In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 4 August 2023.
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Santaco talks suspended, Western Cape taxi stayaway continues until Wednesday News24 reports that the SA National Taxi Council's (Santaco’s) stayaway in Cape Town will remain in place until Wednesday after urgent talks were suspended on Sunday. "It is with great disappointment that we must announce that the talks between the government and the Santaco leadership, which took place in an attempt to resolve the cause for the taxi stayaway, was suspended. However, we are open to talks with the government to find a speedy resolution to this issue and we call on all our operators not to interfere with other modes of transport and not take part in any criminal activities.” Santaco's leadership advised in a statement. In a joint statement, the City of Cape Town and Western Cape government said the sticking points included negotiating for the official use of the yellow emergency lanes and the red lanes during rush hour and a suspension of conditions pertaining to operating licences. The statement continued: "Many government services, including health and social development, are having to close facilities and are unable to provide desperately needed services to communities." On Sunday, Santaco agreed to an interim interdict that Golden Arrow and its staff and passengers would not be intimidated, harassed, or assaulted. The Western Cape High Court issued the interim order in favour of the bus service. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24. Read too, Taxi talks collapse, depot petrol-bombed, Golden Arrow interdict, rail services, at The Citizen. En ook, Klinieke toe, dienste ontwrig oor Santaco-staking, by Maroela Media E-hailing drivers in the Western Cape join taxi strike News24 reports that the Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA), which represents different e-hailing services, said on Friday they had decided to participate in the stayaway. "The protest action will take the form of a stayaway. That means all vehicles must be parked and not engage in any normal business with immediate effect," the WCEA said in a statement. On Thursday, chaos, sporadic stone-throwing, and violence erupted on major highways in Cape Town as taxi drivers embarked on a week-long stayaway amid growing tension with the City of Cape Town authorities over impoundments. Major roads were blocked, and stranded commuters were forced to walk home. Uber drivers were, however, operating in the city denying they were part of the strike. A short report by Marvin Charles is at News24 Delft depot petrol-bombed, damaged and torched and six suspects arrested in Atlantis during Cape Town taxi strike News24 reports that a depot in Delft in Cape Town has been petrol-bombed in a spate of attacks believed to linked to the ongoing taxi stayaway. At least seven vehicles belonging to different departments, including law enforcement vehicles, were damaged or completely destroyed. Three vehicles were also torched in Makhaza, Khayelitsha. Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, indicated on Sunday that city traffic officers had also responded to reports of public violence in Atlantis on Saturday. He reported as follows: "On arrival, a taxi, seeing the enforcement vehicle, made a U-turn, and sped off. The officers gave chase, assisted by Saps, and when the taxi was brought to a stop, officers found the vehicle loaded with tyres and arson implements." Six suspects were arrested on various charges. The City confirmed that it had registered at least 110 criminal cases for incidents relating to the strike. On Saturday, the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) condemned acts of violence, public disturbances, and intimidation. It further distanced itself from opportunistic criminal elements that endangered the lives of commuters and citizens of the province. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24. Lees ook, Santaco-staking alles behalwe vreedsaam – Kaapstad, by Maroela Media. En ook, Nooddienste loop deur tydens taxi-staking in Kaapstad, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City of Cape Town offers R250,000 reward for info on LEAP officer's murder News24 reports that the City of Cape Town has offered a R250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for gunning down a Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer in Nyanga on Friday night. Zanikhaya Kwinana and two colleagues were driving in a marked Law Enforcement vehicle, on Miller Road en route to Bishop Lavis, when gunman opened fire. Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said initial indications were that as many as 13 bullets had hit the vehicle. Kwinana sustained gunshot wounds to the head and was declared dead on arrival at hospital. The officers had been carrying out patrols amid the ongoing taxi stayaway. Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Dumasani Qwebe said they were "shocked and devastated" by the manner in which the officer had been killed. Kwinana is the second LEAP officer to be shot dead in less than a week. On 30 July, Toufeeq Williams was killed while off duty when a stray bullet hit him in the head in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Lees ook, Beloning van R250 000 ná skietdood van LEAP-beampte, by Maroela Media Heathcare worker hit on head with a hammer, robbed in a lift at Charlotte Maxeke hospital IOL reports that a National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) staff member was last Wednesday hit with a hammer on her head and robbed of her mobile phone while in a lift at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. During the horrific incident, the worker fought back and managed to escape from the lift with serious injuries to her head. “One of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital officials heard a woman screaming, and when she rushed to help, the culprit had run away. Fortunately, the staff member was rushed to the casualty for medical attention. Our dedicated healthcare workers managed to stabilise her and she was later transferred to another health facility for further treatment,” said the hospital’s spokesperson Tabudi Madisha. Madisha went on to report: “Through CCTVs, our security has managed to identify the culprit and handed over the footage to the police. According to our preliminary report, the suspect is a black male on a crutch, and who can only speak English. The suspect is tall, dark in complexion, and he was wearing a green jacket.” Police officers were at the hospital on Thursday to collect evidence, before visiting the attacked NHLS employee. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at IOL. Lees ook, Personeellid by Charlotte Maxeke-hospitaal met hamer aangerand, by Maroela Media SABC manager who planned physical attack on subordinate takes early retirement City Press reports that a SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) “manager from hell” has quit her job after she and a subordinate were captured in a cellphone audio recording planning an attack on a news presenter, including burning his car. On hearing of the plan, the head of news apparently suspended the two immediately. However, the manager immediately opted to take early retirement. Borentsi Mooko, the now ex-Sesotho news bulletin editor at the public broadcaster’s headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, quit last week after the head of news confronted her about the recording. Her alleged co-conspirator, news bulletin writer Lefu Mokhotho, has been fired in connection with the incident. Their intended target, Sesotho news presenter Tshediso Mahloane, who was recruited by Mooko from Lesedi FM in the Free State earlier this year, has since opened a case at the Brixton police station in connection with the incident. Mooko allegedly accused Mahloane of being a spy planted in the SABC offices to orchestrate her removal. She also allegedly accused him of witchcraft. Mahloane, who had suspected that Mooko was hatching a plot against him, was on the air reading the news and had left his cellphone on recording mode in another office where the pair were at the time. He was shocked when he replayed his recording and immediately handed it to senior management. He subsequently opened a case of conspiracy to commit murder and intimidation, but a police spokesperson said that only a case of intimidation was being investigated. No arrests have yet been made. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Senior Eskom executive allegedly paid hitman R400.000 to assassinate subordinate City Press reports that the fight against fraud and corruption took a grim turn at Eskom following a confession from a hitman that he had been offered R400,000 by a senior executive at the power utility to assassinate a subordinate who had reported a string of cartel operations to the police. The hit was apparently ordered against Dorothy Mmushi, a middle manager in Eskom’s forensics department, who successfully uncovered massive amounts of looting by organised crime syndicates. In a chilling recorded telephone call made to her two weeks ago, an anonymous assassin said to Mmushi: “I’ve been paid R50,000 already and I’ll get the balance after I kill you.” She is now living in fear for her life and has 24-hour close protection security outside her home, despite living in a secured estate. Mmushi has reported the matter to Eskom and the SA Police Service. She has also been in personal contact with Hawks boss General Godfrey Lebeya, whom she says has failed to “make as little as an attempt to arrest this hitman”. When informed of the alleged plot by an Eskom executive to have Mmushi killed, the utility’s chairperson Mpho Makwana said the matter was for the police to deal with, rather than himself. “I’m lucky that I have my own private security, because no one at Eskom has as much as called me or responded to me, let alone offered me any protection, despite hard evidence that the people I’ve found to have stolen, and who’re continuing to steal from Eskom, are trying to kill me. And I believe what the hitman said,” Mmushi indicated. Read the full original of the astonishing report in the above regard by Nkululeko Ncana at City Press (subscriber access only)
Tshwane issues letters to electricity switching teams to identify intimidators in writing Maroela Media reports that on Saturday evening, the City of Tshwane took the extraordinary step of issuing 89 letters to electricity switching teams members across all the regions, except in Region 7, in relation to failure to perform their duties during the ongoing illegal strike. The switching teams are the first employees to respond to electricity outages. Their duties primarily relate to isolating faults, issuing permits for testing or issuing working permits. They are also responsible for restoration of power on 11kv network faults. The City instructed them identify the persons/employees who have been intimidating or preventing them from performing their duties. The teams have been given a deadline of 7 August 2023 to submit written responses about the alleged acts of intimidation. According to Selby Bokaba, Tshwane spokesman, last week was the second week during which these teams stayed off work because of alleged intimidation by their striking colleagues. Meanwhile, last Thursday the city issued 41 letters of intention to dismiss striking employees affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union. The City Manager has issued multiple ultimatums to the striking employees to return to work and to desist from intimidating their non-striking colleagues. Read the report in the above regard in Afrikaans at Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
No arrests yet in connection with murder of zama zama kingpin, but police intensify operations in Riverlea News24 reports that Gauteng police say no arrests have been made following the kidnapping and murder of a 45-year-old zama zama (illegal mining) kingpin. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said they opened a kidnapping case for investigation on 27 July at Randfontein, and the victim was found dead with a gunshot wound on 31 July. "No suspects were arrested and police investigations continue on a murder case," Nevhuhulwi indicated. Last week, at least five people were killed following a shooting incident in the Joburg suburb of Riverlea and the adjacent Zamimpilo informal settlement, which has become a hotspot for illegal mining. Specialised Forces of the SA Police Service (SAPS) were deployed to the area to shut down the illegal mining operations. On Friday, police intensified operations against the illegal miners during a community engagement led by Police Minister Bheki Cele in Riverlea. "The additional police deployment in the Riverlea area has so far resulted in the arrest of over 190 suspects, the majority of them are undocumented persons. Police have since recovered scores of illegal firearms, ammunition, stolen property, explosives, gas cylinders and other tools commonly used during illegal mining activities," Cele indicated. "It is encouraging that the Hawks have arrested almost 90 suspects who police believe are the handlers of these zama zamas and are middle and top players in the web of illegal mining," the minister added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Former Eskom boss André De Ruyter gets lecturing job at Yale University City Press reports that former Eskom boss André de Ruyter has landed a job at one of the leading US universities. De Ruyter, who vacated his post at Eskom on 28 February, will join Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, as a visiting senior fellow at the end of this month. De Ruyter will lecture at three institutions of Yale, namely the School of Management, the Jackson School of Global Affairs and the School of the Environment. His classes will deal with topics such as renewable energy and the green economy. At the request of Yale, Eskom’s green power programme, known as the Just Energy Transition (JET), will be a focal point in his lectures. This programme gained momentum during De Ruyter’s term and enabled SA to obtain more than R150 billion worth of financing for green energy projects. After his departure from Eskom, De Ruyter and his family went on a long holiday abroad. He said it was “invigorating” to relax for five months after the high-pressure job. As far as his philosophy on teaching is concerned, De Ruyter wants to try to keep his classes understandable and practical, without being superficial. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Albert Weideman at News24 (subscriber access only) Duncan Pieterse is frontrunner for Treasury’s director-general appointment Business Times reports that Duncan Pieterse, a young economist who has been central in the crafting of the National Treasury’s R254bn Eskom debt relief, has emerged as the frontrunner for the position of director-general. Pieterse, who is chief of the Treasury's assets & liabilities division, could be getting the nod to take over from Dondo Mogajane, who left last year. Ismail Momoniat has been holding the reins in the interim. Pieterse’s appointment will be formalised if and when it is approved by the cabinet. Another shortlisted candidate is the head of public finance at the Treasury, Mampho Modise. Both she and Pieterse were highly regarded internally and in the markets and there was not much to choose between them, sources said. But one source pointed out that Pieterse’s experience in the asset & liabilities unit gave him the edge. Economist Thabi Leoka commented: “Whoever took the reins now was walking into a tough job in a constrained environment with a lot of competition for scarce resources. South Africa has dilly-dallied on necessary reforms and the logistics crisis is getting worse. Whoever gets it, it will be a tough political environment leading up to the elections.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sam Mkokeli at Business Times (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Investigation into sick leave in public service sector initiated News24 reports that the SA government has spent nearly R51 million on paying thousands of civil servants who were sitting at home, either on suspension or sick leave. This has prompted the Department of Public Service & Administration to initiate an investigation in partnership with the Public Service Commission to establish the reported trends on sick leave use and possible abuse in the public service. The investigation will probe the extent of long-term sick leave usage in the public service over the past five to 10 years, where the involved individuals were located and whether sick leave in general, and policy and procedure on incapacity leave and ill-health retirements (PILIR) were being correctly applied. The investigation was sparked by the case of Eastern Cape legislature senior financial manager Kumara Gazo, who was apparently left paralysed from the neck down after claiming that her lover drove over her. She has been on sick leave since April 2017, but has continued earning a salary of more than R1.5 million a year. Gazo claims to have since returned to work, but remotely. Kiviet explained that the current position of government was that employees who were afflicted by illness were allowed a fair opportunity to recover from such illness, on the understanding that they would continue to be productive once they had fully recovered. She said the granting of long incapacity leave followed a strict procedure which included an investigation and assessment by an independent health risk manager. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at City Press (subscriber access only)
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