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, 7 October 2022.
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Satawu poised to join Transnet strike on Monday after company’s labour court application fails BL Premium reports that the Labour Court at the weekend threw out Transnet’s application to interdict a strike by members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), so setting the stage for more than 21,000 workers to join industrial action that has already brought the state-owned rail and ports operator to its knees. The court ruling came after Transnet declared force majeure on Thursday after workers led by the United National Transport Union (Untu) downed tools over higher wages. Untu is the biggest union at Transnet, accounting for 60% of the company’s 55,000-strong workforce. It will be joined on Monday by Satawu. Transnet had sought to block the strike on grounds that there was no secret ballot to approve the strike and that picketing rules had not been agreed on between the company and striking workers as required by the law. “The court did not deal with Transnet’s submissions on the defective notice period and the lack of a secret ballot and picketing rules,” Transnet claimed in a statement. The court apparently ruled that the matter was not urgent. The full application has still to be heard. The two unions have rejected an offer of a 4% wage hike plus a one-off pretax payment of R5,000. Untu and Satawu are demanding increases of 12% and 13.5%, respectively. Satawu’s Jack Mazibuko said the union planned to picket at all Transnet divisions and depots. Leaders of Untu and Satawu will jointly meet Transnet management on Monday to begin talks facilitated by the CCMA to try to end the strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko & Denene Erasmus at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, We’ll paralyse Transnet, warns Satawu, at Business Times (subscriber access only) Transnet and unions to meet under guidance of the CCMA on Monday Fin24 reports that Transnet and trade unions are to meet for talks on Monday, under the guidance of the Commission of Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the company and unions have confirmed. Workers from the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) are expected to join the strike on Monday. Their colleagues, represented by the United National Transport Union (Untu), began their strike on Thursday. In a statement on Sunday the company said: “Transnet continues to engage with organised labour, to find an amicable solution to the ongoing industrial action, which has a profoundly negative impact not only on employees and the company, but on the economy as well. We are hopeful that the meeting will bring parties closer together in reaching an agreement which balances the needs of workers while protecting Transnet’s continued sustainability” A joint statement by trade unions on Saturday confirmed that they would participate in the CCMA process. In the absence of agreed picketing rules – which they blame on the employer – unions said strikers would peacefully gather outside Transnet premises. Transnet employs 40,000 people and employment costs make up 66% of its cost base. It has offered workers a wage increase of 3%, 3.5% or 4% depending on their grades. Employees are demanding a 12% increase. Transnet has also offered a once-off gratuity of R5,000 to be paid at the end of the financial year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Carol Paton at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nurses at Dora Nginza Hospital call off strike after talks with Eastern Cape health department News24 reports that according to the Eastern Cape health department, an agreement was reached on Friday evening to suspend the nurses' strike at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, following two days of striking. Provincial health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda reported: "All workers have reported for duty to resume their responsibilities, and services were fully restored across the weekend." According to the Daily Maverick, the maternity unit at the hospital was evacuated as striking nurses stopped doctors from helping pregnant women. Dekeda indicated that some staff members at the hospital embarked on unprotected strike action, raising concerns about the overcrowding and shortage of staff at the unit. However, following engagements on Friday and Saturday between the head of department, and provincial and Nelson Mandela Bay regional leaders of organised labour, "it was mutually affirmed that all stakeholders want to ensure that pregnant women are admitted to available beds". The management team shared with labour at the Saturday meeting the plans that were implemented to decongest Dora Nginza Hospital. Dekeda said: “A theatre and 16-bedded ward has been activated at PEPH to provide additional capacity in the Bay for patients requiring Level 1 care and Caesarean section intervention.” She added that the letters of precautionary suspension issued to two shop stewards were also withdrawn. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Lees ook, Chaos by kraamsaal in Oos-Kaap terwyl verpleërs staak, by Maroela Media
Cosatu members march on World Day for Decent Work in Cape Town and Joburg GroundUp reports that hundreds of workers from unions affiliated to the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) took to the streets in Cape Town and Johannesburg on Friday to mark World Day for Decent Work. The day is observed across the world in recognition of workers’ rights. In Cape Town, over 100 workers marched from Hanover Street to hand over a memorandum of demands to the Western Cape Provincial Legislature and to Parliament. Demands included that the government must fight the high rate of job losses and retrenchments. The protestors also wanted government and employers to adhere to labour laws and enforce decent working conditions. Cosatu Western Cape provincial secretary Malvern De Bruyn said workers were disappointed and frustrated because “there’s a job bloodbath, but there are no plans by the government to create jobs.” He also said many workers have complained about companies failing to comply with health and safety standards. In Joburg, protestors marched from Cosatu House in Braamfontein to the Game outlet in Pritchard Street, where workers handed over a memorandum. Top of the workers’ demands was for the end of planned retrenchments at Game stores in SA. In September, Massmart, which owns Game, announced that it would be shutting down eight outlets, affecting over 700 employees. Both government institutions, and Game management were given 14 days to respond to the demands. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marecia Damons & Chris Gilili at GroundUp Operation Dudula march in Cape Town on Saturday to stop the hiring of illegal immigrants Weekend Argus reports that anti-immigration group Operation Dudula has called on the City of Cape Town to put the needs of South African job-seekers above those of undocumented and illegal immigrants. On Saturday, members marched from Keizersgracht Street to the Cape Town Civic Centre to hand over a memorandum demanding that South African citizens be prioritised for jobs from the municipality. Among their demands was also a ban on hiring illegal or undocumented foreigners. Protesters carried posters that read ‘take your skills back to your country’ and ‘illegal immigrants are a burden on our country’ and sang struggle songs until they arrived at their destination. The movement’s deputy chairperson, Lulamile Bavuma, said people were tired of “begging for jobs” while foreign nationals “got first choice”. “While our people are suffering, undocumented foreigners are getting jobs because they do it for cheaper. We know this because we see it. According to the immigration Act 13 of 2002, illegal foreigners cannot be hired in South Africa, so this means that laws are also being broken,” he stated. But, Bavuma insisted that their group and their stance was not xenophobic. Ian Cameron, director of civil society group Action Society, commented that while undocumented foreigners should not be able to get jobs, those who were in the country legally should be allowed to get employment without hindrance. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tracy-Lynn Ruiters at Weekend Argus Police reservists march to demand permanent jobs The Citizen reports that police officers in the Pretoria CBD had to guard their human resources offices on Thursday against National Reservist Concern Group (NRCG) members who marched to demand permanent employment. NRCG national chair Thendo Mulaudzi said they represented 1,600 police reservists who wanted to be employed permanently. He pointed out that some reservists had more than 20 years of experience that was not being utilised. Also according to Mulaudzi, some reservists were deactivated from the system without any explanation. “Some went on maternity leave, only to be deactivated from the system. Some of the stations didn’t have coordinators to manage the reservists,” Mulaudzi claimed. Security expert Dr Johan Burger said this was an ongoing issue. “This attempt to try force integration in the police service cannot be supported,” he stated. Burger said when someone applied to join the police as a reservist, they accepted their service was unpaid and allocated according to the needs of the SA Police Service. “This does not prevent a reservist from applying to join the police permanently, provided he or she meets the requirements for employment. To now try to force the police to employ all reservists through peer pressure looks too much like a form of extortion,” he pointed out. Burger also noted that the reservist system was not intended as a shortcut to employment by the police. University of Limpopo criminologist Prof Jaco Barkhuizen said that employing reservists permanently might be problematic. “Reservists don’t undergo the same strict training, the normal route through the police college,” he pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
Full-scale probe underway into 'criminal' networks at Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga News24 reports that a major investigation has been underway for months to identify criminal syndicates operating at Eskom power stations in Mpumalanga. The sweeping probe has so far seemingly unearthed evidence of political and police involvement in organised crime networks focused on extracting hundreds of millions of rands from Eskom each year. Eskom group chief executive André de Ruyter is the driving force behind the probe, which is being conducted under the utmost secrecy due to concerns over how well entrenched the networks within the power utility are. The networks operate in various procurement areas, including coal, scaffolding and the very lucrative market for power station spares. These are all essential for the day-to-day running and maintenance of the ailing Mpumalanga power stations. The De Ruyter investigation has been underway for months, working to identify the networks and their connections to Eskom staff. The investigation was started after it became clear that an estimated R1.3 billion in spares at Tutuka power station were missing, and evidence emerged that a syndicate was working to steal R100 million in fuel oil every month at the same power station. Eskom spends more than R100 billion a year procuring goods and services. In some cases, infrastructure at power stations was deliberately damaged to ensure the need for spares to be purchased – which would then be bought from companies linked to the criminal networks. In other cases, spares would be stolen to create a need for the parts to be replaced – and in extreme cases – the stolen parts would be sold back to Eskom. According to Eskom insiders, corruption plays out daily at various power stations across the country, but the involvement of Eskom staff at various levels has made it difficult to prevent. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kyle Cowan at News24 (subscriber access only)
Cabinet ministers pay nothing for water and power City Press reports that despite their monthly salary of R200,000, no ministers in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet have to pay for their electricity. This after the President changed the rules governing the Cabinet’s perks in April this year – the same month that the rest of the country’s electricity tariffs were increased by an average of 10% – to fully exempt ministers and their deputies from paying for any municipal services at their official residences. This means that ministers, who earn a salary of R2.4 million a year, and their deputies, who earn R2 million annually, can use electricity and water to their hearts’ content, while ordinary citizens have to pay. Previously, there had been a limit of R5,000 on the amount that Cabinet members could claim for water and power, but this limit was scrapped in April. The revision to the ministerial handbook that came into effect on 13 April indicates that “the department responsible for public works shall be responsible for the costs associated with the provision of water and electricity to official residences”. Ramaphosa’s generosity did not stop at water and electricity. He also increased the limit that Cabinet members can spend on luxury cars. The impact of this windfall is aggravated by the fact that SA has one of the most bloated executives in the world. Ramaphosa’s gravy train has 62 passengers – 28 ministers and 34 deputies. The President and his Cabinet are moreover spared load shedding because their official residences in the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria are powered by the same substation that provides uninterrupted power to the Union Buildings. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dawie Boonzaaier at City Press (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Jý dok op vir ministers se water en ligte, by Maroela Media
Unisa staff object to ‘irregular appointment of JJ Tabane as an independent contractor in the business school SowetanLive reports that a group of disgruntled employees from Unisa's Business School have written to the vice-chancellor demanding an investigation into the appointment of broadcaster JJ Tabane which they allege was irregular. Tabane was hired as an independent contractor responsible for communications and marketing in the university's Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) in July. In a memo written to the institution’s vice-chancellor Prof Puleng LenkaBula last month, staff members accused the CEO of the SBL, Prof Pumela Msweli, of appointing Tabane without interviewing him. They also alleged that the position of director for communications and marketing, which Tabane now holds, did not exist in terms of the approved SBL structure. Apparently, the SBL has been regarded as dysfunctional with poor performance of staff seen as a major problem. Tabane is understood to have been brought in to institute a new culture of performance management. However, unhappy employees of the school alleged that he was unlawfully performing line management duties, something which they said independent contractors were not authorised to do. The employees accused Tabane of “targeting’’ workers who raised complaints about his employment by issuing them with letters. The employees also complained about Msweli's conduct and asked that she too be investigated. Msweli was appointed as CEO of the SBL in December 2020 after initially holding the position in an acting capacity for seven months. The employees have accused her of a litany of abuses, including appointing people without interviewing them, abuse of power and victimisation of staff. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
National Treasury pushes out implementation date for early access to retirement funds City Press reports that earlier this year, the National Treasury released a draft proposal for the implementation of a two-pot retirement system for public comment. This provided for one third of retirement contributions paid to a “savings pot” to be accessible prior to retirement and two-thirds of the contribution to a “retirement pot” accessible only at retirement. Feedback from unions and the retirement fund industry has resulted in proposed changes by the Treasury. The commencement date has been moved from March 2023 to March 2024 to allow retirement fund administrators to update their systems. The retirement industry had already indicated that it would be impossible to meet the March 2023 deadline. To accommodate defined benefit funds such as the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF), the actuaries of the funds would need to adjust years of service. The details have yet to be confirmed, however, the Treasury said it would most likely be that the years of service would be adjusted to provide for a one-third withdrawal. Government has now said it was “open” to allowing a portion of the accumulated vested pot (existing funds) to be used as “seeding” into the savings pot, allowing for early access. It is not clear what percentage would be allowed as a withdrawal as this needs to be assessed in terms of the impact on the liquidity of funds. Moreover, financially stressed members should not be holding their breath that this will happen anytime soon as it seems that access will only be after March 2024. Read the full original of the report on this complex matter by Maya Fisher-French at City Press (subscriber access only)
More than 100 fired Limpopo community librarians fight back City Press reports that public outcry has surfaced over the Limpopo government’s decision to terminate the employment of more than 100 community library contract workers last month. However, the provincial of sports, arts and culture department maintained on Friday that the terminations were part of an ongoing process to ensure that the posts were absorbed into its organisational structure while a recruitment process to employ permanent staff in those roles was under way. But, some of the affected workers missed out on the recruitment drive because interviews were already being conducted with other candidates. The workers hinged their hopes of permanent employment on a directive that was issued by national department director-general Vusumusi Mkhize in 2019 to provinces that these contracts, which were funded by a national government conditional grant, be converted to permanent positions. In contemplation of their contracts being terminated in November last year, about 63 of the affected workers took the department to the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council that September. After the matter could not be resolved in conciliation, it was referred to arbitration. While that process was pending, the department extended their contracts until March this year. In March, an arbitration award was made in favour of the workers being permanently reinstated, retrospectively from November. But the department failed to comply with the arbitration award. The group then sought a contempt of court order against the department. The matter is pending in court. Read the full original of the detailed report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press (subscriber access only)
Ipid investigating 5,269 criminal cases against cops IOL reports that while recent crime statistics show that SA continues its free fall into lawlessness, a high number of perpetrators can be found among police officers. In the last financial year, 5,269 criminal cases were registered with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), which is tasked with investigating crimes committed by police and metro police officers. Many officers are under investigation for a range of crimes, including rape and assault. Officers in Gauteng led the way with 984 criminal complaints lodged against them, followed by the Western Cape with 963 and KwaZulu-Natal with 628. In its 2021/22 annual report, Ipid said the cases included assault, rape and corruption. The organisation said 53 officers were fired, 239 disciplinary convictions were obtained involving 311 officers, while criminal convictions against 20 police officers saw them head to jail for varying periods ranging from eight years to life imprisonment as a result of rape, corruption, police-related death and assault. A breakdown of the cases against police shows that there were 3,407 matters registered for assault by police; 744 related to the discharge of an official firearm; 410 cases of death as a result of police action, and 233 related to deaths in police custody. Institute for Security Studies senior police researcher Dr Johan Berger said there was very little accountability within the police, which was why officers felt they had a good chance of getting away with their crimes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Wendy Jasson Da Costa at IOL. Read too, Rapist cops get off with written warnings, at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
Gunmen rob Golden Arrow bus passengers on Friday morning News24 reports that several passengers on board a Golden Arrow bus were robbed of their belongings on Spine Road in Khayelitsha on Friday morning. Western Cape police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the bus had stopped near an Engen garage when armed men climbed board. "The men threatened the driver, whilst the others robbed the passengers of the valuables. The suspects fled with cash they took from the driver," Swartbooi reported. A video that surfaced online shows one of the men wearing a cloth mask and demanding that passengers hand over their belongings. He then collects what looks like cellphones, before climbing off the bus. Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer said they were "very shocked to hear that the footage had been placed on social media". The company shared the footage the SA Police Service so that they could identify the suspects and arrest them. Police are investigating a case of robbery with a firearm. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24
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