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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Labour Court interdicts Nehawu’s wage strike for a second time BL Premium reports that Labour Court judge André van Niekerk on Monday upheld an order by a colleague interdicting the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) from embarking on a work stoppage in support of demands for higher wages. The Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) had successfully approached the court on Saturday for an order interdicting the strike from going ahead from Monday. Judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje undertook to file reasons for his ruling on Monday. But Cosatu-affiliate Nehawu lodged an appeal against the ruling on Sunday. It argued that as a result of this action the strike could go ahead as planned. On Monday, DPSA acting Minister Thulas Nxesi approached the court for an order granting leave to execute Tlhotlhalemaje’s ruling. In his ruling, Van Niekerk indicated: “In relation to irreparable harm, the case made by the applicant that it will suffer irreparable harm should the order not be granted, as will members of the public who seek to access a variety of public services, is not seriously disputed.” The DPSA was granted leave to execute the order issued by Tlhotlhalemaje. The court order effectively means Nehawu is interdicted from going ahead with the industrial action. Nehawu’s Lwazi Nkolonzi said their legal team was still studying the judgment and a way forward will be communicated. Disruptions at some medical facilities were reported on Monday. According to Nehawu, union members in the departments of higher education, home affairs and public service, as well as the magistrate’s courts, had also downed tools. Nxesi urged unions to return to the public service co-ordinating bargaining council (PSCBC) to resolve disputes in an orderly manner through dialogue. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Nehawu strike disrupts hospitals on Monday, despite interdict TimesLive reports that operations in a number of hospitals throughout the country were disrupted due to the strike by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) on Monday. Nehawu embarked on an indefinite strike to demand a 10% salary increase. National health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said several hospitals were affected by violent and disruptive action outside the facilities. He reported that disrupted hospitals included Carletonville, Leratong and Thelle Mogoerane in Gauteng. In the Free State, Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital and Pelonomi Hospital had been affected. In the North West, Tshepong, Witrand and Moses Kotane hospitals were partially operating and the situation was the same at Khayelitsha Hospital in the Western Cape. Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi said workers were demonstrating peacefully but that force was allegedly used by private security to disperse striking workers. He claimed that at Leratong Hospital “they used violence to dispatch our members and as Nehawu we condemn that.” The Johannesburg Labour Court handed down a judgment on Saturday interdicting the strike. However, the union decided to go ahead with its action as it had filed an application for leave to appeal against the judgment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sinesipho Schrieber at BusinessLive. Read too, 'Our grievances must be heard': Nehawu members go on strike at hospitals, courts in parts of SA, at News24. En ook, Stakers ontwrig gesondheidsdienste op talle plekke, by Maroela Media Nxesi condemns Nehawu strike action as public sector wage negotiations remain deadlocked News24 reports that Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) acting Minister Thulas Nxesi strongly condemned the strike by public servants affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and other public sector unions on Monday. Union members embarked on a mass strike and blocked entry to government buildings, despite a ruling by the Labour Court interdicting the action. Nxesi said at a media briefing on Monday that the principle of no work, no pay was non-negotiable, and any labour action must be conducted within the law. "The department remains vigilant of any illegal activities designed to deny officials and the public access to the premises," he stated. Nxesi urged all departments to have the necessary processes, procedures and contingency strike management plans in place to effectively deal with the strike action. His briefing came just a few hours after the Labour Court in Johannesburg reaffirmed an original interdict of the strike action, which had been granted on Saturday. Nehawu and several other public servant unions have been locked in a wage dispute with the government. The DPSA has proposed a salary increase of 4.7%, while the union is demanding 10% to 12%. Nehawu's Temba Gubula indicated: "The purpose of this strike is to send a message to the government that our members in the public service deserve a decent salary increase. The 3% that was given last year was an insult." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Read too, Hundreds of public service workers down tools on Monday in defiance of court interdict, at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cash-in-transit heists up by 19% in first two months of 2023, and they're getting more violent News24 reports that statistics from the Cash-In-Transit Association of SA (Citasa) reveal that cash-in-transit (CIT) heists increased by 19% in the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. Citasa's Grant Clark said 43% of CIT robberies occurred in Gauteng, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 21%, while 36% of the CIT robberies took place on Mondays. He went on to indicate: "Large groups of perpetrators, up to 30 individuals, frequently make use of explosives and high calibre firearms during these attacks. These criminal acts are becoming more violent, with no regard for life or property." Yet despite the statistics provided by Citasa, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said cash heists were on a downward trend. "This can be attributed to concerted efforts to intensify the fight against serious and violent crime through an integrated crime combatting approach and the close collaboration between the SAPS and CIT companies," Mathe claimed. An independent researcher on CIT heists and Crime Intelligence, Hennie Lochner, pointed out that the robberies were planned well in advance – even as far as 16 months ahead. "Cash-in-transit robberies are a business... it's a job, so they try to execute the robbery with the least effort, the least people to split the loot. They will leave a truck carrying 20 million and hit the one with 12 million, because the split is bigger," Lochner said. He noted that only two things stopped cash-in-transit robberies from taking place – visible policing on the day or police and security company helicopters. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 (subscriber access only). Read too, Cash-in-transit heist gang arrested with explosives for robberies in KZN, Eastern Cape, at Daily News 'Traumatised' emergency staff in Western Cape targeted by violent criminals News24 reports that the Western Cape's health and wellness department said it was concerned that violent criminals were targeting its emergency medical services (EMS) teams. The department reported that criminals had targeted staff on 10 occasions for the year and, although most attacks did not result in serious physical injuries, the staff had been traumatised and essential healthcare services to the most vulnerable were often disrupted. In a statement on Monday, the department said that, over the past weekend, EMS teams were targeted in Parow, Langa and Pinelands. On Saturday, an ambulance crew escaped a robbery at gunpoint as they were travelling down Francie van Zijl Drive, towards Elsies River. On Sunday, a crew member in Langa was slapped in the face by a patient, who refused assistance. In a separate incident, cable theft occurred at the EMS base in Pinelands. The department said that while the unpredictable work environment exposed EMS personnel to many risks, violence should not be one of them. "Staff safety is a high priority for the department, and we will continue to provide the necessary employee assistance programme interventions to the affected personnel and implement essential measures to help ensure that EMS personnel are kept safe. These include staff safety, management strategies, safety stakeholder engagements, and community initiatives," the department stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24
President Cyril Ramaphosa names Kgosientso Ramokgopa as minister of electricity TimesLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night announced former Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Sputla Ramokgopa as the minister of electricity. He also announced the appointment of ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile as deputy president of the country. Ramokgopa was a senior official in the presidency in charge of infrastructure projects. The announcement brought to an end speculation about who would occupy the newly created post to deal with the electricity crisis. Ramaphosa said Ramokgopa's task would to "significantly reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding as a matter of urgency". To effectively oversee the electricity crisis response, “the appointed Minister will have political responsibility, authority and control over all critical aspects of the Energy Action Plan. This will help to deal with the challenge of fragmentation of responsibility across various departments and Ministers which, while appropriate under normal circumstances, is not conducive to a crisis response.” The Minister will be expected to facilitate the coordination of the numerous departments and entities involved in the crisis response, work with the Eskom leadership to turn around the performance of existing power stations, and accelerate the procurement of new generation capacity. Ramaphosa revealed that he had transferred certain powers to Ramokgopa to enable him to do his job. "The Minister in the Presidency for Electricity will remain in office only for as long as it is necessary to resolve the electricity crisis," said Ramaphosa. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLive. Lees ook, Ramokgopa is minister van elektrisiteit, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Vavi lays charges against De Ruyter after allegations made about top politicians with knowledge of Eskom corruption News24 reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) leader Zwelinzima Vavi has laid charges against former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter. In a letter dated 23 February, Vavi had requested De Ruyter to present evidence that he had reported to the police his interaction with a minister whom he had told about a senior politician involved in the looting and extortion of funds at Eskom. Vavi had required De Ruyter to respond by 3 March, but the former Eskom CEO failed to do so, so prompting the charges. In the earlier letter, Vavi had written: "The purpose of this letter is not to pit ourselves against you. Instead, we wish to take action against those responsible regarding the criminal activity you have described." He had also called on De Ruyter to explain why he, or any other official from Eskom, did not report the "criminal activities of syndicates" in Mpumalanga to the police. "Thousands of our members have been plunged into unemployment and deeper poverty after retrenchments caused by load shedding. Theft from Eskom also affects employees' wages, their health and training budgets, and job security. I am sure that you would agree that Saftu has a direct and substantial interest in dealing with the terrible corruption you describe and bringing those responsible to account," the letter had indicated. On Monday, Vavi opened a case at Hillbrow police station, requesting the investigation of De Ruyter to address two issues as per the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca). According to the act, people with knowledge of corrupt behaviour by a person of authority are legally obligated to report it, and failure to do so is considered an offence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malaika Ditabo at News24 Eskom and De Ruyter still silent on ANC’s threat of legal action over corruption allegations Mail & Guardian reports that neither Eskom nor its former CEO Andre de Ruyter have responded to a letter of demand from the ANC sent in response to the latter’s allegations that ruling party politicians benefited from rampant corruption at the utility. They have until the close of business on Wednesday to do so. The letter, dated 28 February, accused De Ruyter of defamation for saying in an interview with eNCA last month that evidence would suggest the embattled power utility was a “feeding trough” for the ANC. The interview drew fire from both Eskom and the ANC. The company released De Ruyter from the remainder of his three-month notice period. He had resigned in December. The ANC said in its letter that De Ruyter’s remarks were “intended to mean, and can be understood by any reasonable person to mean, that the ANC has stolen money from Eskom or that it has received money from Eskom through corrupt and unethical means”. The ANC demanded that De Ruyter and Eskom issue a retraction and an apology. The political party also asked De Ruyter to give reasons why he should not be reported to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) for breach of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) for withholding evidence of corruption. That section of the law obliges heads of companies to report probable corruption involving more than R100,000 to a police officer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Emsie Ferreira at Mail & Guardian
Joburg MMC says Rea Vaya passengers should make alternative arrangements while wildcat strike continues The Star reports that the MMC for roads and transport in the City of Johannesburg, Kenny Kunene, has advised passengers who depend on the Rea Vaya bus services for transportation to seek alternative modes of getting around. On Monday, passengers were left stranded at Rea Vaya stations after bus drivers went on a wildcat strike. Buses at the Rea Vaya depot in Dobsonville, Soweto, were also blocked from leaving. “As it stands, there are no Rea Vaya buses on the road. We ask passengers to use Metro Bus and other modes of transport. I know that the routes are different. We ask that they please bear with us,” Kunene said. He advised that there had been problems with payments to Piotrans, which managed the Rea Vaya bus services. Kunene blamed municipal officials for dragging their feet with the payments, which had resulted in a labour dispute. There were also issues with the Rea Vaya buses not being supplied with diesel because of payment issues. “The drivers are within their rights to strike. There were issues with the tax certificate for Piotrans, but that was fixed. The payments were supposed to be made last week, but they were not, and there was a fire at the metro centre on Friday that affected the IT systems. There was no communication with the drivers and their shop stewards as to what happened,” Kunene advised. He said he expected the payments to be fast-tracked but could not guarantee when the buses would be back on the roads. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Star
Bid to ‘bring sexy back into mining’ to make it an attractive industry for skilled professionals Business Times reports that South African mining companies that have diversified globally are confronting a skills shortage as other industries lure scarce expertise and local skilled staff emigrate. Lee-Ann Samuel, Impala Platinum's HR group executive, pointed out last week that workers were looking for jobs that brought more meaning to their lives, particularly after the pandemic. “The new Generation Z is thinking differently about the work environment and mining is not as attractive as it used to be, so the challenge for us is how we bring sexy back into mining and make it an attractive industry, because with the dynamic nature of skills today you can be a mining engineer but work in banking. So we have to think about and develop strategies to attract a new generation into the workplace,” she pointed out. A global skills shortage, particularly in Canada, has been a risk for Impala. “We have seen a global shrinkage in critical mining skills. Skills are becoming increasingly scarce and more expensive. In Canada we have had high attrition in our critical roles for some time, almost close to 30% of turnover. But we have abated that through a retention strategy,” Samuel indicated. In her view, the skills shortage in SA is a result of socioeconomic conditions. “Retaining skills has become more challenging and we continue to focus on the retention of talent,” she advised. Sibanye-Stillwater said last week it had implemented incentives to attract and retain skills at its US platinum group metal (PGM) assets. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only)
UCT council to meet this week to appoint interim vice-chancellor after Phakeng's exit Cape Argus reports that University of Cape Town (UCT) council is scheduled to reconvene this week to decide on who should be at the helm of the university following the departure of former vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng. The deputy vice-chancellor for research and internationalisation, Professor Sue Harrison, is currently serving as acting vice-chancellor. Phakeng was on leave until her final day in office on Friday. “We are following the process as prescribed by the UCT statute. This requires that, if the office of the vice-chancellor becomes vacant, council – after consulting the university’s senate and the institutional forum – must appoint an interim vice-chancellor to hold office until such time as a new vice-chancellor takes up appointment,” council chairperson Babalwa Ngonyama indicated. The start of the academic year has been not without chaos. Weeks before teaching and learning was set to commence, the UCT Academics Union vowed to hold a first-of-its kind (for the institution) strike by academics over an “insulting and derisory” 3% salary increase for the year. After the university management and the union had managed to reach agreement on the issue, the SRC intensified its protests over fee blocks, student accommodation, and issues related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The Western Cape High Court granted the university an interim interdict ordering that all student protests on campus should cease. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shakirah Thebus at Cape Argus
Saccawu takes Makro to CCMA for firing 379 workers who participated in illegal strike Fin24 reports that the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) has taken Makro to the CCMA over the dismissal of 379 workers found guilty of participating in an illegal strike. The Massmart-owned retailer dismissed the employees at the end of February. This followed a three-month-long disciplinary investigation embarked on by Makro after pickets at its stores on Black Friday weekend. The pickets affected Makro Germiston, Makro Centurion, Makro Silverlakes, and Makro Wonderboom. Massmart said they fired employees who "behaved unlawfully" during the picketing action in November. The company apparently had photos and video footage clearly identifying those involved in "unlawful picketing behaviour". Massmart's Brian Leroni said these dismissals could have been avoided if the union and Makro shop stewards had responded to the company's repeated requests to intervene and stop picketing employees from unlawful behaviour during the strike. He reported the retail group provided disciplinary charges to the dismissed workers on 15 December 2022 and gave them and Saccawu an opportunity and time to deliver written responses. It then gave an independent chairperson the evidence it had and the union's responses for a decision. The chairperson ruled on 23 February that the company should dismiss the employees who were clearly identified on video and in photos. Leroni reported that it was Massmart’s understanding that Saccawu had referred the dismissals to the CCMA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Londiwe Buthelezi at Fin24
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