In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Satawu threatens wage strike by bus drivers in the lead up to Easter long weekend BL Premium reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) says bus drivers will down tools before the Easter holidays in a bid to secure wage increases of up to 9%. The union and employer bodies represented at the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council deadlocked in February and were granted a 30-day cooling-off period after Satawu was issued with a certificate of non-resolution, allowing it to strike. Satawu, which represents about 4,600 workers in the sector, is demanding a two-year wage deal, with an increase of 9% in 2023/24 and an 8% hike in the second year. The union has rejected a 6% offer by employer organisations, which include the SA Bus Employers Association and the Commuter Bus Employers Association. “There is nothing revised here, the employer keeps on insulting the workers. We are not even going to consider it. The 30-day cooling period will expire ... We will then on April 1 give the employer a 48-hour notice that we will be embarking on a strike as the certificate of non-resolution was issued by the commissioner. The strike is legal and protected,” Satawu said. In 2022, a strike in the sector was averted when parties agreed on a 6% pay increase, which expires on 31 March. The unions had initially sought 11%. SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council general secretary Gary Wilson pointed out that the cooling-off period ends on 30 March and said it was “premature” for the union to threaten strike action as parties could still find each other. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Disciplinary action initiated against 192 Western Cape employees for participation in Nehawu wage strike News24 reports that the Western Cape Health Department has initiated disciplinary action against 192 employees who took part in an unprotected strike by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu). State employees affiliated with Nehawu and several other public servant unions went on strike at hospitals and other state facilities earlier this month. National departments and several provincial departments, including the Western Cape departments of health and social development, were granted court interdicts blocking essential workers from striking. A settlement was eventually reached on 15 March. The Western Cape health department's spokesperson Mark van der Heever advised: "Across the province, a total of 192 staff members participated in the strike, which includes all categories of staff. We are in the process of facilitating disciplinary action against those staff members in essential services (including those nurses) who participated in the strike action." He said the disciplinary process had not been finalised. Nehawu's Western Cape secretary, Baxolise Mali, said the union had not received information indicating 192 members had been charged and he could only comment once the action had been brought to its attention. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24
Passenger injured as another three Intercape buses attacked in Eastern Cape Algoa FM reports that a passenger on an Intercape bus was wounded when three buses came under attack in separate incidents in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. The company indicated in a statement on Monday that the first incident was reported at 4 pm when a bus travelling to Cofinvaba came under fire. No one was injured in that incident. A second bus was stoned and shot at on the R-61 between Tarkastad and about 40 kilometres from Nxuba (formerly Cradock) before 10 pm on Sunday night. “A male passenger sustained a bullet wound to his left thigh. The coach proceeded to the Cradock police station where the injured passenger was treated by ambulance before being taken to the Cradock provincial hospital,” the bus company said. A short while later, at around 10:15 pm, another Intercape coach was stoned and shot at on the same R61 route, about 15 kilometres outside Cradock. No one was injured in that incident. Intercape called on transport authorities and police “to act urgently to address these brazen attacks on Intercape, its staff, and innocent members of the travelling public by making arrests.” It said lamented that more than 130 cases had been opened with police in the Eastern Cape, with not a single arrest. Read the original of the report in the above regard at Algoa FM. Lees ook, Nog drie Intercape-busse aangeval, by Maroela Media
Food price increases ‘unjustified’, Competition Commission report indicates TimesLive reports that findings contained in the latest “Essential Food Price Monitoring (EFPM) Report” released by the Competition Commission on Tuesday show that the prices of sunflower oil, white and brown bread and maize meal were “opportunistically” and “unjustifiably” increased from January to December 2022. The report found that white and brown bread retail prices increased faster than producer prices. This implied that shelf price increases (R15.47 to R18.62 for white bread and R13.99 to R16.61 for brown bread) might not have been justified by costs. The price of maize meal increased 32% from R26.62 to R35.29 from January to December 2022, while the SA Futures Exchange (Safex) price of white maize increased at a slower rate. This resulted in the price of maize charged by farmers being a lower proportion of the retail price of maize meal over the year. The commission found this concerning and said it might indicate opportunistic behaviour throughout the value chain and raised questions about the use of export parity pricing throughout the maize value chain. The report also focused on the feed-to-poultry value chain, specifically individually quick-frozen (IQF) chicken products and noted that when chicken imports from the EU were banned in response to the avian flu outbreak, domestic producer prices increased. “This anomaly requires further interrogation, and the commission will closely monitor the developments in the poultry sector to ensure consumers are not subjected to unjustified price increases.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Orrin Singh at TimesLive. Read too, Retailers come under fire for ‘unjustifiable’ food price hikes, at BusinessLive. And also, Competition Commission investigates essential-food prices, at Moneyweb
Formal employment rose in fourth quarter, but annual figure fell BL Premium reports that SA’s formal employment rose by 48,000 in the fourth quarter to nearly 10-million, excluding agriculture and private households. This was advised by Stats SA on Tuesday in its quarterly employment survey. The quarter-on-quarter figures were mainly driven by trade and business services, respectively, mirroring the seasonal trends associated with the festive period. “Indeed, there is typically an increase in employees in this sector of the economy over the seasonally significant festive period. Other industries failed to increase job numbers by any significant amount over the quarter, evincing the state of the economy, which saw GDP growth fall by a marked -1.3% quarter on quarter, seasonally adjusted, in the fourth quarter,” Investec economist Lara Hodes commented. Total employment dropped by 94,000 or 0.9% when measured on an annual basis. Total gross earnings paid to employees increased by R67.8bn or 8.5%, to R866.6bn quarter on quarter, the survey indicated. “The rise in employment and earnings is great news, but we believe that the outlook for the job market remains uncertain as the economy faces significant headwinds from local and global fronts,” Nedbank economist Johannes Khosa said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andries Mahlangu at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Nog 94,000 in formele sektor sit sonder werk, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Limpopo teacher on contract for 10 years loses bargaining council bid for permanent post News24 reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has found that a temporary physical science and mathematics teacher, who was employed in terms of a series of fixed-term contracts that were renewed annually for 10 years, had had her contract terminated fairly. Nisha Binu was employed temporarily from January 2011. Her contract was renewed over the years and the last one was for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 as a post-level 1 educator. The ELRC's Masingita Sono accepted the employee's submission that she expected her contract to be renewed on the basis that it was renewed several times since 1 January 2011. But, the final contract Binu signed indicated that it was a promotion position. Sono said Binu should have interrogated the contract before signing it and pointed out that the employee “conceded during cross-examination that as a post-level 1 educator, she did not qualify to be promoted to the position of deputy principal despite meeting all the requirements of being appointed on a permanent basis.” A circular from the head of the department that was addressed to all principals and all educators communicated the non-renewal of contracts of employment for temporary educators appointed in substantive and substitute (promotion) positions. Apparently, it was clear from the circular that the position that the employee occupied was no longer available. The circular was signed off by the head of the department on 8 November 2021, which was found to be reasonable notice under the circumstances. Sono found that the reason for the non-renewal of Binu's fixed-term contract was fair under the circumstances. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at News24
Independent Media promises to pay staff in full before the end of the month Fin24 reports that just days after staff were told that their salary payments for March would be short, Independent Media has promised to pay journalists their full salaries before the end of the month. Independent Media owns titles such as The Star, Isolezwe, Cape Argus, Cape Times and Pretoria News. On Friday, its CEO Takudzwa Hove informed staff they would only receive 75% of their salaries for March, with the balance to be paid later. Hove said the cuts were caused by a "very challenging business environment". But on Tuesday, journalists were informed that they would receive their full salaries before the end of the month. A spokesperson for Independent Media said that last week's confidential settlement between the Public Investment Corporation and IT group AYO had "absolutely nothing to do" with the difficulties in paying salaries. One of Independent Media shareholders, Sagarmatha Technologies, is a subsidiary of businessman Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. AYO is a subsidiary of African Equity Empowerment Investments, which, like Independent Media, falls under Sekunjalo. Independent Media said on Tuesday that none of its staff had been paid by AYO. It said its difficulties in paying staff their full salaries on time stemmed from declining revenues and rising cost structures. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24
G4S says it dismissed three employees after Thabo Bester prison cell fire TimesLive reports that G4S Correction Services on Tuesday said it had dismissed three of its employees in relation to their conduct on the day that a fire broke out in the cell of convicted murderer and serial rapist Thabo Bester in May last year. G4S is the contractor of the privately run Mangaung maximum-security prison where Bester was serving his sentence. Although the Department of Correctional Services and the police have claimed that Bester had already escaped from the prison when the fire broke out, G4S has maintained that he died in the fire. “On 5 May, after an initial investigation, G4S Correction Services (SA) alerted SAPS to a number of concerns surrounding the circumstances of the fire (on 3 May 2022). SAPS were supplied with relevant information and evidence. Three employees at MCC were suspended shortly after the incident. These employees were subsequently dismissed in September 2022, December 2022 and January 2023 respectively for matters relating to their conduct on the evening of 3 May 2022,” G4S indicated in a statement. The company said it had fully co-operated with the authorities and would continue to do so. “We await the conclusions from the police on their investigation into what happened on 3 May 2022,” G4S said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLive
North West official arrested for double dipping salaries at two state entities TimesLive reports that an official has been earning two salaries, one from a North West municipality and the other from the national department of water and sanitation. According to the department, the official was appointed as a director in April last year, but allegedly failed to resign from her position at the Moses Kotane municipality, outside Rustenburg. She was arrested on Monday by the Hawks. A formal investigation confirmed that the official was indeed ‘double dipping’, as she was dually employed by both the department and the municipality. For a period of six months, she continued to receive an income from both entities. “The investigation revealed that she was able to achieve this by submitting applications to the municipality for leave of absence in the form of sick, vacation and study leave to justify her continued absence from the municipality while rendering full-time services to the department,” the department explained. It went on to indicate: “Pursuant to several attempts to unsuccessfully delay the disciplinary proceedings, the official eventually pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and dishonesty. The chairperson’s report on sanction is now being finalised.” The municipality and department reported the matter to police, which led to the employee’s arrest. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLive Six Cape Town police officers attached to Maitland Flying Squad arrested on corruption-related charges People’s Post reports that six police officers attached to the Maitland Flying Squad are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday on corruption charges. The officers were arrested on Tuesday. The two sergeants and four constables were arrested by members of the provincial Anti-Corruption Unit. This followed a six months’ investigation into the officers' activities. Among other crimes, they are accused of corrupt activities, including instances where boxes of abalone were seized from suspects on several occasions without making arrests or handing in the abalone as exhibits. Provincial police spokesperson Col Andrè Traut said the accused also harboured a corrupt relationship with persons on the wrong side of the law by escorting drugs with a police vehicle. According to Traut, more arrests are imminent. “The investigation into the corrupt activities of the members is still underway, and as the matter unfolds, more charges could be brought against the members, who are now suspended from the police service,” Traut indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaylynne Bantom at News24 Free State cops, immigration officer arrested in connection with border post bribes News24 reports that three Free State police officers and a home affairs immigration office have been arrested and charged for allegedly soliciting bribes at two different border posts. In connection with an incident at Ficksburg border post, police officials Tsoloane Matthews Tsoloane and Tsediso Lawrence Matsaneng, together with home affairs immigration officer Emmanuel Sebofi, appeared in the Ficksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of corruption and extortion. It is alleged that Sebofi wrongfully confiscated the passport of the complaint in the case at the border gate, claiming it was invalid. A police officer who was with Sebofi told the complainant he could assist him and get his passport back, but at a price. "The police officer allegedly demanded R2,500 from the complainant. The complainant complied. The three accused shared the money among themselves," reported a Free State Hawks spokesperson. After a preliminary investigation the Hawks in Bloemfontein, the three were arrested on 25 March in Ficksburg. Only R600 was recovered in the possession of one of the three accused. The trio were each released on R2,000 bail and are expected back in court on 26 April. Meanwhile, a sergeant stationed at the Maseru border post was arrested on Monday over allegations that she took an undisclosed amount of money from a taxi driver transporting illegal immigrants. The 44-year-old sergeant appeared in court on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice and is out on R3,000 bail. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 KZN accountant handed 15-year prison sentence for defrauding employer of more than R7m News24 reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) accountant has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after having been found guilty of 93 counts of fraud amounting to more than R7 million. Zakariya Vahed, 49, was sentenced in the Durban Regional Court on Monday for fraud committed over a decade. "Between 2009 and 2019, Vahed was employed by the complainant as an accountant. He fraudulently transferred cash from the company's bank account to his personal account," Hawks spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo reported. He added that the company suffered financial loss of more than R7 million. The crimes were reported at Sydenham police station and the docket was allocated to the Hawks. Vahed was arrested in October 2020 and was released on R10,000 bail. He pleaded guilty in August 2022. Read the original of the short report in the above regard compiled by Nicole McCain at News24
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