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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Food costs set to rise on back of fuel price hike The Mercury reports that economists have warned that consumers should brace themselves for higher food prices after the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced the highest hike in petrol and diesel prices since 2022. On Wednesday, both grades of petrol increased by R1.71 a litre, while diesel (0.05% sulphur) increased by R2.84 a litre and diesel (0.005% sulphur) by R2.67 a litre. Economist Dawie Roodt commented: “The problem for the consumer is that food prices have been coming down at a slow rate and unfortunately with this massive increase in the fuel price, we can expert food prices to start going up.” Professor Irrshad Kaseeram of the University of Zululand pointed out that since July there had been a consistent rise in the fuel price which had been passed on to food prices, and last month’s food inflation was at 9.9%. “This time round, the price rises are massive, hence we can expect further rounds of rises in food prices as the cost of the road haulage industry has risen sharply this month.” Dr Sanele Gumede of the University of KwaZulu-Natal said higher food prices were inevitable and that the poor would be affected the most. “Unfortunately the poor spend 80% of their money on food and now with the latest massive increase in petrol and diesel, they will have even less money in their pocket. The poor have also been faced with a taxi fare increase.” According to Professor Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic analyst, the increase in fuel prices will have a massive impact on food prices. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yogashen Pillay at The Mercury Latest fuel price hike to cause more woes for economy and working class, say Cosatu The Star reports that according to Cosatu's acting national spokesperson, Matthew Parks, the massive increase in the price of fuel on Wednesday will be a further blow to an already fragile economy and the struggling working class. He said the trade union federation expected the government to act decisively by intervening on behalf of workers and poor households. ‘’The increase in petrol by 95 cents, diesel by R2.84 cents, and paraffin by R2.78 cents spells bad news for all South Africans, but the impact on poor families will be even worse. It will spur inflation, which had been falling, to rise next month and thus nudge an already zealous Reserve Bank to increase the repo rate once again. Poor households are already struggling to survive under these difficult conditions, and an increase in the price of paraffin will leave many poor families worse off,’’ Parks pointed out. He said that the government should consider expanding subsidies for public transport and investing in the transport system, particularly in poorer communities and rural areas. ‘’This unrestrained escalation in the cost of living will poison the upcoming wage negotiations and will automatically push our affiliates to demand above-inflation salary adjustments for our members,’’ he Parks warned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lehlohonolo Mashigo at The Star. Read too, Government urged by Cosatu to intervene in ‘fuel increase crisis’, at Cape Times
KZN teacher brutally assaulted by knife-wielding boyfriend in the presence of pupils IOL reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has condemned an attack on a teacher at a school in the north of the province. The incident took place on Monday at the Ncwabakazi Upper Primary in KwaHlabisa. "This appalling incident saw the teacher fall victim to a shocking act of violence perpetrated by her boyfriend within the school premises, in full view of learners," Khoza reported. The boyfriend allegedly tried to enter the school but was prevented from doing so. He then returned wielding a bush-knife and gained entry to the premises. Once inside, he entered the staff room and assaulted the teacher. Khoza said the teacher was currently fighting for her life in hospital, having suffered multiple severe injuries to her body, face, and cranium as a result of the attack. "This incident has sent shock waves throughout the community, leaving parents and educators profoundly disturbed by the gross violence they witnessed,” Khoza said. A team of social workers has been sent to the school to provide "much-needed" psychosocial support. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj at IOL. Read too, Teacher attacked with a bush knife in front of pupils, at The Witness Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Bail applications of five alleged truck arsonists postponed on Tuesday due to load shedding News24 reports that load shedding at the Ermelo Magistrate's Court led to the postponement of the bail applications of alleged truck arsonists in Mpumalanga. The five accused appeared in court on Tuesday. The State alleges that the five, who are members of the All Truck Drivers Forum (ATDF), torched trucks in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo in July. At least 20 trucks were torched in that month alone. The accused face charges of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, conspiracy to commit a crime of malicious property damage, and possessing a firearm. The five men were also accused of attempting to kill truck driver Bhongolwethu Bhongo Dayimani when they threw petrol bombs at the truck he was driving near Sheepmoor on 12 July. The ATDF, which is funding the legal representation of the accused, previously denied allegations that it instructed its members to participate in the arson attacks. Its secretary-general, Sifiso Nyathi, instead blamed the government for failing to address labour-related grievances in the cargo transport sector. The accused are now expected to make their bail applications on Wednesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nkosikhona Duma at News24
Health Justice Initiative uncovers that SA grossly overpaid for Covid-19 vaccines TimesLIVE reports that the contracts that SA signed to procure Covid-19 vaccines showed the country was forced to overpay for vaccines, and the terms and conditions were overwhelmingly one-sided and favoured multinational corporations. This was revealed by the Health Justice Initiative (HJI) after it reviewed and studied the documents making up the four contracts or agreements handed to it last week. Last month, the Pretoria High Court ruled in the HJI’s favour in its bid to compel the health department to provide access to the Covid-19 vaccine procurement contracts. The court ordered that all Covid-19 vaccine contracts be made public. Scrutiny of the contracts has revealed SA was liable for payments of at least $734m (R14bn), including advance payments of almost $95m (R1.8bn) with no guarantees of timely delivery. The analysis also showed the agreements placed people and governments in the Global South in the unenviable position of having to secure scarce supplies in a global emergency (2020-2022) with unusually hefty demands and conditions, including secrecy, a lack of transparency, and very little leverage against late or no delivery of supplies or inflated prices – resulting in gross profiteering. Fatima Hassan, director of HJI, said the deference to and fear of powerful pharmaceutical companies, in the middle of a crisis and in a constitutional democracy, was incredibly concerning. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE. Read too, Big pharma bullied government on Covid-19 vaccines, newly released contracts show, at IOL
Tshwane residents roll up their sleeves and clean up garbage left due to municipal strike Pretoria News reports that residents in parts of Tshwane have literally got their hands dirty, cleaning up uncollected waste in the streets. Garbage has been piling up due to the five-week long SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) strike. Among other service issues, the strike has resulted in bags of uncollected waste and illegal dumping at sites across the city, while property owners have been subjected to overflowing bins in their yards. Ronald Venter of Lyttleton said he had rallied members of the community to start a up cleanup campaign because the smell of the rubbish was “starting to affect our health”. But, Susan Modisela of Silverton said: “We’re fighting a losing battle because even after we clean up we are still stuck no knowing where to throw the rubbish away, because all the waste sites are closed. This means we dump illegally, which is a criminal offence.” Simphiwe Seleka from Atteridgeville said there was an infestation of rodents, and a foul smell coming from the streets because of the garbage. Meanwhile, private security companies have volunteered to do patrols across the city to curb illegal dumping. The companies will also apprehend anybody who is caught dumping and hand them over to the Tshwane Metro Police Department. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at Pretoria News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Gauteng teenager wounded in shootout between police and zama zamas in Florida News24 reports that a teenager and one alleged illegal miner were wounded when zama zamas (illegal miners) shot at the police in Florida, west of Johannesburg, on Monday evening. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the police were investigating two counts of attempted murder. A video of the incident shows two groups exchanging fire across an open field. Nevhuhulwi said: "It is reported that members of crime prevention responded to a complaint of shooting and, as they approached, were confronted by a shootout between two groups of alleged zama zamas. Upon noticing the police, the groups started shooting at the police, who returned fire at the alleged zama zamas. One zama zama was shot and wounded and a 17-year-old was also wounded during the crossfire. Both were taken to hospital for medical attention." The gunmen fled into the bushes. No arrests have yet been made. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Nicole McCain at News24 NUM plans strike at De Beers’ Venetia mine to secure 9% wage increase Reuters reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday said it was planning to strike at De Beers’ Venetia mine after wage talks broke down, potentially disrupting operations at the diamond giant’s new underground facility. According to the union, its members were demanding a 9% wage hike, but Anglo American unit De Beers was offering a 6% increase. “The NUM can confirm that the four-month wage negotiations with the world’s leading diamond company De Beers have collapsed and a dispute has been declared at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA),” NUM indicated in a statement. NUM did not say when it intended to begin the strike, but said it was currently working on picketing rules with the CCMA, while mobilising its “more than 1,500 members, preparing them for a protected indefinite strike.” SA’s labour laws require workers to give a notice of 48 hour before embarking on a strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nelson Banya at Moneyweb Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Sactwu wants its R300m back, but media group says it didn't read the fine print Fin24 reports that lawyers for SA's largest clothing trade union have tried to discredit an agreement purporting to freeze the group's R300 million loan claim against Sekunjalo Independent Media (SIM), saying the document lacked authorisation and was never properly explained to the union. The investment arm of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) has gone to court to compel the media group to pay back the funds, which it says are urgently needed for expenses such as funeral benefits. Sactwu Investment Group (SIG) loaned the media group R150 million in August 2013, which it used to buy Independent Media from its Irish owners. The loan was meant to be paid back in 2020, by which time it would have been worth about R300 million. But SIM, which today owns the company that publishes newspapers such as the Cape Times and The Star, maintains that the union "subordinated" its claim in late 2017 – essentially freezing it in place. It has argued it will only be liable to repay the loan claim when its assets exceed its liabilities. And as its liabilities still exceed its assets, it does not need to pay anything back. Lawyers for SIG have spent the past week trying to prove to the Western Cape High Court that the subordination agreement was never properly executed. But, SIM has denied misleading the union, saying the terms of the subordination agreement were clear. The case has been adjourned for three weeks for the parties to again swap pleadings. It will resume on 26 September. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Attorney wants action against loan sharks taking up to 75% of wages The Citizen writes that urgent intervention is needed to stop loan sharks from having up to 75% of the wages of vulnerable people deducted. A new report by the Stellenbosch University (SU) Law Clinic reveals that unscrupulous lenders use a bag of tricks to side-step the legal requirements of the emolument attachment order (garnishee order) system, which limits the amount that can be deducted from an employee’s salary to a maximum of 25%. “While garnishee orders remained a potentially lucrative and secure collection instrument, it is now considerably more difficult to issue them. Consequently, creditors turned to alternative methods to keep expanding their lucrative business enterprises by extending reckless loans while continuing to reap the benefits of wage garnishment,” said the SU Law Clinic’s Dr Stephan van der Merwe. The system allows creditors to enter into credit agreements with debtors on the basis that the loan, interest and fees will be collected from the debtor’s employer. The report also shows that unscrupulous lenders can count on indifferent or complicit employers who make deductions that are often completely disproportionate to someone’s salary. “In many instances, deductions on loans are made in favour of multiple creditors and for amounts well above 25% of the consumer’s salary. These deductions are unrestrained and shocking. In some cases, employees received zero income,” Van der Merwe reported. He called on lawmakers to develop legislation to protect vulnerable debtors against payroll deductions and unscrupulous lenders. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
‘Incredibly arrogant’ for Mkhwebane to demand to go back to the office when process is not yet completed The Citizen reports that with only five days left till parliament decides on whether Busisiwe Mkhwebane should be removed, the suspended public protector on Tuesday pitched up for work – in vain. Maintaining that her suspension was no longer in force, Mkhwebane wanted to return to the office, but her attempt was shut down by President Cyril Ramaphosa. In a letter to Mkhwebane, Ramaphosa said the Section 194 inquiry into her fitness to hold office had not finalised its proceedings. Mkhwebane had initially shared on social media that she had written a letter to the president and had notified him that she intended to return to work and would remain there until her term as public protector ended next month. “It is crystal clear that the period of the suspension expired upon the finalisation of the inquiry initiated by the section 194 committee. According to a letter received from the chair dated 24 August, the inquiry was finalised on or about 28 August and upon the adoption of the final report of the committee,” she argued. But Ramaphosa said the proceedings would only be finalised when the National Assembly chose to either adopt a resolution which called for her removal, or not. The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach said Mkhwebane was ‘known for misinterpreting law’ and added: “I think it’s an incredibly arrogant move to demand to go back to office when she knows full well the process is not yet completed. It can’t possibly end well for her.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lunga Simelane at The Citizen. Read too, ‘Mkhwebane’s intention to return to work is misconceived’, says Ramaphosa, at TimesLIVE
Ramaphosa says lifestyle audits for his Cabinet members will happen 'soon' News24 reports that according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, his Cabinet ministers are all innocent until proven otherwise by lifestyle audits, which have been delayed yet again. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa updated MPs on the lifestyle audits that were introduced in April 2021. He had little to tell MPs other than saying that the audits would be concluded "soon". However, Ramaphosa made it clear that lifestyle audits were on his radar. According to Ramaphosa, the process should be done "shortly," and the director-general in the presidency, Phindile Baleni, would report on the audits. Ramaphosa said while lifestyle audits were intrusive, the sensitive nature of the information was dealt with a high degree of confidentiality. However, he added that the vetting of senior government officials remained a challenge and the State Security Agency was working on the backlog after several entities submitted applications for vetting. As of 31 March 2023, more than two years after the lifestyle audits were introduced, only 36 of 44 national departments and 89 of 103 provincial departments indicated that they had performed lifestyle reviews for the 2022 financial year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24. Read too, 'Slightly delayed' lifestyle audit on ministers to be concluded soon, says Ramaphosa, at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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