In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Four Tshwane vehicles torched amid ongoing violent strike over wages News24 reports that amid an ongoing strike by City of Tshwane employees, four City vehicles were torched, and a driver assaulted in targeted attacks on Wednesday. City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said striking employees were behind the attacks. The cash-strapped City has been incapacitated by the strike that started almost two months ago over its decision not to increase wages in line with the final leg of a multi-year bargaining council agreement. According to Bokaba, two vehicles were attacked outside the Princess Park Depot, along Nana Sita (westbound), Charlotte Maxeke and Es'kia Mphahlele Streets. "[A] water truck which belongs to the City had just drawn water from the depot for delivery at some Region 4 informal settlements when it was set alight. The driver was physically assaulted and managed to escape. Fortunately, he didn't sustain serious injuries," Bokaba reported. Meanwhile, a bakkie belonging to the City's asset protection monitoring unit was torched in the same precinct. Two members were injured and taken to hospital. Two trucks belonging to the wastewater collection section and attending to complaints of sewer blockages around Region 3 were set alight. The torching and confrontation of drivers happened along Kgosi Mampuru, between Pretorius and WF Nkomo Streets. "The visibly shaken drivers are safe and didn't sustain any injuries, as they were able to evade the attempted assault by their striking colleagues, who had unexpectedly pounced on them. The drivers will undergo therapy at the wellness clinic following this traumatic incident," said Bokaba. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Unions threaten national strike over Treasury's budget cut proposals Fin24 reports that labour unions are threatening to hold a nationwide strike to voice their opposition against government's latest proposal to address the country's budget crisis, including the possibility of a further wage freeze, job cuts, and more cuts to government services. "Saftu [South African Federation of Trade Unions] is lobbying with our partners in organised labour to hold a national strike to resist against these cuts as well as other issues such as unemployment. There is a consensus to hold a general strike," the federation’s spokesperson Trevor Shaku indicated. He added that a date for the strike had not been set. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks noted that the measures were draft proposals and had not been formally addressed in government. He indicated: "We voiced our concerns during our meeting with [President] Cyril Ramaphosa [on Tuesday]. He was receptive and we are wanting to meet him again in October." Parks said the federation would strike if its concerns were not met in the long-term, but would continue to negotiate with government over the proposals. On Tuesday, the Presidency said that "unsustainable public debt levels", coupled with low growth rates, were forcing Ramaphosa to consider cutting the government's size to stabilise the economy. Aside from axing public service jobs, or reducing government departments, some of the other measures reportedly being mulled include hiking value-added tax (VAT) by two percentage points to allow for the continuation of the Social Relief or Distress Grant (SDG) beyond March 2024. Fedusa’s Riefdah Ajam said the federation completely opposed the austerity measures, adding that the public should not be held to account for the failures of government. She indicated that the federation’s public committee would meet during the week to consider its position, but did not rule out strike action to voice rejection of all austerity measures. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at Fin24. Read too, Unions threaten to strike over spending cuts, at Moneyweb. And also, Cyril snubs angry Cosatu, at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
ANCYL's call for R4,500 unemployed graduate grant dismissed as 'illogical' political posturing City Press reports that the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has been slammed for its call for government to pay unemployed graduates a monthly stipend of R4,500 and to increase the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant to R1,500. ANCYL's president Collen Malatji made the call at the league's 79th anniversary celebrations in Mpumalanga over the weekend. He told hundreds of supporters that government should introduce the stipend for unemployed graduates to help them find jobs. However, the call by Malatji has been criticised by some as a populist move by the ANCYL to gain more popular support for the governing party ahead of the crucial general elections next year. Others have pointed out that government cannot afford to implement such a proposal, given its current severe financial constraints. Chartered accountant, academic and activist Khaya Sithole accused Malatji of misleading the public. He said Malatji's figures did not outline the key data points that the ANCYL was relying on to determine whether R4,500 would be effective in assisting unemployed graduates on a monthly basis in their pursuit of jobs and meeting their daily living expenses. Sithole also questioned whether R1,500 would help all unemployed citizens regardless of whether they have post-matric education or not. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thapelo Lekabe at City Press (subscriber access only)
Harmony Gold weighs CEO succession Peter Steenkamp plans to retire at end of next year Reuters reports that Harmony Gold CEO Peter Steenkamp plans to retire at the end of next year as SA’s biggest gold producer by volume seeks new growth opportunities mining copper. Steenkamp, who turns 64 in November, has been at the helm at Harmony since returning in 2016. In 2022, the company extended the veteran gold mining executive’s tenure by two years. Steenkamp will leave around December 2024 and the company has “strong internal candidates to continue what we have built since 2016,” spokesperson Jared Coetzer indicated. “There are various internal candidates who would have to go through the nomination process and ultimately it would be a board decision,” Coetzer said. He added that Steenkamp’s pending exit would not change the strategy to shift to developing copper assets and looking for deals to grow the company. Harmony is among SA’s few remaining gold miners squeezing profits from some of the world’s most costly, ageing and deepest gold mines. It could be “difficult to find outsiders with deep-level gold mining experience” to run the company, analysts at RMB Morgan Stanley pointed out in a note. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Felix Njini at Moneyweb Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Critical IT skills shortage in government, with only 0.4% of public servants working in IT News24 reports that some 5,000 public servants work in information technology (IT) in the 161 government departments in SA. This means a mere 0.4% of the 1.2 million public servants work in IT. This was revealed by Zaid Aboobaker, the chief director of e-government at the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), who was speaking this week at the GovTech conference in Durban. Aboobaker indicated that the figures were the most recent available, as independently established by the department. But he added that the figures were unpublished, though the department was trying to make the public sector aware of them. Aboobaker also said that half of the total number of public service IT workers were employed at nine of the largest government departments. Concerningly, about 16 government departments have fewer than three people in their IT departments. Aboobaker emphasised the importance of developing IT skills among the youth in the public sector. The DPSA also conducts expenditure analysis on information and communication technology procurement by government bodies. According to Aboobaker, it could take a government department up to six months to procure 10 laptops. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by William Brederode at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mkhwebane to challenge her removal as public protector Mail & Guardian reports that axed public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says she will legally challenge the proceedings that led to her removal from office following a majority vote in the National Assembly on Monday. “This injustice, sadly perpetrated on Steve Biko Day, will be legally challenged in review proceedings,” Mkhwebane wrote on the social media platform, X, on Wednesday. She added: “The stone the builders rejected became the cornerstone. If I perish I perish. Ngiyathokoza Mzansi and Africa.” In a letter dated 12 September, President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote that in terms of section 194(3)(b) of the Constitution, “I hereby remove Adv Mkhwebane from the Office of the Public Protector on the grounds of misconduct and incompetence”. On Monday, the National Assembly voted 318 to 43 to remove Mkhwebane from office after the completion of a section 194 inquiry into her fitness for the position. The inquiry found evidence that not only sustained the main charges of misconduct and incompetence against Mkhwebane, but also brought to light more missteps in the course of investigations. Mkhwebane’s seven-year term was due to expire in mid-October. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Eunice Masson at Mail & Guardian Legal expert weighs in on applicability of R10m ‘payout’ for Mkhwebane after removal The Citizen reports that axed public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has made it known that she is not letting a “hard-earned” R10m gratuity handshake slip her through her fingers without a fight. Mkhwebane, who was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, could forfeit the gratuity for being booted out of office a month before her tenure of office was due to end. Her seven-year term was supposed to expire in mid-October. Last month Mkhwebane said she was entitled to the R10m gratuity, even if she was removed before her term ended. Attorney Richard Chemaly commented that the public protector service conditions did not make an accommodation for voiding benefits if the public protector was removed from office. “One may think that if somebody is removed from office for misconduct, they should not be entitled to benefit from it. However, in the case of the public protector gratuity, it is an entitlement upon ‘vacation of office’,” said Chemaly. He went on to note: “While it is not surprising that section 194 makes no mention of this, it’s curious why the (parliamentary) committee never raised it anywhere in the 404-page report. If one studies the financials of the public protector’s office, one will notice that every year, an amount is allocated to this gratuity in anticipation of payout so it has been budgeted.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Unathi Nkanjeni at The Citizen
Municipal manager out on bail for corruption lands cushy job at Amathole municipality The Citizen reports that even as the former Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality manager Nokuthula Zondani faced corruption charges in court last month, neighbouring Amathole District Municipality was allegedly finalising her appointment as a director, thus breaching local government rules. Zondani was arrested by the Hawks on 23 August and appeared in the Queenstown Magistrate’s Court where she was granted R5,000 bail. She appeared again on Tuesday in the East London Regional Court. The case was postponed to next month. Sources at Amathole claim her name was rushed through for consideration on 17 August as director of community services, while most councillors attended training. The 52-year-old is alleged to have doubled tender prices in 2019 while at Enoch Mgijima without consulting the council, as required by the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA). Amathole spokesperson Nonceba Madikizela-Vuso said Zondani did not have pending criminal cases against her when she was appointed, but did not comment on whether background checks were conducted before Zondani was hired. According to Madikizela-Vuso, Manjingolo’s matter was being attended to by Cogta MEC Zolile Williams and Amathole Mayor Anele Ntsangani. Eastern Cape activist organisation Equality Collective condemned the appointment of Zondani and called on Williams to investigate and take decisive action. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
KZN cop arrested after another brutal highway assault The Citizen reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police officer has been arrested for the vicious assault of seven men alongside the N11 highway in Newcastle on 22 August this year. Sergeant Sibusiso Xolani Kunene’s arrest on Monday followed an investigation into video footage of the assault that circulated on social media. Kunene, a detective stationed in Newcastle attached to the Amajuba district task team, was caught on camera brandishing a rifle while parading in front of the men lying face-down on the side of the road. The 46-year-old officer appears to converse with one of the men before brutally kicking him in the face. Kunene is then seen kicking a second and a third man in the presence of several other men dressed in police uniforms. Two victims allegedly lost some teeth, and others sustained bruises. Kunene appeared in court on Tuesday to face five counts of assault. He was released on R1,000 bail and the case was postponed to 22 September for further investigation. There is a possibility of more arrests being effected and more charges being added as investigations continue. The Newcastle incident took place about a month after the alleged assault on 3 July by Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s protection unit of a motorist and two of his passengers on the N1 highway near Fourways in Johannesburg Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cornelia Le Roux and watch the video at The Citizen Ipid investigates three Cape Town cops for dragging man down street with police van SowetanLive reports that the police watchdog is investigating a case of a Cape Town man who was left with head and body injuries after he was handcuffed to a police van and dragged down the street. The horrific incident was caught on video. Independent Police Investigating Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Robbie Raburabu said it happened at about 6pm on Friday. In the footage, two police officers are seen outside the van with Milosh Basson of Kensington handcuffed to the back. A few residents are heard shouting while he is standing next to two officers, one of whom who is seen locking one of the doors. Raburabu indicated: “Ipid is aware of the case and appointed investigators to deal with the matter. Preliminary investigations indicate that three members will be investigated. Investigation is still at an infancy stage.” Police in the Western Cape said they were also aware of the incident. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Patience Bambalele and watch the video at SowetanLive
Samwu slams order by KZN municipality for staff to wear black in Buthelezi's honour News24 reports that employees of the IFP-administered iNkosi Langalibalele Municipality have been instructed to wear black in honour of the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi on Thursday. But the workers' representatives say the instruction is problematic. Buthelezi, the lifelong president of the IFP, died on Saturday. Writing in a note to five senior managers on Monday, municipal manager Sthembiso Mthembu told officials that the municipality "will observe Thursday as a day of bereavement. In lieu of this, all employees (male and female) must use black clothing. Kindly inform all your employees in your departments." Mthembu did not respond to media questions about whether there were considerations for workers' safety in relation to staff who have to wear personal protective clothing; whether law enforcement personnel also have to wear black; and whether those who defied the instruction would be targeted. The SA Municipal Workers Union’s Thobani Mkhize said: This instruction of black ... our workers have concerns that a thing of this nature cannot be instructive… Remember in the municipality, not everyone is a Zulu… Not everyone in the municipality will find comfort with [Mthembu's] instruction." Mkhize noted that the municipality didn't have a "black allowance" that would enable workers to buy the clothes. He said he was concerned that those who didn't have black clothes might be victimised. He added that workers who did not have black clothes should not "bother" buying them. Mkhize also described the instruction as an overreach. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Soyiso Maliti at News24
Northern Cape teacher fired, deregistered for raping pupil and showing porn to minors News24 reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has dismissed a Northern Cape teacher for raping a teenage girl and exposing pupils to porn. The council also found that the teacher was unsuitable to work with children and said his name should be added to the National Child Protection Register, in terms of which a record is kept of all persons reported and convicted of child abuse or deliberate neglect. The man committed the acts while employed as a mathematics and English teacher at AB Kolwane Primary School in Kuruman. The girl's aunt and guardian testified at the hearing that the teacher had an affair with the pupil and that she used to sleep over at his house. She also testified that, despite poor school attendance, the child always passed her exams. The girl, who was 14 years old at the time in November 2022, testified before the council that the man used to take her and other pupils to his house under the false pretenses of asking them to help clean his residence. He would then expose them to pornographic movies and later rape her. The girl described the ordeal as painful and told the council that this happened on three separate occasions. She said the teacher threatened to kill her if she told anyone about her ordeal. The arbitrator found her and her aunt and other pupils to be credible witnesses. In his testimony, the man denied the allegations and said he was a dedicated teacher who would often go "the extra mile" for his job. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24
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