In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 9 December 2022.
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Government calls on public sector unions to return to talks on 10% pay demand BL Premium reports that the government has refused to give in to demands by disgruntled public sector unions for a 10% wage increase and instead called on parties to go back to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) to resolve outstanding disputes. Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) acting minister Thulas Nxesi in his response to a list of demands by labour federations Cosatu, Saftu and Fedusa, whose members marched to the National Treasury on 22 November, said the government remained committed to engagement with organised labour on a variety of issues of mutual and national concern. These included the national fiscus, job creation, the filling of vacant funded posts within the public service, and buffering public service employees against cost of living shocks. “It is for this reason that government again calls on parties to the PSCBC to return to the negotiation table where any outstanding disputes can be resolved,” Nxesi said in his response dated 30 November. “Returning to the negotiation table will also allow for the 2023/24 wage negotiation process to commence, so that it informs the National Treasury budgetary process, in line with the Public Service Summit resolution,” Nxesi pointed out. On the 10% wage demand, the DPSA said the employer remained committed to continue engagements with labour to ensure public servants’ livelihoods “are protected, within the available fiscal resources”. DPSA spokesperson Moses Mushi reported that the department had not received a response from the unions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Public sector wage deadlock endures as unions gauge appetite for strike Fin24 reports that public sector union structures in the Western Cape held a march to Parliament on Friday in protest against the government's 3% baseline wage offer, insisting on a 10% hike. The march came after structures in the other eight provinces held a national day of action in November. But, the unions acknowledged that their demonstrations would remain one-day protests, as they were still canvassing structures and membership about their appetite for a full-blown strike. While the unions said that a full-blown strike was still being seriously considered, they advised that there were a host of engagements they needed to have with members, other unions, and other labour federations before the deadlock got to that point. Cosatu Western Cape’s Siya Mgolombane said all options were on the table to get the grievances of workers across to the government. He added that Cosatu was considering everything possible within the limits of the law. Saftu national spokesperson Trevor Shaku indicated: "There will be a meeting by the Joint Labour Working Team to assess and decide on the way forward. Yes, such actions as picketing at the ANC's national conference and others have been discussed, but the team will further evaluate and finalise the next course of action." Shaku said the team comprised representatives from all the federations including from the now-independent SA Policing Union, which notified Saftu through a letter last week that it would be leaving the federation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane & Na'ilah Ebrahim at Fin24. Read too, Disgruntled civil servants march in Cape Town over wages, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Department of Health dismisses 'fake news' circulating on social media about Covid-19 News24 reports that the National Department of Health says it has noted a misleading message being circulated on social media platforms and attributed to the Ministry of Health. The fake message calls for everyone to wear a mask because of the alleged detection of a new Covid-19 variant of concern. On Saturday, the department dismissed the claims, referring to them as "fake news". "The department would like to dismiss this as fake news by faceless sources whose sole intention is to create unnecessary panic," department spokesperson Foster Mohale said in a statement. Mohale added that there was currently no epidemiological evidence that new Omicron sublineages would be of substantially greater risk compared to other Omicron sublineages. The department said it was working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and scientists to continue to monitor all Covid-19 lineages. It urged South Africans to continue to be vigilant as they take part in festive season activities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24. Lees ook, Departement maak stem dik oor ‘Covid-19-gerug’, by Maroela Media Truck driver kidnapped and tortured near Lebombo border crossing lucky to escape News24 reports that a 33-year-old truck driver was lucky to survive after he was allegedly kidnapped near the Lebombo border post in Komatipoort on Thursday. The driver was queuing with other truck drivers who were waiting to cross over from SA through the Lebombo border post into Mozambique when he decided to leave his truck to get some food. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, as the man returned to his truck, a group of about four men armed with a firearm, pangas and knives forced him into some nearby bushes. "Upon arrival in the bushes it is further alleged that his hands and feet were tied and he was allegedly assaulted by his assailants and sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body," said Mohlala. The suspects allegedly used the truck driver's phone to cash in from his bank account. They then ensured that the driver's family transferred more cash for the sake of his freedom. That same evening, the truck driver managed to escape and sought help from other truck drivers. A kidnapping case was opened at Komatipoort Police Station, but there have been no arrests yet. Meanwhile, police dismissed rumours that another truck driver was kidnapped by suspects demanding R50,000 as ransom. "Truck drivers are advised not to leave their trucks while waiting to be attended to by the officials working at Lebombo border post," Mohlala cautioned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24. Read too, Truck driver kidnapped and tortured near Lebombo border post, at IOL. En ook, Trokbestuurder veilig ná ontvoering by grenspos, by Maroela Media Sex workers tell deputy minister that police rape, rob and abuse them GroundUp reports that about 200 sex workers gathered at the East London International Centre on Thursday for a dialogue with Deputy Minister for Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu about government’s plans to decriminalise sex work. She encouraged all sex workers to read the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Bill of 2022, which would decriminalise “the sale and purchase of adult sexual services”. Bogopane-Zulu also indicated that the Bill was currently opposed by traditional leaders and religious groups. Sex workers told the deputy minister that criminalisation had left them open to abuse by police. They said police raped, robbed and harassed them. A male sex worker accused police of deliberately locking up arrested gay sex workers with other males in the holding cells, knowing that they would be gang raped. Another sex worker told the minister she had been raped several times by police officers after being arrested. Yet another sex worker said they are not only victimised by police but also by some clients and members of the community. Katlego Rasebitse, national organiser for Sisonke National Sex Workers Movement, said police should be focussed on serious crimes not the soft target of sex work. He also said the organisation was fighting for the removal of criminal records. Bogopane-Zulu confirmed that the department would be lobbying for the expunging of criminal records for sex work. Comments on the Bill are due by 31 January 2023. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Johnnie Isaac at GroundUp. Read too, Sex workers and the law, on page 18 of Sunday Times of 11 December 2022
Pressure mounts on Gordhan to act against Eskom CEO De Ruyter Sunday Times reports that as SA was again plunged to stage 6 load-shedding last week, pressure mounted on Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Pravin Gordhan and the Eskom board to take action against CEO André de Ruyter. The ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting on Friday heard calls from some of its members that De Ruyter should be shown the door. The charge against De Ruyter was apparently led by ANC Limpopo provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe. But no decision was taken by the meeting on the matter. Earlier in the week, Department of Mineral Resources & Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe accused Eskom of agitating for regime change by implementing the power cuts. But on Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa came to De Ruyter’s defence, telling reporters that Eskom management was not deliberately causing load-shedding. Gordhan briefed the ANC NEC about plans to end load-shedding and told the meeting about cases of sabotage and theft. But not everyone was satisfied with Gordhan’s presentation. “We wanted them to come with a solid solution. From what we have had from De Ruyter, there is no solution. Every time he talks, he threatens us about stage 8. That is not a solution,” said an NEC member. According to government insiders, Gordhan is losing patience with the Eskom executives. An official privy to discussions between the government and Eskom executives said it was now up to the board to take a decision on De Ruyter. “They don’t seem to care. We had a meeting. They don’t seem to have a sense of what is happening in the country. They are complaining about money. They are tone deaf. They live in their own world,” he commented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Graeme Hosken, Andisiwe Makinana, Thabo Mokone & Tankiso Makheta at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). Read too, Eskom an ‘anti-black institution under De Ruyter’, at Sunday Independent Blame game as Eskom crisis deepens City Press writes that while various local governments are putting contingency plans in place for a situation in which the country will be without power for half a day, the leaders responsible for the Eskom crisis are blaming each other. Meantime, there is no sign of a solution to load shedding in the short term. There is also no sign of the extra money Eskom needs to buy diesel. In any case, no one knows the true state of the power supplier’s financial affairs because its results for the previous financial year have still not been finalised, months after the legal deadline. If Eskom does not get this money, it can only buy diesel again in April to supplement the poor performance of its coal-fired power stations and thus limit load shedding. The Cape, Johannesburg and Tshwane metros, none of which is under ANC control, have in the past week begun to take precautionary steps in case Eskom decides to move to stage 8 load shedding – during which South Africans would be without power for up to 12 hours a day. Joburg’s City Power has put all its staff on standby if load shedding worsens. All three metros complained in the past week about the massive impact load shedding was having on critical infrastructure. On Thursday, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe accused Eskom of actively campaigning for the overthrow of the state with its perpetual load shedding. Professor Anton Eberhard from UCT tweeted that the organisation’s CEO, André de Ruyter, could hardly remain in his post after this latest attack by the minister. According to Dirk Hermann, CEO of th trade union Solidarity, its members who worked at Eskom believed that the probability of stage 8 load shedding was very low, while the likelihood of a total collapse of power in December was almost zero. However, there was a variable and saboteurs were deliberately trying to disable the system, he added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Antoinette Slabbert & Dawie Boonzaaier at City Press (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Mantashe looi Eskom oor fase 6: Dis ‘erger as staatskaping’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Numsa fuming over 300 Eskom jobs 'lost unfairly' through cancellation of contract Fin24 reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has demanded that Eskom reinstate about 300 workers whom the union says lost their jobs unfairly after the power utility did not renew a contract with service provider Kusile JV. The union's JC Bez region members held a picket at Megawatt Park on Thursday and handed over a memorandum demanding that the matter be rectified. The affected employees include cleaners and gardeners. In a statement, Numsa said the affected workers would have been transferred to the new service provider and absorbed into the business in terms of section 197 of the Labour Relations Act, but that did not happen. "Numsa is of the view that they have been unfairly dismissed,” the union indicated. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha responded by saying that a new independent contractor was appointed at the expiry of the service contract that employed some of the affected workers. "Each service contract has a start and an end date, as does each job on such a contract. As a condition of the service contract, each new contractor is required to first offer job opportunities on the same conditions to the employees of the previous contractor, which was the case here. Those employees who complied with the requirements for interviews and screening by the new employer were indeed appointed. Those who declined forfeited any employment opportunity with the new contractor," Mantshantsha indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
Over 11,000 cops promoted in bid to 'boost morale and well-being' News24 reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has promoted 11,364 officers to higher ranks in a bid to promote morale and enhance service delivery. Some of the promotions date as far back as April. National commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced on Friday that, of the 11,364, a total of 7,694 members had been promoted from the ranks of Constable to Sergeant and from Sergeant to Warrant Officer. "The promotion of members on the grassroots level of policing is part of the organisation's Human Capital Investment Strategy, which aims to boost the morale and well-being of members," Masemola indicated. Some of the appointments were of senior managers in key positions, such as the Divisional Commissioner for Technology Management Service (TMS) and Crime Intelligence (CI). Major General Dumisani Khumalo was appointed Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence at the rank of Lieutenant General from 1 December 2022. He joined the police in 1991 as a student constable and has served within the Operational Response Services (ORS) and Crime Intelligence for the past 26 years. Major General Edith Mavundla has been appointed Divisional Commissioner for Technology Management Service at the rank of Lieutenant General. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Read too, Crime Intelligence finally has a new boss, with Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo now heading the beleaguered unit, at Daily Maverick. En ook, Misdaadintelligensie kry nuwe hoof, by Maroela Media
Four-day work week pilot so successful, all participating companies will be sticking to it The Citizen reports that the country’s largest four-day work week pilot was a huge success, according to the first published research results. Companies rated their experience a 9 out of 10, and none will be returning to a five-day week post-trial. In addition, the companies saw revenue rising to an average of 38% compared to the same period in the previous year. The extra day off became so valuable to workers, that 70% said they would demand a 10-50% pay increase to return to 40 hours. The new research published last week reveals that companies that gave their staff an extra day off per week, with no reduction in pay, experienced increased revenue alongside reduced absenteeism and resignations. Workers felt less stressed and burnt out and reported higher rates of life satisfaction, while the findings also showed significant declines in the duration and frequency of commuting, plus other positive environmental outcomes. None of the participating organisations will return to a five-day week. “Given the looming mental health crisis South Africa faces, we are very encouraged that the results show that the 4-day week can truly and positively impact wellbeing in the workplace,” Karen Lowe, director of 4-Day Week South Africa, said. She emphasised the exceptional improvements in health and wellbeing metrics of the trial. More than 30 companies and almost 1,000 employees in countries including the US, Ireland and Australia, recently concluded a six-month 4-day week pilot program, coordinated by non-profit 4-Day Week Global. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen
SACC condemns Prasa for banning preaching on new trains EWN reports that the SA Council of Churches (SACC) says it should have been consulted before the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) banned preaching on trains. Prasa recently banned preaching, gambling and informal trading on new train coaches. The rail agency defended the move, saying it would enhance passenger safety and onboard cleanliness. But the decision's been met with outrage from various quarters, with commuters taking to social media condemning Prasa for what they called the agency not understanding the people it served. The SACC's Mzwandile Molo said of all the rules Prasa implemented, preventing preachers from spreading the gospel was the most confounding. According to Molo, Prasa should have involved the SACC to find some middle ground when it came to church gatherings and preaching on trains. He said the agency should have also engaged commuters to help them understand why preaching was prohibited. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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