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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Cosatu livid at 3.8% salary hike for municipal bosses and councillors SowetanLive reports that municipal bosses and councillors in more than half of the country’s municipalities where service delivery is at risk of collapse are set to receive salary hikes of up to 3.8%. But the gazetting of the increases by Thembi Nkadimeng, the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), has irked union federation Cosatu, which has vowed to fight it to the bitter end. According to the gazette, Nkadimeng approved salary increases that would see some mayors at grade 6 municipalities such as metros earning up to R1,501,351 per annum and speakers and deputy mayors earning up to R1,212,520. The mayors at the smallest (Grade 1) municipalities are set to receive up to R836,690, while deputy mayors and speakers will earn R675,723. Municipalities must obtain the concurrence of the provincial MEC for local government prior to implementation of the salary increases. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said they were going to take their opposition on the salary increases to parliament. He said the proposed increases reflected a leadership in the department “that is out of touch with the dire economic constraints facing the country and the chaos that local government has fallen into under their watch.” He added: “It is beyond the comprehension of any sober person that Cogta could offer increases to mayors, councillors and municipal managers who have presided over the deterioration of local government.” Parks said the labour federation supported the call of its affiliate, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), for the funds to be used instead to employ staff, invest in IT capacity and increase revenue collection, thus helping to stabilise and rebuild municipalities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Sibanyoni at SowetanLive. Read too, Municipal officials are set for salary hikes, and Cosatu is livid, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink welcomes Samwu’s call for strike to end Pretoria News reports that City of Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has welcomed the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) call to end a wage increase strike by urging striking members to return to work. However, he said that the call to return to work had come too late as damage had already been done due to a five-week unprotected and violent strike. Brink said: “Our residents have suffered numerous service delivery interruptions. Furthermore, the reality is that on the ground the strike is not over. We are still seeing so-called go-slows and significant work stoppages by employees who still refuse to follow work instructions. There are also ongoing acts of violence and intimidation directed at staff and service providers.” He encouraged Samwu’s leadership to further engage with the union’s members to ensure that the no strike message was clear to all. DA Tshwane caucus spokesperson Kwena Moloto also acknowledged Samwu’s recent decision to distance itself from the ongoing unlawful strike. The City was scheduled to engage this week with the Local Government Collective Bargaining Council to seek an exemption for proposed pay increases. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rapula Moatshe at Pretoria News ANC and EFF in Tshwane call for reinstatement of municipal workers EWN reports that the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Tshwane have called on the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led government in the city to reinstate municipal workers who were recently dismissed. During a special council meeting on Thursday afternoon, both parties expressed frustration over the municipality’s decision to fire protesting workers. More than 100 workers affiliated with the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) lost their jobs for protesting over the city’s refusal to implement a 5.4% salary increase. A council meeting that was called to debate the Samwu strike was postponed due to the multi-party coalition’s absence. The city said it would not be reinstating protesting workers, but the ANC and EFF accused Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink of abusing his power. ANC chief whip Aaron Maluleka asserted that the dismissal letters sent to workers should be revoked and said: “It’s a middle finger that they’re showing to workers. Writing letters to workers, threatening them will not resolve the matter, it exacerbates the situation." EFF chairperson in Tshwane, Obakeng Ramabodu, accused the DA-led government of being racist: "What they are doing is a ‘yes mam, yes bass’ apartheid mentality of giving letters to workers. Hence we told them they must throw the letters in the dustbin." Read the original of the report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cosatu, SACP say decision not to prosecute Rheinmetal-Denel Munitions over deadly explosion a ‘miscarriage of justice’ Cape Times reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the SA Communist Party (SACP) have described the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to criminally prosecute Rheinmetal-Denel Munitions (RDM) over a deadly explosion in 2018 as a miscarriage of justice. The organisations said they were extremely disappointed by the DPP’s decision, which was made despite recommendations by the Department of Labour following a Section 32 inquiry that found grounds to criminally prosecute. Eight people were killed in the 3 September 2018 explosion. “The reality is that the company is liable for criminal prosecution for the loss of life of ordinary workers. It is clear that the company places pursuit of profit above human life and justice. Police ineptitude and complicity with the company bosses robbed the families and the community of Macassar of justice. The decision by the DPP is a cover-up that represents a miscarriage of justice,” a joint statement by Cosatu and the SACP reads. Advocate Winston Erasmus, representing the families of the slain explosion victims, said they were disappointed with the state. “The state never investigated this matter, and we are considering our options; private prosecution is one of them. The state owns 49% in RDM so they were not interested in investigating the matter. They allowed RDM to investigate itself through an internal, biased investigation,” he claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chevon Booysen at Cape Times
Whistleblowing shouldn't be a death sentence, activists exhort at Deokaran memorial SowetanLive reports that the effect of whistleblowing on those brave enough to speak up took centre stage at the two-year memorial service held by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation for slain Babita Deokaran on Wednesday. Civil society organisations, Gauteng health officials, family and friends gathered to reflect on the life of Deokaran and what needed to be done to ensure those who blew the whistle on corruption were protected. Six men were jailed this week for between six and 22 years for her murder. Cynthia Stimpel, who was a SAA whistleblower, said a lot needed to be done to promote whistleblowing and protect those who spoke out. “Whistleblowers become physically and mentally ill. After you do it you can’t pay bills, lose your car, your house, can’t afford to pay for school of your children, you have stress. It’s a long-term effect you can’t get out of. Some lose their marriages and even loss of custody of their children, some commit suicide,” Stimpel lamented. The justice department is reviewing the Protected Disclosures Act and Witness Protection Act to improve protection of whistleblowers. Meanwhile, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is set to pursue Tembisa Hospital officials who resigned in the face of an investigation or disciplinary action by freezing their pension benefits and will institute civil litigation to recover financial losses. This relates to a report compiled by Deokaran on malfeasance at the hospital. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at SowetanLive Companies that benefitted from Tembisa Hospital corruption will be exposed soon, says Gauteng health MEC News24 reports that Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says companies that profited from fraudulent transactions that cost Tembisa Hospital nearly R1 billion will soon be exposed. She revealed this on Wednesday at an event held to pay homage to slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran on the second anniversary of her murder. On Tuesday, six suspects pleaded guilty to Deokaran's murder and firearm-related charges and were sentenced according to the roles they played in the murder. The memorial, organised by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, commemorated the life and legacy of Deokaran, who was killed in August 2021 after flagging a series of fraudulent transactions at the Tembisa hospital. Nkomo-Ralehoko referred to the proclamation President Cyril Ramaphosa signed to authorise the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the allegedly corrupt network at the hospital. The MEC said: “Companies that have profited from ill-gotten gains within the health system will not escape scrutiny. Their days of unchecked exploitation are rapidly dwindling.” Meantime, the MEC has received a petition of 16,000 signatures calling on the department to suspend the Tembisa officials who authorised the fraudulent transactions and for the companies that unduly benefitted from the transactions to be blacklisted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at News24
Court dismisses expelled Numsa official’s urgent application to have expulsion overturned GroundUp reports that expelled former second deputy president of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) Ruth Ntlokotse has failed in her court bid for an interim order to set aside her expulsion from the trade union and have it declared unlawful. This means that her presidency at the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) also hangs in the balance and, in all likelihood, she will be removed from that position. Ntlokotse was expelled from Numsa in June this year, following internal disciplinary proceedings. Last month, Ntlokotse approached the South Gauteng High Court with an urgent application to have her expulsion set aside. This was pending the outcome of an application to review the decision. But when the matter came before the court on Thursday, Judge Avrille Maier-Frawley noted that in order for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis, Ntolokotse was required to outline explicit circumstances as to why she would not get substantial redress at a later hearing. “The test is not whether she will be inconvenienced…the fact that the applicant wants the matter heard urgently does not make it urgent,” the judge said, striking the matter from the roll. On 24 August, Saftu indicated: “The federation remains neutral and will not take the side of the President against its affiliate Numsa.” It stated that should the High Court affirm the decision of Numsa to expel Ntlokotse, it would have no choice but to abide by the decision, which would mean that the president would no longer be able to lead the federation and a special NEC “should be convened to take this inevitable decision”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
Transnet rail operations sabotaged outgoing security personnel protesting over new security arrangements Fin24 reports that three of Transnet's rail corridors have been impacted by what is believed to be sabotage, amid protests by disgruntled security personnel over new security contracts. In the face of rampant criminality that has been impacting its operations, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) on 1 August adopted an outcomes-based security (OBS) solution to combat theft and vandalism on its rail network. The change-over has sparked protest among former employees of the outgoing security service provider and has resulted in incidents of sabotage and vandalism that have disrupted three rail corridors, namely the North Corridor (the export coal line and Transnet's most lucrative corridor) as well as the North-East Corridor and the Central Corridor. "The protests, including vandalism and damage to the network, are having a severe impact on our rail operations and, in some instances, bringing operations to a complete standstill for hours at a time," Transnet advised. The new OBS contracts were awarded to five security providers, who will introduce the latest state-of-the-art crime-fighting technologies to combat theft, damage and vandalism of TFR's essential infrastructure. Unlike previous contracts, the new outcomes-based model gives security providers flexibility as to how they approach crime-prevention strategies. The performance of the contractor will be judged on the movement of trains and not simply by the resources provided. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at News24
Community Work Programme workers upset over R3,700 a month earnings limit GroundUp reports that Community Work Programme (CWP), who are paid R960 for working eight days a month, are upset that they could be fired if they earned more than R2,740 from other jobs. CWP workers fall under the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). They work for eight days a month at sites such as clinics, schools and gardening projects. There are about 260,000 CWP workers in the nine provinces. The programme was launched in 2010, as “an innovative offering from the government to provide a job safety net for unemployed people of working age”. A worker employed by the CWP in KwaNobuhle, Kariega, complained: “Since April this year, our supervisors require us to submit banking details either to CWP offices or on site, so that those among us that are found to be earning over R3,700 in combined wages, could face dismissal.” She said their banking details were monitored quarterly. There have been numerous protests since the inception of the programme over the amount of the stipend. Because of the low wage, many CWP workers moonlight as security guards, expanded public works programme (EPWP) workers, education assistants and some are also ward committee members. Cogta spokesperson Legadima Leso confirmed that CWP workers did not qualify for the programme if they earned above R3,700 a month and said they were not entitled to work in other government works programmes Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thamsanqa Mbovane at GroundUp
UIF continuing to audit Ters payouts in KZN The Mercury reports that according to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), its forensic auditors are continuing to audit companies in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to ensure that the correct amounts of Covid-19 Ters monies were paid over to workers. The UIF held a briefing in Durban this week to outline the payments it had made in respect of the Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (Ters) and other benefits. The UIF said from March 2020 to date, it had paid out R9.3 billion in Ters payments to 774,370 workers in KZN. In addition, R2.4bn was disbursed to 272,889 workers and their beneficiaries as normal benefits, including unemployment, maternity, illness and death, in the 2022/23 financial year. Also a sum of R17.7 million was paid to 5,571 workers in the province through the Workers Affected By Unrest (Wabu) temporary financial relief scheme. A total of R2.6bn was recovered through phases one and two of the fund’s “follow the money” project that audited companies that benefited from Ters. Speaking on fraud matters, Monwabisi Mangcotywa from the UIF’s Risk and Fraud Unit in KZN, said more than 20 suspects had been arrested through joint investigations for Covid19 Ters-related fraud. The matters are all still before the courts. Mangcotywa added that the UIF was taking disciplinary action against officials implicated in fraud cases. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yogashen Pillay at The Mercury Eastern Cape head of department still in office despite arrest for not reporting fraud City Press reports that Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reforms head Siphokazi Ndudane remains in her position days after she was arrested for not reporting fraud and corruption. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said he had noted the latest developments regarding the arrest of Ndudane and said he was weighing up his options in terms of the statutory and contractual obligations that might be available to him. Ndudane appeared in the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court last week after being charged with failing to report a fraud she had allegedly become aware of during her term at her former employer, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). She faces two counts of contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and was granted bail of R100,000. Ndudane was appointed in November 2019 in the Eastern Cape – the same day she was fired by DAFF. Eastern Cape spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said when Mabuyane learnt of her dismissal, he immediately moved to withdraw her appointment as head of department (HoD), however, Ndudane challenged this in court and the court ruled in her favour. Rantjie added: “Further, the courts refused to grant the OTP leave to appeal the ruling. However, in line with the ruling of the court, the Office of the Premier was then compelled to continue with the appointment of Mrs Ndudane.” Ndudane resumed her position in January 2022. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpumzi Zuzile at City Press (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Next Western Cape Metrorail manager ‘must have the skills to get the job done’ Cape Times reports that a union and lobby groups have urged that the next Western Cape Metrorail regional manager must be a person not only of integrity but also with the drive to get the train service back on track for the working class. The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) is expected to advertise the managerial position shortly, after former boss Richard Walker was fired in June. Walker, who has yet to speak out about his dismissal, faced a number of allegations, including fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) expressed worry over the deterioration of commuter services in the region during Walker’s tenure. According to Satawu spokesperson Amanda Tshemese, they were the first to call for Walker's suspension in 2020. “We definitely welcome the final report and his dismissal. Anything or anyone not performing well at the entity must be shown the door,” Tshemese commented. United Commuters Voice (UCV) spokesperson João Jardim said Walker’s dismissal was “long overdue” as he had been given many chances to turn the rail system in the province around. Civil group #UniteBehind’s Zukiswa Vuka said the region needed leaders who prioritised the central line and had a community safety plan. “The plan to recover the central line has been at a snail’s pace. The war of words between the national departments and the City is also not assisting,” Vuka said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Okuhle Hlati at Cape Times
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