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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Labour, opposition parties reject Godongwana’s ‘austerity budget’ BL Premium reports that labour federations and opposition political parties dismissed the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) presented on Wednesday to parliament by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana as yet another indication the government was failing to steward the economy. Godongwana laid bare the fiscal crisis dogging the country as he highlighted its low economic growth, persistent power cuts, high unemployment and a worrying rise in the cost of living. The MTBPS announced cuts to basic services amounting to more than R13bn, including basic education (R1.7bn), higher education (R2.9bn), health (R1.5bn), social development (R2.1bn), human settlements (R3.1bn), transport (R1.3bn) and water & sanitation (R880m). Cosatu’s Matthew Parks said the minister lost an opportunity to right the country’s economic weaknesses and said: “Workers and the entire country looked forward to government tabling a bold, decisive and progressive MTBPS. Tragically, yet again, Treasury failed to rise to the occasion.” Saftu’s Trevor Shaku said the federation did not agree that debt levels had grown disproportionately as the debt levels were still within a proportionate level when comparing SA with its emerging market peers. DA shadow finance minister Dion George stated: “This MTBPS was confirmation that government simply does not care about the plight of battling South African households who are unable to put enough food on their tables.” The EFF’s Floyd Shivambu said: “It’s an austerity budget [coming as] a result of a failing government.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Treasury to buffer front-line services by allocating extra funds to cover budget shortfall created by 2023 wage deal BL Premium reports that the Treasury has sought to protect the provision of front-line services by allocating extra funds to help cover the budget shortfall created by the 2023 wage agreement for public servants. The 7.5% wage deal reached by the state with unions in April came in higher than the Treasury had anticipated in the February budget, a development it estimated would cost the government an extra R37.4bn above the compensation budget set aside for 2023/24. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana indicated in his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) to parliament on Wednesday that the Treasury has now allocated an extra R24bn to help fund the wage increase in personnel-heavy sectors, including health, education and the police service, in the current fiscal year. A total of R74bn has been set aside over the medium-term to fund the wage increase and the associated carry-through costs, he indicated. However, the health and education sectors still face a funding crunch, as their budgets will shrink in real terms. Maintaining service delivery amid budget constraints would require health to improve efficiency in areas such as overtime payments, medical supplies and security services, and to delay infrastructure projects, said Treasury. The Treasury warned that provincial education departments would remain constrained in hiring additional teachers, potentially leading to larger class sizes, higher learner-teacher ratios and weaker educational outcomes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) SA needs 30,000 more social workers by 2030, but it will cost cash-strapped government R9.5bn News24 reports that the government's own projections show that it needs to employ at least 5,000 social workers every year, but with a R1.5 billion annual price tag, the bean counters at Treasury are refusing to budge. According to the Department of Social Development (DSD), a cost analysis was done based on the additionally-required 31,744 social workers needed to augment the National Development Plan (NDP) vision 2030 to reach 55,000 social workers. The estimated cost based on workforce needs is approximately R9.5 billion. At the moment, there are 23 561 social workers. The ambitious plan was presented on Wednesday to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, which heard pleas from unemployed social workers for the government to employ them full time. DSD chief financial officer, Fanie Esterhuizen, told the committee there was a lack of funding of the strategy by the National Treasury given the current economic situation. More than 9 000 social workers are already struggling to find employment. Speaking on behalf of unemployed social workers, Kedibone Kekana, a social worker in the private sector, told the committee that the country was grappling with numerous social challenges, including poverty, inequality, and healthcare disparities. "Unemployed graduate social workers represent a highly skilled and well-educated workforce that remains underutilised. This represents a substantial loss of human capital, given the extensive training and education these individuals have undergone," she pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 SRD grant to be extended for another year as Treasury bows to demands BL Premium reports that the Treasury has once again caved in to demands to extend the Covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant and has set aside money to fund it for another year. The R350 a month SRD grant was introduced by the government in 2020 as a temporary measure to buffer people against the hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but it has been repeatedly extended. It currently reaches about 8.5-million beneficiaries. Its future should be settled as part of a comprehensive review of SA’s social protection system, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said on Wednesday shortly before tabling his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) in parliament. This review should include an assessment of SA’s welfare grants, social insurance funds and its active labour market policies. Treasury has allocated an extra R33.6bn to continue provision of the SRD grant in the 2024/25 fiscal year and made an allocation for “social protection” of R35.2bn in 2025/26, which could potentially extend it for another year. It once again sounded a warning about the fiscal risks of continuing with unfunded spending programmes such as the SRD grant. The Treasury has tried to contain the cost of the SRD grant by freezing its value unlike other welfare grants, which are regularly increased to keep pace with inflation. Inflation is projected to come in at 6% in 2023, according to the MTBPS. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City of Cape Town concerned about ongoing attacks on its staff in townships EWN reports that the City of Cape Town is concerned by the ongoing attacks on its staff members in the townships. According to the city, these attacks are standing in the way of delivering services to communities. More than 15 such incidents were recorded between July and September this year. Three city staff members were also murdered while on duty during the same period. The city's safety and security chairperson, Mzwakhe Qavashe observed: : "They (staff members) work so hard to serve our communities, often in very difficult circumstances and so it's incredibly disappointing to see how prevalent attacks have become, and also the level of violence directed at staff." Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Melikhaya Zagagana at EWN Cops to hit treadmills after SAPS signs up with fitness gyms TimesLIVE reports that police officers have in the past come under scrutiny for not being in the best shape to tackle SA’s criminals. However, the SA Police Service (SAPS) has now signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Virgin Active and Planet Fitness to keep officers fit. National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola signed the MOU on Wednesday, saying it was designed to “benefit police officers to access and use facilities at the gym clubs at a discounted fee to encourage employees to remain physically fit and healthy”. As part of the signing ceremony, Masemola led police officers in a fitness session. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Anthony Molyneaux at TimesLIVE 'There is just no care', laments wife of missing SANDF soldier News24 reports that the wife of missing SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier Isak Thompson has lambasted the police for refusing to release the bank card and identity book of her breadwinner husband. Juanita Thompson, who is legally married to Isak but has been separated for the past 10 years, said she was the only parent left to care for their four children. It has been more than three months since Isak mysteriously disappeared with an army R4 rifle from the SA Army Infantry School in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. He was supposed to have participated in a 10-week advanced physical and psychological training programme, which started on 17 July. But, two days after the programme commenced, the SANDF reported him "missing". An R4 military rifle issued for training purposes was also "unaccounted for". Juanita said she was "stressed out" because there was no income to maintain the household and feed the children. “Police would not give me his bank card because they say it's still being kept for investigation. But what I don't understand is why it's being kept for so long. I just needed to withdraw the money because we need it, then they could've taken the card back. It's been months since they got his personal details - and we, as the family, must now suffer,” said Juanita. She added: "My kids already don't know where their dad is. The least the police can do is release his belongings to me. But there is just no care from police and SANDF." A police spokesperson confirmed that the investigation into the disappearance of Isak was ongoing. According to Isak's brother, Ricardo, the police were keeping the bank card because the SANDF was still paying his brother's salary every month. “We suspect that the police are keeping his bank details to monitor if there are any withdrawals taking place," said Ricardo. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24
Following ‘hostage action’ at Springs mine, workers to vote between NUM and Amcu GroundUp reports that the Springs mine where hundreds of miners were held underground last week is to hold an employee ballot to decide on union rights, according to chief executive Jonathan Hericourt. More than 500 miners were kept underground at the Gold One Mine for three days. Last Wednesday afternoon, about 400 miners came to the surface after an operation that involved the police and a team trained in underground rescues. Earlier in the day, about 136 miners had escaped up a mine stope. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) is fighting for legal recognition at the mine and is challenging the mine’s “closed shop” agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The closed shop agreement means that the NUM is the only union that the mine recognises. Amcu claims to have more support than the NUM, which the latter denies. “Everyone is saying all sorts of numbers that we have no way of validating other than by doing an independent ballot, so that’s where we’re going to be going,” said Hericourt. Meanwhile, the company has begun disciplinary processes against employees involved in the hostage action, with at least one Amcu member receiving a suspension letter on Tuesday. According to Amcu, it was not a hostage situation but a sit-in by its members. NUM said that several members had been injured during the three days, all of whom have since been released from hospital. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shaun Smillie at GroundUp. Lees ook, Springs-myn: Myners sal stem tussen NUM en Amcu, by Maroela Media
High Court orders Nzimande to retract notice announcing appointment of Unisa administrator BusinessLive reports that the Pretoria High Court has ordered Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to immediately retract a government gazette notice that announced the appointment of an administrator for the University of SA (Unisa). Acting Judge Andre le Grange ruled on Wednesday that Nzimande’s notice was in breach of an order granted by Judge Leicester Adams on 24 August ordering the minister not to act on the recommendations contained in the report of independent assessor Prof Themba Mosia until two separate applications challenging the report were finalised. Another judge of the same high court, Harshila Kooverjie, ordered Nzimande on 6 October to withdraw his notice of intention to place the university under administration. On Friday, Nzimande appointed the former vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Prof Ihron Rensburg, to act as administrator for two years after dissolving Unisa’s council. Le Grange said the court “cannot find otherwise than that the act of appointing the administrator was and is in direct conflict and breach of the order of Judge Adams and unlawful”. Le Grange noted it had been strongly suggested by the Unisa council that the court should grant an order calling on Nzimande to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court. “The court is therefore willing to grant the parties leave to approach the deputy judge president for a date to properly deal with the issue of contempt,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at BusinessLive. Lees ook, Hof keer besluit om oor Unisa-administrasie, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Hawks warn women after another Limpopo teacher gets scammed of her pension money by ‘lover’ IOL News reports that the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) have issued a warning to women to be vigilant amid a “rapid increase of dating scam incidents” in Limpopo province. The warning came after a 60-year-old Polokwane-based woman was scammed out of more than R800,000 of her pension money (details in report). In October, a Ugandan national was arrested after he allegedly scammed a former teacher and his lover of her pension money. According to Hawks spokesperson in Limpopo, Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke, such cases have become frequent. “Since the cases of fraud and dating scams are continuing to be reported to the Hawks, the potential victims – particularly well-to-do single/widowed women – are advised to be careful of the scammers who would come into their lives in the name of love,” cautined Maluleke. According to the Hawks, the scammers target the following categories of single women: women with stable jobs, whom the scammers often convince to resign; women who are recently divorced and have acquired some assets, with the scammers convincing them to register assets under their names or to sell off the assets; women who are in business, with the scammers coming up with fake business proposals that need funding; women who have inherited considerable wealth; women who are about to retire; and women who are widows. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at IOL News
Fraud trial of suspended Nelson Mandela Bay city manager will likely only continue next year News24 reports that according to the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Gqeberha, the fraud and corruption trial of suspended Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Noxolo Nqwazi will, in all likelihood, only resume next year. Nqwazi was temporarily suspended from her municipal post during an emergency council meeting two weeks ago. She briefly appeared in court on Tuesday and the trial was provisionally postponed to 27 November. Her lawyer, Alwyn Griebenow, confirmed that the case would be provisionally postponed for the state and the defence to ensure that all documents were in order before the continuation of the trial. He went on to indicate: "The trial will continue in April next year." There have been several delays since the start of the trial in September due to outstanding documents that the state did not provide to the defence on time. Another delay arose when the defence submitted an application for Magistrate Vusiwe Mnyani to recuse herself for allegedly being biased against the defence and lenient towards the state. The charges against Nqwazi and her 11 co-accused stem from their alleged involvement in a toilet tender worth more than R24 million that was fraudulently awarded by the municipality some years ago. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana highlighted Nqwazi's removal from her post as one of the conditions to disburse more than R700 million in equitable share grant funding owed to the municipality since July. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Candice Bezuidenhout at News24
Supermarket security guards could face criminal charges after peanut butter ‘thief’ beaten to a pulp IOL News reports on an incident in which an alleged peanut butter thief was severely and viciously beaten by security guards at an unknown supermarket. The incident was captured in a 27 second video, which saw the alleged thief visibly bruised and bloody in the face. A security guard is seen removing peanut butter jars off his body, before he unleashes 15 lashes to the alleged thief’s buttocks. In the video, the bloodied and bruised alleged thief pleads for forgiveness and offers to pay for the peanut butter. But, the security guard ignores him. The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) said it had identified the company the security officers worked for and it was investigating the matter. Criminal expert advocate Deon Pool said the behaviour of the security guards was against the law and they could face criminal charges. “When did we start beating people to a pulp because they are hungry and stealing food? These security guards can be charged with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. It can even go as far as attempted murder, depending on the type of injuries and weapons used during the beating,” he said. Judge Portia Phahlane said the man could sue for pain and suffering, including injuries he sustained during the assault, and added: “He needs a lawyer to sue the security guards and their company for vicarious liability because they did this in the course of performing their duties.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brenda Masilela and view the video at IOL News
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