In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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ArcelorMittal SA signs 6.5% multi-term wage agreement with Numsa and Solidarity BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and Solidarity have signed a multi-term wage agreement with ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) that will result in employees receiving increases of 6.5%. The wage deal, effective from 1 April to 31 March 2026, comes barely three weeks after Numsa threatened to embark on the “mother of all strikes” at Amsa in support of its demands for higher wages. Numsa initially demanded a one-year 15% pay increase across the board, while Solidarity kicked off negotiations with a 10% demand, against the employer’s opening offer of 6%. The pay deal will mean that workers will get increases of 6.5% in the first year, followed by another 6.5% hike in the second year, and an inflation-related increase capped at 6.5% in the final year. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim advised on Monday that as part of the wage deal workers would receive a “once-off cash signing bonus of R10,000”. All allowances will increase by 6.5% for year one; by CPI for year two (but capped at 6.5%) and by 6.5% for year three. Other improvements in conditions of employment cover the medical aid subsidy; paternity benefits (an increase from 10 to 12 days);and funeral benefits (from R10,000 to 20,000). “We welcome the signing of this agreement, particularly because at some point we were on the verge of a strike,” Jim said. Solidarity deputy general secretary Willie Venter said the wage agreement was “something that our members can live with.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). See too, Strike averted as ArcelorMittal and Numsa clinch three-year wage deal, at Fin24
Sanral probes worker's death on Friday at Eastern Cape construction site News24 reports that the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is investigating the death of a construction worker at the Msikaba Bridge in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape. The deceased worked for one of the subcontractors on the site. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga advised that the employee was involved in a fatal accident at 11:00 on Friday. The bridge is currently under construction and is part of the greater N2 Wild Coast Sanral expansion between Port St Johns and Port Edward. Sanral assured Chikunga the cause of the accident was being investigated internally by the joint venture partners of the project and by the police. According to Sanral, the site had an exemplary record of over 3.5 million injury-free hours until this tragic event struck. Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said that, together with the contractors, the Concor/Mecsa Construction Joint Venture, they were saddened by the construction worker's death. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 Traffic cops face 'riotous' passengers and bystanders while arresting 'reckless' taxi driver in Sea Point TimesLive reports that traffic officers were surrounded and threatened by “riotous” passengers and bystanders while taking a taxi driver into custody on charges of reckless and negligent driving in Sea Point, Cape Town on Friday evening. The confrontation played out after officers set off in pursuit of a taxi which tried to evade a checkpoint. The City reported on Monday: “After stopping the vehicle, the passengers became riotous, joined by bystanders. The officers eventually managed to take the driver into custody on charges of reckless and negligent driving, as well as a bystander who had made threats against them, for obstruction of justice.” A hostile crowd tried to surround the patrol car, banging on the vehicle, but the officers managed to drive away with the two suspects. Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith commented: “What happened in Sea Point is but the latest incident of our staff having to contend with bystanders running interference. We’ve also had incidents in recent months of groups storming police stations to free suspects, and literally helping armed suspects to get away, in handcuffs. This is a trend that cannot be condoned.” Smith warned that interfering with peace officers in the execution of their duties could have legal consequences. He urged the public not to involve themselves in “situations that have nothing to do with them”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at SowetanLive Three robbers pretending to have a poisoned patient hold clinic security guard at gunpoint IOL reports that Limpopo police are searching for three gunmen who stormed a clinic under the pretext of assisting a patient. The incident took place at the Mogoboya Clinic in Maake on Saturday evening. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said a 45-year-old security officer was on duty when three men arrived at the clinic, under the pretext that they have brought a patient who had consumed poison. The security guard opened the gate for the suspects, who entered the yard while pointing a firearm at him and instructing him to surrender his firearm. The suspects fled the scene in a white Toyota bakkie without registration numbers. Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe called upon the community to come forward with information that could help the police in apprehending the robbers. Last month, another Limpopo clinic was robbed. Four gunmen accosted a security officer, tied him up and robbed him of two cellphones. They then broke into the clinic and stole medicines, medical equipment, two tablets (personal computers) and a laptop. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL. Lees ook, Veiligheidswag by kliniek in Mopani-distrik in Limpopo van wapen beroof, by Maroela Media
Sasria withdraws circulars announcing scrapping of riot cover in case of power grid collapse – for now Fin24 reports that state-owned special risk insurer Sasria has withdrawn circulars announcing that it would no longer provide cover for damage to property caused during riots and protests in the event of an electricity grid collapse. At the end of last month, Sasria issued circulars announcing that it would not indemnify people and businesses from "any loss, damage, cost or expense, directly or indirectly caused by, arising out of, in any way or to any extent contributed to by, or in connection with electricity grid failure". This exclusion applied to "any riot, strike or public disorder (including civil commotion, labour disturbances or lock-outs)" that are directly or indirectly caused by the grid failure. This would have taken effect from the start of June. But on Friday, Sasria withdrew the circular. It indicated: “Various industry stakeholders have brought to our attention the insufficiency in respect of the implementation period stipulated in the circulars and this has resulted in an undue and inadvertent difficulty for the affected parties.” In recent months, SA's big short-term insurers have also pulled, or plan to remove, grid failure cover from their policies this year. They will also not cover problems arising from disruptions to water supply, telecoms systems or sewerage, and losses from rotting food. If the grid collapsed, it would take Eskom, in a best-case scenario, around a week to restore power, although several weeks are more likely. There would be a cascade of problems affecting supply chains, transport, banking, fuel supply, food security, and personal and business security. Protests and riots are also anticipated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Ahmed Areff at Fin24 Gordhan to appeal against ruling exempting hospitals, schools and police stations from loadshedding BL Premium reports that the government will be filing an urgent appeal against a recent court order compelling it to exempt hospitals, schools and police stations from load-shedding. The interim order handed down by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday, and which must be implemented within 60 days, states that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan should take reasonable steps to ensure “sufficient supply or generation of electricity to prevent any interruption of supply as a result of load-shedding” to these facilities. The judgment follows an application brought by 19 organisations, including opposition parties, nongovernmental organisations and individuals. Gordhan, who expressed “serious concerns” about the judgment, confirmed his department would “lodge an appeal to set aside the ruling and allow for the ongoing efforts to end load-shedding to proceed without putting undue risk on the country’s grid infrastructure.” His department believes that the judgment will have unintended consequences and will “undermine the very efforts to balance the protection of the rights that were ventilated in this case, with the need to stabilise and protect our grid infrastructure.” The view of the department was echoed by the Presidency. UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, whose organisation was party to the successful litigation to force the government to keep the lights on, believes that appealing against the court ruling would send the wrong signal that the government does not care about citizens’ rights being infringed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Gordhan to appeal load shedding exemption ruling, at Moneyweb. En ook, Hofbesluit oor beurtkrag ‘verkeerd’, sê ekonoom, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Fresh research into working hours in the offing Hugo Pienaar of law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr reports that in response to a parliamentary question last week, the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) advised that there was “room” to conduct further research on working hours in SA. The last investigation was conducted by the Employment Conditions Commission in 2014. The DEL said: “There might be a need to conduct more research in order to track the progress that has been made in the reduction of the working hours since the last report, and also to establish the feasibility of reducing hours of work – and the unintended consequences thereof.” According to the DEL, particular focus needed to be placed on sectors that were earning minimum wage. Separately, the reduction of working hours already forms part of the proposals under discussion at the National Economic Development and Labour Council’s Labour Law Reform Task Team, with the labour federation Cosatu having tabled a 40-hour working week for discussion as early as 3 March 2021. Pienaar writes that the challenge of such a model lies largely in its potential implementation, and potential amendments to the Wage Bill, more so in highly unionised environments where negotiations on basic conditions of employment are particularly complex. Notwithstanding, the topic of reduced hours of work without loss of pay, “may easily find its way to the tables of collective bargaining, which may radically alter the labour space for a time.” Read Hugo Pienaar’s full article in the above regard at Moneyweb
Sweeping changes proposed for SA’s 2024 school calendar, with less than a month left for stakeholder input The Citizen reports that SA’s school calendar could have a radical new look if the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE’s) proposed changes to the 2024 academic year get the green light. The public has until 4 June to comment on gazetted major amendments to the National Policy for Determining School Calendars for Public Schools in SA. One of the changes which, however, has already been confirmed for 2024 is that of incorporating as many public holidays as possible into school holidays. The DBE has gone back to the drawing board with the changes in its bid to maximise school time following the past three years’ disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposed amendments would provide more flexibility when it comes to determining the start and end dates of each term. They will also address the staggered coastal/inland calendar. In its gazetted proposed change, the DBE noted that every effort must be made to ensure that there was no public holiday during the first or last week of a school term when the calendar was planned. Where a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the Monday before or the Friday after the public holiday must be declared a school holiday. If a long weekend begins on a public holiday that falls on a Friday, and such a weekend coincides with the beginning of the school holidays, schools must close on the Wednesday and not on the Thursday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cornelia Le Roux at The Citizen
Former Safa CEO Tebogo Motlanthe dismisses discord as the reason for his resignation TimesLive reports that in a strange and awkward press conference, former SA Football Association (Safa) CEO Tebogo Motlanthe dismissed suggestions of ill-feeling between him and the federation’s hierarchy before he hastily left the briefing. Motlanthe resigned with immediate effect on Friday. Various media reports indicated that he quit because he felt he was nothing but a “glorified clerk” and his “constitutional right to privacy was tampered with”. Motlanthe was part of the press conference where Safa president Danny Jordaan announced former Banyana Banyana player and the organisation’s COO Lydia Monyepao as the first woman CEO of the football mother body. In a bid to clear the air, Jordaan said it was best to call on Motlanthe to explain that there was no bad blood. When he took the stage, Motlanthe spoke about a resignation letter said to be his and said: “It’s true that I have tendered a resignation which I have signed, the one which is on social media I would like to categorically say that it’s not my letter. Mine has a signature and has my reasons. My reasons are simple, [they are] personal and private.” Despite leaving on a “good note”, the former CEO opted against serving a required one-month notice. “I said to the association that I will not be serving a month notice, I’m resigning with immediate effect, and as in my contract, they can then take my salary from that,” Motlanthe indicated. He left the presser without entertaining any questions from the media. Stories of discord between Safa CEOs and the president have become the norm when Safa CEOs call it quits. Safa has yet to discuss the details of Monyepao’s new contract. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithembiso Dindi at TimesLive
DA wants to find out why nine out of 37 Gauteng hospitals are without permanent CEOs TimesLive reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has raised concern about the lack of permanent CEOs at nine of the 37 public hospitals in the province, which are being run by acting bosses. MPL Jack Bloom said it was worrying that two hospitals in the province had already gone more than 12 months without a permanent CEO. He pointed out that the recent ombud’s report into Rahima Moosa Hospital was critical of poor processes in appointing hospital CEOs. Gauteng hospitals have recently seen two resignations and one retirement, with the CEOs of Thembisa and Pretoria West hospitals on suspension. The news report lists the hospitals without permanent CEOs. Bloom pointed out that Kopanong Hospital has been the longest without a permanent CEO since the contract of the previous CEO expired in February 2022. “A permanent CEO has also not been appointed at the South Rand Hospital even though the CEO’s contract expired in April 2022,” he added. Bloom went on to point out: “It is essential that the best people are appointed speedily so that all hospitals have competent and honest CEOs, instead of cadre deployments whose incompetence causes suffering to patients.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at BusinessLive
DA claims eThekwini's municipal manager was illegally appointed, wants him suspended News24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini wants city manager Musa Mbhele suspended on the basis that he was illegally appointed to his position. "The DA in eThekwini demands that the municipal manager, Musa Mbhele, be suspended immediately pending the conclusion of the investigation into his alleged illegal appointment," said DA chief whip in council, Thabani Mthethwa. He also said the party would also write to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi requesting Mbhele's immediate removal. According to Mthethwa, a screening committee should have provided the selection panel that appointed Mbhele with a 2019 report issued by the City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU). The report implicated Mbhele in a violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) in that he entered into a memorandum of agreement that changed the terms of a tender contract without council approval. Disciplinary processes were recommended against Mbhele, but they were not implemented when he was appointed city manager. Mthethwa said: “The report was clearly kept under wraps to ensure that the illegal appointment of Mbhele would go unchallenged, fulfilling the agenda of factional battles within the ANC.” Mthethwa said the DA would not have endorsed Mbhele's appointment had it been fully aware of "his past transgressions and pending disciplinary hearing". eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo said officials were attending to the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24 (subscriber access only)
KZN science teacher fails to get his job back after alleged sexual assault of matric girl in his car Sunday Times Daily reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) teacher has lost his bid to be reinstated after he was fired for allegedly sexually assaulting a matric pupil in his car. Msawenkosi Mkhwanazi, a physical science educator, referred the matter to the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) for arbitration and the award was delivered on 4 May. The pupil alleged Mkhwanazi sexually assaulted her in February last year, a claim he denied. On occasions, when there were extra classes, he gave pupils, including the victim, a lift to their homes in the township as he lived in the same area. On the day of the incident, the victim requested him to give her a lift to the township after school and the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted the pupil in the car. Mkhwanazi then dropped her off in the township. The victim only reported the incident in May because Mkhwanazi was the only science teacher and she did not want the school’s results to drop if he was not there. Senior ELRC arbitrator Raj Shanker said in his award that Mkhwanazi’s version amounted to a bare denial of the incident. He added: “He did little to discredit most of the evidence of the learner and failed to provide me with a probable alternative version to consider. The learner, on the other hand, was a compelling witness. She gave her evidence clearly, honestly and with sufficient detail and accuracy to convince me that her version was probably true.” Shanker also rejected speculation by Mkhwanazi that the principal had a vendetta or motive to get rid of him from the school. He ordered that the KXN education department must, with immediate effect, impose the sanction of dismissal. He also ordered that Mkhwanazi be included in the department of social development’s child protection register as “unsuitable to work with children”. Doctor Ngema of the National Teachers’ Union (Natu), which represented Mkhwanazi during the hearings, said they were still going to study the award. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only)
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