In our roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that recently appeared.
|
SA soldiers deployed in DRC unwittingly paying for insurance scammers to profit from their deaths City Press reports that while South African soldiers are fighting for their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), some are apparently unknowingly paying premiums for insurance policies that allow unscrupulous scammers to profit from their deaths. The worst part is said to be that the beneficiaries of the policies that will pay out if these soldiers die in action in the DRC are unknown, a family member told Rapport. Exactly how the scam took place is now part of an extensive investigation into the military and three major companies that sell insurance. It only came to light after some of the soldiers’ families, who depend on their pay, reported that less and less money was being deposited into their bank accounts. Most of the soldiers in the DRC do not earn huge salaries, but are the breadwinners for extended families. They are deployed in that country for a year at a time, during which they do not receive their monthly pay slips and also have no free access to emails or mobile connections. Some of the soldiers’ family members approached Rapport in desperation after their loved ones in the DRC had tried in vain to stop the premium deductions themselves. The soldiers are forbidden to talk to journalists. According to one family member, the soldiers only realised in early June that money for policy premiums was being deducted from their salaries when one of them obtained a copy of his pay slip. It appears that life and funeral policies were taken out in the soldiers’ names without their knowledge or consent. Military spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said that he was in contact with the insurance companies and that progress had already been made with the investigations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at City Press (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Swendelaars besteel SA troepe terwyl hulle veg, by Netwerk24 (toegang slegs vir intekenare) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Limpopo man sentenced to 10 years for illegal mining TimesLIVE reports that Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentence meted out to a 34-year-old man for illegal mining. The Phalaborwa Regional Court on Thursday sentenced Alfred Mulaudzi, 34, to 10 years’ imprisonment for illegal mining and his accomplice, Mutodi Simbarashe, to five years, which was wholly suspended. The two men were caught by mine security in Gravelotte performing illegal mining activities in September 2022. Police were summoned to the scene and arrested the two. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
Cosatu cautiously welcomes CEF’s refinery purchase, but doesn’t want workers to be kept on the sidelines Sunday World reports that trade union federation Cosatu is treating the recent acquisition of the South African Petroleum Refineries (Sapref) by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) with caution. At least 800 people lost their jobs when the refinery, located in Durban, ceased operations in 2022. Last month the CEF, a state-owned entity that reports to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), bought the refinery, raising hopes of job creation. “We are aware that the purchase agreement has been concluded. Cosatu believes this is good news for reviving the hundreds of jobs that were lost when the plant closed down. But we also want more discussions about beneficiation,” Edwin Mkhize, Cosatu’s general secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, said. He commented that workers should not be treated as spectators only good for providing their labour and forced to survive on salaries. “Workers must not be kept on the sidelines. They must be given a stake and be active players in the running of Sapref,” Mkhize insisted. The DMRE said the granular details of the sale, including the role of labour, was a work in progress. It explained that the acquisition augured well in respect of arresting SA’s declining refining capacity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sandile Motha on page 13 of Sunday World of 23 June 2024
Employers need to update their policies dealing with cannabis use BusinessTech writes that employers should proactively update workplace policies to accommodate legal cannabis use, ensuring compliance and workplace safety, thereby averting disputes arising from outdated rules. According to Lizle Louw and Amy Kingpoint of Webber Wentzel, misconceptions about where, when, and among whom cannabis can be used are rife. Following the 2018 Constitutional Court decision that decriminalized the private use of cannabis by adults, there has been considerable confusion, particularly within workplace contexts, regarding the acceptable circumstances for its consumption. However, “during the years that followed, there has been an increase in unfair dismissal and unfair discrimination cases related to cannabis use,” said Louw and Kingpoint. Now, the recently published Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, 2024 may exacerbate this. The Act will formalise a statutory framework for the private use, possession and cultivation of cannabis by adults. “With the enactment of the Cannabis Act, it is crucial to reassess workplace policies that regulate cannabis use, keeping the lessons learnt in the Labour Court front of mind,” said the legal experts. Key provisions of the Cannabis Act relate to private use and possession; public restrictions; exceeding legal limits; transportation; and expungement of criminal records. “The altered classification of cannabis use from illegal to legal in defined circumstances does not mean that employees may report for duty under the influence of cannabis, to the extent that they cannot work safely or productively,” Louw and Kingpoint pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Seth Thorne at BusinessTech
Bogus doctor arrested at Tembisa hospital may have given police fake address Sunday World reports that a woman who was arrested for posing as a medical doctor at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital last week may have misled the authorities about her residential address. Nthabeleng Precious Ramashala made her first court appearance at the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face charges of contravention of the Health Act (impersonating a medical doctor) and for being in possession of presumed stolen property. According to the charge sheet, Ramashala identified her residential address as unit 702 at a Hillbrow block of flats. However, security guards and tenants there have never heard of her. Also, while she gave her address as a seventh-floor unit, security guards confirmed the building only goes up to six floors. The Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) said Ramashala was nabbed in a ward, while doing rounds with a stethoscope dangling around her neck. Nurses who spotted her raised the alarm. The police were called to the scene, and the preliminary investigation revealed that she was a bogus doctor. A preliminary report from the DOH revealed that Ramashala was admitted as a patient from 23 to 28 May at the very ward where she was arrested. Questions have been raised about how Ramashala evaded security to gain access and what she was planning to do in the ward. The matter was postponed to 2 July for further investigations and for police to verify Ramashala’s residential address. She was remanded in custody. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka & Phumla Mkize at Sunday World
GNU unlikely to end court challenges to NHI Business Times writes that court challenges to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill are likely to go ahead despite the formation of a new government, according to an industry body representing medical aid funds. The Health Funders Association (HFA) held a scenario planning symposium this week where stakeholders looked at possible outcomes for the NHI after the formation of the government of national unity (GNU). President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the NHI Bill on the eve of the elections, sparking uproar from the private healthcare sector and broader business. Critics have slammed the bill as unworkable and unaffordable in its current format. Now, with the ANC having to rely on other parties to form a government, questions have been raised over whether the NHI legislation could be affected. The ANC and GOOD have supported the current bill, but DA party leader John Steenhuisen vowed to fight it all the way to the Constitutional Court. The IFP has also rejected the bill, referring to it as “a recipe for disaster”. Elsabe Klinck, MD at Klinck and Associates, said while the new arrangement in government could lead to a negotiated settlement, the legal route seemed more effective as there would be a binding ruling from the courts. “People won't necessarily abandon their legal challenges, because it gives a court order framework that you can go to parliament with,” Klinck pointed out. At least six organisations are preparing to challenge the bill in court, including trade union Solidarity, the HFA, the SA Medical Association, the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), the SA Health Professionals Collaboration and the DA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gloria Motsoere at Business Times (subscriber access only)
Gauteng development agency wants fired CEO to pay back R2.8 million settlement wrongfully paid out City Press reports that the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency wants former group CEO Mosa Tshabalala to pay back almost R3 million she received as a settlement two years ago. It was reported last month that the agency had reached a R2.8 million settlement with Tshabalala, who was fired in June 2022 for misconduct and poor performance. In total, she received R3.3 million, which included two months’ salary, as recommended by a disciplinary hearing when she was fired. The agency paid her despite the chairperson of the disciplinary hearing having recommended that she be dismissed, which resulted in the agency terminating her contract. The latest move, which has placed the agency board on the opposing side with the Gauteng economic development department, is now the subject of court proceedings. In court documents dated 15 May 2024, head of department Blake Mosley-Lefatola, told the Pretoria High Court that on 20 February this year it had come to his attention that there were ongoing settlement negotiations between the board and Tshabalala. Mosley-Lefatola indicated: “I expressed my concerns regarding the potential settlement negotiations which are contrary to the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, being dismissal and remuneration of two months.” He opined that there was no justification to enter into any settlement agreement at that stage, especially given the gravity of the charges that Tshabalala had been found guilty of. Although he was aware that Tshabalala was no longer in the employ of the agency following her dismissal, he nevertheless deemed it appropriate to make further inquiries regarding the settlement negotiations. Mosley-Lefatola told the court that he did not receive any responses from the board and the provincial treasury to his letters questioning the settlement. He has asked the court to order Tshabalala to pay back the R2.8 million, which he said was “improperly and unlawfully paid” into her bank account. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Abram Mashego at City Press (subscriber access only)
Transnet issues disciplinary charges against Ports Authority CEO Pepi Silinga and other managers Fin24 reports that Transnet has issued disciplinary charges against National Ports Authority CEO Pepi Silinga following the conclusion of investigations into allegations of impropriety at the embattled ports operator. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) board decided to implement disciplinary proceedings against Silinga and an unknown number of other managers at the port authority implicated in the investigations. This follows the conclusion of investigations into TNPA by Bowmans Attorneys and Fundudzi Investigators. In a statement issued on Saturday morning, Transnet said that the Fundudzi Investigation "considered the award of a tender for the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Ngqura". It is not clear from the statement whether the investigation contained findings about other incidents. Transnet said that external independent chairpersons had been appointed to chair the disciplinary proceedings into Silinga and the other TNPA managers that have been implicated in the reports. "Transnet will ensure this matter is dealt with swiftly and with the necessary sensitivity," the statement indicated. According to the World Bank and S&P Global Container Port Performance Index for 2023, which compared the performance of 405 ports across the world, the Port of Ngqura, which is named in the investigation, was the second-worst port in the world, behind Cape Town. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by William Brederode at Fin24. Lees ook, Dissiplinêre stappe kom teen Transnet hoës ná ondersoek, by Maroela Media
IEC commissioner Nomsa Masuku charged with R1.2m bursary fraud allegedly committed when she was at Standard Bank News24 reports that Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku has been charged with fraud amounting to R1.2 million, allegedly committed when she headed Standard Bank's Corporate Social Investment Programme. Masuku, 62, appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge after the Hawks arrested her on Friday morning. It is alleged that while Masuku headed the bank's Adopt A School Trust, established to hand out bursaries to deserving students and schools participating in the Adopt A School programme, she dished out scholarships to friends and family members. Some of the money was "deposited directly into her personal bank account to the tune of R1.2 million," said a Hawks spokesperson. Masuku was granted bail of R20,000 and the case was postponed to 4 September. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 Safa, Danny Jordaan demand R3.5m from former CEO for defamation Sunday World reports that the SA Football Association (Safa) and its president, Danny Jordaan, have slapped the organisation’s former chief executive officer with a multi-million rand lawsuit for defamatory statements made against them. Safa and Jordaan filed a R3.5-million suit against Dennis Mumble in the Johannesburg High Court last week for defamation of character. According to the court documents, Safa, the first applicant, and Jordaan, the second, claimed that on 10 March 2024, Mumble attended a Newzroom Afrika television interview, where he made a flurry of defamatory remarks that damaged their reputations. Among the inflammatory remarks allegedly made, Mumble said the Safa constitution stipulated that only the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and general manager of the division could sign a commercial contract. He said Jordaan had no right to sign the Fun Valley Resort contract to build the Safa National Technical Centre, adding that he was not fit to be Safa president. Jordaan and Safa said the alleged defamatory remarks suggested they were involved in dishonest conduct, interference in the administration of their duties, were professionally incompetent and did not comply with the principle of separation of powers, all of which was void from the truth and inconsistent with the true nature of Safa affairs. They said in terms of the Safa constitution, the president and the chief executive officer represented Safa legally, were duly authorised to represent the organisation in any legal proceedings, and were entitled to sign for and on its behalf. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ngwako Malatji at Sunday World. Read too, Trust Safa suits to ruin any sign of progress in our diski, on page 19 of Sunday World of 23 June 2024 Staffers accuse Freedom Park CEO Mufamadi of promoting ‘ethnic values informed by tribal instincts’ Sunday Independent reports that staff at the Freedom Park heritage site have accused their CEO Dr Jane Mufamadi of maladministration, corruption, and promoting “ethnic values informed by tribal instincts” at the entity. They want Mufamadi put on suspension while the allegations against her are being investigated. A letter purportedly authored by disgruntled employees, dated 26 February 2024 and sent to the Arts & Culture Department, alleged: “Under Dr Jane Mufamadi, Freedom Park has been turned into a sectarian organisation that in addition to this horrendous action, has been embroiled under corruption of high proportions and maladministration.” The concerned staff tabulated “a litany of examples of gross maladministration and corrupt activities under Dr Jane Mufamadi.” They claimed that Mufamadi had initiated an email for Venda-speaking staff members only, adding that she had led Venda-speaking staffers in writing a letter to Parliament without the knowledge of other staff members and the Human Resources Department. Among other allegations, the staffers indicated to the ministry that Mufamadi allegedly bought herself a Mercedes Benz using public funds and had awarded and influenced a security tender through which her friends and family members benefited. Approached for comment, Mufamadi denied all allegations and said: “These allegations have been made since around three to five years back, taking many forms and being ventilated on different platforms. For instance, these have been made to the Public Protector, who issued a report exonerating the CEO and the organisation. The allegations have also been made to the portfolio committee, which also found no basis for their being made.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at Sunday independent ‘Ghost’ employee who was employed by two government entities granted R5,000 bail IOL News reports that a Free State man has been granted bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court after he was charged with fraud and theft. Paseka Ishmael Choeue, 46, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks) attached to the Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein. The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Christopher Singo, indicated: “Information was received by the Hawks about a man allegedly employed by both provincial and local government departments at the same time. In January 2017, the suspect was employed by the Department of Higher Education and Training as a lecturer at Community Education and Training College in Bloemfontein. In 2019, he was also employed at Mangaung Metro Municipality as a financial manager. He was allegedly receiving two salaries from both government departments. It was further reported that the suspect was signing in the on-duty registers at both offices recording the same time.” Choeu made his first court appearance on Thursday when he was granted bail of R5,000. The matter was transferred to the Bloemfontein Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and Choeu is expected back in court on 29 July. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL News
Eastern Cape maths teacher fired after getting pupil drunk and sexually assaulting her News24 reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has booted out a maths educator who had sex with a pupil after plying her with alcohol in his room and getting her drunk. The pupil, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident in March 2021, fell pregnant and subsequently gave birth. On 13 June, the ELRC found Sabelo Dladla, a teacher from Mxhume Secondary School in Ntabankulu, in the Eastern Cape, guilty of sexual assault. The arbitrator, Mbulelo Safa, also found him unsuitable to work with children and directed the ELRC to notify the Department of Social Development to include his name in the Child Protection Register. The arbitration hearing, which was previously set down for 18 April, was postponed after Dladla submitted a medical certificate. He produced a sick note again when the hearing reconvened on 30 and 31 May, but it continued in his absence. The arbitrator indicated: “The complainant testified she did not consent to having sex with the employee and may not have consented because she was intoxicated. Having sex with her without consent amounted to sexual assault.” He pointed out that, in terms of the Act, an educator must be dismissed if found guilty of committing sexual assault or having a sexual relationship with a learner. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page