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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Ramaphosa declares 15 December a public holiday to celebrate Springboks’ victory The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has kept his promise and declared 15 December 2023 a public holiday to celebrate the Springboks victory. “We declare this to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. Our sports men and women have shown us what is possible,” said Ramaphosa. On Monday evening. Springboks secured a victory in the World Cup final match against New Zealand on Saturday. During his address, Ramaphosa pushed out the holiday to December to avoid disturbing the matric exams, and to also include the Proteas, who are currently playing in the Cricket World Cup, in the celebrations. The Springboks return to SA on Tuesday, and will be received by Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings later this week as they embark on their tour across the country. “As we confront the many severe challenges in our country, we draw hope and encouragement from the determination and the performance the Springboks and the Proteas have displayed,” Ramaphosa told South Africans. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Vhahangwele Nemakonde at The Citizen. Read too, Ramaphosa declares 15 December a public holiday to celebrate hope and unity in SA, at EWN. En ook, Ramaphosa verklaar openbare vakansiedag, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Impose a targeted public sector wage freeze, DA urges Enoch Godongwana ahead of mini budget BL Premium reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has proposed targeted cuts to government expenditure, including a three-year wage freeze for public servants not covered by the occupation-specific dispensation, which covers professionals such as teachers and nurses. An occupation-specific dispensation refers to salary structures that are unique to each identified occupation in the public service and is meant to attract and retain scarce skills in the civil service. The freeze, which the DA believes could yield savings of up to R66bn over three years, should cover the “millionaire manager class” of head office managers and supervisors. An additional R60bn could be saved over three years by reducing the number of managers, the party said when releasing its proposals for the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS), which Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table in parliament on Wednesday. The unbudgeted public-sector wage increase of 7.5% earlier in 2023, which cost the government R37.4bn, contributed to the fiscal squeeze currently being experienced. An inflation-linked increase has been agreed upon for 2024. Significant savings could also be made, the DA said, by eliminating all funding for the National Health Insurance scheme (saving R14.5bn over three years), shutting down the National Youth Development Agency, freezing expenditure on the Presidency, reducing expenditure on VIP protection and security services and reducing debt service costs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Fuel price relief for motorists from Wednesday Moneyweb reports that the prices for both petrol and diesel are set to become cheaper from Wednesday. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy confirmed on Monday that a litre of both grades of petrol will become R1.78 cheaper, while 0.05% sulphur and 0.005% sulphur diesel users will pay 85.08 cents and 82.08 cents less per litre at the pumps. The adjustments mean that a litre of Petrol 93 and 95 – which currently cost R25.22 and R25.68 in the inland region – will cost R23.44 and R23.90 per litre, respectively in the new month. Diesel (0.005% and 0.05%) prices will go from R25.01 and R25.22 to R24.18 and R24.36 per litre, respectively. The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will decline by 97 cents, while the single maximum national retail price (SMNRP) for illuminating paraffin will decrease by R1.30 per litre. LP Gas will increase by R1.49 per kilogram. The relief comes as average international product prices for petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin declined in the last month, the department indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Akhona Matshoba at Moneyweb. See too, Petrol, diesel price cuts confirmed for Wednesday, at Fin24. En ook, Só lyk nuwe brandstofpryse, by Maroela Media
Police vans crushed in freak accident on Monday on the N2 highway in Cape Town; nine injured Cape Argus reports that Mowbray police are investigating the cause of a container truck that overturned on Monday on the N2 highway in Cape Town between Jan Smuts Drive and Raapenburg Road, injuring nine people. According to bystanders, the truck had been driving alongside three police vehicles when it overturned. The truck’s yellow container flattened one police van and severely damaged the two others. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi advised that Mowbray police had registered a case of reckless and negligent driving for further investigation. He added: “Please note that the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation. However, we can confirm that nine victims sustained injuries earlier today. The tragic incident occurred just before 11am and involved several police vans. Emergency officials who were dispatched to the scene transported the victims to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.” Read the original of the report in the above regard by Nomalanga Tshuma and view photographs at Cape Argus
Gold One to act against Amcu ‘kidnappers’ SowetanLive reports that Gold One Modder East Operations is working with the police to identify workers who were behind the recent three-day “hostage” drama. The company is also instituting disciplinary proceedings against employees responsible for the incident at its mine in Springs, east of Johannesburg. More than 550 employees spent three days underground from Sunday until Wednesday last week. While the company, police and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have labelled the event a kidnapping, rival union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and some workers said the sit-in was in protest against the company’s failure to award the latter union organisational rights. According to the mine, 41 members of Amcu held their colleagues underground against their will. Gold One has a closed shop agreement with the NUM, which gives the union exclusive organisational rights at the company. After resurfacing last week, workers said they had to survive by eating two slices of bread a day, drinking water and sleeping on rocks. They claimed that those who had wanted to return to the surface were assaulted. NUM’s deputy general-secretary Mpho Phakedi called for law enforcement agencies “to arrest the criminals who are responsible for this hostage drama or criminal act”. A company spokesperson said the mine had not yet resumed operations and added: “Workers will return to work in a phased approach as management is able to execute a safe return to full production.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Sibanyoni at SowetanLive
Satawu plans mass protest on Friday over Transnet privatisation plans The Mercury reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) is planning a nationwide protest over privatisation plans at Transnet, including the development and upgrades at a major Durban container terminal. Marches are scheduled to take place on 3 November in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, and at other Transnet depots. Satawu said they would march to KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube’s office and the Department of Public Enterprises to hand over a memorandum. Transnet issued a statement on Monday saying it viewed the planned action as ‘unprotected’ and that contingency plans had been put in place should Satawu’s leadership proceed with the action. In July, Transnet announced Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc (Ictsi) as the preferred bidder for the 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals to develop and upgrade the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2. At the time Satawu and the United National Transport Union accused Transnet of bringing in the company before concluding labour consultations, and expressed fears that this could lead to major job losses. Satawu deputy secretary-general Anele Kiet confirmed that a national protest was planned for 3 November against the impending partial privatisation of Transnet. He said the main march would take place in Durban, with a protest at the port that would “affect Transnet operations to make as big an impact as possible”. Kiet said the deal with Ictsi did not clarify how many jobs would be saved and how it would improve the infrastructure at the port. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kuben Chetty at The Mercury
More doctors employed this year than in 2022, Phaahla tells MPs Mail & Guardian reports that some 3,974 posts for medical doctors have been advertised and filled in 2023, compared with 2,053 posts last year, Health Minister Joe Phaahla has told parliament. In January, members of the SA Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) and more than 1,000 jobless doctors from Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal marched in protest over unemployment among doctors, despite the staff shortages in the healthcare sector. Samatu said the state had the responsibility to ensure adequate staffing across all facilities to protect both communities and healthcare professionals. In a recent parliamentary question, the National Freedom Party’s (NFP’s) Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam asked what measures had been put in place to ensure that “all medical graduates who have completed their community services are placed at relevant health facilities”. In a written response, Phaahla indicated the health department was obliged to ensure that sufficient platforms were available for all eligible citizens and permanent residents for medical internship and community service. Lorato Florence Tito, of the Economic Freedom Fighters, questioned Phaahla on the 80 unplaced doctors in Limpopo and the general shortages of doctors in rural areas. He replied that 81 medical doctors had been placed in community service at the Limpopo department of health on 15 June. The health minister explained that shortages in the public health sector, especially in rural areas, were caused by budget constraints and the fact that health professionals did not want to work in rural areas. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandisa Ndlovu at Mail & Guardian Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Constitutional Court slams government for delay in fixing law relating to rights of suspected illegal immigrants BL Premium reports that in a scathing judgment that tore into the conduct of the top brass at the Department of Homes Affairs (DHA), the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Monday ordered the state to ensure suspected illegal immigrants appeared before court within 48 hours, a right enjoyed by SA citizens. The apex court gave the government a year to pass a new immigration law and ordered that DHA Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and his director-general, Tommy Makhode, must pay out of their own pockets for a “dreadfully conducted” litigation. The ConCourt confirmed its 2017 ruling that two sections of the Immigration Act, which allow immigration officers to arrest and detain illegal foreigners without proper judicial oversight, are unconstitutional and invalid. Parliament, along with the department, had been ordered to start the process of changing the law, but so far have not done so. They were given until 2019, but did not meet that deadline. In 2022, the DHA attempted to revive that lapsed order to get the two-year clock ticking again, but on Monday the ConCourt rejected the department’s litigation. “It is difficult to conceive of a more egregious instance of neglect of a constitutional duty in the sphere of enacting legislation,” Judge Steven Majiedt wrote for a unanimous court. The department’s lawyers, including a senior advocate, were “disallowed” their fees. When the legal costs of the entire case are determined, the minister will have to personally pay 10% and the director-general 25% of that total, which could be in the hundreds of thousands or millions of rand. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, ConCourt slaps Home Affairs minister and DG with personal cost order, at Moneyweb
Landmark ruling impacting parental leave in SA explained In a detailed article, Cliffe Dekke Hofmeyr attorneys analyse a judgment handed down in the Gauteng High Court by Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland, which declared the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) relating to maternity, parental, adoption and commissioning parental leave and the relevant provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act (UIA) unconstitutional and invalid for falling foul of the rights to equality and dignity in terms of sections 9 and 10 of the Constitution. The application was launched by Werner van Wyk and his spouse, Ika van Wyk. During Mrs van Wyk's pregnancy, Mr van Wyk applied to his employer for the four-month maternity leave benefit. The employer refused on the basis that its maternity leave policy did not provide for persons other than the birthing mother to receive the maternity leave benefit. The court suspended its declaration of invalidity for two years in order for Parliament to affect the required amendments to cure the unconstitutionality of the provisions of the BCEA and UIA. In the interim, the court ordered a reading of the legislation that affords all parents four consecutive months' parental leave (parents of a qualifying child are in a position to share the four months leave as they elect) until Parliament remedies the defect. Any declaration of invalidity made by a high court must be referred to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) for confirmation. Accordingly, the ConCourt will in due course deliver its decision on whether to confirm the high court's declaration of invalidity of the BCEA care-giving leave provisions, and the corresponding provisions in the UIA. The Minister of Employment and Labour may also appeal the judgment and may request that the order of invalidity be suspended pending the finalisation of the appeal. Read the informative article by Gillian Lumb, Anli Bezuidenhout, Nadeem Mahomed & Alex van Greuning in full at Fin24
Eastern Cape teacher suspended after being caught on video caning pupils on school grounds News24 reports that the Eastern Cape education department has suspended a teacher who was caught on video caning pupils on their buttocks on school grounds. The state abolished corporal punishment in 1996 in line with the South African Schools Act and it is a criminal offence to cane pupils. The incident reportedly happened last week at Mbodleni Senior Secondary School in Mount Frere, now called Kwa Bhaca. Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima indicated: "Yes, we are aware of the incident and have moved to put the educator on precautionary suspension, pending investigation. All the learners have been subjected to debriefing and counselling due to the traumatic experience." Mtima added that the parents of pupils who had been beaten could open a criminal case of common assault. The Professional Educators' Union (PEU) commented: "PEU is unequivocal is condemning what we see from the video and, should that found to be true, we urge the law to take its course and bring the culprit to book, regardless of the union membership he might be carrying.” The National Professional Teachers Organisation (Naptosa) said it was unbelievable that corporal punishment was still happening in some schools. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24 (subscriber access only)
JMPD launches investigation after officers allegedly assault motorist in Randburg The Citizen reports that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has confirmed it is investigating the alleged assault of a motorist by police officers. The alleged incident reportedly occurred on Friday evening in Randburg, following an argument between JMPD officers and a motorist, who has yet to be identified. The altercation happened when the police officers attended to an accident scene involving the motorist on the corner of Gordon and 5th streets in Bergbron. During inspection, JMPD officers discovered the victim’s motor vehicle licence disc had expired, and wanted to impound the vehicle – which the victim refused, leading to an argument. “The argument escalated, [leading] to an altercation between the motorist and an officers which was followed by the alleged assault by officers towards the motorist who sustained injuries to the head and torso,” a JMPD spokesperson said in a statement. A video of the alleged incident has since surfaced on social media. JMPD has called for the motorist to come forward by getting in touch with the Internal Affairs Unit Acting Director, to assist with the investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Vukosi Maluleke and watch the video at The Citizen. Lees ook, Metropolisie ondersoek aanranding van motoris, by Maroela Media Bethlehem court clerk sentenced for pocketing over R135,000 in third-party funds IOL News reports that a Free State woman has been convicted and sentenced in the Bethlehem Regional Court on charges of fraud, contravention of Section 4 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) and money laundering. Nthabiseng Adeline Motaung pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her. A preliminary audit conducted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development uncovered that Motaung and her co-accused, Marotholi Yvonne Modiehi, defrauded the department of over R135,200 by transferring third-party funds into their personal bank accounts. Motaung and Modeihi were arrested in July 2019. A spokesperson for the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) indicated: “They were both employed at Bethlehem Court as administration clerks during the time of the incident. The funds included maintenance money, admission of guilt fines, bail, court fines and fines collected on behalf of other government departments.” The court sentenced Motaung to eight years imprisonment for fraud and seven years imprisonment for money laundering, both wholly suspended for five years. She was ordered to pay back the money to the departmentin monthly instalments of R4,000 from November until the amount was fully paid. Modiehi is expected to appear in court on Monday when her trial is expected to proceed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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