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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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'Thugs, bullies and big man mentality', says Sadtu as it slams 'abhorrent behaviour' of Nehawu strikers News24 reports that the SA National Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) is furious with its striking sister union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and has accused it of “bullying” and “thuggery” amid violent wage protests. In a statement, Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said their members and leaders in the Eastern Cape were attending a workshop when protesting Nehawu members stormed the venue. Nehawu protestors apparently attacked Sadtu members, demanding that they join their public demonstrations. “This abhorrent behaviour and big man mentality by members of another Cosatu-affiliated union is one of the lowest points of our democracy,” Maluleke claimed. He said the incidents violated the rights of their members and Sadtu would not turn a blind eye when its "members are terrorised and harassed by fellow workers”. Maluleke added that Sadtu "has now accepted that Nehawu is an opponent and not a sister union and shall be treated as such”. Nehawu’s general secretary Zola Saphetha declined to respond to Sadtu’s allegations in the public domain. The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA advised that, while they supported Nehawu's strike, their members would not join the protest. Meanwhile the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) noted with concern the recent acts of violence and intimidation taking place in different healthcare centres and hospitals. It appealed to the striking workers to exercise restraint and act within the confines of the law when voicing their grievances. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nkosikhona Duma at News24 Six people arrested for public violence during Nehawu strike, another for throwing faeces at home affairs office News24 reports that seven people have been arrested and charged with public violence as the nationwide strike by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) continued on Thursday. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe reported that one person was arrested in Galeshewe in the Northern Cape for throwing faeces at the entrance of the home affairs offices. A case of malicious damage to property was registered. In the Free State, three people were arrested at Pelonomi Hospital for blocking the main entrance to the hospital. All three were charged with public violence. In North West, three women were arrested for public violence after they were found burning tyres. Mathe reported that police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protestors at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on Thursday morning after they blocked the main entrance and roads leading to the hospital. The public sector strike entered its fourth day on Thursday. Some Gauteng hospitals experienced a "total shutdown", and some striking workers ordered staff to leave their posts. On Wednesday night, the Gauteng Department of Health obtained a court interdict preventing Nehawu members from obstructing health services in the province. Health Minister Joe Phaahla, who visited Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on Thursday, confirmed that four people had died during the ongoing protest. In the Western Cape, the provincial health department said it was preparing to approach the courts for an urgent interdict after strikers disrupted essential services and blocked ambulances from accessing facilities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos and Marvin Charles at News24 Phaahla says four deaths 'directly' linked to health workers' protests during Nehawu wage strike News24 reports that Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Thursday morning during a site visit to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg that four people have died amid ongoing protests by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu). He advised that a government legal team was considering what action to take regarding the deaths, which could be "attributed directly to the strike". Nehawu and several other public servant unions have been locked in a wage dispute with the government and their strike entered its fourth day on Thursday. "We remain concerned about the strike, especially in terms where there are still reports of acts of intimidation," Phaahla stated. On Wednesday night, the Gauteng Department of Health obtained a court interdict preventing Nehawu members from obstructing health services in the province during the strike. Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the department had been left "with no choice" but to seek relief from the courts given the dire impact of the strike at various facilities. Phaahla advised that four other provinces, namely the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape, had also obtained court orders. “This is a major step forward in the sense that this court is effective. We have received really horrendous stories from staff on how they struggled to get in [to hospitals] to save lives. The situation today (Thursday) has improved in many of the facilities as the police have heeded the court order and have come to ensure the safety of everyone, especially the non-striking workers, to attend to their work responsibilities," Phaahla commented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24. Read too, Joe Phaahla inspects hospitals as Nehawu strikers interdicted, at BusinessLive Ambulance driver reports case of assault after being punched by striking nurse TimesLive reports that an ambulance driver who had been transporting a critically ill child has laid a charge against a nurse who allegedly punched him when he tried to pass striking health workers. This happened outside Stanger Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick said the crew was rushing the child to the facility for urgent care when its members came under attack. She advised that the ambulance driver opened a case of assault at the KwaDukuza police station. This came amid a crippling strike, which started on Monday and has disrupted the functioning of a number of hospitals, community health centres and clinics in the country. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is demanding a 10% increase for its members. “When the team pulled up to the front of the gate, the striking workers started banging the front of the ambulance with a panga. The driver asked them to stop because they were damaging the vehicle. When he did that, he was punched from behind by a male nurse,” Meyrick reported. She advised that they eventually gained access to the hospital to treat the child. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Suthentira Govender at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Four contract electricians dispatched to restore power in Cruywagen Park in Ekurhuleni killed by residents News24 reports that four contract electricians were murdered in Cruywagen Park on Monday after they were attacked by the very community they had come to help. The City of Ekurhuleni said fixing the electricity issues in the area would now take much longer "because workers and contractors now fear for their lives". Members of the Cruywagen Park community complained on Thursday that there had been no electricity since Sunday. According to the City, at around 17:35 on Monday, a municipality electrician called for assistance from contractors in Sarel Hattingh Street in Klippoortjie, Germiston. Contractors of BMLL, a cable repairs subcontractor in Germiston, were dispatched to assist with the fault. A group of community members had gathered near the area. When the contract electricians arrived, they were attacked by the group. According to the City, the contractors' vehicle was picked up, thrown over the bridge, and then set alight. The contractors were then assaulted with various objects. Four contractors were killed in the attack. The City said it was unclear why the contractors were attacked. Police are investigating the matter. A spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni condemned the “barbaric murder of these innocent people”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at News24 After passenger shot in latest attack, Intercape wants to force police to escort buses in Eastern Cape Fin24 reports that long-distance bus company Intercape has again turned to the court in yet another attempt to force government and the police to protect it from violent attacks in the Eastern Cape. This after a passenger was shot in an Intercape bus on its way from Pretoria to Gqeberha around midnight on Wednesday night. The bus came under fire in the Penhoek Pass on the N6 in the direction of Bloemfontein, Intercape reported. The passenger was taken to hospital for treatment. Also on Wednesday, Intercape said its staff and security were threatened repeatedly by taxi operators in Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, and the N2 highway near Idutywa was blocked off for several hours by local taxi associations. Earlier this year, one of its buses was stoned near Cradock, while its buses in Butterworth and Idutywa were prevented from loading passengers. In September, Intercape won a case against the police and national and provincial transport authorities, which compelled them to come up with an action plan to keep its drivers and passengers safe. But according to the company, there has been no government action and the proposed plan did not comply with the requirements of the court order as it wasn't comprehensive or rigorous enough. Intercape has opened 150 cases with the SA Police Service in the Eastern Cape, but according to the company there have not been any arrests despite "overwhelming evidence of criminality". Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Helena Wasserman at Fin24
Eskom mum on progress to find permanent CEO replacement for De Ruyter Sunday Times Daily reports that embattled power utility Eskom has refused to shed light on the process to fill the vacant CEO position after the departure of André de Ruyter. The state owned power utility is reportedly assessing the CVs of applicants and is expecting a “search report” to be submitted to its governance structure on the process to recruit its CEO. The advertised vacancy, opened both internally and externally, had 27 February 2023 as the closing date for applications. Megawatt Park expected this week to meet what it termed a “key milestone” in the hunt for De Ruyter’s permanent replacement with an update from its search partner. However, it refused to share details, including the number of candidates who have applied and the gender breakdown. “Eskom does not provide details on our recruitment process until we have made an appointment. This is because the executive search process is dynamic and discretion and confidentiality is essential when hiring executive candidates,” an Eskom spokesperson indicated on Thursday. The power utility refused to commit to a deadline for the appointment of its CEO. Two weeks ago, Eskom appointed Calib Cassim as acting CEO after De Ruyter’s immediate departure. Cassim had been the parastatal’s CFO since November 2018 after serving as acting CFO from July 2017. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Isaac Mahlangu at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only) Zwelinzima Vavi still has former Eskom boss Andre De Ruyter in his sights Pretoria News reports that despite his failure to lay criminal charges against former Eskom CEO André De Ruyter, SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi still believes there is hope of accountability. Saftu gave De Ruyter seven days to lay criminal charges against the two ministers he mentioned in an interview with television journalist Annika Larsen, when he boldly claimed that the politicians meddled in the running of the power utility. Vavi said that De Ruyter missed the deadline they had set for him, therefore forcing his trade union federation to approach a police station in line with the Prevention of Corruption and Corrupt Activities Act. The Act states that anyone in authority who is aware of illicit affairs involving more than R100,000 should report the matter to the Hawks. This week, Vavi went to the Hillbrow police station to lay charges against De Ruyter, only to find that a similar case was already under investigation. Vavi claimed the police have been disempowered when it came to this issue and they called Hawks, who gave Saftu the case number. “We are quite confident from how they received us that they seem to be very serious that they are going to take up this issue,” Vavi indicated. But he added that they were also sceptical because Saftu had previously laid charges against companies that “were milking Eskom” but nothing had been done. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane at Pretoria News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public enterprises department will cease to exist in terms of government reconfiguration BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa said in the National Assembly on Thursday that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) will cease to exist in future because state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will fall under their line departments. The plan is a long-term one that will form part of the reconfiguration of government departments announced by the president in the state of the nation address earlier this year. Some departments will be merged, but Ramaphosa cautioned this will take time. The DPE oversees large SOEs such as Eskom, Denel, Transnet and SAA, and there has been support from within the ANC for them to be returned to their departments. Big changes in the management of SOEs are in the offing on the basis of the report of the presidential SOE council, which recommended creating a centralised, state-owned holding company to hold strategic assets. Legislation is being prepared to establish this holding company, which will standardise governance procedures of SOEs. Replying to questions by MPs, Ramaphosa defended the expansion of the number of ministers in his recent cabinet reshuffle, saying this was a temporary measure that did not detract from his long-stated commitment to reduce the size of his cabinet. In the cabinet reshuffle Ramaphosa announced on Monday, he appointed Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as minister of electricity to deal with the electricity crisis and Maropene Ramokgopa minister of planning, monitoring & evaluation to enhance the state’s capability. Both ministers are based in the presidency. They bring the total number of ministers to 30. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Landa Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Sibanye-Stillwater slashes the number of retrenchments at Beatrix and Kloof BL Premium reports that gold and platinum producer Sibanye-Stillwater is to retrench 168 workers after initially planning almost 2,000 job cuts as it reduces or stops production at two SA gold operations. Sibanye advised in November that as many as 1,959 workers could face retrenchment as the Beatrix 4 shaft in the Free State was unprofitable and Kloof 1 shaft at Westonaria was nearing the end of its life. The group indicated on Thursday that, after legally required consultation, 1,136 employees had accepted transfers to other positions in the SA region and 552 were granted voluntary separation or early retirement packages. Natural attrition accounted for 103 employees. A further 168 employees could not be accommodated or chose not to participate in the agreed avoidance measures and will be retrenched. That number includes 39 learners who will be given the opportunity to complete their training, as well as 59 employees who declined an alternative position within the company. “While the decision to restructure operations is never taken lightly, the closure of the end of life and loss-making operations are necessary to ensure sustainability of the remainder of the business,” CEO Neal Froneman statedf. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Katharine Child at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Sibanye retrenches only 168 staff at gold operations after 'constructive' engagements with labour, at Fin24
Zwelinzima Vavi has until Friday to give reasons why he shouldn’t be recalled from Saftu The Citizen reports that in what could threaten the growth of the fledgling SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), a resurfacing of a deep tensions between Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA’s (Numsa’s) Irvin Jim may mark a setback to the labor movement in SA. While Saftu and Numsa on Thursday refused to comment on the impact of the growing Vavi-Jim divide, a letter dated 28 February from Jim to Vavi revealed the depth of tensions between the two labour leaders. Jim, who last year blamed Numsa’s second deputy president Ruth Ntlokotse and Vavi for being behind a plot to divide Numsa, has given Vavi until Friday to give written reasons why he should not be recalled from Saftu. Ntlokotse, who is aligned to Vavi, is Saftu president. Section 3.4.8 of the Saftu constitution states that the general secretary shall hold office for a period of three years, “unless recalled in terms of this constitution.” Jim indicated recall could be “if the member violates the constitution of the affiliate or brings it into disrepute, or if the affiliate considers that the person failed to represent the best interests of the union’s members and the working class in general.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brian Sokutu at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
Pretoria chartered accountant gets six years in jail for TERS fund fraud News24 reports that a chartered accountant's plea for a fine instead of a prison sentence failed when the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced him to an effective six years in prison for fraud, theft and money laundering in connection with Covid-19 relief funds. Mark Jonathan Vorster was sentenced on Wednesday. The magistrate sentenced him to six years for 11 counts of fraud, two years for theft and four years for money laundering worth more than R800,000. He ordered that the sentences be served concurrently, which means Vorster will only serve six years behind bars. Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Vorster pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court to impose a fine. Vorster pointed out that he had paid back the money. Mahanjana indicated: "Between April 2020 and August 2020, Vorster would apply for the Covid-19 TERS on behalf of his clients, and after receiving payouts, he would transfer the funds to his bank account." The Covid-19 Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (TERS) was a fund the government set up during the Covid-19 pandemic to help companies pay their staff. In aggravation of Vorster's sentence, the prosecutor asked the court to send Vorster to prison. He submitted that Vorster had betrayed the position of trust given to him. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshepiso Motloung at News24
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