In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
|
SAB expansion of Prospecton Brewery in Isipingo to create 25,000 jobs throughout value chain BL Premium reports that on Monday SA Breweries (SAB) announced a R825m expansion of its Prospecton Brewery in Isipingo, south of Durban, which will create 25,000 jobs throughout the value chain. The investment has been widely welcomed as the province recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and the July 2021 unrest that set the Durban economy back by more than R70bn with nearly 200 deaths. The April 2022 floods dealt a further crippling blow to the beleaguered provincial economy. SAB CEO Richard Rivett-Carnac remarked: “Obviously, we will produce and brew more beer locally, and that means we will need to rely on more local suppliers to transport the beer, to sell the beer, and so a very important boost not only for jobs but also for the economy of the province.” He went on to explain that because SAB ran a fairly automated process in its breweries, the expansion would not add a significant number of jobs in the Isipingo brewery, but the additional capacity meant “there will be a significant rise in transport, retail and agriculture jobs in the province, and those jobs will be sustained over a very long term.” Speaking at the launch, KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said: “As the provincial government, we are pleased that this injection will lead to the creation of 25,000 additional jobs throughout the value chain, and we can safely say that this investment will positively impact at least 125,000 people in our province.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mary Papayy at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, SAB's multimillion-rand injection to boost hard-hit KZN economy, at TimesLive. And also, South African Breweries injects over R800 million into economy, at The Witness
NUM’s Gauteng leader, five young union members die in car accident SowetanLive reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has confirmed that its Gauteng leader and five young members have died following a car accident on the N4 toll road between Middelburg and Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. They were returning from the NUM National Youth Structure Conference in Mbombela. NUM spokesperson Luphert Chilwane advised: "The comrades were driving together with the NUM PWV [Gauteng] regional secretary comrade Bonginkosi Mrasi, well-known as “Bongz”. The other five comrades were NUM Youth Structure members at Kloof branch and delegates to the Youth Structure conference. All the deceased are employees of Sibanye Stillwater. The others who have died are NUM Youth Structure leaders and members who are based at the mine's Kloof branch in Westonaria, southwest of Johannesburg. The deceased are treasurer Zukile Maskot, chairperson Lulama Madyosi, secretary Thantaswa Sikani, deputy secretary Retshidisitswe Mbirha and member Dumisani Futshana." Chilwane lamented that the deadly accident happened when the union was preparing to host its 40th anniversary celebration on Saturday at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo. He said although the high-profile event would not be postponed, the union would assist the families of the deceased to carry out a memorial service and funerals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Sibanyoni at SowetanLive Motorist using emergency lane crashes into JMPD officers at N3 accident scene TimesLive reports that on Sunday morning a motorist using the emergency lane on the N3 crashed into a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) patrol BMW at the scene of another accident. JMPD officers Simphiwe Msimanga and Neo Motseke were attending a crash on the N3 South freeway and London Road in Linbro Park when a motorist in a silver Citroén collided into the rear of their stationary vehicle. This pushed the BMW into a white Kia Rio, which was also stationary due to the earlier accident. JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla reported: “The male driver of the Citroén sustained critical injuries. He was taken to Helen Joseph Hospital. The female passenger in the Citroén sustained serious injuries.” The female passenger was taken to Morningside Hospital. There were no injuries in the Kia as there was no one in the vehicle at the time of the collision. Msimanga sustained head injuries and is still in Milpark Hospital, while Motseke has been discharged from the hospital after observation and treatment. A case of reckless and negligent driving was opened at Sandringham police station for investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phathu Luvhengo at SowetanLive. See too, Joburg driver dies after crashing into metro police vehicle at accident scene, at IOL Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public sector unions plan heightened strike action if wage demands aren’t met this week Moneyweb reports that public sector workers, who await the government’s response to their list of demands this week, have vowed to heighten strike action should the state revert with an unfavourable response. Trade unions in the sector are demanding salary increases of 10% and handed over a memorandum of demands to acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi at a protest staged last Tuesday outside the offices of National Treasury in Pretoria. The unions gave government seven days to respond to their demands and present a better offer than the 3% baseline and 4.5% non-pensionable increases which the state has unilaterally implemented. “If government fails to respond, we are going to take the battle to them,” National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi warned on Monday. He said labour federations Cosatu, Fedusa and Saftu as well as Nehawu would meet on Tuesday morning to discuss the next plan of action. “If the government doesn’t bring a positive response to our demands, there’s going to be a serious fight and struggle that we’ll be launching,” said Nkolonzi. The Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) Claude Naicker said its members would continue to stage pickets from Tuesday, followed by nationwide stayaways that would take place on different dates. “We’ll start our plan of action on Tuesday, going forward in all the provinces. We’ve earmarked a specific date for [stayaways and protests] in each province,” Naicker explained. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntando Thukwana at Moneyweb
Parliamentary report recommends stricter ‘use it or lose it’ enforcement in effort to combat illegal mining Miningmx reports that one of the recommendations contained in a report on illegal mining that was presented to MPs on Friday was that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) should stand much firmer on the “use it or lose it” principle where mining rights were concerned, as unused mining rights could create opportunities for illegal mining in SA. MPs serving in the portfolio committees for mining, police and home affairs undertook site visits to five provinces in September to investigate the prevalence of illegal mining in SA. The visits were sparked by an incident in July this year when an armed robbery and sexual assaults had taken place in West Villages, Krugersdorp in Gauteng. The perpetrators were allegedly foreign nationals who worked as illegal miners. In the report following the site visits, it was found that unrehabilitated, derelict and ownerless mines and also mines under care and maintenance were “pull factors” for illegal mining. “The Committees were concerned that the DMRE has not been firm on the ‘use it or lose it’ principle provided for in the MPRDA (Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act). A lot of people are sitting on mining rights that are not used,” the report stated. It was recommended that existing legislation. Which was “fragmented and lacks substantive measures to effectively deal with these activities”, be either amended or better enforced. One of the serious legal gaps, according to the report, is that “illicit mining is currently not criminalized.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liesl Peyper at Miningmx
Case against 'Eskom coal thief' withdrawn due to insufficient evidence TimesLive reports that the case against a 28-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver, who was arrested last Tuesday at the Camden power station in Mpumalanga on charges of fraud and theft of Eskom coal, has been withdrawn. The Mpumalanga spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, confirmed the withdrawal of the charges but declined to elaborate. "Please note that the above-mentioned matter was not enrolled due to insufficient evidence," Nyuswa said in a WhatsApp message. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha also confirmed the withdrawal of the charges and expressed his disappointment with the decision. “It is true, he was released before appearing in court. Reasons for this disappointing act are not clear at this point,” Mantshantsha said. A source at Eskom claimed that the driver was caught in the act as he was about to enter Camden with a truckload of rubble instead of coal meant for the power station. Apparently, the driver collected the load of coal – valued at about R30,000 – from Msimbithi coal mine in Wonderfontein, near Belfast in Mpumalanga, and was supposed to deliver it to the Camden power station in Ermelo. He then deviated from the route to a coal-yard near Middelburg. The driver was eventually stopped before he could enter Camden, and when found with the inferior load he was arrested. The case was then referred to the Hawks for further investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hendrik Hancke at TimesLive Sabotage at Eskom is adding one level of load-shedding, CEO André de Ruyter says TimesLive reports that according to Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, sabotage of the beleaguered power utility’s equipment and coal syndicates are among the criminal activities contributing to one stage of load-shedding. “I would say on average there is a stage or two of load-shedding that can be attributed to these criminal activities,” De Ruyter indicated in an interview with SAfm. He said the issue of sabotage was serious and they had had an incident at the Lethabo power station where an unknown person cut through a conveyor belt that fed coal into the boilers. That had led to significant disruption. He said at some stations, they experienced mysterious failures and oil leakages. At the Camden power station, when a suspect was apprehended, they found the motive for the sabotage that led to the breaking down of equipment was to secure more work from Eskom. “This is a pattern. We found it at other power stations as well. At Tutuka, for example, people deliberately break equipment because that results in a maintenance callout, which puts money into the pockets of the maintenance contractors,” De Ruyter lamented. He pointed out that there were many motives for sabotage, but it was difficult to detect, prevent and prosecute. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phathu Luvhengo at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Court challenge to termination of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit delayed to April TimesLive reports that the Helen Suzman Foundation’s (HSF’s) court challenge of Department of Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP), which was set down for Monday, will now be heard in April. The director of the foundation, Nicole Fritz, said a three-bench panel of judges would hear the matter when it resumed. The ZEP is due to expire on 30 June. The HSF wants the High Court in Pretoria to declare the decision by Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP – and his limited extension to the permit – unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid. The application is being opposed by Motsoaledi. On the case only being heard in 2023, Zimbabwe Immigration Federation chair Luke Dzviti said: “For now it's not a train smash, I am not really disappointed because we still have a grace period. It’s fine as long as it happens before Zimbabwean nationals who are ZEP holders become illegal immigrants. As long as for now, their directive says no-one can be arrested or deported, we are fine with that.” Read the original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sixteen arrested in North West and Gauteng on Sunday for defrauding Covid-19 Ters fund of over R2.2m EWN reports that according to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), 16 people have been arrested in the North West and Gauteng in connection with the defrauding of funds to the extent of more than R2.2 million from the Covid-19 Ters fund. The suspects were handcuffed in both provinces by the Hawks on Sunday. Apparently, three sole directors of different dormant entities applied for relief funds on behalf of more than 47,000 people who were seemingly not employed by them. The funds were subsequently paid into the companies' bank accounts and the money was channelled to certain individuals for personal enrichment. UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping said that they were working with law enforcement to uncover more wrongdoing. He went on to say: "The arrest of these 16 suspects in one operation is the biggest we've had thus far, since the establishment of the Covid Ters scheme. I hope this bold action sends a strong and clear message to those fraudsters that the long arm of the law will catch up with them." Read the full original of the report in the above regard at EWN Two brothers who allegedly tried to bribe labour department inspector with R4,500 EFT arrested IOL reports that the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) have arrested two foreigners who allegedly tried to bribe a Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) inspector. The accused, who are brothers, appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday on corruption charges. It is alleged that the brothers approached a DEL inspector not to issue a compliance order against their shop last Friday. Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekogtodi indicated that they then transferred R4,500 into the personal bank account of the DEL inspector. “The inspector notified the police about the incident and the two brothers were arrested on the 26 November 2022 by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Corruption Investigation and charged with corruption hence their appearance in court today,” Sekogtodi reported. The Mpumalanga Head of the Hawks, Major General Zodwa Mokoena, said he was delighted with the collaboration between the law enforcement agencies and applauded the inspector for reporting the crime. “She further inspires all law enforcement agencies to work with honesty and uproot the element of corruption within the Departments by reporting such incidents,” said Mokoena. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mlambo at IOL
Former SANParks CEO accused of threatening senior executive who allegedly wanted him listed in annual report as a gender-based violence perpetrator News24 reports that former SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni allegedly threatened a senior executive over claims that she allegedly wanted to have him listed as a gender-based violence perpetrator in the company's annual report. The managing executive for tourism and marketing, Hapiloe Sello, claims that Mketeni threatened her in a series of WhatsApp messages and phone calls from an unknown number. In a letter dated 20 November to the acting CEO, Property Mokoena, Sello wrote: "I ... choose to take these threats seriously and request recourse from you, as my employer, in addition, I will also report this entire matter to the police." She claimed Mketeni treated her in a manner that was "disrespectful, contemptuous, abusive, intimidating and threatening". Sello said Mketeni vowed that "he will drag my name through the courts because he is fighting for his life", and claimed "he has evidence of the things I was doing and he is going to expose me". Last October, the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court acquitted Mketeni on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The sexual assault charge he faced, was also withdrawn. SANParks said, at the time, that the judicial process was independent and SANParks was in the process of disciplinary action over the potential contravention of organisational policies and procedures. Speaking to News24, Mketeni said he was challenging his sacking and had taken the matter to the CCMA. He admitted to calling Sello, but denied threatening her. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tebogo Monama at News24 (subscriber access only)
Metrorail reinstates Naledi–Johannesburg line with new electric train sets Engineering News reports that commuter rail service Metrorail resumed the weekday train service between Naledi, in Soweto, and Johannesburg, with effect from Monday. The service will make use of the entity’s new electric modular units (EMU) train sets for the first time. The trains will stop at the Naledi, Merafe, Inhlazane, Ikwezi, Dube, Phefeni, Phomolong, Mzimhlophe, New Canada, Longdale, Croesus, Langlaagte, Braamfontein and Johannesburg stations. There will be new conditions imposed on commuters using “The People’s Trains”, as parent company of Metrorail the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has dubbed them, including no smoking, weapons, littering, eating or drinking, churches, trading or gambling to be allow within the trains. Anyone breaking the rules will be liable to a fine. The EMU trains run at 120 km/h and have the capacity to carry 1,200 passengers. The six-car trains only move when the doors are closed and are fitted with surveillance cameras and air-conditioning. Prasa has budgeted R124-billion for the entire renewal project over 20 years. However, only parts of the country’s railway system are ready for the new trains. Prasa is working on upgrading other parts of its network as it plans to slowly phase out the older Metrorail coaches. Read the original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read too, Metrorail resumes service on Naledi line with new electric trains, at News24
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page