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, 3 February 2023.
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'Challenged' Eskom runs job ad for new CEO with 'integrity and ethics' Fin24 reports that Eskom on Sunday published a quarter-page advertisement for a new group chief executive following the resignation of current boss André de Ruyter in mid-December last year. It indicated that "a leader with unquestionable integrity and ethics" with a track record of "turning around commercially and operationally challenged organisations" was needed to take the helm at SA's embattled state-owned power utility. The deadline for applications is 27 February. De Ruyter assumed his position on Christmas Day in 2019 and was the utility's 11th CEO since 2007, when load shedding was first implemented. "The job of Eskom group chief executive in its current configuration is impossible. There is a lack of support and when this became clear to me, it became fundamentally untenable (to continue) given the repeated attacks on me and Eskom’s strategy by senior members of government," De Ruyter commented after he resigned. This followed a barrage of public attacks on him led by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan's and President Cyril Ramaphosa's subsequent failure to publicly support him and his management. De Ruyter's more than three years at Eskom have been marked by death threats, sabotage, relentless accusations and investigations, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a major lack of urgency from government to heed calls for additional capacity. According to the job ad, Eskom employs 40,421 people and has annual revenues of R246.5 billion. It also has debts of just under R400 billion. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Riaan Grobler at Fin24. Read too, Eskom publishes ad for toughest job in the country, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Gauteng teacher shoots knife-wielding intruder dead during school hostage drama News24 reports that on Friday a teacher at Kagiso Senior Secondary School in Gauteng allegedly shot dead an intruder who had stabbed him with a knife. According to the Gauteng Department of Education, the intruder gained access to the school through the main gate when it was remotely opened for a car to drive in. He proceeded to the administration block and demanded to see the principal, but was told that the principal was in a meeting and could not see him at that time. The man found teachers in the staff room attending a meeting and allegedly held them hostage. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello reported further: “According to a preliminary report, one of the teachers managed to escape and fired one shot in the air. The man charged at the teacher, stabbing him in the arm, and the teacher shot him. The man was certified dead on the scene and the teacher was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment." The department said its psychosocial unit would be dispatched to the school on Monday to offer counselling to pupils and teachers. Meanwhile, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the department would be beefing up security at schools. He made this commitment after the fatal stabbing of a Grade 10 pupil from Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan on Thursday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24. Read too, Man killed after holding teachers hostage, at SowetanLive SA soldier killed, another injured after helicopter came under fire in DRC News24 reports that a South African soldier was killed and another injured when they were attacked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday. The soldiers were flying an Oryx helicopter when it came under fire in Goma. A spokesperson for the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), Siphiwe Dlamini, indicated: "A crew member was fatally shot. Another suffered injuries, but continued flying the helicopter and landed safely at Goma Airport. The SANDF is in the process of informing family members of the soldiers involved in this unfortunate incident." Defence Minister Thandi Modise, her deputy, Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary for Defence, Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, all expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the wounded soldier a speedy recovery. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 With professors in peril, some universities introduce protection services City Press reports that Durban University of Technology (DUT) principal and vice-chancellor Professor Thandwa Mthembu is now being protected by bodyguards, following a security threat. This makes him the second university head after University of Fort Hare principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu to engage security guards. Meanwhile, other institutions, such as North-West University (NWU) and University of Johannesburg (UJ), offer security services to staff and students. City Press asked the country’s 22 other universities whether such measures were in place following the murder last month of Mboneli Vesele, who had been Buhlungu’s bodyguard. Vesele was shot dead in his car outside Buhlungu’s residence. DUT spokesperson Alan Khan said the council had resolved to provide personal protection for Mthembu after reviewing a security assessment report. Last year, Unisa had reportedly been in the process of procuring bodyguards for its executives, including Unisa’s vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula. This was at the height of the protracted strike by union Nehawu. But, Unisa has yet to hire bodyguards, allegedly due to internal squabbles. NWU has also implemented security measures for its executive management. UJ said it had an in-house security department responsible for providing safety and security services to its community. When risk assessments identified a need for additional services to supplement normal operations, the department procured that from contracted service providers. CPUT, Stellenbosch University, the University of the Western Cape and the Vaal University of Technology all indicated that they had no protection services for their executives. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press (subscriber access only) Compensation Fund urges employers to report injuries on duty as soon as they occur The Citizen reports that the North West branch of the Compensation Fund last week hosted two days of training for organised labour in the province with a focus on compensation under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and compliance in the workplace with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The exercise was an initiative by the Department of Employment and Labour. The main objectives of the training was to provide organised labour representatives with the relevant knowledge, information and capabilities to effectively and efficiently support, educate and guide workers with their claims and other COIDA processes, as well as to ensure that occupational injuries were curbed at workplaces. Speaking at the session, assistant director for the Compensation Fund, Paul Nyathela, explained that it was important for employers to immediately report any injuries that happened while the employee was on duty, irrespective of their nature or urgency. He said that that was important as more often than not complications from the injury arose at a later stage. He also honed in on the fact that if an employer delayed in reporting the incident, the employee could also take initiative to report it. “All occupational injuries and diseases should be reported to the Compensation Fund by the employer to avoid any unfavourable circumstances or complications that may arise as a result of failure to report cases. An injury may appear as not serious at the time it took place but can resurface at a later stage and with the request of the treating Doctor it can be reopened. We, therefore, plead with you to always urge your colleagues and employers to ensure that all the cases are reported whether big or small,” said Nyathela. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen. Read too, Workers and employers urged to report injuries to Compensation Fund, at Daily News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
‘Quiet hiring’ becomes one of the top trends in the workplace, but has possible legal implications for employers Moneyweb reports that ‘quiet hiring’ is listed as one of the top workforce trends for 2023 by information technology research and consultancy company Gartner. This relatively new phenomenon is when an organisation acquires new skills without actually hiring new full-time employees. According to Gartner, although it can refer to bringing on short-term contractors, it usually means giving current employees more responsibilities beyond their current job description. Fiona Leppan of Cliff Dekker Hofmeyr’s employment practice, says given the current economic climate in SA, quiet hiring has become quite an attractive option as it “provides the employer with the flexibility of leveraging resources efficiently and avoiding future retrenchments.” But, Leppan says employers embarking on a “quiet hiring” strategy should be mindful of the legal implications. “One can see quiet hiring as opportunism where the employer has [their] back against the wall because of costs but it could also be seen as gross unfair labour practices impacting on the health and safety of employees and their family responsibilities.” The Basic Conditions of Employment Act protects employees through the regulation of working hours and working days, regardless of the amount the employee earns. The employer must consider the health and safety – mental health included – and family responsibilities of employees. “If people are overburdened and expected to work after hours and most weekends you are interfering with those core rights recognised in the act,” Leppan pointed out. She suggests that employers conduct a proper assessment of the workload, namely what the work entails, how many people are necessary to do it, and what skill set is required to do the work. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Amanda Visser at Moneyweb
SA Veterinary Association says government mum on plea to get vets back on critical skills list EWN reports that the managing director of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), Gert Steyn, says they are taking steps to get veterinary professionals back on the critical skills list. The profession was removed from the list last year. But according to Steyn, association has not yet received a response or acknowledgement of receipt from government on their proposal. He said the number of students doing veterinary studies was dwindling, which could have an impact on food security and safety. "Over 60% of positions that are advertised – this is now the combination rural and urban – are still vacant after 12 months, but if you are a veterinarian trying to find a job, 50% of them find a job within one month. So, it shows that there's a critical imbalance. In theory in a fairly even labour market, one would expect this to be fairly equal – around three to six months – but this is obviously an anomaly,” Steyn explained. The University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute is the only institution in SA offering a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree. Steyn said vets not being on the critical skills list also had an impact on sourcing lecturers for the degree and certain positions in Onderstepoort have apparently remained unfilled for some time. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Melikhaya Zagagana at EWN
Interpreters used by Western Cape legislature struggle with zero pay Weekend Argus reports that due to an administrative glitch, the Western Cape Legislature (WCPP) hasn’t paid a handful of its interpreters for several months; forcing them to have a bleak Christmas and even longer JanuWorry. Some interpreters even claimed to have taken sick leave as they could not afford to fill their vehicles with petrol to get to work. Newly-elected Speaker of the legislature, Daylin Mitchell, indicated that it was an “unusual and highly regrettable” situation brought about by “an administrative oversight”. An investigation has revealed that several invoices dating back to August last year have gone unpaid. Some interpreters complained that the situation had become “untenable”. According to their service-level agreement, the interpreters were supposed to receive their money within 30 days of a job. They receive R580 an hour, if the event they’re interpreting is hosted at the WCPP. Mitchell claimed that measures were being implemented to prevent a “recurrence of this unfortunate situation”. He stated: “I have raised this matter with the Secretary to the WCPP and the matter is now being dealt with on an urgent basis. Once all the outstanding payments have been processed, the Secretary will ensure that the necessary consequence management is effected and control measures put in place to prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate situation” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brandon Nel at Weekend Argus Muvhango cast members down tools for the second time in three months over salary non payments City Press reports that a dramatic story is playing out behind the scenes of the popular SABC2 Tshivenda soapie Muvhango. Last week, actors downed their scripts for the second time in three months after their salaries were not paid. This came a few weeks after Word of Mouth Pictures, the production house responsible for the soapie, fired CEO Mandla KaNozulu for the alleged mismanagement of millions of rands. A support staff member at Muvhango’s Joburg studios reported that the cast members were called to a meeting on Tuesday and were informed about the production’s money issues. “Everyone was informed that there is no money and therefore we cannot be paid this month. We were told that our salaries will be paid later and there is a delay once again because the SABC had delayed paying the company and that affected our salaries,” the staffer stated. The cast and crew members apparently failed to show up for work after the staff meeting. “We are not working this week because no one has been paid. The cast members from Venda left and no scenes have been shot because our salaries are not in,” an actor indicated. The actor went on to say: “We have asked them to inform us in time when there are [money] issues because it can’t be that we are always informed at the eleventh hour. We need prior notice so that we can make proper arrangements for our families and our other financial commitments.” In November, it was reported that the cast and crew were only told on payday that they would not be paid because there was a payment delay on the SABC’s side. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Julia Madibogo at City Press (subscriber access only) TS Galaxy boss Tim Sukazi accused of not paying January salaries Sunday Times reports that Tim Sukazi, the owner of Premier Soccer League outfit TS Galaxy, has been accused of not paying the January salaries of some of his players, and technical and supporting staff. This after Sukazi took the first team and some members of his family to Turkey in December where Galaxy played friendly matches. The trip caused unhappiness among Galaxy players and staff as they “were compelled” to sacrifice at least 10% of their November salary for the club to afford their 18-day stay overseas. The only Galaxy employees paid their full January salaries are said to be coach Sead Ramovic and his assistants Adnan Beganovic and Mustafa Kodro and the players who featured in the club’s 4-0 win over Lamontville Golden Arrows last Sunday. Salaries at Galaxy are normally paid on the 28th or 29th of every month, but those who didn’t receive them in January were left with nothing to pay for their expenses. “Last season around the same time the same thing (unpaid salaries) happened. The supporting staff were not paid for two months. He (Sukazi) has not even bothered to explain the situation, everyone is in the dark. Sukazi opted against addressing his staff because he is afraid that this might get to the media. This has left the workers in the dark,” a source within Galaxy commented. The saga of salaries has left the staff puzzled because it happened in a week when their boss announced that Galaxy had acquired the status of Vasco da Gama in order for their women’s side to compete in Safa’s Super League. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sazi Hadebe at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
Police officers attend weeklong kidnapping workshop to bolster response to rising cases EWN reports that a workshop aimed at equipping South African law enforcement agencies on how to deal with kidnapping and extortion incidents has been hailed as a success. The weeklong programme to combat kidnapping and extortion was held in Cape Town recently. Representatives from the United States, including the FBI, and the United Kingdom, presented the workshop. The city's mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, explained that the workshop was needed not only to address these crimes, but to equip officers who investigated them. "These crimes are on the increase in South Africa, and while we need to effectively address kidnapping and extortion, we also need to equip the officers who respond and investigate. The knowledge gained and relationships built are invaluable in combatting the syndicates involved in these crimes in Cape Town. By working together, we are able to enhance our capabilities, strengthen our response, and possibly prevent some of these crimes," Smith stated. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntuthuzelo Nene at EWN
Cosatu says government must halt wasteful R1bn Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship ‘deal’ The Citizen reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on the government to halt its planned R1 billion sponsorship of English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur FC. The trade union federation said in a statement on Friday, that while it supported all efforts to revive the tourism sector, and the need to advertise SA around the world to encourage more tourists to visit our shores, it did not understand why SA Tourism had to spend more than a third of the budget allocated to promote the country’s tourism sector on one deal. “This is alarming in the absence of any factual evidence showing the return on investment for such a deal. This has been scorned by tourism and marketing experts as little more than a bail out by a struggling developing economy of a pampered English soccer team, whose impact on promoting tourism to South Africa has not been quantified,” the statement claimed. According to Cosatu, the amount allocated was wasteful expenditure. It commented further: “Tourism’s importance is sometimes overplayed, it remains a largely low-wage sector that is vulnerable to adverse natural, geopolitical and global economic contingencies on which government has no control over. […] Too much emphasis is placed on these service and primary sectors, but this is not transformative in terms of the neo-colonial structure of neither the economy nor its location in the international division of labour.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen. Lees ook, President steun nie Tottenham-borgskap, by Maroela Media. As well as, Tourism Minister set to pull plug on Spurs deal, at Sunday Times (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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