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 South African
labour-related reports.
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Two SA army captains killed, 20 injured in mortar attack on base in DR Congo BusinessLive reports that two tactical intelligence captains from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), which is part of the Southern Africa Regional Force (Samidrc) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were killed in a mortar attack on their logistics base at Sake late Tuesday afternoon. One of the captains was killed instantly, while the other died waiting for an ambulance from the DRC hospital in Goma, about 25km away. Twenty soldiers were wounded in the attack, four critically. The SA national contingent commander, Col Jaco Pieterse, was among those wounded when the M23 rebels fired on the base. The attack followed the same pattern as the first attack on the South Africans at the same base at Sake in February 2024, which left two soldiers dead. Pieterse underwent an operation on Tuesday night to remove shrapnel from his chest. One of the injured has lost an arm, while others were mostly also injured by shrapnel. Tuesday’s attack came after the force and DRC army were relentlessly firing on M23’s strongholds in the high hills in the area. Sake, which houses the logistics of the force without much protection, was then apparently struck in retaliation. The two fatalities bring the total number of deaths within the Samidrc in the DRC to about 12 since the force deployed to the DRC in December. SA has been hit the hardest of the three countries represented in the force. The others are Tanzania and Malawi. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at BusinessLive. Read too, SANDF captain in DRC died waiting hours for ambulance to arrive, at BusinessLive. En ook, Twee SA soldate in DRK dood, talle beseer, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nedbank employee shot dead in a ‘hit’ at Roodepoort bus stop on Wednesday morning News24 reports that a 40-year-old Nedbank employee was shot dead at a bus stop in Fleurhof, Roodepoort, in the early hours of Wednesday. Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo indicated: "It is alleged that the suspect was inside [a] bus as it stopped at the bus stop. As the woman was about to get into the bus, the suspect fired several shots at her. It is further reported that after the shooting, the suspect jumped into a white VW Golf and sped off." The gunman got onto the bus in Extension 5. Despite the quick response of emergency services officials, the woman was declared dead on the scene. Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene, who attended the scene and spoke to the driver and passengers on Wednesday, described the shooting as a "clear hit". He alleged: "This is a clear indication that the lady was targeted. This is a clear hit. We know that there are criminal syndicates that want bank employees to do certain things, and when they don't, this is what happens." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 Police to use Metrobus footage to try and identify killer of Nedbank employee EWN reports that Nedbank has confirmed the woman killed at a Metrobus station in Fleurhof, in Roodepoort, on Wednesday morning was its employee. The financial institution would not divulge which division the 40-year-old woman worked in or how long she had worked at the bank. The woman was shot dead by a lone gunman shortly before 6am in what has been described as a hit. While all Metrobuses in Gauteng have cameras on board, that does not necessarily mean the killer of the passenger will be able to be identified. City of Johannesburg MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene said the gunman covered his face using a hat and added: “We are going to make that footage available to the police. It is being retrieved. That information will be given to police, and I hope it will assist the police in catching this demonic killer.” Kunene said the woman’s husband revealed that she had been concerned about unfamiliar people at the bus station last week. The gunman had been waiting on the bus and as soon as the victim looked to enter at station six, he shot her. “We will get the driver and other passengers to come and say who has been coming here over the past couple of days who does not need to be here,” Kunene said. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Orrin Singh at EWN Gauteng health department steps up security after ‘bogus doctor’ incidents at hospitals IOL News reports that the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) has warned people to beware of bogus doctors, as it puts in place measures to safeguard its staff and patients at provincial hospitals. This comes after there were a number of reports alleging that fake doctors were working at some of Gauteng’s hospitals. In the most recent incident, a young woman posing as a doctor was arrested at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital. On social media, members of the public, patients and healthcare workers have expressed concern about the number of fake doctors allegedly being found at public hospitals in recent months. “The department is continuously strengthening measures at facilities to safeguard the wellbeing of patients and staff,’’ the DOH’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said. In terms of security, the department is also working to improve access control in hospitals and has hired additional security on a long-term basis. As of 1 April 2024, 113 security companies began working to protect the DOH’s 37 hospitals as well as over 300 clinics and institutions. ‘’We believe this will assist in ensuring that security measures are tightened at every point of entry in hospitals. We are also improving on the CCTV camera coverage in our facilities,“ Modiba said. Previously, the department relied on month-to-month security contracts, which was challenging in terms of providing stability and continuity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nomathamsanqa Sithathu at IOL News Psychiatric patient killed in fire at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa City Press reports that police are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a female psychiatric patient on Monday evening at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, northwest of Pretoria. The Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) said in a statement that the fire, which had broken out in the 35-year-old patient’s secluded ward, had resulted in the evacuation of 17 female patients from the hospital’s psychiatric block. According to the DOH’s spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, the fire had broken out at about 6.35pm. He explained that the deceased had been admitted to the hospital last Thursday and placed in a secluded ward on Monday, as part of her prescribed treatment. Modiba indicated: “At around 6.35pm ... a small fire broke out in the seclusion room. Immediate actions were taken to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of patients. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the fire brigade, but unfortunately the patient in the seclusion room sustained fatal injuries.” The patients evacuated from the psychiatric wing were temporarily relocated to a different wing of the psychiatric department, as a precautionary measure. Modiba said the cause of the fire was presently unknown and the matter had been handed over to the SA Police Service for investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscriber access only)
Mining sector employment holds up well despite first-quarter decline Mining Weekly reports that following five uninterrupted quarters of job gains, employment in the mining sector declined during the first quarter of this year. Citing Statistics SA’s latest quarterly employment statistics, the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) noted that formal mining sector employment decreased by 2,356 jobs in the first quarter, compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. Yet, there were still 3,500 more people employed in mining during the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2023, namely a 0.7% year-on-year increase. MCSA chief economist Hugo Pienaar commented: "While employment was up year-on-year, the quarterly decline is indicative of the operational and profitability pressures currently experienced in important subsectors of mining. These include the platinum group metals sector, which is grappling with depressed prices, and the bulk commodity (mainly coal and iron-ore) industries, which continue to be undermined by Transnet's rail and port inefficiencies.” He went on to say: "Despite the much-needed relief provided by the absence of electricity load-curtailment since April, these sectors are likely to remain under pressure for the foreseeable future. This implies a risk of additional mining sector job losses in the next several quarters." The MCSA also highlighted that mining sector employment was 6% higher in the first quarter than in the fourth quarter of 2019, before Covid-19-related lockdowns were implemented, meaning that employment in the sector was holding up well. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. See too, Mining has shed around 130,000 jobs in 30 years, says Minerals Council SA, at SABC News Exxaro's Nombasa Tsengwa elected president of the Minerals Council SA Fin24 reports that Nombasa Tsengwa, CEO of Exxaro Resources, has been elected as president of the Minerals Council SA (MCSA). Tsengwa replaced Nolitha Fakude, chair of Anglo American SA and the first woman president of the MCSA, who has stepped down after three years in the role. Mpumi Zikalala, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore and Richard Stewart, chief regional officer of Sibanye-Stillwater, have been newly elected as vice presidents. Paul Dunne, CEO of Northam Platinum, and Themba Mkhwanazi, Anglo American Africa and Australia regional director, were re-elected as vice presidents. Peter Steenkamp, CEO of Harmony Gold, has stepped down as vice president, a role he held since June 2021. The MCSA, previously called the Chamber of Mines, held its 134th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday. CEO of the Minerals Council, Mzila Mthenjane, welcomed Tsengwa, Stewart and Zikalala in their new roles, while thanking Fakude and Steenkamp for their exemplary leadership "as we reinforced the Minerals Council's brand as a trusted partner for positive change during the difficult past three years when the mining industry constructively and collaboratively addressed the many challenges facing our sector," he said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24 Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Unions must operate within their 'defined scope', Constitutional Court rules TimesLIVE reports that a recent landmark Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling states that a trade union cannot act beyond the powers conferred upon it by its constitution. The court ruled last week against the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) by affirming that a trade union cannot represent employees who fell outside its constitutionally defined membership scope. Advocate Tertius Wessels, legal director at Strata-g Labour Solutions, commented that the case involving Afgri Animal Feeds had significant implications for the country's labour landscape. “The integrity of union representation hinges on adherence to constitutional boundaries; deviation undermines the very structure of labour relations,” the ConCourt indicated in its judgment. The court noted that while section 200 of the Labour Relations Act granted broad representation rights, these did not override the specific limitations outlined in a union's constitution. Wessels said the ruling underscored that unions must operate within their defined scope to maintain their legal standing and legitimacy. “The decision has broad implications, highlighting the delicate balance between fair representation and the necessity for unions to respect their foundational charters,” he noted. This ruling not only affected Numsa but also served as a guideline for other unions navigating similar disputes, Wessels pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE
Food prices in June take a turn for the better BusinessTech reports that the latest household affordability index from the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) shows that food prices in the country have taken a significant turn for the better, and year-on-year inflation has eased. The group’s index, based on a basket of 44 essential foods most commonly bought by the majority of households in SA, showed a 1.5% decline in prices month-on-month, with year-on-year prices up only 3.9% – well below headline inflation. In June 2024, the average cost of the Household Food Basket was recorded at R5,252.77. The average cost decreased by R77.53 (-1.5%) from R5,330.30 in May 2024. Year-on-year, the average cost was up by R196.32 (3.9%) from R5,056.45 in June 2023. Of the 44 food items carried in the basket, 30 saw prices decline in June 2024, while 14 saw prices climb between May and June 2024. Between June 2023 and June 2024, the inverse was true, namely 13 food prices came down, one stayed the same, and 30 others saw prices climb. Price pressure is still being felt in key food categories like rice, sugar and sugar beans, where prices are still in the double-digits owing to crop pressures globally. Egg prices are also still high, as the market is still settling from pressures seen at the end of last year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech. Lees ook, Tee, uie en sop duurder in Junie, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Severe staff shortages at National Lotteries Commission affecting grant funding Fin24 reports that severe staff shortages at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) have delayed its approvals of grant funding for nonprofit organisations (NPOs). According to the commission, a shortage of distributing agency members has "strained" its operations, causing lengthy grant application processes and a delay in funding payments for existing NPOs or other projects. Distributing agents are responsible for considering and evaluating funding applications to determine which causes are eligible. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition is responsible for the appointment of agency members. Usually, the minister and the NLC board will determine how many agency members are appointed, but the number of appointments cannot exceed nine for each category, such as charities, arts, culture and national heritage, and sports and recreation. Currently, the commission only employs three distributing agents. Two more agency members are expected to start at the beginning of July. With former minister Ebrahim Patel vacating his position and coalition government discussions under way, the new minister will be responsible for appointing additional agency members. The NLC said legislation granting the department the responsibility to appoint agency members was a big part of the problem. However, the commission is expected to engage with the department to speed up the search for new employees. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at Fin24
SA salaries recovered slightly year-on-year in May 2024, but were down on February and March levels The Citizen reports the average nominal salary in May 2024 showed a partial recovery to once again beat levels from a year ago thanks to the business environment improving meaningfully compared to 2023. BankservAfrica’s Shergeran Naidoo reported that the nominal take-home pay, as measured by the BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI), reached R15,888 in May, showing a 10% improvement on the levels from a year ago. However, salaries were still slightly below February and March levels. In real terms, salaries adjusted for inflation tracked slightly higher at R14,015 in May, or 4.5% up on year-ago levels. Economist Elize Kruger commented: “Comparing the average nominal BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index for the five months to May 2024 to the corresponding period in 2023 shows a 6.8% increase and a 1.4% growth in real terms. If it is sustained throughout the year, 2024 could turn out to be a notably better year for salaries, unlike 2023, when the average nominal BTPI increased by only 1.2%.” She said the trends emerging from the BankservAfrica dataset were consistent with the SA Reserve Bank’s forecast of an average salary increase of 6.1% for 2024 compared to an estimated 3.9% increase for 2023 for formal non-agricultural workers. Andrew Levy & Associates also flagged a higher collective wage settlement level for 2024 – between 6.5% and 7.2% – compared to the actual average wage settlement rate in collective bargaining agreements of 6.3% in 2023 and 6.0% in 2022. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen. See too, Salaries decrease in South Africa: No relief in sight for workers, at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Citrus Academy launches targeted skills training programme Engineering News reports that the Citrus Academy has introduced a new Citrus SuperPower programme with which it aims to develop the skills and knowledge of supervisors, open new growth and progression opportunities and give workers the opportunity to become supervisors. The nonprofit training organisation was established by the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) to enable human resource development in the industry. The SuperPower programme was launched with a pilot event in Centurion, Gauteng, but will be rolled out to the rest of SA this year. Citrus Academy engagement manager Sam Louw pointed out that there was a need for quality supervisor training in the citrus workplace, which the SuperPower programme aimed to address to ensure the industry continued to have top talent running the country’s world-class citrus resources. The CGA aims to export 260-million 15 kg cartons of citrus by 2032, but to achieve that goal, the industry needs growth of skills to ensure operational efficiency and maintain high levels of quality. “The truth is, without quality skills, there can be no sustainable growth in agriculture,” commented Citrus Academy GM Jacomien de Klerk. The programme has two components: one focusing on supervisory skills and one targeted at improving communication and numeracy for workers to progress in the workplace. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
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