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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Santaco not backing down in deadly Cape Town taxi protest BL Premium reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) says it will not suspend the deadly taxi strike that led to road closures and chaos in Cape Town this week. The strike, sparked by protests by taxi drivers against a clampdown by city officials against traffic offenders that included impounding their vehicles, disrupted traffic on the N2 highway, causing delays at Cape Town International Airport and schools and clinics to shut. Police minister Bheki Cele said this week the death toll stood at five, with 120 suspects arrested for damaging property, looting and public violence. In a statement late on Wednesday, Santaco Western Cape chair Mandla Hermanus said the strike would go on until the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government instituted a moratorium on impounding taxis. Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis defended taxi impoundments, saying they “turned the tide” of road safety in favour of the city’s residents. Comments to the contrary were made at the weekend by national transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who called on the city to immediately release all impounded taxis. According to Western Cape mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, the situation on the province’s roads was calm on Wednesday. The taxi strike has led to absenteeism of more than 50% in key sectors of the economy, with the fishing industry the hardest hit. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sashni Pather, Suthentira Govender & Bobby Jordan at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Cape Town taxi strike set to continue Thursday, at TimesLIVE. En ook, Taxi-staking: 5 moorde, 120 inhegtenisnemings, by Maroela Media Santaco to seek interdict to get impounded Cape Town taxis back, sporadic violence reported on Wednesday News24 reports that taxi services in Cape Town will remain suspended until the outcome of an urgent interdict against the City of Cape Town that taxi council Santaco is preparing. In a notice to operators posted by Western Cape Santaco secretary general Ryno Saaiers, taxi operators were advised that Santaco had appointed a lawyer to file for the interdict to get all impounded vehicles released. It also wants the City and the Western Cape Department of Mobility to not impound more taxis until the impoundment issue is resolved. "With this in mind, we appeal to all our members to be patient and allow us to complete this process. The application will be lodged in 48 hours, and we will, therefore, not operate until this process is completed," said Saaiers. Meantime, City of Cape Town safety and security MMC JP Smith on Wednesday night said there had been a few sporadic incidents of violence. A truck was set alight in Langa and stone-throwing incidents were reported along Potsdam Road on Wednesday. The City's Joint Operations Centre will remain activated to coordinate responses to disruptions. “This includes patrols along all major routes and escorts for bus services in hotspot areas; we are utilising our CCTV network to monitor the road network to help expedite any emergency response that is required," Smith said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans and Iavan Pijoos at News24 Santaco has no problem with taxi impoundments as long as they're fair EWN reports that taxi council Santaco in the Western Cape says it is not entirely against the impounding of minibus taxis in Cape Town. Local taxi associations affiliated to Santaco are at loggerheads with the City of Cape Town over the traffic by-law that gives power to officers to impound vehicles instead of issuing fines. However, the city insists that it has not seized any minibus taxi using a by-law but only under national legislation. The impasse has left thousands of taxi commuters stranded for over a week and there's still no indication on whether taxis will be available on Thursday as scheduled. Santaco provincial chairperson Mandla Hermanus indicated that they were not saying taxi impoundments should not be carried out, but that this should not be used as an excuse to target minibus taxis. "We agree that there are instances where a vehicle may be impounded. For example, a driver who does not have a driver’s license, a vehicle that does not have an operating license, a vehicle that is not roadworthy, those are non-negotiables," he said. Santaco is currently in talks with Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga to find a solution to the ongoing taxi stay away. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntuthuzelo Nene at EWN. Read too, Cape Town Mayor Hill-Lewis insists taxis will only be released after paying impoundment fees, at IOL Taxi council Santaco must prove to court on Thursday that it took reasonable steps to stop violence GroundUp reports that Judge Patrick Gamble on Tuesday ordered that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) must prove it had complied with an earlier interdict handed down by the Cape High Court on Sunday. The ongoing taxi strike in Cape Town has been marked by scenes of violence and has resulted in five deaths. Sunday’s interdict required Santaco to take reasonable steps to ensure that Golden Arrow Bus Services’ employees and passengers were not attacked, harassed or intimidated and that no damage was caused to the company’s property by Santaco taxi drivers. Santaco was also ordered to circulate a statement informing its members of the interdict and calling them to proceed with the strike peacefully. But on Monday, more of Golden Arrow’s buses were torched and drivers were attacked. The company returned to court on Monday evening to seek an order that Santaco should prove it took those reasonable steps. During court proceedings on Monday evening, Judge Gamble noted that a blockade on the N2 in the early hours of Monday morning was undoubtedly a breach of the interdict. On Tuesday, Gamble ordered that Santaco must provide proof to the court by 12pm on Thursday, 10 August that it had taken reasonable steps to stop violence and lawlessness. He also ordered Santaco to provide the court with the identities of any of its members or taxi operators who were arrested or who were involved in the blockade on the N2 on Monday morning. Finally, Judge Gamble ordered that when the parties returned to court on Thursday, Santaco and its affiliates should argue why they should not be held in contempt of court for breaching Sunday’s interdict. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Daniel Steyn at GroundUp. Lees ook, Taxiraad moet bewys dat stappe gedoen is om geweld te stop, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ramaphosa wants equal pay for women as he praises Banyana, Proteas News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa says SA needs to develop a law that bans unequal pay between men and women doing the same job, while also encouraging the public and private sectors to procure services from women-owned businesses. He was delivering the keynote address at Women’s Day celebrations at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Wednesday. The president indicated: "Our laws and policies must have a bias towards improving the lives of women." He placed an emphasis on payment grievances raised by Banyanya Banyana. There has been much criticism that the national women's soccer team receives less pay than its male counterparts, Bafana Bafana, despite better performances on the pitch. "We need to pay them well and their pay must be equal to that of men and even exceed what we pay men," Ramaphosa said. The president also commended the Proteas netball team for its performance at the Netball World Cup held in Cape Town. In a wide-ranging address, the president highlighted some of the progress SA has made in empowering women and assured event-goers that the government remained committed to improving the lives of women. Newly-elected ANC Women’s League president Sisisi Tolashe said: "We want to see SAFA ensure equal pay between men and women. We want to see the private sector buy more from women-led businesses. We are going to demand programmes and time-frames on legislation changes and programmes of women economic empowerment." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nkosikhona Duma at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Gauteng to roll out panic buttons to sex workers, says MEC Faith Mazibuko News24 reports that providing sex workers with panic buttons to ensure their safety is among the programmes Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko wants to focus on. Mazibuko is the newly-elected chairperson of the provincial ANC Women's League (ANCWL). Speaking on Tuesday, she said the 351 surveillance cameras her department intended to install in city centres and townships should be located where sex workers operate. "I, as a member of the provincial government, believe that sex workers will be covered [by the surveillance cameras] and be safe. We will also be rolling out panic buttons to them, so that, in case a client does not want to pay or becomes violent, the sex workers are able to press that panic button and get assistance from law enforcement agencies," Mazibuko indicated. She added that the need to help sex workers was important, especially in dangerous places like Nugget Street in the Johannesburg CBD. Mazibuko noted that decriminalising sex work was part of the Gauteng ANCWL's discussion document. "In Gauteng, many women have found the [sex work] sector as one that is viable to make a living. We want the national government to assist us in developing legislation that decriminalises sex work because you get arrested when found as a sex worker," Mazibuko said. Meanwhile, Nokuthula Nqaba, secretary-general of the national ANCWL, said the organisation wanted Parliament to finalise deliberations and to pass the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide Bill to help fight the scourge of women abuse and murders. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khaya Koko at News24 (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Rooihuiskraal dumping site full as strike by Tshwane municipal workers hampers service delivery Pretoria News reports that the area in and around the Rooihuiskraal dumping site has become a sorry sight as a result of the ongoing strike by City of Tshwane workers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu). Two weeks ago scores of employees took to the streets in protest over non-payment of salary increases. They are demanding a 5.4% salary increase. The strike affected service delivery, leaving waste removal among the services severely affected. As a result, the Rooihuiskraal dumping site is full and residents are leaving rubbish on the road leading to the facility as well as in Lenchen Road. According to the City, the strike, which has been deemed illegal and unprotected, has disrupted delivery in the metro, including waste removal, and has denied patients life-saving health care after some facilities were forced to close. The City has obtained a court interdict against protesting workers affiliated to the union. Meanwhile, the metro has come up with a waste collection recovery plan for businesses in the city. Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said part of the plan was for the police to escort rubbish trucks, adding that the City was committed to restoring waste collection, especially for business. “Compactor trucks have been unable to dispose of waste due to the closure of disposal facilities, creating a mounting backlog,” Mashigo pointed out. “This situation highlights the importance of finding a resolution to the strike and ensuring that waste collection and disposal services can operate smoothly,” Mashigo said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at Pretoria News. Lees ook, Só staan sake weens staking in Tshwane, by Maroela Media
Gordhan gives Eskom the go-ahead to split off utility’s distribution arm Fin24 reports that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has approved the sale of Eskom's distribution assets to a new state-owned company. The new company, which has yet to be named, will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the power utility. The minister gave his stamp of approval for the deal to go ahead in a letter to Eskom chairperson Mpho Makwana. Under the Public Finance Management Act, Gordhan's approval is needed for Eskom to dispose of any of its assets. In his 2019 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced that Eskom would be split into separate distribution, generation and transmission entities, as "bold decisions and decisive action" were needed to save the struggling power utility. While Ramaphosa said that the government would immediately embark on the process of establishing the three separate entities, the split has been dragged out for the past four years. But moves to unbundle Eskom appear to have recently gained momentum. Last month, SA's energy regulator approved a licence for an independent transmission company to operate the country's power grid. The National Transmission Company of SA, like the proposed distribution company, will be a state-owned subsidiary of Eskom. In his letter to Makwana, Gordhan asked Eskom to speed up the legal separation of the distribution and generation arms. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24
First phase of grooms’ residential renovation at Turffontein Racecourse completed BusinessLive reports that Johannesburg-based horse racing operator 4 Racing has completed the first phase of renovating the grooms’ accommodation quarters at Turffontein Racecourse. This upgrade is part of a comprehensive series of benefits for grooms, aimed at empowering and improving the welfare of traditionally the most marginalised workers in the horse racing industry. Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4 Racing, said the renovation programme, which will be extended to training centres at the Vaal and Turffontein in due course, was about far more than a new coat of paint, new beds, floors, showers, bathrooms and kitchens. “This has been a challenging journey, but one we believe was absolutely necessary to ensure that the grooms, who are the backbone of our industry, have a comfortable and clean environment they can call home. The double-storey units at Turffontein have been completely refurbished and handed over,” she indicated. Sithebe added: “Together with the range of benefits, such as medical and funeral insurance provided by 4 Racing with the support of the Racehorse Owners Association, this has seen dignity and equality returned to the horse racing workforce – most importantly to grooms and stablehands.” Read the original of the report in the above regard by Charl Pretorius at BusinessLive
Nzimande’s move to place Unisa under administration ‘long overdue’ and widely welcomed TimesLIVE Premium reports that Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s intention to place Unisa under administration has been widely welcomed by academics and political parties. Nzimande wrote to Unisa’s council chair, James Maboa, on Friday informing him that he was satisfied that a report by independent assessor Prof Themba Mosia “reveals financial and other maladministration of a serious nature and serious undermining of the effective functioning of Unisa”. Nzimande’s letter highlighted a number of Mosia's findings, including that there were serious institutional governance problems; internal control weaknesses in supply chain management and finance processes; and selective salary adjustments to academic staff and some of the support staff. The council will, in terms of the Higher Education Act, “be dissolved upon the appointment of an administrator”. Nzimande gave Maboa seven days to make written representations to him concerning the action he contemplated taking. Meanwhile, Unisa’s former registrar, Prof Steward Mothata, who was fired by the vice-chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, on 27 June said Nzimande’s intention to place the institution under administration was welcomed and “long overdue”. Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor of education at Stellenbosch University, said “it is a sad but necessary and long overdue decision that allows Unisa to reboot after years of malfunction, corruption and incompetence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at TimesLIVE Premium (subscriber access only)
Council for Medical Schemes urges schemes to keep premium increases close to CPI BL Premium reports that the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has advised the industry to keep 2024 contribution increases as close as possible to the inflation rate, which the Reserve Bank estimates will be 5% in 2024. It warned that higher-than-inflation increases would add to the financial stress facing households and would risk making membership unaffordable for current beneficiaries. The CMS publishes annual industry guidance before it considers medical schemes’ proposals for changes to benefits and premiums for the upcoming year. SA’s medical scheme market has remained stagnant for the best part of a decade, hovering just short of 9-million beneficiaries. With the exception of the past two years, medical schemes have consistently pegged their annual contribution increases several percentage points higher than the consumer price index (CPI). The Covid-19 pandemic saw an unexpected drop in claims, leading to an accumulation of reserves that enabled below-CPI contribution increases in 2021 and 2022. Now that claiming patterns have normalised in the wake of the pandemic, schemes are expected to motivate for higher contribution increases. The CMS also said schemes would no longer be permitted to defer contribution increases beyond January unless there were exceptional circumstances, as it was confusing for consumers and made it difficult for them to compare rival medical scheme offerings. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Gauteng Health places Tembisa Hospital officials on precautionary suspension The Star reports that the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that disciplinary action was currently being taken against Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital officials, based on a forensic investigation report. The report by the Special Investigating Unit was made public in December 2022, following the death of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was shot and killed on in August 2021. The DOH said employees who were cited in the report and those who could have been involved in some of the questionable transactions had been placed on precautionary suspension as part of pursuing the disciplinary process. ‘’The department will further consider its options in relation to those that have already terminated their services,’’ said the DOH’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba. He said of the nine employees cited in the SIU report, six officials were suspended as of 10 July 2023 to enable disciplinary proceedings to get underway, and an investigator has since been appointed to further deal with the matter. Modiba further advised that the processes pertaining to the disciplinary case involving the suspended DOH Chief Financial Officer and the Tembisa Hospital Chief Executive Officer were underway and were being handled by the office of the Premier. ‘’The two officials have since been charged. The first set of hearings has sat, and the next set will be sitting in October 2023,’’ he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntombi Nkosi at The Star
Manager and staff who allegedly ‘stole jewellery worth over R3.2m’ from store in Gateway in Durban arrested Sunday Tribune reports that three employees, including the manager, of a Durban jewellery store allegedly worked in cahoots over a long period of time to steal more than R3.2 million worth of jewellery pieces from their employer. They were arrested and charged with multiple counts of theft related to the long inventory of missing items from the Premjis Jewellers branch at the Gateway Shopping Mall, and were granted bail of R20,000 each. Store manager Kailash Lala, Rashna Raghubar and Samendrie “Steffy” Pillai appeared before magistrate Ashwin Singh at the Durban Magistrate’s Court last week. It is believed that Lala, who has been in the employ of Premjis for more than 20 years, was the mastermind behind the alleged thefts. Raghubar and Pillai, both sales assistants, have been with the Gateway jewellery store for 12 and five years respectively. Together, the three were relied upon to ensure stock items were registered and accounted for on their internal system as well as their display and sale. In June, the director undertook a recount of all jewellery items in the store. He found there were a substantial number of items missing and that the acts of theft dated back to 2012. It is believed that in order to hide the theft of expensive stolen items, their price tags were removed and attached to cheaper jewellery to make it seem that the expensive items were still on hand in the store. More arrests are expected as police suspect that the three accused were working with others. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mervyn Naidoo at Sunday Tribune Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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