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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Jobs bloodbath in first quarter of 2023 as formal employment falls BL Premium reports that formal employment plunged in the first quarter, reflecting SA’s inability to create sufficient employment opportunities to absorb new entrants into the labour market and the government’s inability to drive employment-stimulating policies. Stats SA’s Quarterly Employment Statistics survey published on Tuesday showed the economy shed 21,000 jobs on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of 2023, bringing the level of employment to almost 10-million. Compared with March last year, 97,000 jobs were lost in the 12-month period. The decrease was observed across various sectors, though some experienced job gains. The firm-based survey showed the trade industry bore the brunt of the job losses, with a decrease of 36,000. The business services sector followed closely behind, with a decline of 32,000 jobs. The transport and construction industries both experienced a reduction of 2,000 jobs in the quarter. Full-time jobs also fell on a year-on-year basis, recording a decline of 24,000 jobs, highlighting businesses’ reluctance or inability to hire employees full-time given economic circumstances. Part-time employment enjoyed a noteworthy surge of 42,000 jobs quarter-on-quarter, rising from 1,110,000 in December 2022 to 1,152,000 in March. The data showed the community services industry emerged as the leading contributor to the part-time employment increase, adding 46,000 jobs. Stats SA data showed that overall, average monthly earnings, including overtime and bonuses, were down 2.7% quarter-on-quarter but up 6.8% on an annual basis. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thuletho Zwane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). See too, Employment and gross earnings decrease in first quarter, says Stats SA, at TimesLIVE. And also, 21,000 job losses in the first quarter, at Moneyweb Part-time employment on the rise thanks to government programmes, Stats SA notes EWN reports that Statistics SA says government programmes have largely contributed to the increase in part-time employment. Stats SA published first quarter employment statistics on Tuesday – covering the period between January and March this year – with 21,000 job losses recorded in the first quarter. While there was a general decline in jobs across many sectors, the community services sector recorded gains in employment. The sector consists of provincial and local government jobs, as well as higher education institutions. Employment director at Stats SA, Matlapane Masupye, said the results were because of a presidential initiative aimed at youth employment. "The government is currently running a presidential youth employment initiative project, so the bulk of this is coming from youth who were employed to help in education activities," he indicated Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabiso Goba at EWN. Listen as well to an interview, Presidential Employment Stimulus has delivered 1.2 million jobs, at Moneyweb Tshwane vows to clamp down on EPWP employment ‘favours’ for political parties Pretoria Rekord reports that in a bid to curb corruption and nepotism, the Tshwane metro will disqualify all applications submitted by political parties for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The metro was recently made aware that some community members were employed based on party affiliation. Community and social development MMC Peggy de Bruin pointed out that the EPWP was a national programme that sought to serve all community members – regardless of affiliation. “We have been made aware of councillors claiming to be representing certain political formations and promising community members ‘priority status’ when completing EPWP application forms. The City of Tshwane rejects these claims that are false and misleading,” said De Bruin. The MMC advised that community members who wanted to apply must be South African citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 years who were unemployed and who could prove they resided in the city. But, Soshanguve resident Joel Mangena asked: “The idea is great but how is the metro going to monitor this? Politicians have proven to be untrustworthy before. How are we then going to believe this one?” Ga-Rankuwa resident Steven Thabatha commented: “We have been promised heaven and earth before. Now they are pledging to switch off the one tap that gives them [politicians] leverage. I am sorry, but this sounds too good to be true. We remain hopeful, but time will tell if they can keep their word. We honestly need employment, not that EPWPs are real jobs, but it’s better than nothing.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
IPID probing murder of JHB metro cop, allegedly by SAPS officer EWN reports that the Independent Investigative Police Directorate (IPID) is investigating a murder case after a Johannesburg metro police officer was allegedly shot dead by a member of the SA Police Service outside a nightclub in Braamfontein at the weekend. Apparently the men, who were both off duty, were involved in an altercation in the early hours of Sunday morning before one of them fired shots. In a video posted on social media, a man believed to be the metro police officer can be seen with gun in hand threatening to assault a man inside a vehicle. The armed man can also be seen pulling the other man out of the driver's seat and trying to assault him. Shortly afterwards, gunshots can be heard and, in a second video, the armed man can be seen lying on the ground with a bloody chest. Police watchdog Ipid’s Robbie Raburabu said their investigators attended to the crime scene. Despite an investigation having been launched, no arrests have been made. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Kgomotso Modise at EWN Five incidents at different Gqeberha clinics have left staff and patients traumatised GroundUp reports that Nomangesi Jayiya clinic in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, has been closed since 21 June after staff and patients were robbed by three armed suspects at the clinic a week ago. A nurse who was one of the victims said: “One day we will die at clinics while serving patients. The three criminals pointed guns at us and at patients, before ordering us to hand over our cellphones, watches and handbags. They ran off on foot and left us shaken. We do not feel safe to go to work anymore.” Staff at Mabandla clinic in ward 45 have also not gone to work since the incident at the neighbouring clinic on Wednesday last week. Messages on Facebook pages indicate that staff shortages in the past few days at health facilities, such as Edameni and Laetitia Bam Day Hospital in Kariega, were also due to crime incidents. According to Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda, five clinics in Gqeberha were affected by criminality last week (details in report). Dekeda advised that the department was providing counselling to the affected staff. She also indicated: “The department continues to work together with SAPS, social partners and community structures. To improve security in healthcare facilities, the department has recently launched an Integrated Security Solution.” She said this would include security guards, the installation of alarms with panic buttons, and cameras among other security upgrades. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thamsanqa Mbovane at GroundUp
Allow zama zamas to retrieve bodies at disused Harmony shaft, Lesotho national pleads EWN reports on a plea from a Lesotho national for a concerted effort to retrieve the remaining bodies of illegal miners believed to be Basotho nationals from a disused mine shaft in the Free State. The bodies of 31 bodies zama zamas (illegal miners) have been found. Eyewitness News spoke to Moeti Ramaema who is the grandfather of two Basotho men, one who was killed and another who survived a fatal methane gas explosion at the mine in Welkom. Ramaema pleaded with the South African government to allow zama zamas to go down and retrieve the remaining bodies. However, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said he could not allow illegal miners to go underground for rescue operations as that could be promoting criminality. Ramaema said his grandson went down into the mine soon after the explosion last month and managed to bring to the surface three bodies, showing that it could be done. “He wants to go down Mr Mantashe to see those bodies, let the zama zamas go there... they’ve been risking when they go there, six people [can] take them out, no problem at all,” Ramaema pleaded. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Orrin Singh at EWN
Cosatu threatens legal action against North West municipalities ‘routinely defaulting’ on staff salaries BL Premium reports that Cosatu is threatening legal action over “financially distressed” North West municipalities struggling to pay worker salaries. The labour federation’s acting spokesperson Matthew Parks said: “We call on these municipalities to pay workers what is due to them, or we will work with Samwu (SA Municipal Workers’ Union) to take them to court.” He advised that the Ditsobotla, Mahikeng, Tswaing, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Madibeng, JB Marks, Mamusa and Lekwa Tamame municipalities “routinely default” on paying workers’ salaries and third party deductions owed to them. “Over the past year alone, the number of delinquent municipalities defaulting on paying their employees has risen from 20 in four provinces to 27 in six provinces nationally. These municipalities are failing workers who are already dealing with a cost-of-living crisis that has been made worse by the current economic trends that have unleashed very harsh conditions for workers,” Parks stated. He added that Cosatu was disturbed by the “apathetic and indifferent attitude of both the national and North West provincial government”, in particular Cogta and the SA Local Government Association, on this matter. Most of the country’s 257 municipalities have been run into the ground due to malfeasance, corruption, maladministration, corruption, looting, and lack skilled personnel, including engineers, to turn them around. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
NHI doomed to fail, warns Public Servants Association IOL reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has expressed concerns about the recent media reports regarding the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill that left citizens, including public servants, with more questions than answers. The reports came after the National Assembly recently passed the NHI Bill. While the PSA indicated its support for the aim of ensuring universal access to healthcare, it said that a single healthcare system, such as the NHI, was not the solution for access to meaningful healthcare services. It emphasised that the objective should be meaningful access to quality service, adequate medical supplies, clean and fully equipped facilities, and adequate staffing with experience and expertise. “Without these fundamental aspects in place, the NHI is doomed to be a failure,” the trade union warned. According to the PSA, public sector employees, like other citizens, must have the right to choose whether to use public or private healthcare, while the choice should not be punished by imposing a tax burden on employees. The PSA said the country had witnessed a decline in the quality of public services over the years owing to various reasons, including human capital flight, poor infrastructure maintenance, a lack of accountability, and corruption. However, the association questioned whether the NHI would yield better benefits for public servants. It called for a responsible, affordable, and sustained healthcare system as well as for a human resource strategy to resolve skill shortages in the health sector. Furthermore, the PSA urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to carefully consider all inputs before forcing a system onto the citizenry. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kamogelo Moichela at IOL
Police arrest three more G4S employees involved in Thabo Bester prison escape The Citizen reports that police assigned to the case of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester have arrested three more G4S employees in the matter. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe indicated: “All three are male and are all G4S employees. One suspect was arrested at his home in Botshabelo, while the other two were arrested at their place of residence – also in Bloemfontein. All three were arrested on Monday evening.” Mathe said the trio was expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. They will face charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, violation of a corpse and corruption. To date, police have arrested 12 suspects involved in Bester’s escape. Earlier this month, nine suspects appeared in court facing multiple charges related to Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year, after he faked his death. The co-accused included the convict’s alleged girlfriend and accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana and her father Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni. Bester and Magadumana were arrested on 7 April 2023 in Tanzania, after they fled the hotel they had been staying in. During their arrest, the couple was found with several passports with multiple identities in their possession. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen
At least 225 Tshwane metro police officers being investigated for corruption SowetanLive reports that at least 225 Tshwane metro police department (TMDP) officers are under investigation for corruption, including taking bribes from motorists. The department’s spokesperson, Isaac Mahamba confirmed that they were investigating 225 cases against their officers and these ranged from corruption, bribery and extortion to kidnapping. The incidents happened over the past 12 months. In a recent incident, an employee from the Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) was extorted by officers at a roadblock at the Atterbury offramp of the N1 highway. The officers allegedly demanded that the driver transfer money to their accounts as bribery for an alleged traffic offence. After the employee was unsuccessful in transferring money to the cellphone numbers of the six officers, he had to go to the nearest ATM to withdraw cash. A corruption case was opened the next day at the Lyttelton police station. Mahamba confirmed that this case had been brought to their attention and was under investigation. The department urged motorists to record videos or take photos of such malicious actions to help curb unlawfulness. Mahamba added that the TMPD was considering using body cameras, a move that the Johannesburg metro police was also considering. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Koketso Ratsatsi at SowetanLive Former police captain sentenced to jail time for trying to defraud Road Accident Fund TimesLIVE reports that a Mpumalanga former police captain has been sentenced for fraud and corruption for trying to collude with a victim of a car crash to defraud the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Police officers from the SAPS Dientjie community service centre attended the scene of the accident in Mitibiti on 5 August 2018 after a VW Polo with five occupants overturned. A docket was opened and a detective at the same police station, France Malamba Khoza, was placed in charge of the case. However, it was discovered that he colluded with the mother of the Polo driver – who was not a passenger or even present at the scene on the day – with the intention of defrauding the RAF. The matter was handed to the Hawks and four people were arrested, including Khoza, the mother of the driver Sylvia Mohlala, the driver Ralph Mabunele and Neclous Shebu, who had provided a statement. The charges against Shebu were later withdrawn. Mohlala and her son were found guilty of corruption and sentenced in August 2022 to six months’ imprisonment or a R3,000 fine, plus suspended sentences for defeating the administration of justice and perjury. “Khoza, the former police captain, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for corruption, four years for fraud and three years for defeating the administration of justice,” a Hawks spokesperson advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rorisang Kgosana at TimesLIVE
Eskom board dithers over suspending Jan Oberholzer for his part in Fidelity security contract Mail & Guardian reports that Eskom’s board is divided over whether to suspend Jan Oberholzer, the utility’s former chief operating officer and now an adviser, who was allegedly involved in a controversial contract worth R500 million for the emergency procurement of security services from Fidelity. According to Eskom, although the contract was worth R500 million, it paid Fidelity R250 million. Fidelity provided more than 400 guards to protect transmission lines and power stations under threat of sabotage. After a board meeting last week, Eskom head of security Karen Pillay was suspended in relation to the three-month Fidelity contract from July to September 2022. She allegedly played a central role in putting together the scope of the contract, using information from intelligence reports by George Fivaz Forensic & Risk, which were requested by Eskom’s former chief executive, André de Ruyter. The contract was allegedly approved without offering other security companies the opportunity to bid for the work. Eskom said it was investigating all parties involved in the Fidelity deal and would ensure everyone would account for their actions. The Fidelity contract was signed when Oberholzer was Eskom’s COO before he retired in May. He was then given a two-year contract as an operations director to oversee Kusile and Koeberg power stations. Two sources on the Eskom board said the utility was under pressure to review Oberholzer’s position. “His involvement in the Fidelity contract and his inability to redflag it has caused the board to be uncertain about his future at the utility,” one source said. The second source said other board members were conflicted about the decision to remove Oberholzer from his two-year contract. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandisa Nyathi at Mail & Guardian
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