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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Government may hike public sector pay for votes BL Premium reports that in an economic research report released on Monday, Absa said that unprecedented electoral pressure on the ANC would seem to “raise the risk of populist policies” and force the government to grant an amended public sector pay hike. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana pencilled in a 3% increase for public sector wages in the medium-term budget statement policy in October. “We believe the government will have to concede a public sector wage hike in the 2023/2024 financial year that offers a degree of catch-up after the government unilaterally imposed a 3% wage settlement for the current fiscal year,” Absa chief economist Peter Worthington opined. “In contrast to the MTBPS’s unrealistic assumptions ... we have conservatively pencilled in a 5.5% all-in rise in public sector pay,” Worthington indicated. Even though SA’s fiscal position has improved over the past few years, analysts warn that there is likely to be slippage on the wage bill, which will in turn increase the deficit. The dissatisfaction with the ANC and the government’s handling of load-shedding, which has manifested in increased protests and the launch of legal action against the government over power supply, is mounting and could further weigh on its political support. Worthington said that the unprecedented electoral pressure on the ANC was evidenced by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent statement that he had asked Eskom not to implement the regulator’s approved tariff increase for the utility. “He later had to walk back from that when it was pointed out that such a step would be illegal,” Worthington noted. According to Gianmarco Capati of Fitch Solutions, “the ANC-led government will probably push to increase wages by something closer to inflation which we see averaging 5.5% in 2023”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thuletho Zwane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Cosatu has high expectations for Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address on Thursday The Citizen reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has high expectations for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address (SONA) on Thursday. “The President needs to know that this SONA will have political consequences because the public will be giving their verdict in 15 months’ time. What happens in the next few months will be watched closely by workers and South Africans in general,” the trade union federation warned in a statement on Monday. “To restore hope, the Sona needs to present a clear programme and set clear implementation benchmarks and timeframes. The government also needs to account for the implementation of the 2022 SONA commitments as part of building society’s confidence,” said Cosatu. The federation highlighted the current 43% unemployment rate, rising levels of debt and an economy struggling to recover from recession. “These are made worse by 10 hours of load shedding a day, a deteriorating passenger and freight rail network under siege from criminal syndicates, rampant levels of crime and corruption, and dysfunctional municipalities unable to provide basic services. The economy cannot grow, and unemployment cannot be reduced with continuous load shedding. The Lekgotla recommendation for the declaration of a state of disaster needs to be officially implemented,” Cosatu exhorted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen. Read Cosatu’s press statement in the above regard in full at Politicsweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Single sniper gun bullet killed SA Air Force engineer, wounded pilot in attack on helicopter over Congo News24 reports that a flight engineer on a SA Air Force helicopter deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo was killed after being hit with a single round, apparently from a sniper rifle. Sergeant Vusi Mabena was killed in the incident on the Oryx helicopter on Sunday afternoon. He was sitting behind the pilot in command, Major Omolemo Matlapeng, who was apparently hit in the shoulder by the same bullet. The major and co-pilot, Captain Mathew Allan, managed to fly the Oryx, which had its wing catch fire, back to Goma, where Matlapeng underwent an operation on his wound. The incident happened in Kiwanja, some 70km north-east from Goma in the North Kivu province. A photograph shows the single bullet hole which pierced through the window to the right of Matlapeng. The bullet fragments recovered indicate that the shot was probably from a 7.62 calibre Dragunov sniper rifle. The suspected sniper seemingly took position on a ridge where the Oryx in cruise flight and flying low level crossed. SA Air Force sources said Mabena and Matlapeng were from 17 Squadron in Pretoria. Allan is from 15 Squadron based in Durban. The South Africans are part of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco). It is not clear why the Oryx was flying alone, as the SA Air Force operational guidelines are for the crews in conflict areas such as the DRC to always fly in pairs. A Monusco spokesperson said the helicopter had been flying from Beni to Goma when it was hit. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at News24 (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Talle vrae ná SA soldaat in DRK sterf, by Maroela Media In wake of GBV cases, police union worried about mental health of officers EWN reports that in the wake of numerous reports of police officers involved in gender-based violence (GBV), the SA Policing Union (Sapu) is concerned about the mental health of officers. Recently, police constable Lindokuhle Sikhakhane was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his friend as well as his pregnant fiancé. Meanwhile, former police officer Lucky Mudau is standing trial for allegedly shooting his girlfriend Lebo Monene in the parking lot of Tembisa Hospital almost a year ago. These two incidents were among a number of violent incidents involving police officers over the past year. Sapu’s Lesiba Thobagale called for the implementation of measures to support police officers, including increased access to mental health services. "The South African Police Service needs to make sure that employee health and wellness is working and functioning properly because currently it has collapsed. It does not have the necessary professionals who are psychiatrists and psychologists, inclusive of social workers who are supposed to assist our members when they have attended crime scenes, even when they have their own personal challenges at home," Thobakgale claimed. He added that murdering a partner was inexcusable, regardless of the personal problems a person might be facing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN Frustration at Western Cape farmworkers still being transported in trucks like animals Cape Argus reports that the Women on Farms Project (WFP) has been highlighting the precarious and exploitative nature of farmworker transportation. The feminist rural development organisation located in Stellenbosch seeks to capacitate women who live and work on commercial farms to ensure that their rights are upheld and livelihoods protected. It has shared images on Facebook of overcrowded and unsheltered trucks, trailers and bakkies designed for the transportation of goods but not persons. WFP Labour Rights Programme Co-ordinator Denile Samuel said the inhumane way of transporting workers did not consider their health and safety. “Transporting farmworkers in this barbaric way has been the norm for years, as if they are animals. Labour brokers are the main culprits since workers have been outsourced to them. They provide transport to farmworkers in a cheap and unsafe way and make their money on the backs of poor and vulnerable workers,” Samuel indicated. She pointed out that there were laws in favour of workers, however they did not provide enough protection and were not enforced by traffic officials. Samuel argued that the law should eliminate the use of vehicles such as trucks, trailers and bakkies and require that workers be transported in buses. “WFP rejects this way of transportation and urges the government to change the outdated laws to protect farmworkers and especially women farmworkers,” Samuel said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shakirah Thebus at Cape Argus
Untu threatens further legal action against Prasa for outstanding salaries increases EWN reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has missed the deadline to calculate and start paying staff outstanding salary increases in accordance with a court order. The Labour Court last week ordered Prasa to honour the first portion of a three-year wage agreement that would see workers affiliated with the United National Transport Union (Untu) paid a 5% wage increase per year from 2021 until 2023. The Labour Court gave Prasa until the close of business on Friday to submit a payment schedule to the transport union, including calculations of the backdated 5% wage increase for the period between April 2021 and March 2022. Untu general secretary Cobus van Vuuren said that Prasa had failed to meet the deadline and he accused the organisation of delaying tactics. The cash-strapped company has not appealed the Labour Court judgment and is expected to meet with Untu leaders later in February. "In the meantime, we are going to be continuing with the contempt of court and the writ of execution," Van Vuuren advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nokukhanya Mntambo at EWN
SA at crisis point and losing its head start in new rush for green metals, Anglo American CEO warns Fin24 reports that the scramble for green metals and minerals has begun as the world wakes up to the critical role of mining for the energy transition, but Anglo American says SA risks losing its head start as a key mining destination as corruption, energy, as well as logistics challenges reach "crisis point". Anglo CEO, Duncan Wanblad, said in an opening keynote address at the Mining Indaba, which kicked off in Cape Town on Monday, that the "gears have shifted" and the scramble to secure the required metals and minerals was now a more mainstream political and commercial reality for many countries. While SA started with an "enviable and sizeable advantage", it was "fast allowing its head start to be badly eroded, risking its competitive advantage across southern Africa", he warned. "Let me be clear; I believe that this can be fixed," he said, noting that corruption, energy, and logistics were three critical areas that needed to be urgently addressed. "Were these to be fixed, they would dramatically improve the economy of South Africa and its prospects," said Wanblad. He added that these scourges were not unique to mining and impacted the entire economy. The mining industry, and business, more broadly, could play an instrumental role in unlocking value and unblocking the constraints that hindered economic progress in SA and other countries like it, he said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24. Read too, Head in sand moment for Mantashe who uses coal as evidence SA mining is growing, at Miningmx Other postings relating to Mining Indaba
Other general mining postings
Outsourced guards accuse Ekurhuleni municipality of failing to pay them GroundUp reports that the Private Sector Workers Union (PSWU) claims that the City of Ekurhuleni has failed to keep its promise to pay close to 1,000 security employees working for companies contracted to the City. About 70 workers are from two companies, namely Ngodvongodvo Security and Zabalaza Security, have been protesting since last week. The protesters represent 1,000 workers who have not been paid for November and December 2022. Despite having received a letter from the City on 31 January promising that they would receive payments by 3 February, the workers were back protesting at the offices during the early hours of Monday morning, accusing the municipality of not keeping its word. In November, workers from more than five security companies and from sites across Ekurhuleni, including Germiston, Benoni, Daveyton, Alberton, Heidelberg and Boksburg, protested. While money was paid out to most of them following the November protest, they claim to have experienced more problems in December and January. According to the PSWU’s Raymond Tshamano, the municipality and the security companies are each blaming the other party. The late payments started after a coalition government took over the municipality, leaving workers suspicious that the issue has become party-political. But mayor’s office claims payments to security companies are up-to-date. The protestors have vowed to keep protesting until their monies have been paid. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberly Mutandiro at GroundUp
Some 1,300 SAPS cops apply for 200 eThekwini metro police posts Daily News reports that with the eThekwini metro police service finalising its recruitment of 200 law enforcement officers, it has been revealed that about 1,300 constables and warrant officers from the SA Police Service (SAPS) had applied for appointment. Metro police acting head Sibonelo Mchunu reported that after sifting through 100,000 applications, the recruiting team discovered that there were 1,300 applications from SAPS members. The number included constables and warrant officers. Mchunu said he believed SAPS members were attracted by better working conditions in the metro force. He pointed out that besides good working conditions, perks in the metro police were far better than in the SAPS. The salary entry level in the City’s force was R16,000, and with other benefits it went up to R24,000 before deductions, while the SAPS entry-level pay was around R10,000. The earnings of a SAPS warrant officer is believed to be around R20,000, while a constable’s salary is between R10,000 and R16,000. Mchunu indicated that they would call the successful applicants for psychometric and physical tests before sending them for training. Meanwhile, more than 100 persons have applied for the position of head of the metro police, which Mchunu was acting in after the retirement of Steve Middleton last Tuesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Willem Phungula at Daily News
Operation Dudula protests outside court over extension of Zimbabwe Exemption Permit BusinessLive reports that members of Operation Dudula demonstrated outside the High Court in Pretoria on Monday in opposition to the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) extension. The Helen Suzman Foundation is seeking a review of the lawfulness of the decision by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP. It is pursuing its legal challenge despite Motsoaledi having extended the permit until June. The court application is being opposed by Motsoaledi. Operation Dudula has applied to the court to be joined as a respondent in the application. Operation Dudula’s Dan Radebe explained that his organisation was dissatisfied with the extension of ZEPs. “We are here to demonstrate our dissatisfaction with the extensions of ZEPs because the moment you extend it for another six months, it means you are saying to South Africans that they have become accustomed to poverty, so they can hold on for another six months while these foreigners take South African jobs and things like that,” he said. Radebe advised that their application to be part of the proceedings sought to have all ZEPs declared illegal “because they were never gazetted”. He went on to comment: “I don’t remember in parliament or any document where South Africans were consulted – somebody just woke up and decided to issue the Zimbabweans with exemptions.” The matter will be heard in April. It was reported in September that four out of five of the almost 1-million Zimbabweans who are officially outside the country live in SA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at BusinessLive
Report identifies the skills SA needs for the energy jobs of the future Fin24 reports that future energy jobs will require skills in legal, finance, science and technology, entrepreneurship, engineering and social science, to name a few, according to a new report. The South African Energy Skills Roadmap 2023, published this week, is the collaborative work of the South African National Energy Association (Sanea) and Wits University. The roadmap identifies skills gaps for the energy sector of the future. It also unpacks recommendations to ensure the right skills are in place to aid SA’s energy transition. It notes that while fossil fuel-related jobs will decline over the next seven years, there is expected to be a high demand for construction jobs for renewable energy plants. "With the shift away from fossil fuels towards more renewable and clean energy, the initial demand for design, construction and installation-related jobs will be high," the report indicates. Following the construction of renewable energy plants, skills will also be needed for their continued operations and maintenance. "Installation, repair and maintenance is an important emerging area that has significant implications for local enterprise development and community skills development," the report advises. Workers will require specialised skills for these clean energy technologies (such as green hydrogen and even energy storage solutions). Apart from technical specialists that can work with solar PV and wind technologies, others, such as electrical engineering and non-electrical technical skills like boilermakers, welders and mechanical skills, will be needed. Beyond technical capabilities, skills are also required in supportive roles for the just energy transition. These include policy development and research, legal skills, forecasting and modelling as well as mathematics and statistics for energy planning, and development practitioners that can work with communities affected by the transition to renewables. Given the social impacts of the transition, there will also be opportunities for social workers, gender specialists, environmental education and inclusivity specialists and trade union officials. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24
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