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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Pieter Boone out as Pick n Pay CEO less than two and half-years into the role Fin24 reports that Pieter Boone has stepped down as CEO of Pick n Pay, less than two and half-years into the role, after the board decided that a change in leadership was needed to get the retailer back "on the right trajectory". "Unfortunately, in a very difficult environment, the performance of our core Pick n Pay business has been very challenging over the past months, and has not met expectations. Pieter accepts that the board has decided on a change in leadership. He leaves us with our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the future," board chair Gareth Ackerman said on Monday. Pick n Pay also flagged that it had swung into a loss in its half-year to 27 August, hit by increased competition, load shedding and a weak consumer economy. Pick n Pay announced Boone's appointment in January 2021, and he took over from Richard Brasher in April that year. Boone's resignation was effective immediately. Sean Summers, who was Pick n Pay CEO from 1999 to 2007, returns to the role with immediate effect, with the goal of turning around the core business. There will be a short handover period between Boone and Summers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Ahmed Areff at Fin24 Sean Summers returns as Pick n Pay CEO, 16 years after leaving the retailer Fin24 reports that Sean Summers, the former CEO of Pick n Pay, is raring to go and ready for "battle" as he returns after a hiatus of 16 years in order to restore the retailer's fortunes. The 70-year-old, who has been based in the UK since 2010, said on Monday that he felt a "huge sense of excitement" to be returning to the group. He indicated: “Retail is a battle. You go to work every single day, and it's hand-to-hand combat. You fight for your corner of the patch, and that's what you do.” Summers has been appointed CEO with immediate effect to replace Pieter Boone and will return to SA full-time from 1 December. He acknowledged that he has a difficult task ahead. The retailer, valued at R17 billion on the JSE, is struggling with intensified competition, load shedding and a weak consumer environment. Summers, who headed Pick n Pay from 1999 to early 2007, is optimistic about the prospects for the group regaining its shine, pointing out that all of SA's major retailers have gone through ups and downs over the years. Explaining the circumstances around his second stint at the helm, Summers said that he had been approached directly by Pick n Pay chair Gareth Ackerman, with the details of his return worked out over the past couple of weeks. Summers hopes to leverage all the retail experience he has picked up in the years since leaving Pick n Pay. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at Fin24 (subscriber access only). Read too, Pick n Pay hopes Summers will bring the sunshine to end its gloomy winter, at Daily Maverick
Women on Farms collective fights against EU-banned pesticides BusinessLive reports that after six years of working on a vineyard just outside Cape Town, farmworker Diana Ndleleni collapsed between the grapevines. Her doctor said she had permanent lung damage that he believed was from years of inhaling pesticides sprayed on the grapes. He said she would not be able to work again. Nearly a year after spending a week in hospital, she joined hundreds of other women marching to demand these pesticides, banned in the EU, are not imported into SA where workers report a range of health issues from rashes, to asthma and even cancer. “These pesticides are a silent killer,” said Ndleleni, outside a community hall in Paarl, where hundreds of female farmworkers gathered last month to demand an end to toxic pesticide imports. Ndleleni is part of a collective called the Women on Farms Project, a group fighting for the rights of female farmworkers in SA. The project is focusing on 67 pesticides banned by the EU and aims to get medical reports from independent doctors to try to prove a health link, building on existing academic research from the University of Cape Town. The UnPoison network, an SA research and advocacy group, has also compiled a list of 192 highly hazardous pesticides registered and used in SA. More than a third of them are banned in the EU. Colette Solomon, director of Women on Farms, said: “It is double standards because if these chemicals are so harmful to the EU, it cannot be right that is OK for our country. African lives are of equal value to European lives.” The SA department of agriculture, land reform & rural development said it planned to ban a range of highly hazardous pesticides by June 2024. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kim Harrisberg at BusinessLive Another off-duty Cape Town cop killed; police suspect she was also raped News24 reports that a female police officer became the second Western Cape off-duty cop to be killed over the past weekend, and suspicions are that she was also raped. Police have since arrested a suspect in connection with the discovery of the body of the 29-year-old officer in Mfuleni. The officer was attached to the Samora Machel Police Station and had been out with a friend, visiting acquaintances in the area, when she was killed. Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa reported: "Mfuleni police were alerted to an unknown body that was discovered at Malgas camp, Extension 4 in Mfuleni, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Upon arrival, they initiated an investigation. In that process, it was ascertained that the deceased person was an SA Police Service member." Further details about the circumstances that led to the officer’s death, including the possibility that she was raped, are the subject of an investigation by the Western Cape Hawks. Her murder came hours after Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa was among five people killed in a mass shooting in Gugulethu, Cape Town, on Saturday evening. Mraqisa, who had also been also off duty, was shot dead at around 23:00, along with three other men and one woman Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Nicole McCain at News24. Read too, Weekend of bloodshed sees protection officer killed in mass shooting and policewoman found murdered, at Daily Maverick Nine injured after shipping container flattens police van in Cape Town on Monday News24 reports that nine people were injured in an accident involving a shipping container and a police vehicle in Cape Town on Monday. The two right lanes on the N2 inbound between Jan Smuts and Raapenberg were closed after the accident. Pictures from the scene show a flattened police van, and a large yellow shipping container lying on its side, with scrape marks on the tar. Western Cape police would only say nine people were injured, but did not indicate whether the injured were occupants of the police van and if they were on their way to court. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Mowbray police have registered a case of reckless and negligent driving. Read the original of the short report in the above regard compiled by Jenni Evans at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nehawu strike at Icasa entered fourth day on Monday as memorandum was handed over TimesLIVE reports that the strike by National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members at the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) entered its fourth day on Monday when members presented a memorandum of demands to management. Icasa CEO Tshiamo Maluleka-Disemelo received the memorandum at the organisation’s head office in Centurion. Some 85 of Nehawu’s 200 members were among the protesters who handed over the memorandum. Nehawu members went on strike last Wednesday after negotiations for the 2023/2024 salary increases collapsed and Icasa unilaterally implemented a 4.4% increase. Nehawu spokesperson at its Icasa branch, Kabelo Thelele, indicated that the union was demanding 8% across the board. When the strike began, Icasa said its head office and regional offices would remain open for business despite the strike. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE
Tshwane’s coalition government slammed by Transformation Alliance for municipal strike Pretoria News reports that the Transformation Alliance (TTA) has slammed ActionSA and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) for being “complicit” in the ongoing City of Tshwane municipal strike. The party has pointed a finger at the two parties that form a multi-party coalition government along with the DA, blaming them for the collapse of service delivery in the capital city. The metro has been embroiled in a service delivery crisis since July when municipal employees downed tools, demanding a pay increase. It was recently reported that the relationship between the DA and ActionSA in the coalition government in council was crumbling after the parties started blaming each other. In a statement, TTA’s president Abel Tau said the disruption and collapse of service delivery was due to the incompetence of the coalition. “We note the hypocrisy of ActionSA, acting like a concerned party when they are part of the problem,” Tau stated. He was referring to ActionSA’s sudden U-turn in blaming city mayor Cilliers Brink for the ongoing strike. Tau is ActionSA’s former provincial secretary who was expelled from the party and left under a cloud, paving the way for him to form TTM in June this year. He had to vacate his position of MMC for Human Settlements after he was expelled late last year amid allegations of attempted sexual harassment and misconduct. Tau also called on Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to intervene, accusing him of being silent. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at Preoria News
Chaos in Kleinzee as hundreds of arrested zamas return after home affairs failed to process them Sunday Times reports that up until the weekend before last, Kleinzee in the Namaqualand was just a quiet dorp northwest of nowhere. Then, in just a few hours, the town’s population almost doubled. Almost 1,000 illegal diamond miners, arrested by police in the surrounding mining area, were deposited in an interim holding area, creating administrative mayhem. Not only were there not enough resources to look after the detainees, but by the time they’d been transported to Springbok to be processed, they had to be released, because home affairs couldn’t cope with the workload. Of the 867 arrested, only 67 were processed and transferred to Krugersdorp for deportation. Most went back to the Kleinzee area, and have returned to work in their illegal mines. Mining stakeholders say the bizarre scenes from last week illustrate the scale of the illegal mining problem in one of the most remote corners of the country. The police clampdown, the latest in a series of Diamond Coast raids, has done little to ease tensions in what has become another front in the ongoing battle between the haves and the have-nots — those with mining rights and those without. Some say the massive police operation, which lasted two days and involved three helicopters, has in some ways made the volatile situation worse. Police also bulldozed a notorious Kleinzee hostel where hundreds of illegal miners had been living. The latest police swoop was linked to the recent sale of De Beers’ mine to a new company, Kleinzee Holdings, which asked for police help in securing its area. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bobby Jordan at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
Largest trade union at Eskom calls for suspension of climate finance pact Bloomberg News reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the largest trade union at Eskom, has called for the suspension of an $8.5 billion climate finance pact with some of the world's richest nations, as well as plans to break up the power utility into separate units. Under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), SA agreed to begin moving away from generating electricity from coal to producing more renewable energy using financing from industrialised countries. As part of a broader transition plan, which did not use funding from JETP, Eskom last year shuttered its Komati coal-fired power plant, with more closures slated to follow. In a statement on Monday, the NUM indicated: "There is a clear lack of consultation with organised labour regarding the unbundling of Eskom, the drafting of the JET-IP, as well as decommission of Komati power station." A report released by SA’s Presidential Climate Commission on Friday laid the blame for poor communication and lack of consultation with workers and communities at Komati at the government's door. It also said Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa had caused confusion by saying Komati could have been kept open when it had, in fact, reached the end of its operational life. While a change from high-emission energy production to low-emission was necessary, the move should be "fair and just" to workers and their communities, the NUM said. It estimated that about 25,000 direct jobs and 26,000 indirect jobs would be lost if the process was conducted too hastily. "The energy transition which is taking place must be put on hold until such time that we are all convinced that the transition process will be fair," the union said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24
Transnet Freight Rail boss Siza Mzimela in the firing line, but she’s hanging on against the odds BL Premium reports that a fight for the heart and soul of Transnet is brewing, with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) boss Siza Mzimela reliably understood to be reluctant to fall on her sword amid pressure from the board to resign. According to business and government insiders, the writing is on the wall for Mzimela and she is widely expected to be the next high-profile departure at Transnet after Friday’s abrupt announcement of the departure of CEO Portia Derby and CFO Nonkululeko Dlamini. But those close to Mzimela said she would not leave quietly, adding that she felt she was being pushed out by big business over disagreements about a bid to concession “key and profitable” Transnet corridors. Her detractors allege that Mzimela’s attitude is at the heart of the problem, as well as her alleged reluctance to consider recommendations from the private sector — made through the national crisis committee on logistics set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa — on how to resolve challenges on SA’s rail corridors. Labour federation Cosatu at the weekend added its voice to calls for Mzimela to be axed. “The change needs to cascade down to TFR,” said Cosatu’s Matthew Parks. The Minerals Council SA previously called for her resignation. Business for SA’s Martin Kingston noted that it was essential “the executive at Transnet is stabilised as soon as possible to implement a Transnet turnaround plan.” When asked specifically about the need for Mzimela’s resignation, Kingston suggested that it was necessary. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hajra Omarjee & Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Transnet se Mzimela moet ook trekpas kry, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sapoa working with industry bodies to boost skills development in real estate sector BL Premium reports that the SA Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has entered into collaboration with the Institute of Real Estate Management (Irem) and the National Business Initiative (NBI) to boost skills development in the real estate sector. Sapoa announced the partnerships at its annual convention, highlighting the need to develop skills in the sector and promote professionalism for asset and property management through Irem. “The property sector is lagging in skills development, and while there are pockets of excellence on this front there are limited positive effects for the entire sector,” said Malose Kekana, Sapoa’s outgoing president. Sapoa and the NBI Youth Employment Initiative were launched earlier this year to help unemployed technical and vocational education and training college learners to develop skills within the installation repair and maintenance space in the property sector. This resulted in the placement of 85 unemployed learners in Cape Town and Gauteng. The 12-month course is a certified skills programme endorsed by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations. It offers an option for acquiring recognition of skills and competencies that lead to full-time qualifications, enabling young people to occupy positions that require artisanal skills within the infrastructure maintenance space. The real estate sector faces skills shortages, Irem president Renee Savage noted. “Finding quality and skilled talent to manage assets is a challenge for many investors and property owners.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Denise Mhlanga at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Discovery slashes medical savings accounts on top plans Moneyweb reports that members and beneficiaries of the most popular plans offered by Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) will see sharp cuts to their medical savings accounts (MSAs) from 2024. The group motivated this in its announcement about the increases for 2024 by highlighting that practically four in every 10 scheme members (39%) will experience an increase in contributions of less than 4% from January. The cuts will be made on the two most popular plans (excluding entry-level KeyCare), namely Classic Saver and Essential Saver, which have around half a million members between them. The Classic Saver plans will see contributions increase by 3%, while the Essential Saver ones will be 3.8% higher. To achieve the sub-4% increases for these plans, Discovery has cut the allocation to the MSA from the net contribution paid by five percentage points. For the Classic Saver plan (including the Delta variant), the allocation is reduced from 25% to 20%, Essential Saver (and Delta) from 15% to 10%, and Coastal Saver from 20% to 15%. This means that for main members on the Classic Saver, their MSA will drop from R12,180 this year to R10,020 next year. On Essential Saver, the MSA will reduce from R5,796 this year to R4 008 in 2024. Where the change becomes even more acute is in the allocation to the MSA for children. Read the full original of the report in the above regard The Citizen
EFF’s protest on Monday against taxi impoundments in Cape Town drew little support Daily Maverick reports that a much-anticipated protest organised by the EFF in Cape Town took place on Monday, but it did not live up to expectations. While the City of Cape Town had allowed the party a protest attendance of 1,000, only about 300 people turned up. The EFF at first called the protest a “Western Cape shutdown” over various grievances, including what they called unjust taxi impoundments. But, labelling the protest a shutdown led the ANC and other civic organisations to pull out at the last minute. The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) also withdrew, but was represented by a breakaway faction. Some taxi operators and owners formed part of the protest, but this did not affect the operations of other taxis in ranks around the city. The PAC, African Transformation Movement, Operation Dudula and liquor traders were also represented. The protest was scheduled to begin at 9am, but struggled to gain momentum. EFF provincial secretary Mbulelo Magwala explained that the marchers were strongly opposed to the new by-law introduced by the City of Cape Town, which broadened the powers of traffic officers to impound taxis, which he described as harsh. While the issue of taxi impoundments was at the forefront of the protest, the EFF mentioned that the rise in electricity tariffs and lack of service delivery in certain areas were among their grievances. Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas accepted the protestors’ memorandum. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Velani Ludidi at Daily Maverick
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