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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Four more public sector unions issued with non-resolution certificates over wage increases Fin24 reports that the risk of more public service unions going on strike heightened sharply on Tuesday after four public sector unions at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) were given certificates of non-resolution in the deadlocked public wage negotiations. This came as the Public Servants Association (PSA) was preparing for a full-blown public service strike next week, after serving the government last month with notice of intention to strike. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru), and the Health and Other Personnel Services Trade Union (Hospersa) were all in dispute resolution at the PSCBC this past week and were awarded certificates of non-resolution as the talks failed to break the deadlock. The certificates pave the way for the unions to serve the government with notice of a strike within a week if the deadlock remains unresolved. The date of commencement of a strike will depend on the strike notice itself. None of the unions had served notice of a strike by Wednesday morning. Nehawu, Popcru, Denosa and Cosatu marched to Parliament on Tuesday demanding that the government negotiate in good faith with unions. They rejected the 3% wage offer from government and demanded a 10% increase, saying that they were prepared to strike through December for it. Cosatu Western Cape chair Motlatsi Tsubane said the march was "a build-up to the main action, where unions will shut down all public institutions". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Two traffic officers kidnapped in Vrede, released in Walkerville TimesLive reports that robbers travelling in three vehicles disarmed and kidnapped two traffic officers in Vrede in the Free State on Wednesday morning. After fleeing with the officers, the kidnappers released them in Walkerville in Gauteng, 200km away, in the afternoon. The robbers also shot and wounded another police officer. Police spokesperson Sgt Mahlomola Kareli said at about 11.10am, two female traffic officials on the R103 in Vrede stopped a speeding vehicle. “Two other vehicles joined the one that stopped. One officer approached the suspects and a firearm was pointed at her and she was instructed to come near the vehicle,” Kareli said. The other officer, seeing what was happening, tried to respond but rifles were also pointed at her and she was also instructed to approach the suspects. “Both officers were put in the vehicle and the suspects fled the scene,” Kareli reported. Vrede stock theft police, who reacted after receiving information about the kidnapping, came across the three vehicles and a shoot-out ensued. A female police constable was shot and wounded in the right leg. The suspects fled. The officials were disarmed and dropped off in bushes near Walkerville. They were found unharmed. The suspects are still at large. Vrede police are investigating a case of attempted murder and armed robbery. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLive. Read too, Two Free State traffic cops kidnapped while on duty, at The Citizen. En ook, Twee Vrystaatse verkeersbeamptes ontvoer, by Maroela Media
Sibanye-Stillwater retrenchments are 'punishment' for strike, claims NUM Fin24 reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has labelled Sibanye-Stillwater's plans to restructure its gold operations, and potentially retrench more than 2,000 workers, as a "form of punishment" for a three-month strike at its operations this year. In a statement on Wednesday, the union said it was shocked to hear that the company was contemplating the retrenchment of employees at Beatrix 4 shaft in the Free State and Kloof 1 and 2 plants in Gauteng. "The NUM cannot dismiss the fact that this is a form of punishment for the strike period in which gold sector workers, through their unity, secured a reasonable victory in terms of wages and working conditions. This is capitalist barbarism at its best," the union stated. Sibanye on Tuesday announced that its gold division had launched a formal consultation process in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act which could lead to the possible retrenchments of 1,959 employees and 465 contractors. NUM said it believed Sibanye planned to repurpose Beatrix 4 to mine uranium with an intention to use subcontractors. Sibanye’s spokesperson confirmed that the company was exploring the opportunity to mine uranium at Beatrix 4 because, with higher prices, an economic case might be made for it now. "We're not sure whether it will come to fruition [or] whether it will be viable … But essentially, the gold mining part of it has now reached the end of its life … we can't continue to absorb losses," he said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24 Police discover bodies of 19 alleged illegal miners at mine in Krugersdorp The Citizen reports that police in Gauteng have confirmed the discovery of 19 bodies of alleged illegal miners at one of the active mines in the Krugersdorp area, on Wednesday. According to Brigadier Brenda Muridili, preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased were moved and placed where they were discovered. “No foul play is suspected at this stage and post mortem will determine the cause of death,” Muridili indicated. An inquest docket has been registered for further investigation Read the original of the short report in the above regard at The Citizen. See too, Nineteen 'illegal miners' found dead at a Krugersdorp mine, at SowetanLive
Growth of 5% is the minimum SA needs to reduce unemployment, says Reserve Bank deputy governor Bloomberg News reports that according to SA Reserve Bank deputy governor Rashad Cassim, SA’s economy needs to expand consistently at 5% for years to create jobs and lower an unemployment rate that is among the world’s highest. But, for an economy that expanded at an average rate of 1% in the past decade and is being buffeted by rolling electricity outages, labour unrest and transport bottlenecks, accelerating growth to 5% may be a challenge. “Going from a 1% economy to 3% isn’t rocket science for SA. Unfortunately, 3% gets the economy going, but it will not bring unemployment down. To get unemployment down, we really need systematic 5% growth every year and that’s a different debate,” Cassim commented on Tuesday. The unemployment rate is presently 33.9% – the highest on a list of 82 countries and the eurozone monitored by Bloomberg. The International Monetary Fund projects that SA’s jobless rate will reach 35.2% in 2022, which will be the highest in the world (though data for some countries is unavailable). Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Amogelang Mbatha at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Tongaat Hulett business rescue team says it will make good on payments due to thousands of cane growers BL Premium reports that according to the SA Farmers Development Association (Safda), the business rescue practitioners tasked with resuscitating debt-laden Tongaat Hulett have vowed to make the outstanding R400m payment to thousands of cane growers for September cane deliveries. Meantime, the SA Canegrowers Association has requested urgent engagements with the President and the ministries of trade and agriculture to map out possible government financial intervention in the situation threatening the livelihoods of thousands of sugarcane growers and workers delivering cane to a number of Tongaat mills in KwaZulu-Natal. The two associations met on Wednesday with the Tongaat business rescue team. After the meeting, Safda’s Siyabonga Madlala said the interaction with the practitioners was fruitful as “they’ve given an undertaking that they have confirmation the banks will fund the payment to growers”. More than 4,300 growers and 14,642 farm workers have been affected by Tongaat’s business rescue which began on 27 October. According to SA Canegrowers, an estimated R345m will become due at the end of November for October deliveries. In a statement the association said although the engagement with Tongaat’s business rescue practitioners had been positive, it also highlighted the magnitude of the task at hand, and the need for government intervention to ensure that Tongaat’s growers could survive while the business rescue process continued. A shutdown of the 130-year-old company would see nearly 15,000 permanent and seasonal farm workers out of jobs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Michelle Gumede at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Foreigners, children found in ‘slave-like’ conditions during Joburg warehouse raids The Citizen reports that a multi-disciplinary raid launched by the City of Johannesburg’s environmental health services, involving City Power, the JMPD, the CRUM department, Building Control and the Department of Labour, took place on Wednesday morning in a building on Wright Street that many assumed had been closed for years. Disturbing scenes were revealed at a dust-filled illegal textile warehouse in Industria West, Johannesburg. “We were targeting recycling companies (offensive traders), food handling business and manufacturers,” Joburg deputy communications director Nthatisi Modingoane explained. The goal was for public health bylaws and the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act to be enforced. One JMPD official labelled the illegal operation’s setup “nothing less than slave-like”, with another grimacing while inspecting living quarters. When the JMPD first arrived at the scene, labourers scattered, scaling metres-high walls to avoid being arrested. Fifty illegal immigrants from Malawi were arrested by the JMPD and taken to Langlaagte police station for processing. At one of the factories raided, there were 25 people living and working in a facility, children included. In a narrow, leaky alleyway behind the warehouse, workers were made to sleep in windowless rooms. Twenty fines for the contravention of regulations on hygiene requirements for food premises, were issued, and a prohibition order issued. One of the businesses was issued with an order to cease operations due to health risks. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nica Richards at The Citizen
Old visa applications stuck in centralised pipeline will be processed by SA missions BL Premium reports that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will allow officials at SA missions abroad to process visa applications received between 12 January and the end of August. The department's director-general, Tommy Makhode, indicated in a directive that the permission was being granted because missions had been unable to timeously transmit visa applications received between those dates for adjudication by the head office in Pretoria. The latest directive follows the one issued on 31 August, which announced that due to a build-up of visa applications and long delays, the DHA would revert to the previous system in terms of which visa applications were processed by missions. The return to the decentralised system took effect from 1 September. At the time, diplomatic sources had understood that applications already made prior to the reintroduction of the decentralised system would continue to be handled in Pretoria. The centralised system of visa application processing was introduced by way of a directive earlier in 2022, but it created such a bottleneck that businesses complained that it was impeding foreign investment and the attraction of critical skills into the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Court clarifies that work beyond retirement age doesn’t mean contract can’t be terminated later on grounds of age In a letter to the editor, Michael Bagraim, DA shadow deputy employment and labour minister and well-known labour lawyer, writes as follows: “In an interesting judgment at the Labour Appeal Court concerning the retirement age, much of the previous accepted practice and law on the topic has been clarified and to a large degree changed. Up until a year ago the advice has been that should someone work beyond retirement age, they are in effect working on a new contract with no retirement age. This has been completely debunked by the court. In a ground-breaking judgment, the Labour Appeal Court specifically stated that if an employer permits an employee to work beyond an agreed or normal retirement age, that does not mean they cannot terminate the employment at a later stage on the grounds of age. An employer may fairly terminate the contract based on age if there is an agreed or normal retirement age. All of this is very much dependent on whether the contract of employment or the normal retirement age within that workplace has been set. Should the employee work beyond that retirement age they do not accrue further rights.” Read the original of the abovementioned letter at BusinessLive
UCT black academics call on Blade Nzimande to establish panel to probe allegations of racism The Star reports that according to University of Cape Town (UCT) professor Dr Tiri Chinyoka, issues of racism are being swept under the rug at the world-renowned university. Chinyoka, who represents black academics and staffers at UCT, indicated that he was in the process of taking the matter up with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. He said only an independent commission appointed by the minister could solve issues of racism that have allegedly been going on for years at UCT. Chinyoka was speaking on Newzroom Afrika following media reports that black academics and staff were fed up with alleged racism at the institution. According to Chinyoka, any probe initiated by the senate and university council would be self-defeating. “We stand by our assertion that there is a governance dysfunction at UCT… We want the minister to intervene because the university is in crisis,” he said. Chinyoka claimed that the findings of the inquiry panel established by the UCT council in September 2018 in the aftermath of Professor Bongani Mayosi’s death by suicide in July 2018 have not been implemented, and thus only an independent commission by the minister could help solve issues facing black academics and staffers at UCT. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star
A whopping R130m in salaries paid to over 300 public servants to stay at home doing nothing IOL reports that the SA is spending at least R130 million on the salaries of 305 suspended public servants, among them 57 senior government officials. This was revealed in a parliamentary reply by acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi to a question posed by DA MP Mimmy Gondwe at the end of September. Nxesi’s reply showed that R90m in salaries for suspended public officials was spent across the nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal having the biggest bill at R33.5m, for 75 suspended public servants. Added to the R90m spent on over 226 public servants in various departments in the public sector, Nxesi said R40.2m was being spent on 79 suspended public servants at national departments. One of the officials who has cost taxpayers the most in wages during suspension was a public servant from Nxesi’s own public service department. This Level 16 official has cost the taxpayer a whopping R4.95m in wages while suspended for at least four years. Labour law dictates that suspended employees have to be paid in full. On Wednesday, Gondwe commented that the reply was proof that there was a discipline management crisis in the public sector. She said there had to be systems in place to ensure that public officials who were tasked with handling disciplinary matters concluded them instead of having scores of employees suspended without consequence. Gondwe opined that government had to develop punitive measures that would penalise officials for not concluding disciplinary cases. Gondwe also said it was possible that officials were scared to act due to the issue of cadre deployment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mlambo at IOL Beaufort West municipal manager back at work after panel finds year-long suspension unlawful and flawed News24 reports that the Beaufort West municipal manager Jackson Penxa is back at work after being on suspension for almost a year on allegations of serious misconduct. This followed an internal disciplinary hearing that found that the municipality acted unlawfully in suspending him and that the process had been flawed. Penxa was reinstated on Monday following a decision by a municipal panel. He returned to work on Wednesday. The presiding officers found the process followed during Penxa's three suspensions this year had been flawed. The panel also found that the disciplinary proceedings against Penxa had been unlawful. Penxa faced charges that included failing to carry out lawful instructions; poor performance in his position as municipal manager and accounting officer; prejudicing the administration by failing to manage the financial administration of the municipality and failing to take reasonable steps to prevent irregular, unauthorised or fruitless expenditure. Among the claims were allegations relating to the management of fraudulent and inaccurate overtime and acting allowances. In the panel’s findings, the presiding officer said they could not find "enough substantive non-compliance with the regulations considering the contraventions". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 (subscriber access only)
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