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 Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Security staff at University of Fort Hare's in fear after another 'hit' SowetanLive reports that the University of Fort Hare (UFH) has offered counselling to its distraught security staff members who are struggling to deal with the loss of yet another of their colleagues at the weekend. A 33-year-old bodyguard in the security department died in a suspicious car crash on Sunday when a bakkie drove into his vehicle along Cambridge Road in King William’s Town, leading to his instant death. According to UFH spokesperson JP Roodt, a meeting was held with security staff to reassure them and offered them psychosocial support. “We understand their jobs are not easy and they are putting their lives on the line and so the meeting was for us to show them that we acknowledge and understand that they are working under abnormal situation and circumstance. The mood was sombre. They are very committed to our renewal programme of rooting out corruption and restoring the dignity of this university, which vice-chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu started when he joined the university,” said Roodt. In January this year, one of Buhlungu’s bodyguards was killed in what was seen as an attempt on the VC’s life. Last year in May, UFH’s fleet manager Petrus Roets was shot and killed in his car at an off-ramp outside East London. It is believed that the latest employee to be killed would have been a key witness in both those cases following the arrest of five people for the murders and the attempted murder of Buhlungu. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at SowetanLive Suspects believed to be linked to Intercape bus attacks in the Eastern Cape nabbed IOL reports that two men were scheduled expected to appear in the Cofimvaba Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of assault, robbery and malicious damage to property. According to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, the arrests followed several incidents of attacks on Intercape buses by unidentified suspects in various districts within the province. He said the two suspects, aged 26 and 37, were arrested on Saturday and Sunday in the Cofimvaba central business district in the Chris Hani District. Kinana advised further: “Their arrest came after they allegedly confronted people who were waiting for the bus at one of the filling stations in Cofimvaba. During the incident, they allegedly assaulted and robbed them of their belongings. This particular incident was followed by an attack on the bus in April 2023 between Tsomo and Ngqamakhwe, during which commuters were allegedly robbed and assaulted on the bus. The investigation continues to establish if the two suspects cannot be linked to other incidents which took place in other parts of the province.” The provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, has vowed to eradicate the ‘faceless muggers’ of the Intercape buses in the province. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL. Lees ook, Twee vas oor aanvalle op Intercape-busse, by Maroela Media Tshwane deploys specialised task team to fight crime and ensure safety in Rosslyn industrial area The Citizen reports that the City of Tshwane on Tuesday launched a task team to help fight crime in the city’s industrial hub, with mayor Cilliers Brink also promising to improve service delivery. The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the Capital City Business Chamber (CCBC) launched the Rosslyn Improvement District (RID) task team to address challenges in the area. A total of 16 TMPD officers underwent motorbike and defensive driving training to form part of the task team and will be deployed in the Rosslyn industrial area daily to help prevent crime and ensure the safety of businesses and residents. Brink pointed out that the Rosslyn industrial area was very important as it was one of the largest contributors to the country’s economy and job creation within the city. “The Rosslyn industrial area is a critical industrial hub that’s home to over 200 businesses, including major players such as BMW, Nissan, and Tata,” he noted. Head of the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Limpopo, Prof Jaco Barkhuizen, said any form of visible policing was always a good idea. He pointed out that enforcing bylaws would contribute to fighting crime. “At least something is being done by properly trained municipal police officers,” he noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public warned about compensation fund scam targeting former miners TimesLive reports that the government has warned the public about fake compensation fund agents inviting former mineworkers to be assisted with fund applications. In a joint statement, the departments of health, employment and labour, and mineral resources and energy warned about a misleading poster circulating on social media – bearing the face of self-proclaimed prophet of the Incredible Happenings Church Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng – inviting former mineworkers and their families to be assisted with compensation fund applications. It also offered to inform those who had applied of their application status. “We consider this a scam by con men who want to take advantage of and enrich themselves out of the plight of former mineworkers (and their dependants) who might have contracted TB, silicosis and other occupational lung diseases while working in mines between March 1965 and December 2019, and those who were not paid their pension or provident funds,” the departments indicated. They went on to state: “No individual or organisation has been outsourced to carry out this mandate on behalf of government. People are warned to ignore anyone claiming to represent government, and to never pay any fee to be assisted to lodge a claim because the process is free of charge.” The government’s former mineworkers’ compensation programme is part of its efforts to track, trace and pay former mineworkers or their dependants who qualify for compensation funds, class action settlement funds and pension/provident funds. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at BusinessLive
Department of Correctional Services terminates contract with G4S for running of Mangaung prison SowetanLive reports that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has decided to terminate its contract with the private security company G4S for the running of the Mangaung correctional centre. This follows the daring escape of Thabo Bester from the facility. The department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said the DCS had given the Bloemfontein correctional contracts, which included its subsidiaries such as G4S, termination notice of 90 days in line with the concession agreement. “The notice of termination follows the announcement on 20 April 2023 by department of correctional services that it had referred its contract with Bloemfontein correctional contracts for a legal opinion. It has been deemed that Bloemfontein correctional contracts is neither competent, nor suitable to continue with the concession contract,” Nxumalo said. He went on to advise: “Bloemfontein correctional contracts is contracted to operate the Mangaung correctional centre, a public private partnership facility. The department will immediately resume with an internal exercise for the takeover process. The contract does lay down a procedure to be followed in this regard.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at SowetanLive. Lees ook, Private maatskappy kry trekpas ná debakel by Mangaung-tronk, by Maroela Media. As well as, Popcru to keep a close eye on termination of G4S contract, at EWN Ten correctional services officials suspended following escape at Ngqeleni prison on Freedom Day IOL reports that two more officials from the Ngqeleni Correctional Centre have been suspended following the escape of two inmates from the prison in the Eastern Cape last week. This brings the total number of officials suspended to 10. The officials were on duty during the escape. Meanwhile, one of the two inmates, Siyabulela Khohliso, was re-arrested on Monday in the Libode area and transferred to the Mthatha Correctional Centre. “All efforts were now focussed on finding Athini Nothi Mzingelwa,” said Department of Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo. Khohliso and Mzingelwa escaped from the facility’s sports field on Freedom Day. Khohliso was serving a 10-year sentence and Mzingelwa an eight-year sentence. On Monday, the national commissioner of the DCS, Makgothi Thobakgale, visited the Ngqeleni correctional facility. “The investigation is ongoing and more developments are expected to ensue,” Nxumalo indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brenda Masilela at IOL More than 37,000 cellphones seized at prisons in 2022/23, but only 24 warders on smuggling rap Cape Times reports that more than 37,000 cellphones were confiscated in prisons throughout the country in the 2022/23 financial year. But only 24 prison officials were subjected to disciplinary proceedings for their role in smuggling in the cellphones during the same period. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola in response to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Mathapelo Siwisa. In his written reply, Lamola advised that a total of 37,243 cellphones had been confiscated in the last financial year. Gauteng had the highest number of cellphones confiscated at 10,238. The minister also advised that a total of 24 correctional services officials were found to have been involved in smuggling the cellphones into the facilities. Lamola said eight officials had been dismissed after undergoing disciplinary hearings, with one of the officials appealing the sanction. Four officials received written warnings; another received a verbal warning; one was slapped with a final written warning; while three were suspended and one resigned. Two officials were facing disciplinary processes; one case was under investigation; and another case had been withdrawn. Lamola said various measures were in place to ensure that access to cellphones by prisoners did not recur, including surprise searches conducted on a daily bases at correctional facilities, and access control points. Trained sniffer dogs were also utilised for cellphone detection. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina, at Cape Times
Court battle looms as Sadtu takes Cosatu to court over resolution to back the SACP in elections Fin24 reports that the rifts between Cosatu's public sector unions have deepened, with the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) dragging Cosatu and all of its affiliates to court over the labour federation's resolution to back the SA Communist Party (SACP) in elections. In papers filed in March, Sadtu asked the Labour Court to set aside Cosatu's 2022 congress resolution to support the SACP in elections because the tabling of the resolution did not follow constitutional procedure. Proposed congress resolutions must be circulated to affiliates 30 days before the congress to enable them to take mandated positions, but this was not done. Sadtu has also asked the court to set aside a resolution of the Cosatu central executive committee (CEC) in February, which similarly confirmed electoral support for the SACP. In that case, Sadtu claimed, it was outside the powers of the CEC to take a decision of such magnitude. Sadtu indicated that it was not averse to Cosatu taking such a decision, but it must be done correctly and in line with the federation's constitution. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the legal dispute would be discussed at the next CEC later this month, where it would be decided whether to oppose Sadtu in court or attempt to settle the dispute amicably. The dispute, which finds Cosatu's public sector unions on opposite sides of a divide, is the second in the past two months. Sadtu was also at odds with Nehawu and Popcru over public sector wage negotiations. While Sadtu and Fedusa affiliates signed the wage offer, Nehawu and Popcru did not and went on strike. While the striking unions did not win anything extra and were, in any event, bound by the collective agreement already signed by Sadtu and Fedusa unions, which constituted the majority, relationships within Cosatu were damaged. Sadtu was angry over the public insults hurled at it by Nehawu and Popcru, which were also distributed by Cosatu's head office, causing further anger and resentment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Diesel prices plummeted at midnight, but petrol prices soared BusinessLive reports that, as has been the trend recently, motorists driving diesel cars will enjoy a big fuel price cut in May, while petrol drivers will be hit with another hike. The Central Energy Fund (CEF) announced a 73.4c/l decrease in the wholesale price of high-sulphur 0.05% diesel and a 47.54c/l decrease for low-sulphur 0.005% diesel. The price of illuminating paraffin decreased 44c/l. But, there is a 37c/l increase in the price of both grades of petrol (93 ULP and 95 ULP), breaching the R23/l mark inland for the first time this year. The price changes came into effect at midnight. The CEF attributed the changes to the average international product prices for petrol increasing during the period under review, while diesel and illuminating paraffin decreased. The rand appreciated against the US dollar during the period. From 3 May, the fuel levy will increase to 396 c/l and 382.0 c/l respectively in the price structure of both petrol and diesel. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive. See too, Petrol price hike to see motorists pay more than R23 per litre, at EWN. En ook, Dieselprys daal, maar petrol gaan jou meer kos, by Maroela Media
Probe finds eThekwini municipality HR head faked her qualifications IOL reports that the future of the deputy city manager of the eThekwini Municipality, Kim Makhathini, hangs in the balance after an internal investigation by the City Integrity Committee Investigations Unit (CIIU) found that Makhathini faked her qualifications. In August 2022 when questions were first raised, Makhathini, who is the head of human resources in the eThekwini Municipality, flatly denied that she did not possess the qualifications she had recorded in her CV and the online application when she applied for the position of head of human resources. In her application, Makhathini recorded that she had a master of arts in social science degree, which she claimed to have obtained from the University of Glasgow, and a national diploma in human resources obtained from Damelin. However, an internal report by the CIIU dated 1 March 2023, found that Makhathini doctored her qualifications. It recommended that disciplinary action be instituted against her for misrepresenting her qualifications. According to the report, Makhathini was appointed head of HR on 1 November 2014 with the minimum requirement being a “relevant bachelor’s degree, relevant postgraduate qualification and seven years’ experience at the management level of which two years must be at senior management level”. However, in Makhathini’s case, the CIIU found that she did not possess the national diploma from Damelin and that although her Glasgow master’s degree in social science could not be verified, the degree was equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in SA. Lindiwe Khuzwayoe, eThekwini head of communications, confirmed that there had been a CIIU investigation relating to Makhathini’s qualifications and indicated that the report was receiving the necessary attention from municipal structures. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at IOL
Retired SCA judge to lead probe into allegations of nepotism against Stellenbosch University vice-chancellor News24 reports that Stellenbosch University's council has appointed a three-member committee to probe allegations of nepotism against its vice-chancellor, Professor Wim de Villiers. The probe will be headed by retired Justice Carole Lewis, who will be joined by council members Helena Conradie and Ziyanda Stuurman. Lewis was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Wits University and a judge of the Johannesburg High Court. She retired from the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in 2019. In April, a motion of no confidence in De Villiers was tabled by the DA's Stellenbosch constituency head and council member, Leon Schreiber. The council agreed that the matter should be referred to a committee of three people to investigate the allegations. The committee will investigate the facts underlying the motion, including allegations of nepotism and a possible breach of related rules in relation to De Villiers' discretionary placement of family members at the university. The committee will report its findings to the council, and provide recommendations. The report will be submitted by the end of this month. In April it was reported that De Villiers had used his discretionary right to secure a place for his wife's nephew at the university's medical school. After this was questioned, De Villiers withdrew his nephew's placement. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24. Read too, Turmoil at Stellenbosch University as convocation battles executive committee over VC nepotism case, at News24 (subscriber access only)
With legal wrangle over illegal strike ongoing after five years, dismissed Vector Logistics employees still waiting to return BL Premium reports that nearly 100 employees of Vector Logistics, who have been idling at home for the past five years after being dismissed for alleged participation in an illegal strike, will have to stay put as there is no end in sight to a protracted legal wrangle. Vector is a logistics operator, providing parent company RCL Foods and other third parties with multi-temperature warehousing and distribution, sales and merchandising solutions. In March RCL Foods sold Vector to a local investment vehicle with an effective date of 3 July. Vector’s long-running dispute with the workers began in June 2018, when several employees engaged in an unprotected strike. Vector obtained an interim order restraining the strike action. After several attempts to get the striking employees to return to work, Vector dismissed about 88 of them for participation in and acting in furtherance of an unprotected strike. The fired employees approached the CCMA and bargaining councils. Eventually, the parties agreed to private arbitration. Scenario and schedule agreements for the arbitration acknowledged that the existence of the unprotected strike was not in dispute. What was in dispute was participation in, or acting in furtherance of, the strike. The arbitrator perused the company’s clocking mechanism and found that some of the employees had reported for work and he ordered their reinstatement. But, Vector took the decision on review at the Labour Court (LC) and argued that the arbitrator committed latent irregularities when he conducted a forensic assessment of the clocking information. The LC ruled in favour of Vector and ordered a new arbitration process with a new chair. But, an application for leave to appeal the LC ruling was filed on 24 April. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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