reports that nine suspects were arrested for alleged illegal mining activities at a plot at Ten Acres, Randfontein, on Thursday. Eight of the suspects are undocumented migrants aged between 18 and 32, and the ninth is a 66-year-old man who owns the plot. "The group's illegal activities were brought to a halt when the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in the West Rand pounced on the suspects while they were operating an illegal precious metals refinery at a secluded site,” Hawks spokesperson Capt Lloyd Ramovha reported. He said more than 200 tonnes of gold-bearing material with an estimated value of R550,000 and implements such as a “phenduka” machine for gold refining and generators were confiscated from the facility. The group is expected to appear in the Randfontein Magistrate's Court on Monday. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLive Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Despite increase in new unions, representation in bargaining councils down, Nxesi tells CCMA conference TimesLive reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi says that while union membership has increased in recent years, union representation in bargaining councils has dropped. He was speaking on Thursday at the CCMA’s fourth labour conference and reported that between 2013 and 2020, membership of registered unions increased from 3.25-million to more than 4-million, while the number of such unions rose from 203 to 220. Noting that one of the unintended consequences of the freedom of association promoted by the 1995 Labour Relations Act was the proliferation of trade unions, Nxesi remarked: “Taken together with a prevailing ‘majoritarianism’, this [freedom of association] tends to mean members of splinter unions are not directly represented in bargaining chambers, with the result that the collective representation of workers is weakened. I have raised this matter with various unions, suggesting they need to find modalities to unite all workers, including those in splinter unions, difficult as that might be.” On collective bargaining, Nxesi said: “Meanwhile, my department has witnessed an increase in the number of ‘unprotected’ strikes in recent years, pointing to a fraying of respect for collective bargaining institutions. Having said that, even the most militant-sounding union leader knows the value of registration and can be found lobbying the minister for implementation of certain aspects of the LRA. For example, the extension of collective agreements to cover non-members.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLive
Unnecessary referrals hamstring labour court, says judge president BusinessLive reports that Basheer Waglay, Judge President of the Labour Appeal Court and the Labour Court of SA, says about 35% of matters referred to it should not be there at all and only serve to hamper the efficiency of the courts. Indicating that Johannesburg had the most shortages of judges and courts, Waglay said. “We need double the number of judges and courts that we have [in Johannesburg] today … there are thousands of matters [to attend to].” He was speaking on Thursday during the annual labour conference of the CCMA. Waglay said delays in the Labour Court were cause for concern and the CCMA needed to be capacitated as it played a crucial role. “Perhaps the time has come to reconsider the Labour Relations Act (LRA). The labour community in SA has, at its disposal, one of the most progressive labour regimes in the world [but] if the law is not understood by the constituency it’s meant to serve ... then we seriously need to address the issue of simplifying the laws,” the judge president said during his address. It was reported in 2021 that the cash-strapped CCMA, which processes more than 200,000 cases a year, had been hurt by crippling budget cuts – set to reach about R500m in the medium term – from the Treasury. Waglay also spoke about the high levels of crime, corruption, unemployment and inequality and asked what good labour laws were if half of the nation was without work. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive
Another large hike by Reserve Bank pushes interest rates to pre-pandemic level Fin24 reports Interest rates are back at pre-pandemic levels after the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) hiked rates on Thursday by 75 basis points, for a second meeting in a row. The move brings the repo rate to 6.25%, and the prime rate to 9.75%. On a new home loan of R2 million, this hikes the monthly instalment by more than R970. Since November last year, monthly payments on a R2 million home loan are almost R3,400 more expensive due to a raft of rate hikes. The latest rate hike was in line with economists’ expectations, and brings interest rates back to a level last seen in January 2020, before the Reserve Bank made steep cuts to bolster an economy in lockdown. On Thursday, SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago, said risks to the inflation outlook were assessed to the upside, with electricity and other administered prices continuing to present clear medium-term risks. "What is detrimental to the economy at the moment is the rising cost of living, which is depicted through inflation and that failure to deal with inflation now would be detrimental to the economy down the line. And that is what our focus is," Kganyago indicated. Economists expect another rate hike in November – even though inflation may have peaked. In August, consumer inflation cooled slightly, to 7.6% from 7.8% in July, thanks mostly to lower fuel prices. Some economists forecast another hike in January 2023 and expect that the repo rate will peak at 7.00%. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24. Lees ook, Repokoers: Nóg ʼn groot verhoging, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Solidarity questions constitutionality of racial quotas in legal sector The Solidarity Law Network on Thursday questioned the constitutionality and morality of the Draft Legal Sector Code for the legal profession. This followed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, having published the code for comment earlier this year. According to the trade union, this code seeks to police appointments in the legal profession strictly according to race. Solidarity’s Law Network argued in its commentary that the draft code, as it currently stood, appeared to be “yet another way in which the government states that race is the most important measure of a person’s identity and that it completely overshadows other traits such as excellence.” Anton van der Bijl, Head of Legal Matters at Solidarity, commented: “South Africa’s economy is of such a nature that it is challenging enough for young people to find work without their race also being held against them.” He went on to argue as follows: “The context of the document that led to the drafting of these codes’ information is outdated and factually incorrect. Legal firms and practitioners as well as the legal profession as a whole are measured by their talent and competence and are then appointed according to this criterion. This ensures that the South African legal profession continuously develops. Draconic racial targets will not result in this, but rather counter it.” Read Solidarity’s press statement regarding the above matter at Politicsweb. Lees ook, Raskwotas in regsektor ‘ongrondwetlik’, by Maroela Media
Religious community furious at no work permits or permanent residency permits for foreign pastors The Star reports that Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's recent utterances that SA will institute a ban on permits granted to foreign pastors and religious workers has sparked fury in the religious community. Motsoaledi this past week told MPs that religious leaders who came to the country to start churches would no longer be eligible to obtain work permits or residency permits. This in the context of the cases of Malawian televangelist Shepherd Bushiri, who fled the country in 2020 after being charged with money laundering, and Nigerian evangelist Timothy Omotoso, who is accused of a spate of rape and human trafficking charges by Eastern Cape courts. Bushiri and his wife Mary fled the country after they were granted R200,000 bail each while facing charges of theft, fraud and money laundering. A chief director has been dismissed, and four junior officials are still facing disciplinary proceedings, for illegally granting Bushiri a residency permit. Motsoaledi indicated about those seeking to start their own churches in the country: “We are saying they must come only as visitors, but as visitors who can perform work. This change means there is no avenue available for these religious workers to migrate to permanent residence status.” Solomon Izang Ashoms of the Movement Against Abuse in Churches, which is critical of bogus church leaders, said it was charlatans who misrepresented the church who were responsible for such sentiments. “It is a matter of discussions as to how best we can protect the system and also make sure that religion is not used as a tool for criminal activities and robbing people of their hard-earned money. This has been caused by charlatans who come to South Africa masquerading as men of God and take advantage of people in the name of religion and the church. They must take some blame but this is rather unfortunate that Home Affairs has taken such a decision,” Ashoms stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star Police can ask foreigners to prove their immigration status, says Motsoaledi TimesLive reports that Department of Home Affair (DHA) Minister Aaron Motsoaledi earlier this week gave the SA Police Service (SAPS) the green light to spot check foreigners to ascertain whether they were legally in the country. He was briefing the home affairs portfolio committee on the backlog in permit appeals for asylum seekers and refugees. “Police have the right to stop and ask about documentation. It doesn’t have to be production or physical documentation like during apartheid days, meaning you are not forced to carry documents in your pockets everywhere you go. It’s something that can be done on the spot and it will be a pity if somebody has to be arrested because we have to do a manual check,” the minister advised. Documents will be checked against the national population register. The minister said four refugee centres had been reopened after a two-year closure due to Covid-19. They are in Durban, Pretoria, Gqeberha and Musina. The Cape Town refugee office will be reopened by the end of September. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at BusinessLive
Gauteng health department denies DA’s claim that Tembisa Hospital CEO was appointed while facing misconduct charge News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has dismissed claims by Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson Jack Bloom that suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi was appointed while facing a charge of misconduct. On Wednesday, the department said Bloom's claim was a "deliberate distortion of facts" and that Mthunzi had not signed a final written warning in September 2021. On Monday, Bloom said the charge emanated from Mthunzi's previous position as CEO of Pholosong Hospital. He cited a recent written response from Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi to a question he filed in the Gauteng legislature. In her response, Mokgethi said the head of the department, Dr Sibongile Zungu, had approved recommendations for disciplinary action against Mthunzi for contravening the recruitment and selection policy and that the Labour Relations Directorate would implement the recommendations. Bloom said this response contradicted Mokgethi's answer to the same question filed in June. Mokgethi had denied that Mthunzi was unfit to hold the position because of the charge, said Bloom. "The important issue is that Mthunzi should never have been appointed,” said Bloom because, according to Mokgethi, the selection committee did not have knowledge or information on Mthunzi's pending disciplinary hearing while at Pholosong Hospital. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at News24. Read too, ‘Hijacked' nurses' union sides with embattled Tembisa Hospital boss, at News24 (subscriber access only) Three Free State nurses operating an illegal private clinic arrested for possession of stolen medication GroundUp reports that community members of Intabazwe in the Free State have expressed shock after learning that the local clinic manager had been arrested along with two other nurses. Mary Mosia and the two others nurses appeared in the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on 15 September. They were released on warning and will make a second appearance on 2 November. Police said the suspects were all professional nurses who had been operating a private clinic without a license and no authorisation from the Department of Health. They were arrested for being in possession of stolen medication. One nurse worked in Kgosatsana Makolokoeng, the other at Busamed Hospital Group. It is not yet known how much of the allegedly stolen medication was taken from Intabazwe clinic, where Mosia was the manager, or how or who stole the medication. Department of Health Free State spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said the nurses had been placed on suspension while investigations were completed. Last month, GroundUp reported on the dire condition of Intabazwe clinic. A major complaint from patients and staff was that the clinic was overwhelmed by patient numbers and understocked with medication. Police spokesperson for the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Mmako Mophiring, said that the police got a tipoff that an unauthorised clinic was operating in central Harrismith. Police arrested the three nurses and seized medication and an examination stretcher. The “private clinic” has been operating since 2019. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yamkela Mopeli at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Labour disputes and lack of functionality: Here’s what the eThekwini Municipality has to say about DSW woes, at IOL Employers’ association Neasa warns of land grabs if Expropriation Bill passed, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Load shedding a threat to food security, warns Agri SA, at Moneyweb Electric vehicle skills transition masterplan under construction, says Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape, at Engineering News How to apply for internships offered by tourism department, at Business Insider SA
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