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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Public sector unions gear up for indefinite wage strike from 6 March BL Premium reports that a coalition of public sector unions are set to embark on an indefinite strike from 6 March in support of their demands for above-inflation wage increases. The unions, representing thousands of the more than 1.3-million public servants, have refused to take part in the 2023/2024 wage talks which began at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) recently. The talks kicked off with the employer tabling a 4.7% wage offer for the first year, to be followed by inflation-linked increases in 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. The strike action by members of Nehawu, Popcru, Denosa, Nupsaw, Sapu, Pawusa, Saepu and Samatu could cripple government service delivery. Notice of the strike action delivered to the Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) on 23 February warned that government employees would strike if government did not accede to workers’ demands for a 10% wage increase. The letter signed by Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha advised as follows: “Our members, throughout the country, will begin the strike action at 6am on March 6 and the strike will continue until all our demands are met.” But while labour federation Cosatu has indicated its support for the looming strike, another labour federation, Fedusa, condemned “the conduct of the minority parties in council (the PSCBC) for trying to collapse the negotiations.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Public sector workers intensify fight for 10% wage increase TimesLive reports that disgruntled public sector employees intend to to demonstrate at government departments this week as they intensify their fight for wage increases. On Monday, workers gathered at the offices of the Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) in Pretoria, amid a heavy police presence. Sebuti Masemola of police and prisons union Popcru indicated: “We will be demonstrating every day. We will pick one department, but will not disclose which one. We will just rock up at a department, especially national offices, and do our demonstrations.” He added: “We are not happy about the unilateral implementation of the wage increment of 3% (in respect of 2022/2023). We are also not happy about the manner in which the employer is ignoring what was done in 2022/2023 and wants to enter into negotiations for 2023/2024 without solving the impasse of 2022/2023.” He was adamant that workers would not stop demonstrations until their demands were met. Masemola advised that workers were demanding a 10% increase. “We still demand the R2,500 for housing, we still demand the insourcing of community healthcare workers. We still demand an increase in the danger allowance. We still demand the filling of vacant funded posts,” he made known. The DPSA said it operated without disruptions despite the presence of protesters. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLive
Most of the public hospitals in Gauteng don't have valid fire certificates City Press reports that Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has revealed that several public hospitals in the province do not have valid fire clearance certificates. This was advised on Monday in a written reply to questions from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng legislature. Nkomo-Ralehoko said that most public hospitals did not have floor plans or adequate fire detection systems. When asked how often hospitals were inspected for fire and infrastructure safety, Nkomo-Ralehoko enumerated numerous instances of fire safety inspections not having been conducted for some time or at all. She said the only two hospitals with valid fire certificates were the Thelle Mogoerane and Bertha Gxowa hospitals. Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom pointed out that there had been at least eight provincial hospital fires in the last seven years. These had occurred at the Charlotte Maxeke, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Steve Biko, Tambo, Bheki Mlangeni and Carletonville hospitals, but none of them had adequate fire-prevention measures to prevent a repeat. He said it was scandalous that so little had been done to upgrade fire security in public hospitals. "We need to know what form and measures are being taken to ensure staff and patients are protected from fire hazards," he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yoliswa Sobuwa at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, Dangerous lack of fire safety compliance at Gauteng Hospitals, says DA’s Jack Bloom, at The Star Nurse stabbed by two men in parking lot at Helen Joseph Hospital on Monday TimesLive reports that a male nurse at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg is in a stable condition after being attacked by two men in the hospital parking lot. According to Gauteng health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, the nurse was stabbed on the abdomen on Monday. The assailants are alleged to have approached the nurse who went outside for a break and attempted to rob him of his cellphone before stabbing him. Before this, the two men were allegedly unruly at the hospital’s accident and emergency department. “They violently demanded hospital staff immediately attend to their friend while [the staff were] busy with patients who came first and had more severe injuries. The two men also argued with staff and other [people] who accompanied patients at the accident and emergency department. One of them became violent and slapped a [person] accompanying a patient. Security personnel at the hospital intervened and the culprits fled the scene after their attempt to rob the health worker failed,” Modiba said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLive Angry residents hijack Tshwane electrician and force him to reconnect electricity Pretoria News reports that last Thursday evening, a City of Tshwane system operator from the Soshanguve depot was hijacked and held hostage. People drove around with him and tried to force him to power up their electricity. City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said in response: “The manager managed to escape and the City is grateful for a life spared. The City strongly condemns this criminal behaviour in any part of the municipality. The perpetrators of this despicable behaviour should know that as a consequence of their actions, all teams operating from the Soshanguve depot have been grounded to safeguard the plant, equipment and personnel.” He added that the persisting phenomenon of harassment and robbery of officials while on duty had dire consequences in that it hindered service delivery. He appealed to residents to stop intimidating, assaulting and threatening officials and damaging City assets and infrastructure. But, residents reacted on social media to the City condemning their behaviour, and continued to complain of prolonged power outages, some of which went on for days while unexplained either by the City or Eskom. Some posted pictures of workmen lying on the ground, napping, and asked if these were the people who required protection and if it was the service delivery they should accept. Security personnel and the Tshwane Metro Police Department have been requested to patrol Soshanguve Block KK and Soshanguve Block F Depot to prevent any possible attacks. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News MPs told millions of rand spent protecting heads of tertiary education institutions Cape Times reports that MPs have expressed concern over threats made to vice-chancellors and personnel, as well as related safety and security measures, at institutions of higher learning. Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, chairperson of the higher education portfolio committee, reported that during the committee’s oversight visits, they found that the vice-chancellors at Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University Technical Vocational and Training (TVET), and Umfolozi TVET were all provided with security guards. In January, University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, was shot dead in what was believed to be a failed hit on Buhlungu. “That is not healthy. That is not normal. The safety of their lives as leaders of institutions and as members of our community is highly concerning,” Mkhatshwa noted. Higher Education Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, commented on the matter: “The question of safety on our campuses has somewhat been taken for granted because the risk to security and safety of students and of staff and stakeholders has not been as high as it should be recently.” In his briefing to the committee, director-general Nkosinathi Sishi reported on a study conducted in 2022 on the state of security at universities. It showed that the cost of bodyguards at Durban University of Technology stood at R1m, while at the University of Fort Hare the figure was R25m. Sishi advised that the University of Zululand provided the most bodyguards or private security, compared to any other institution in the country, followed by the University of Johannesburg and UCT, the University of Free State and Durban University of Technology. He pointed out that the investment in security showed that a huge amount of money was being spent on security and sooner or later the institutions would look like prisons. Mkhatshwa said there should be an annual audit at higher institutions of learning of interventions put in place to arrest risks. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ramaphosa calls urgent cabinet meeting in wake of Eskom corruption allegations Mail & Guardian reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa called a special cabinet meeting on Monday night in the wake of allegations of corruption involving Eskom and in anticipation of his much awaited cabinet reshuffle. Government communications acting director general Michael Currin confirmed that Ramaphosa had called for an urgent cabinet meeting, but said he had not seen the agenda. However, insiders said Ramaphosa called the meeting to finalise regulations for the energy state of disaster. One insider opined that Ramaphosa would also have wanted to discuss the energy crisis as well as the new electricity minister. Meanwhile, the ANC apparently also held a national working committee (NWC) meeting on Monday during which former Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter’s tell-all interview with eNCA was apparently discussed. De Ruyter made explosive revelations that high-ranking ANC politicians were involved in corruption at the power utility. Last week, Eskom announced that De Ruyter, who oversaw SA’s longest period of load-shedding in more than a decade, had left the troubled parastatal with immediate effect. The announcement came after the embattled chief executive’s television interview last Tuesday evening, during which he said evidence showed that the governing ANC saw Eskom as an “eating trough”. He admitted to failing to prevent load-shedding, but highlighted entrenched corruption in government and in Eskom. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lizeka Tandwa at Mail & Guardian Gordhan confirms ousted Eskom CEO did speak to him about corruption, but never presented any evidence IOL reports that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has confirmed that former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter spoke to him about alleged corruption practices by a senior government official at the state-owned power utility, but he never offered any evidence. Gordhan was speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Monday following De Ruyter’s interview last week in which, referring to corruption at Eskom, he made shocking revelations that some high-level ministers had said people have got to “eat”. Gordhan said he held discussions with De Ruyter regarding corruption and the involvement of various people, but no names were mentioned. “Yes, he has made allusions about certain individuals, but it was precisely that, allusions ... As far as the law is concerned, I can’t just arbitrarily point to someone and say that person is involved in whatever the suggestion is about being corrupt or being involved in corruption. We cannot rely on rumour, suspicion or what even certain publications call intelligence. There’s a distinction between that and evidence. If Mr de Ruyter has the evidence, which I don’t know, he must take the initiative and do what is legally required of him,” Gordhan stated. Meanwhile, in an interview with 702 a day after De Ruyter’s allegations, Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana said De Ruyter had never raised corruption allegations against an undisclosed minister to the board. Like Gordhan, Makwana said De Ruyter should have reported the matter to the police. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brenda Masilela at IOL Eskom spokesperson to leave power utility on Tuesday Moneyweb reports that Sikonathi Mantshantsha will clock in for his last day as Eskom spokesperson on 28 February, when his three-year fixed-term employment contract comes to an end. The state-owned power utility announced Mantshantsha’s separation from the entity on Monday. His exit follows that of Eskom CEO André de Ruyter less than a week ago when his final day at the helm of the utility was abruptly moved forward by a month. Mantshantsha is a former journalist who once wrote critically of the power utility. According to Eskom’s statement, he was appointed to lead the media desk during a difficult period in which the organisation needed to “restore trust and creditability” in its dealings with the public and stakeholders. “Over the course of three years, Mantshantsha helped improve Eskom’s public image by driving honest and frank communication in the media domain on Eskom’s real position during a difficult period characterised by operating difficulties and increased load shedding. This has seen Eskom become more accountable, agile, and transparent in its external positioning while increasing its share of voice with regular executive team briefings to the public on key developments,” the utility said. Daphne Mokwena, current senior manager for the retail centre of excellence, will take over as leader of the media desk as acting group spokesperson with immediate effect while the utility begins the hunt for a permanent spokesperson. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Moneyweb. Lees ook, Eskom-woordvoerder ook vort, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Trackless mobile machine safety next big challenge, says Minerals Council SA Mining Weekly reports that having last year achieved the lowest fall of ground fatalities ever, South African mining’s next big safety challenge is to achieve greater safety in the use of trackless mobile machines – rubber-tired vehicles that operate in underground mines without making use of rail tracks. In 2021, South African mining suffered 16 trackless mobile machine-related fatalities – and last year that worsened to 17. “We’re going to do whatever we can to bring that down,” Japie Fullard, chairperson of the Minerals SA’s Zero Harm Forum told journalists at the Investing in African Mining Indaba. Following constructive collaboration, 2015 regulations governing trackless machines have now been uplifted, and the Mine Health and Safety Act Trackless Mobile Machinery Regulations for collision avoidance systems promulgated. “It means we must now get into forward-march mode,” says Fullard. Trackless mobile machinery is now a very big focal point and there has been considerable progress in the adoption of collision avoidance systems. On what must be done to improve the safety of trackless mobile machines, Fullard said three things stood out, namely the technology itself and its link to mining processes; proper structuring of traffic management plans to ensure operational readiness within mines; and the importance of training. “If you think that you’re just going to put in technology without upskilling your labour, you are going to have huge problems,” Fullard cautioned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Steep petrol price hike announced for Wednesday, with diesel also pricier Fin24 reports that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced on Monday that petrol prices will jump on Wednesday amid a supply crunch worldwide. The price of both 95 and 93 unleaded petrol will be hiked by R1.27 a litre, while diesel will go up by between 30c and 32c. Illuminating paraffin will increase by 13c a litre, while the maximum retail price for LP gas will be hiked by R5.22 a kilogram. In Gauteng, the price of a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will increase to R22.95, while it will increase to R22.30 on the coast. This is still lower than December's price of R23.45 in Gauteng. The Gauteng diesel price will reach R21.62 on Wednesday, from R18.87 a year ago. Fuel prices are largely determined by the oil price, as well as the rand – as oil is priced in dollar. The rand took a big hit in February. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Helena Wasserman at Fin24. Read too, Massive petrol and diesel price hike from Wednesday, 1 March, at The Citizen
Eastern Cape teacher faces suspension after allegedly forcing pupils to clean up her vomit News24 reports that an Eastern Cape teacher faces disciplinary action after she vomited and allegedly forced pupils to clean up her mess at Nyibiba Primary School earlier this month. The head of the provincial education department, Mahlubandile Qwase, has instructed the department to put the teacher on precautionary suspension, pending an investigation. She is accused of "despicable" misconduct and of endangering pupils' health. The incident occurred on 21 February. Psycho-social support services will be offered to affected pupils. "These allegations are shaming the sector, which is supposed to set high moral standards for learners to follow. As 'in-loco parentis', educators are expected to teach learners the best ways to behave. As such, I find it very difficult to believe that a normal human being, who is a parent and an educator, can do such to young children," Qwase stated. He added that the department would "rope in employee wellness" to look into the teacher's fitness for the job. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Nicole McCain at News24
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