In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 10 February 2023.
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New electricity minister will have final word, claims Mondli Gungubele Business Times reports that according to Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, the new ministry of electricity in the presidency will have singular authority and make the final decisions regarding SA’s electricity policy. Speaking on Friday, Gungubele said the new ministry would dictate the strategic approach to electricity and that President Cyril Ramaphosa had structured the role in that way so that it did not tread on the domains of other departments. He asserted that its minister would have the last word on anything involving electricity. “This is a project; having analysed the magnitude of the crisis and the many departments … the president thought that the crisis should not be vulnerable to a multiplicity of decisions. It must have a technical focus and a political focus so that when decisions are taken, there is one authority,” said Gungubele. Ramaphosa announced the plan to appoint a minister of electricity during his state of the nation address on Thursday amid an energy crisis that has sparked vocal protests from business lobby groups and consumers. Thursday’s announcement added to concerns that there would be overlaps and contested areas of control between ministers, particularly as the minister of public enterprises will still be regarded as the shareholder minister for Eskom. Energy analyst Chris Yelland pointed out that SA now has five ministries involved with electricity governance, with ministers already in regular conflict over differing visions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Business Times (subscriber access only). Read too, Ramaphosa defends decision to appoint minister of electricity, at BusinessLive Electricity minister just 'a project manager', says Gwede Mantashe Sunday Times reports that ANC leaders were caught off guard by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of an electricity minister in his state of the nation address on Thursday. Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) Minister Gwede Mantashe, who is also ANC national chair, said he viewed the newly created ministry of electricity as nothing but a project management intervention to deal specifically with load-shedding. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mantashe said the electricity minister would be limited to dealing with the load-shedding crisis while he and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan would continue with their respective work as it related to energy. This “project manager”, he stated, would pull things together under one roof, in a similar way to the work now done by the National Energy Crisis Committee. He added: “I have no problem with the announcement because electricity was not in DMRE anyway, so I cannot be unhappy with an announcement that does not impact on the department that I lead.” Mantashe said as far as he was concerned, the new ministry would have no bearing on his duties in the department of energy. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, like Mantashe, said he viewed the ministry as a temporary measure which was not a deviation from the governing party’s conference resolution to hand Eskom over to the DMRE minister. A source in the ANC NEC said: “Even Gwede was caught by surprise. I think he knew something was coming but what that was he did not know. Gwede’s reaction said it all. He said this is a project manager. What is that?” ANC-tripartite alliance partners such as Cosatu had also not been consulted on the matter, said the labour federation’s president, Zingiswa Losi. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande Amashabalala & Kgothatso Madisa at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). Read too, Mantashe’s hopes of controlling Eskom dashed as a new minister is set to take over, at Mail & Guardian (subscriber access only) Trade union federations give mixed reactions to national state of disaster declaration City Press reports that trade unions have expressed mixed reactions to the declaration of a national state of disaster due to the power crisis in the country, as announced during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address (SONA) on Thursday. Ramaphosa said that this would enable government to respond to the electricity crises and its effects and allow the state to provide practical measures to support businesses in food production, storage and retail supply chain, including the rollout of generators, solar panels and uninterrupted power supply. He also announced that he would appoint a minister of electricity. The SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) criticised Ramaphosa’s decision to introduce a minister of electricity without dealing properly with corruption at the ministry of mineral resources and energy (DMRE). Saftu added that one of the disadvantages of the declaration was the possible abuse of processes because disaster management allowed the state “to accelerate energy projects and limit regulatory requirements”. The federation expressed disappointment that Ramaphosa did not move to override the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) approved tariff increase for April 2023, or at least instruct the minister of energy to subsidise poor households wholly. The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) noted that the economy could not grow while there was load shedding and said they expected to see progress in the next six months. “The state of disaster should be utilised to provide the power utility with all the necessary support. The February Budget Speech needs to finalise the details of reducing the Eskom debt by fifty percent and also empower the government to deal with the coal cartels that are hobbling the power utility with their corrupt tendencies. Law enforcement agencies need to also tackle the cable theft mafia that is destroying the nation's infrastructure,” Cosatu exhorted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Majavu at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, Cosatu, SACP happy with Ramaphosa's energy crisis interventions, at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Back up Sona promises with action and funding, labour federations urge Ramaphosa BL Premium reports that labour federations commented on Friday that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address (Sona) was uninspiring and lacked a detailed plan to take the economy out of the “depressing situation” it which it found itself. They expressed growing frustrated with the government’s lackadaisical approach to addressing the country’s socioeconomic crisis. Cosatu, Saftu, Fedusa and Nactu called on government to address the slow economic growth, the high unemployment rate of 32.9%, and the rising inflation that has resulted in a sharp increase in the cost of living. Cosatu affiliate Nehawu said it was disappointed Ramaphosa had failed to mention anything about filling vacancies in the civil service. According to general secretary Zola Saphetha, the Sona address lacked a comprehensive vision and a detailed plan and instead “we heard the same old promises and nothing new or inspiring”. Reuben Maleka of the PSA, a Fedusa affiliate, said the president’s silence on public service challenges was extremely disappointing. “He [Ramaphosa] is clearly not very concerned about the state of public institutions such as hospitals, schools, and government departments suffering from chronic staff shortages and operating with less than 60% of the required human resources,” Maleka commented. Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi said the Sona mimicked the “economic frameworks of neoliberal capitalism that the ANC is so committed to” and expressed doubts that any of the promises Ramaphosa made during Sona would be kept. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the Sona was “useful only if the budget funds it”. The 2023/2024 budget is set to be to be tabled in Parliament on 22 February. Pamla added that it was “alarming” that the department of cooperative governance & traditional affairs (Cogta) and SA Local Government Association (Salga) had offered “nothing tangible to rebuild collapsing municipalities”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA Post Office pushing ahead with plans to retrench 6,000 workers, CWU says Fin24 reports that according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the SA Post Office (SAPO) is going ahead with plans to retrench 6,000 workers. CWU general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala indicated SAPO "dropped a bombshell at the doorstep of the union by giving a notice in terms of Section 189 and 189(A) [of the Labour Relations Act], which means it intends to dismiss 6,000 workers." According to Tshabalala, this happened a week after SAPO had called a meeting with unions to discuss salary cuts of 40% and work-hour reductions. He claimed: "The company failed to adhere to its own processes where such matters should and can be discussed at the bargaining chambers with all the key stakeholders." A SAPO spokesperson responded that they were in the midst of "a consultation process about this matter," and that no final decision had been taken. SAPO, which suffered a R2.3 billion loss in 2020/2021, is facing several financial challenges, including issues around paying over medical aid contributions and debts. Treasury previously projected that the number of SAPO employees would shrink from 16,275 in 2021/22 to a projected 10,254 in 2024/25. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Ahmed Areff at Fin24. Read too, Cape Town mayor concerned about closure of Post Office branches, at EWN
‘Critical’ shortage of artisans in South Africa The Witness writes that there’s a shortage of a number of scarce skills in South Africa, with one of the areas most affected being artisans. The Minister of Higher Education and Learning, Blade Nzimande, recently said that SA needed at least 60% of the matrics from the class of 2022 to pursue artisan-type training to meet the country’s demand for scarce skills. The department advised the number of students entering artisan training in TVET colleges would be increased from 17,000 to 30,000 in the 2023 academic year in an attempt to close this shortage gap. Kelvin Perimal, managing director of Zama Training & Development in Durban, said the shortage of artisanal skills in the country was critical. He pointed out that eThekwini Municipality, along with many other municipalities in SA, was experiencing a serious problem of sewage spillages and dilapidated storm water systems, but there were not enough skilled and professional plumbers, engineers and builders to effect repairs. “The demand for these skills is there, but we just need more young people to open themselves up to it,” he noted. Perimal also disputed the misconception that there was no money in artisan work, noting that a newly-qualified bricklayer could earn anything from R15,000 to R20,000 a month. KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube last month outlined the provincial government’s plans to convert non-viable schools that had dwindling enrolment numbers into vocational skills centers to address the shortage of technical skills Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Witness Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA faces large exodus of Zimbabweans as expiry date for ZEP permit looms Cape Argus reports that SA, which was once looked upon as a place of refuge and possible safe haven for Zimbabwean nationals, is gearing up for what is expected to be one of the largest exoduses this year of Zimbabweans. This follows a directive by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi that the current six-month extension of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) will be the last extension, so bringing the ZEPs to an end on 30 June. According to the “Country Report South Africa: Complementary pathways and the Zimbabwean Dispensation Project” authored by UCT associate professor Dr Fatima Khan and UCT’s refugee rights unit, this will impact 178,000 holders of the temporary protection permit. The ZEPs were the government’s temporary response to the large numbers of Zimbabweans entering the country from 2008, thereby placing strain on the asylum-seeker system. In September 2010, the SA government announced the Dispensation Zimbabwean Project (DZP) permit lasting four years, which was extended for four years in August 2014, and renamed the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP). Another extension was granted for three years, ending in December 2021, with the permit having been re-branded as the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP). The grace period given until 30 June 2023 was to allow for ZEP holders to apply for alternate status in SA. Zimbabweans feel that the decision to end the permit was largely political for numerous reasons, including gaining support among South Africans over the country’s position relating to foreign migration into the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shakirah Thebus at Cape Argus
Police corruption remains a 'serious problem' despite decreasing cases, say experts News24 reports that according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), there was an 11% decrease in police corruption cases last year, but experts say that corruption remains a serious problem within the SA Police Service (SAPS). Fifty-nine incidents of police corruption were reported in the last year, an 11% decrease from the previous year, according to the IPID annual report. Corruption Watch indicated in its annual report for 2022 that most corruption cases involved extortion and soliciting bribes, followed by the sale and theft or disposal of exhibits and the destruction of police dockets. Corruption stems from the upper structures of the police force to constables and low-ranking officials, who line their own pockets and misuse their power, said Melusi Ncala of Corruption Watch. There were networks of corruption within the police, he claimed. David Bruce of the Institute for Security Studies said that there were many instances where police were connected to organised crime networks. There was also evidence of “chronic corruption” which had been reflected in recent prosecutions instituted against senior SAPS personnel. Bruce said that a dysfunctional disciplinary system, a lack of good governance and a "stamp of approval" from politics could all lead to corruption in the police. Meanwhile, Richard Mamabolo of the Police and Prison Rights Civil Union was at pains to point out that only a "minority" of the police force was involved in criminal activity, with the majority committed to fighting crime. Bruce supported these sentiments. Lesiba Thobakgale of the SA Policing Union condemned any form of corruption. When asked about the problems SAPS faced, Thobakgale cited a lack of resources, lack of human capital, no salary increases, police killings and issues of mental health. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at News24 (subscriber access only) People who are not disabled got disability grant due to fraud by doctor and SASSA official IOL reports that the Hawks serious corruption investigation members have arrested 15 suspects aged between 28 and 58 in connection with disability grant fraud at the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa). Spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo, Captain Matimba Maluleke, said a medical doctor allegedly connived with a Sassa official to enable people who were not disabled get disability grants. “Between June and November 2020, the Jane Furse-based medical doctor and the former social grant administrator at the Jane Furse Sassa offices who is now a ward councillor allegedly recruited members of the community to apply for a disability grant whereas they were not disabled. It is further alleged that the doctor would certify on the application forms that the applicants were disabled, and the former Sassa administrator would successfully process the applications,” Maluleke reported. Allegedly, the first payments from Sassa to the applicants would be given to the doctor and the former administrator to share, while the other payments would be for the applicants. Sassa officials received a tip-off about the fraudulent activities and reported the matter to the Hawks, who instituted an investigation. The suspects were arrested during a sting operation, charged and warned to appear in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 March. Other suspects yet to be arrested include another medical doctor. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at IOL
North West police captain arrested for alleged theft of diesel from a police vehicle IOL reports that a North West police captain has been arrested for allegedly stealing diesel in Brits. Captain Juan Oosthuizen was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly siphoning diesel from a police vehicle. He appeared in the Brits Magistrate's Court on Thursday, facing a charge of theft. The case against him was postponed to 15 February for a formal bail application. "The Captain attached to the Brits Visible Policing, was allegedly caught on Saturday afternoon, February 4, 2023, draining diesel out of the tank of a parked state vehicle. Consequent to investigation by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU), the member was arrested on Wednesday, February 8, 2023," a North West police spokesperson reported. Meantime, four other police officers were arrested in two separate incidents for theft, defeating the ends of justice and corruption. Sergeant Thapelo Rammekwa, was arrested for alleged theft of a generator. He reportedly recovered the stolen generator but did not book it into the exhibit register. He was arrested on Tuesday and appeared in the Madikwe Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, where he was released on R500 bail. Sergeant Maria Mosiamisi, Sergeant Keaobaka Rantoane, and Sergeant Thapelo Molifi were arrested for allegedly demanding R10,000 from a motorist. They appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for corruption. They were each granted R2,000 bail and the case against them was postponed to 14 April. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molaole Montsho at IOL. Read too, Four North West cops arrested over theft and corruption appear in court, at IOL Ten years in jail for KZN cop who offered to release female suspect in exchange for sex, but then failed to do so IOL reports that a 43-year-old police sergeant who demanded sex and promised to release a 32-year-old woman who had been arrested for shoplifting, but failed to release her, has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in jail for rape. Police sergeant Philani Praiselord Mkhwanazi was sentenced by the Richards Bay Regional Court, following his conviction on rape and corruption. nPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara reported: “In November 2020, the 32-year-old complainant was arrested for (alleged) shoplifting and taken to the Esikhaleni police station where she was kept with another woman arrested for the same offence. At some stage, Mkhwanazi moved the complainant out of the cell and into another room. There he asked her for sex in exchange for her release. She gave consent on the understanding that she would be released. However, when they were done Mkhwanazi did not release her, but instead returned her to the cell. She then reported the incident to her cell companion, and another police officer at that station and evidence was secured.” In aggravation of sentence, the prosecutor handed in a victim-impact statement compiled by the complainant which indicated that since the incident she had been ostracised by her family, that she lived in fear and had lost her dignity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisipho Bhuta at IOL Other internet posting(s) in this news category
PSA says Minister Lindiwe Sisulu must stop investigation into Spurs deal whistle-blower TimesLive reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has called on Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to halt an investigation to track down the whistle-blower who leaked documents about the controversial SA Tourism deal with Tottenham Hotspur. The PSA said on Thursday it had learnt, with disgust, about plans by the SA Tourism board to probe how the discussion document about the deal with the English Premier League football side was leaked to the media. “The PSA urges the minister of tourism to intervene and stop this irrational and wasteful forensic probe as the outcome of the investigation is not in the interest of SA. Such persecutions must not happen if the country hopes to rid itself of the scourge of crime and corruption. A crime-free country with sound infrastructure is what will boost tourism,” the trade union stated. It added: “The protection of whistle-blowers remains key and central to the fight against corruption. The interests of the country and its citizens must be prioritised over self-enrichment schemes disguised as government programmes to improve the country.” On Wednesday, the SA Tourism board said it would investigate the leaking of the document, which contained information about the three-year, R1bn sponsorship arrangement. The investigation is seen as a move to act against whistle-blowers who are needed to fight corruption. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penwell Dlamini at BusinessLive
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