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 roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Thursday, 6 April 2023.
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Former prison warder and another suspect in court this week over Thabo Bester escape TimesLive reports that a 39-year-old former prison warder and a 65-year-old Eastern Cape man are the latest to be arrested in the Thabo Bester escape saga. The two are scheduled to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Police announced on Monday the two had been taken into custody by a multidisciplinary team investigating Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022. The former G4S employee was arrested in Bloemfontein on Saturday, while the 65-year-old man was arrested on Friday at his home in Port Edward. “Both suspects have been charged with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody,” said national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe. Convicted rapist and murderer Bester and his lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were arrested last week in Tanzania, 10km from the Kenyan border. Mathe said a delegation led by SA police Service deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili had arrived in Arusha, Tanzania to engage with the Tanzanian authorities to finalise the legal processes needed to bring Bester and Magudumana back to SA. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at BusinessLive. Lees ook, Nog verdagtes vas in Thabo Bester-ondersoek, by Maroela Media 'Big embarrassment’ that Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana weren’t arrested in SA, says Popcru News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has welcomed the re-arrest of fugitive Thabo Bester and his partner Dr Nandipha Magudumana in Tanzania. Last week, SA Crime Intelligence officers allegedly tracked Bester to Tanzania where they monitored him for a period before the arrest. Bester, Magudumana and a Mozambican national allegedly assisting them, were arrested in the Tanzanian city of Arusha. It is believed that they were on their way to Kenya at the time of their arrest. Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said that even though the arrests were welcomed, it was a big "embarrassment" that they were not arrested in the country. He added that it was important that intense investigations be conducted “so that we establish facts around this orchestrated escape." Mamabolo noted that security company G4S, which runs the Mangaung Correctional Center where Bester had been incarcerated, had in the past week been insistent that Bester had died in his cell. This was even after the Department of Correctional Services publicly stated that he had escaped and was still alive. "This is unacceptable. When entering into a public-private partnerships (PPP) contract, the DCS was supposed to play a monitoring role, which they clearly dismally failed on. It is clear that G4S was a law unto themselves. This PPP contract should be discontinued with immediate effect, and all those responsible must be held accountable," Mamabolo stressed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Lees ook, Bester en kie vasgetrek toe hulle na Kenia wou vlug, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Denel explosion in 2018: No consequences three months after report recommends criminal prosecution News24 reports that it has been nearly three months since the release of a report into the explosion at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory in Somerset West, but so far there have been no consequences. The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) was appointed to investigate the events of September 2018 and it established a section 32 inquiry into the explosion, which killed eight people. A total of 26 witnesses, which included technical experts, former employers and current staff and investigators, testified during the inquiry. They testified about structural shortcomings, defective designs, as well as unnecessary overtime, even when there were no large orders. The report details several contraventions, including a failure to conduct a risk assessment when installing a particular new valve. The inquiry's chairperson made a recommendation for criminal prosecution and said "the incident was caused by an act of omission of criminal nature on the part of Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd, as represented by Norbert Schultze, the chief executive officer at the time of the incident". RDM said in a brief statement: "We have noted the content of the report. As we have done throughout this process, we will continue to support any process we are required to participate in.” Meanwhile, trade union Cosatu said: “"Whoever was guilty of this must be brought to book, families were deprived of an income, and we have lost workers.” Numerous queries sent to the DEL elicited no response. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 (subscriber access only) Fort Hare employees among those arrested for colleagues’ murders TimesLive Premium reports that University of Fort Hare (UFH) employees are believed to be among the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of two of the institution’s staff members. University spokesperson JP Roodt said on Monday that warrants for the arrest of the suspects were executed over the Easter weekend, and “we believe it also includes UFH employees”. UFH vice-chancellor, professor Sakhela Buhlungu’s bodyguard, Mboneli Vesele, was shot dead on 6 January near the gate of Buhlungu’s residence in Alice, Eastern Cape. The university’s fleet manager, Petrus Roets, was killed in a suspected hit in March last year near a set of traffic lights at the Gonubie off-ramp while driving home from work. Shots were also fired at the house of the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, Prof Renuka Vithal, in March last year. A man carrying a gun was captured on CCTV footage climbing over a wall and firing three shots at the entrance to Buhlungu’s house in the same month. A “hit list” emerged containing the names of 16 senior officials, mostly members of the executive management. The most senior ones had an amount of R600,000 written next to their names. The university has been working with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to clamp down on tender corruption, the suspicious awarding of honours degrees and mismanagement of funds at the institution. Roodt said Buhlungu received a full briefing from the office of national police minister Bheki Cele on Monday. “The university understands that authorities will enrol the case tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Alice Magistrate’s Court,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at TimesLive Premium (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
After calling off road passenger strike over Easter weekend, Numsa to consult this week on revised offer TimesLive reports that after receiving a revised proposal last week, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) called off the road passenger wage strike it had threatened for the Easter weekend. The union said it was consulting members and that wage negotiations at the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council would resume this week. It advised as follows: “We are giving members time to apply their minds and decide whether they will accept the wage proposal. As a result of this, we will not embark on a strike during the Easter long weekend. We will communicate the decision on the proposal after we have met as part of the National Bargaining Forum, which is the formal negotiating platform with employers and labour, possibly on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the availability of all parties.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SowetanLive
Sadtu takes Cosatu to court over decision to support SACP in 2024 general elections IOL reports that trade union federation Cosatu appears to be heading for another crisis after the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) filed papers with the Johannesburg Labour Court challenging the federation’s resolution to support the SA Communist Party in next year's general elections outside of the ANC-led alliance. In the papers, Sadtu argues that the resolution was wrongly adopted, as it had been agreed that there should be a special congress to deliberate on the matter. Sadtu accused the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) of ramming through the resolution. The two unions recently exchanged heated public statements over the issue of public sector wage negotiations. Also cited in the court papers – running to 100 pages – are 17 unions affiliated with the federation, which is in alliance with the ANC. The main affidavit for the case was filed by Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke. The date for the case has yet to be determined. Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi confirmed that they were heading to the Labour Court and said: “I wish to point out that Sadtu, as with other affiliates, is not averse to any decision of the federation to support the SACP to contest state power. Sadtu objects to a decision of such a magnitude being taken in total disregard of the constitution of the federation, as this undermines the democratic values of the federation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mavuso at IOL
Criminals alleged to be paying big bucks to get into police training programme The Citizen reports on allegations of corruption in SA Police Service (SAPS) recruitment, with claims that non-qualifying applicants, including those with criminal records, simply have to pay R10,000 or more to be enlisted. Whistleblowers have detailed how the names of candidates who passed screening were swopped with those of non-qualifying applicants. This could mean the SAPS might have been infiltrated by thousands of unfit individuals who did not go through proper screening. According to Action Society’s director of community safety, Ian Cameron, corruption in the recruitment of police has been going on for over 10 years now. He claimed that at the time one in 10 police officer had a criminal record and that the situation could be far worse now. “If we consider Bheki Cele’s time as national commissioner, according to their own internal audit, pushed through thousands of recruits without them fulfilling requirements, even after failing tests but still gave them uniform,” he stated. Cameron pointed out that other than crime, the other implication of corruption in recruitment was an increase in social and domestic problems because these candidates were pushed through without assessing their psychological fitness for the job. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said national police commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola instituted a forensic investigation as soon as the allegations surfaced. “This investigation is still ongoing, three people have been arrested. They are all civilians and not members of the SAPS. They were found promising applicants job opportunities within the SAPS,” she indicated. However, no recruitment officer has been found to be in wrong. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is currently investigating the allegations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
High Court to hear challenge to Motsoaledi's decision to end Zimbabwe Exemption Permits this week Sunday Times reports that with less than three months to go before the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) regime, about 178,000 permit holders – currently lawful residents in SA – face an uncertain future. Much will depend on the outcome of a case to be heard in the Pretoria High Court this week. The special permits, which allowed Zimbabweans to regularise their stay in the country, were introduced in 2009 in response to a political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe that caused an exodus into SA. The permit regime was extended in 2014 and 2017. In November 2021, the government announced it would “no longer issue extensions to the Zimbabwean special dispensations” and gave holders a year to get their immigration status in order. A further six months was later added. The decision meant that permit holders would now be in the same position as other foreign nationals in SA and must apply for the same visas and permits as everyone else. Legal challenges to the decision by home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi were launched by the Helen Suzman Foundation and the Zimbabwe Immigration Federation. Thousands of ZEP holders are at risk of being left undocumented, exposing them to the dangers of xenophobic attacks, human trafficking, extortion and the threat of arrest, detention and deportation. But, the government says the exemption regime was never meant to be permanent. “This was made clear at all times. The coming to an end of an exemption which was always temporary does not implicate the right to dignity of the beneficiaries ... simply because it has come to an end.” the counsel for the government indicated in written argument. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Franny Rabkin at Sunday Times (subscriber access only) Business Leadership SA says ‘impossible’ visa application system could stifle economy IOL reports that Business Leadership SA (BLSA) has issued a warning that the current visa application systems in the country could stifle the economy. This comes after BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso indicated that they had been working hard with government to fix SA’s current visa regime. But, Mavuso said they felt like they were making very little progress, after some 56,000 foreigners working or intending to work in SA were faced having their visas cancelled at the end of March, purely because Home Affairs had been unable to process their applications. “They were given a last-minute reprieve two days before the deadline, extending the validity of their existing status until the end of the year. This is appalling and people’s lives are thrown into turmoil, unable to know whether they would be allowed to stay in the country many consider home. It presents an impossible situation for business. While as a country we profess to welcome businesses from around the world to invest and station their regional activities in South Africa, for company executives from Paris to Mumbai, the uncertainty created by the administrative chaos is a massive turn-off,” Mavuso indicated. She further pointed out that the last minute reprieve was of little use to thousands more around the world who have been waiting for visa applications to be processed, and similarly caught up in Home Affairs’ dysfunction. Mavuso noted that visa administration problems were well recognised as a serious impediment to SA’s economy and there was a major skills deficits in many areas, including the technical skills needed to build, and maintain factories, water infrastructure and power plants. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibuliso Duba at IOL
Man jailed for attempting to bribe SIU official to quash sister’s PPE case TimesLive reports that a Mpumalanga man has earned himself a four-year jail stay for attempting to bribe a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) official to drop a personal protection equipment (PPE) case against his sister. Sipho Mpendulo Mapalala, 33, was sentenced on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to corruption in January. Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale indicated: “The accused was arrested by the Hawks’ national serious corruption investigation unit and the Special Investigating Unit in Nelspruit [Mbombela], Mpumalanga, during a joint operation that was conducted on August 9 2021. The accused was arrested after offering and handing over R50,000 to the complainant, an SIU official, to have a case against his sister disappear. Mapalala was trying to protect his sister who is in the employment of the department of public works in Mpumalanga.” Mogole said R63,600 was also found in Mapalala’s possession which was “seized”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Philani Nombembe at SowetanLive. Read too, PPE corruption: Man who attempted to bribe SIU investigator jailed for four years, at News24. En ook, Tronkstraf ná omkopery om saak ‘te laat verdwyn’, by Maroela Media Former Cape Town cop jailed for 20 years for R2.3m cash-in-transit heist TimesLive reports that a former Cape Town police officer has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for robbing a cash-in-transit vehicle of R2.3m using a police vehicle. The Bluedowns Regional Court sentenced Sandile Edward Mroqoza, 40, on Thursday. He was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The cash was found hidden in his fridge. Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the heist was committed in May 2016 on Waarburgh Road in Joostenberg Vlakte, Kraaifontein. At the time, Mroqoza, who was a constable, was stationed at the Nyanga police station. Hani said the cash-in-transit guards were approached by a “police van fitted with blue lights and marked Nyanga Vispol”. The SAPS vehicle forced the truck to stop. “Two suspects wearing SAPS uniforms got out of the front of the vehicle and four other suspects, wearing civilian clothing, alighted from the back. The suspects threatened the driver of the armoured vehicle with firearms and forced him to open the back of the vehicle. They reversed the SAPS vehicle with its back to the G4S truck whereby they emptied the drop-safes,” Hani reported. An amount of over R2.3m was taken. Through an intensive investigation, information was followed up on in May 2016 and Mroqoza was arrested. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Philani Nombembe at SowetanLive. Lees ook, Swaar straf vir oud-polisieman wat roof, by Maroela Media
Transport Minister says Prasa has so far restored 16 high-volume corridors Engineering News reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has restarted the Langa to Nyanga commuter rail service on Cape Town’s Central Line after three years of dormancy. “The devastation that we experienced on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of unprecedented theft and vandalism of public assets, and the illegal occupation of the line and rail reserve, crippled the service and denied many people access to the most affordable mode of public transport,” Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga pointed out. She went on to indicate: “In 2021, we set out to recover and restore services in ten key high-volume corridors. By December, 2022, we exceeded this number by restoring 13 corridors. To date we have recovered a total of 16 corridors [including the] Pretoria to Centurion line.” The R1.2-billion project to recover the Central Line in Cape Town is being undertaken in phases. Chikunga said the relocation of illegal settlements was the remaining obstacle to the full rehabilitation and restoration of service of the Central Line. She advised that the relocation process would take place in two phases, with Phase 1 being to relocate around 1,254 structures located near Langa Station, within the railway reserve. Phase 2 would aim to relocate around 3,688 informal dwellers at Philippi Station and 253 illegal dwellers at the Khayelitsha Station. The Housing Development Agency has been designated as the implementing agent for the relocation process. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Social development department’s NGO cuts make vulnerable South Africans the main victims, says Solidarity Last week, Solidarity strongly condemned the cuts to funding for non-government organisations (NGOs) that provided social services. This followed announcements by the Department of Social Development (DSD) that subsidies would be applied differently this year. According to the trade union, this announcement came after a damning report and parliamentary submissions by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) indicating that the state of affairs at the DSD was shocking. “The DSD is seriously threatening the existence of NGOs that focus on social development. The intended budget cuts and the insistence on centralisation of power are indicative of a department that is disconnected from reality,” said Bianca Smit, coordinator for the Solidarity Social Workers’ Network. Solidarity also noted that the impact of the restrictive budget cuts would be felt much wider than just by the NGOs targeted for the cuts. “While South Africa is facing a social crisis dominated by crime and atrocities, the plan, from the state’s point of view, is to forsake those who are making a contribution towards improvement. Social workers and social organisations support communities and contribute to society, and have been doing so for a long time already, not thanks to the DSD, but despite this department,” Smit pointed out. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Solidarity News. Lees ook, Besnoeiing aan geld vir maatskaplike dienste ‘ernstige bedreiging’, by Maroela Media
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