In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Human settlements minister accused by PSA of ‘deliberately lying’ in ‘stuck in lift’ dismissal case GroundUp reports that while the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has claimed that being stuck in a lift for more than an hour did not lead to her dismissing one of the department’s deputy directors, the Public Servants Association (PSA) has accused her of “deliberately lying”. The lift incident occurred on 14 March. Deputy director Nelly Letsholonyane was called into the Minister’s office the following day and issued with a letter of intention to institute disciplinary proceedings for her “gross negligence” in threatening the lives of employees. In April she was summarily dismissed. The Johannesburg Labour Court subsequently ruled that Minister Kubayi’s conduct in firing Letsholonyane was “unlawful” as the minister had not followed the procedures in the Senior Management Service Handbook, which prescribed that a disciplinary hearing must be held. It ordered that Lethsholonyane be immediately reinstated. The Minister has now applied to the Labour Appeal Court for permission to appeal the ruling. While that decision is pending, Letsholonyane is at home without pay. On 5 June, the Minister issued a press statement to “clarify” “misleading media reports” claiming that Letsholonyane was dismissed because of the lift incident. It asserted that Letsholonyane had been undergoing various disciplinary processes over several allegations of misconduct and was afforded an opportunity to make a written representation as to why she should not be dismissed. The Minister apparently considered the representation and found the explanation to be insufficient. But in a statement on 8 June, the PSA said there was only one unrelated disciplinary hearing involving Letsholonyane and “no conclusion has been reached”. Claiming that the minister had “abused her power” in firing Letsholonyane for the lift incident, the union said it was “not clear why the Minister was deliberately lying about the (pending) matter whilst she knows the facts.” It “urged” the minister to retract her “misleading statement” and engage with the parties involved in the disciplinary process. The minister’s spokesperson indicated that she intended to take legal action against the PSA for its statement. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
Four cops shot during robbery at The Junxion mall in Cape Town on Monday morning IOL reports that six armed men stormed The Junxion mall in Philippi, Cape Town, on Monday morning and injured four police officers. According to Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut, the suspects robbed a store at around 8am. He reported that the suspects opened fire on four police officers in a vehicle. “Two of our officers were seriously wounded, while the other two officers are in a less serious condition,” said Traut, adding that three of the officers were female and one was a male. The police officers managed to leave the scene and go the nearest hospital for medical help. The suspects fled the scene in a silver Opel Corsa vehicle and have yet to be arrested. An undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes was stolen. Traut reported that no customers were injured during the shoot-out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL No one can be held responsible for 2013 killing of 13 SA soldiers in CAR, board of inquiry finds News24 reports that a government-backed board of inquiry investigating the 2013 killing of 13 South African soldiers in Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR) found no one could be held responsible. In response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Kobus Marais, Defence Minister Thandi Modise explained that the purpose of the board of inquiry had been to determine the extent of equipment and personnel losses following what is now known as the Battle of Bangui. "The South African National Defence Force [SANDF] was deployed in terms of a bilateral agreement between the government of South Africa and the government of the Central African Republic on defence cooperation in terms of which the SANDF was to train the armed forces of CAR. Therefore, the SANDF was not deployed to protect any business interests. The then-president of the Republic of South Africa [Jacob Zuma] fulfilled all the constitutional requirement regarding the deployment of the SANDF to the Central African Republic. The deployment of the SANDF to CAR was duly authorised by the president," Modise advised. She indicated that no one was held responsible and/or accountable for the deaths of the SANDF members. But furthermore, Modise said the families and next of kin of the fallen soldiers were compensated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Shisa Nyama index indicates rate of food inflation is easing Bloomberg reports that food prices in SA are still increasing at a startling rate, though the pace of acceleration is easing, and possibly at a faster rate than is reflected in the official data so far. The cost of a basket of goods in Bloomberg’s SA Shisa Nyama index, designed to show the cost of a traditional braai in townships and rural areas, rose 12% year-on-year in May, a sharp decline from 19% in February and a third consecutive monthly slowdown. A continuation of that trend will provide welcome relief for consumers who are also contending with high fuel prices, widespread unemployment, daily electricity outages and a stagnating economy. Consumer prices rose 6.8% year-on-year in April, down from 7.1% in March, with food prices rising 14.3%. Official data from Stats SA for May is scheduled to be released on 21 June. But, there is no guarantee the downward trajectory in food inflation will be maintained. Load-shedding is increasing the cost of food production at various companies, including Tiger Brands, RFG Holdings and Astral Foods. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Renee Bonorchis at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Research highlights the coming need for skills in food production Business Times reports that new research into jobs of the future has identified specialists in food production as among the crucial skills SA and other countries will need in the changing world of work. But some jobs that may become essential don’t even exist yet. The Brics Business Council and the Food and Beverages Sectoral Education and Training Authority (FoodBev Seta) last week launched the Atlas of Emerging Jobs in the Food and Beverage Sector, which showed that equipment operational specialists, bio-nutritionists, integration software engineers and farm technicians were among the increasingly important skills in food production. Sherri Donaldson of the Brics Business Council said the atlas was a vital part of preparing the future workforce and ensuring that SA did not continue being a net importer of specialised skills. The atlas used a methodology known as skills technology foresight (STF), which was developed by a Russian business school and has been adopted by institutions such as the World Bank and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The report highlighted that “there is a trend of growing automation and digitalisation at dairy farms and factories, from robotic milking systems and biofeedback for cows to machine learning systems helping workers to make optimal decisions”. It added that sustainability would be at the heart of many of the coveted jobs of the future. Donaldson estimates that 65% of children globally entering the basic school system will be working in jobs that either do not yet exist or are not yet widely known in the global job market. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Jobs to be created to tackle waste management in provincial capitals Cape Times reports that government has committed to supporting municipalities to improve waste management with the creation of 2,000 work opportunities per province for a period of 12 months. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said waste management was an area that was receiving considerable attention in this financial year. Creecy tabled her department’s budget vote speech in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) where she stated that the government would reinvigorate the Presidential Good Green Deeds programme to focus on cleaning and greening in provincial capitals. “Our programme will see the creation of 2,000 work opportunities per province for a period of 12 months, to support municipalities in the provincial capitals to clean up dump sites, plant trees and stop littering in selected streets. In these cities additional support will also be given to ensure waste management authorities have access to yellow fleet, and there is a greater focus on improving landfill compliance and support for the diversion of waste to recycling activities,” Creecy indicated. According to Creecy, in SA about 80,000 tons of plastic leaked into rivers and oceans as a result of failures in the waste management system. “Severe financial management challenges mean many municipalities are not able to expand household waste collection, and some areas which previously had regular waste removal no longer have a weekly service,” she noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Okuhle Hlati at Cape Times
Implats names Patrick Morutlwa new COO; Mark Munroe appointed chief technical officer Mining Weekly reports that platinum group metals (PGMs) miner Impala Platinum (Implats) has appointed Patrick Morutlwa to succeed Gerhard Potgieter as chief operating officer (COO), with effect from 19 June. Potgieter is retiring after 13 years at Implats and a "distinguished" 40-year career in the SA mining sector. He will step down in July. Further, Impala Rustenburg CE Mark Munroe has been appointed group chief technical officer (CTO), with effect from 1 July. Marula mining executive Moses Motlhageng will take over as CE of Impala Rustenburg. Themba Ngobeni has been appointed GM of Marula, with effect from 1 June. “We congratulate Patrick Morutlwa, Mark Munroe and Moses Motlhageng on their new roles. Patrick will lead and oversee the performance of Implats’ mining and processing operations and, with his extensive mining sector experience, I am confident he will provide the requisite tactical direction to ensure delivery against the group’s strategic objectives,” commented Implats CEO Nico Muller. He added that Munroe's extensive operational and technical leadership at Impala Rustenburg over the past five years would be instrumental in his new role as group CTO. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Parliamentary chief ‘runs parallel administration’ which sidelining senior managers Sunday Times reports that Parliament's CEO Xolile George stands accused of sidelining his senior managers by assembling a team of outside advisers to allegedly perform functions that have always been done by his executives. Well-placed sources in the higher echelons of parliament told last week how George was running a parallel administration with advisers who were appointed outside the legislature’s organogram in positions not advertised as per parliamentary recruitment policies. But George has defended the appointment of the four advisers, saying when he took office in June last year, he found an institution with serious capacity challenges. He said he analysed the organisational structure and concluded that an overhaul was necessary. The four, whom some refer to as “his troubleshooters”, are change management, strategy review, policy review and built environment advisers. And George wants to appoint two more advisers, including one on “business optimisation”. But, the appointments have not gone down well with some in parliament, who accuse George of running a parallel organisation as most of the work being done by his advisers has always been performed by an army of 13 divisional managers. George’s new team also comes at a huge cost to parliament as each is paid about R1.8m a year, while a divisional manager earns more than R2.2m. Parliamentary officials also allege that George did not follow the proper recruitment process in hiring the advisers. Justifying his appointments, George said they were temporary and were consistent with parliament’s talent acquisition policy. He claimed that the institution’s human resources policy provided for “stand-in or urgent assignments”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisiwe Makinana at Sunday Times (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Employment equity targets will force Coloured people out of Western Cape agriculture, warns Solidarity and Cape Forum A report issued by Solidarity and the Cape Forum which analyses the possible impact of concept regulations proposed by the Minister of Labour in terms of the Employment Equity Amendment Act indicates that nationally approximately one in four coloured employees will have to be replaced in order to meet sectoral targets. Furthermore, coloured employees working in the agricultural sector in the Western Cape will have to be reduced, and many coloured women in that province will have to be replaced. The report issued on Monday has a specific focus on the possible impact of the proposed regulations on the coloured labour market. Companies that do business nationally and national government departments will have to apply the national targets in the Western Cape. In Gauteng, 85,000 coloured employees will have to be made redundant, while no coloured person will be able to be appointed in Limpopo. Connie Mulder, Head of the Solidarity Research Institute, commented: “The minister’s targets require that coloured women in various sectors will have to be replaced by black or coloured men. In the Western Cape alone, one in four coloured female health workers, one in eight coloured female workers in the accommodation and food sector and one in ten coloured female workers in trade will have to be replaced in order to meet the minister’s targets. Similarly, no new appointments of coloured people can be made in agriculture in the Western Cape, because then companies will no longer meet the minister’s targets.” Heindrich Wyngaard of the Cape Forum indicated: “The message that the ANC is sending to the coloured community with these targets is clear – you will be tolerated in the Western Cape, provided you work in the right industries. In the rest of the country and the economy, you are not welcome.” Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Politicsweb. Lees ook, Bruin landbouwerkers moet waai om rasteikens te haal, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Union federations welcome progress on two-pot retirement system The Mercury reports that the country’s two biggest trade union federations have welcomed moves to introduce the “two-pot” retirement system which would allow workers to be able to access at least a third of their pensions while they are still employed. Saftu and Cosatu said the proposal would provide much-needed relief to many workers who were already battling to make ends meet. The National Treasury and SA Revenue Service (Sars) last week published for public comment the revised 2023 Draft Revenue Laws Amendment Bill and the 2023 Draft Revenue Administration and Pension Laws Amendment Bill. The draft bills provide the necessary legislative amendments required to implement the first phase of the “two-pot” retirement system. Members of the public have until 15 July to comment on the bills, which, if passed, will see the system being rolled out next year. Saftu spokesperson Trevor Shaku pointed out that they had been advocating for such a system. He noted how workers had been battling to cope with rising living costs, especially in the past three years, so “the ability of workers to be able to access some of their money is a significant way in which their plight can be dealt with because things are very tough at the moment.” Cosatu said it believed that the move would ease the debt burden, but workers should settle their debts first before attending to other matters with the money. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said: “The federation appreciates the move and believes that once this money enters the economy it will stimulate demand and serve as some form of stimulus.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibusiso Mboto at The Mercury. See too, Treasury releases draft rules of two-pot retirement system for public comment, at EWN. Read Cosatu’s press statement on this matter at Politicsweb
UIF welcomes arrest of six suspects from North West who allegedly defrauded the fund of R2m Engineering News reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has welcomed the arrests of six suspects from the North West province who allegedly defrauded the fund of R2-million. The suspects, including two former employees of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), were apprehended by the police’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on 10 June. According to a preliminary investigation, the suspects operated a syndicate that recruited unemployed persons in the province for job opportunities. The unsuspecting job applicants were then made to complete UIF claim forms as former employees of Impala Platinum Mine, as well as Anglo Gold Ashanti, for unemployment benefits. Thereafter the suspects had the claims processed, resulting in the UIF being defrauded of over R2-million. The suspects were scheduled to appear in the Mahikeng District Court on 12 June to face charges of fraud, money laundering and theft. Internal UIF investigations have led to a number of dismissals and suspensions of officials from the Mahikeng and Klerksdorp Labour Centres, with some disciplinary matters still ongoing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News North West police captain accused of using state credit card to fill up home generator News24 reports that a North West police captain has been arrested and charged with theft after allegedly using a state credit card to buy fuel for his 25-litre home generator. Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Captain Baile Mokgoro allegedly went to a petrol station in the Vryburg CBD to fill up a state motor vehicle before also filling his generator. "He allegedly filled the state motor vehicle with 40.14 litres of petrol, amounting to R926.43. Allegedly, he also filled up his private generator with 25 litres worth R577,” Mokgwabone reported. The total amount paid by the state was R1,503.45. Subsequent to reporting of the incident and investigation by the provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, Mokgoro was arrested. He appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate's Court last week and was released on R500 bail. He is expected to appear in court again next month. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshepiso Motloung at News24. Leeds ook, Kaptein vas wat glo opwekker op staat se rekening volmaak, by Maroela Media
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