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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related reports.
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Contracts of thousands of Gauteng EPWP ‘green army’ workers, traffic wardens have not expired, says Lesufi TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi is adamant that thousands of expanded public works programme (EPWP) “green army” workers remain employed despite a letter sent to participants informing them that their contracts come to an end this week. Lesufi on Wednesday shared a picture of the letter, signed under the name of acting head of the agriculture, rural development and environment department in Gauteng, Khulekani Mase, informing EPWP employees about the end of their contracts. Lesufi claimed the letter was written without his knowledge. “The letter was written without my consent or approval. The intentions are clear: to undermine the authority of the seventh administration,” he said. The green army was launched last May under the EPWP and focused on waste management and food security in Gauteng as part of Lesufi's job drive. It employed more than 6,000 people. In a series of tweets, Lesufi addressed the confusion surrounding the EPWP contracts as well as those of Gauteng traffic wardens. “Going nowhere! There’s confusion about the EPWP green army contracts and the continued employment of the Gauteng traffic wardens. The EPWP green army are mandated to clean our environment and waste removal while the Gauteng traffic wardens are protecting us against crime,” he tweeted. Social media users expressed concern about Lesufi's leadership, urging him to take control of his departments: Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Modiegi Mashamaite at TimesLIVE Lees ook, Nasi Ispani-werwingsprogram gaan voort – Lesufi, by Maroela Media
Metrobus driver hailed a hero in 'hit' that claimed bank employee's life News24 reports that a Gauteng bus driver, with 15 years of experience, has been hailed a hero for driving 500m to get commuters to safety after a passenger was brazenly shot and killed in a suspected hit on Wednesday. The driver, whose identity has been withheld, was lauded for his quick thinking by Bongani Radebe, acting MD of Metrobus, who said he potentially saved 15 lives. Radebe indicated that, after stopping the bus away from the murder scene, the driver asked commuters to disembark and run for safety. "He then drove back to the scene and parked near the fatally wounded female commuter." Radebe said the driver and commuters were left traumatised. The shooter boarded the bus at around 05:50, claiming he was going to Parktown. "The gunman sat near the driver. As the vehicle was about to stop to pick up three other commuters, the man cocked a gun, pointed at the driver, and [then turned to the boarding passengers and] fired two shots at the ladies who were about to enter the bus. The deceased and another lady ran behind the bus. They fell. The shooter targeted [the victim] and shot her in the face as she was on the ground. She was later certified dead on the scene," said Radebe. He added: The driver's reaction was "brilliant. His instinct of protecting human lives kicked in. He kept calm. The gun was also pointed at him as the shooter was leaving the bus.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24. Read too, Driver recalls man who shot woman had boarded bus the previous day, at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Community protest at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto over unfulfilled job promises The Citizen reports that the entrance of Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani, Soweto, was blocked by burning debris on Tuesday morning as a result of a community volunteer protest outside the hospital gates over allegedly unfulfilled promises. The protesters were allegedly community members who claimed that there had been a history of corruption and nepotism within the hospital in respect of jobs. “Today the community is protesting, and the reason being that some of the community members were brought to Bheki Mlangeni Hospital to come and work on the basis that they were going to be employed,” said one of the community members. Another protester claimed they were promised permanent positions. The protesters claimed that they were brought there by the local ward councillor, Dumisani Modladlaba, who, however, disputed the allegations of nepotism and corruption and said the volunteers were never promised permanent positions. The protest eventually ended by Thursday afternoon, with the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) assuring the public that action had been taken. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said that representatives from the DOH met with the volunteers, who had an arrangement with Modladlaba who allegedly introduced them to the hospital, to hear their grievances, including allegations regarding unfulfilled promises. “Following a constructive engagement with the protestors, the GDoH has committed to investigating the matter and addressing all allegations raised,” the department said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Citizen
'Tangible excitement' at Amplats ahead of expected Anglo spinoff, claims CEO Fin24 reports that there is said to be "tangible excitement" at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) as the process to demerge the company from the Anglo American group has kicked off. Addressing the London Indaba on Wednesday, CEO Craig Miller said Amplats employees were excited about "what the future holds" for the company once it was unbundled. The plan to spin out Amplats came just last month amid BHP's subsequently failed takeover proposal for Anglo American – without Amplats and Kumba Iron Ore – which prompted the group to hasten the launch of its own restructuring plan. "It's an exciting prospect for us as a business, as it means that we, Anglo American Platinum, will continue to be listed with a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and headquartered in South Africa with operations in both South Africa and Zimbabwe, two countries we're strongly committed to," said Miller, who took up the job of CEO in October last year. "And this demerger will enable us to determine our own priorities and our own future to deliver on what we see as the company's full potential. It is a company with excellent prospects and a successful long-term track record," he added. This positive sentiment is also shared by some analysts, who noted that, historically, a large portion of cash flows from the platinum business have been diverted by Anglo into other ventures. Practically speaking, the demerger will see all existing Anglo American shareholders become direct shareholders in an independent Amplats. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24 Duff Scott Hospital, previously owned by Buffels mine, in the sick bay Financial Mail reports that plundering by zama zama miners and dysfunctional governance in the North West’s Department of Health (NWDOH) have kept a fully functional 295-bed hospital standing idle. The Duff Scott Hospital, 12km from Klerksdorp in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality, was once owned by Buffels mine but is now privately owned. It has three operating theatres and could provide work for many junior doctors, nurses and health-care workers, according to new manager Anissia Botha, who says she has paid “millions” in security and for repairs. The NWDOH granted the hospital an operating licence in 2016, subject to it becoming operational within six months, but the situation remains deadlocked with provincial authorities not responding to Botha’s letters. According to Botha, it was “practically impossible” to meet the six-month deadline, but the provincial government has not responded to attempts to negotiate. For protection against zama zamas the hospital had to bring in security at R1.2m a year. The hospital was bought at an auction after two Anglo mines closed down in 2016. It was used by the provincial health department for six months during Covid to treat 100 patients. Botha indicated that a three-year hospital operating licence would enable her to get a full complement of staff in place “to service patients optimally and alleviate the problems related to the access to health care in the Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartbeesfontein area. It would also provide a base of operations for newly qualified doctors.” The NWDOH advised that the Duff Scott Hospital’s operating licence application was scheduled for adjudication on 12 July. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Bateman at Financial Mail (subscriber access only)
Big petrol, diesel and paraffin price cuts on the cards in July The Citizen reports that according to unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), motorists are likely to pay at least R1 less for petrol from July, while diesel and illuminating paraffin prices are likely to drop by around 30cents/l and 25c/l respectively. The Automobile Association (AA) said the fuel price drop would bring much-needed relief to “embattled consumers” when the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) officially adjusts prices for July next week. The adjusted fuel price for July comes into effect next Wednesday. A decrease in petrol prices in July will mark the first time this year that prices have fallen in two consecutive months. AA spokesperson Layton Beard commented: “Lower fuel prices will especially benefit South Africans with vehicles who will save a little on their monthly transport budgets. Consumers generally will also benefit as input costs won’t be negatively impacted and prices at the till are, therefore, unlikely to increase.” The AA added that if the expected decreases were realised, fuel pricing would be pushed back in line with pricing last seen in December 2023 when a litre of ULP95, for instance, was R23.25 inland. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA workers among the world’s most bullish about positive aspects of generative AI Fin24 reports that SA workers are among the world’s most bullish about the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and, by international standards, have expressed high confidence and low anxiety about the disruptive technology. This is based on data from a worldwide Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey about generative AI in the workplace. The survey revealed that respondents in global south countries were more optimistic about generative AI, while workers in the global north were generally more circumspect. Workers regularly using generative AI tools reported huge increases in their productivity, but were also the most convinced that their jobs might not exist in the next decade. Over 13,000 people in a host of different countries were interviewed for the report. The respondents represented a diverse range of ages, seniority, industries, and company size. South African workers, together with other developing nations, expressed a more positive sentiment toward generative AI than many more developed nations. In a poll, 46% of South African respondents expressed significant positive sentiment regarding their confidence in generative AI. This placed SA behind India, Brazil, the Middle East, and Nigeria on the ranking. Partly this reflected the optimism of youth. Respondents from Japan, the US, Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands had the most negative sentiment in the study, with the highest "anxiety" rating in the study. Only 17% of South Africans ranked their sentiment on generative AI in the most negative categories. Around 58% of the survey respondents across the world who use generative AI tools said that the technology was saving them more than five hours in an average work week. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by William Brederode at Fin24
More victims of alleged certificate fraud at Tlokwe fire brigade training centre come forward Potchefstroom Herald reports that in a shocking expose, the Tlokwe City Council Fire Brigade Services Training Centre has been revealed to be embroiled in a widespread scandal involving alleged fraud. The allegations, brought to light by numerous victims, depict a disturbing pattern of deceit and dashed hopes among aspiring firefighters. Daddy Claasen Mogapi, a resident in Ikageng, Potchefstroom, shared his disillusionment with the training center, stating: “We enrolled in firefighting courses with hopes of better prospects amidst high unemployment, only to find our certifications in question.” Lerato Maleke lamented: “Certificates were issued prematurely, casting doubt on the integrity of the entire training program.” Abel Nazo compiled a list of over 300 affected students and indicated: “Many have given up on firefighting careers or switched to ambulance services due to the inability to obtain SAESI certification.” Responding to these accusations, the municipality has committed to a thorough investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the alleged misconduct. Lulu Ferreira, Administrative Officer at SAESI (SA Emergency Services Institute), confirmed the suspension of Tlokwe’s accreditation in 2016 due to critical deficiencies found during an accreditation visit. “No training or certification of accredited courses was permitted,” Ferreira stated, underscoring the regulatory body’s role in safeguarding educational standards. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jade Sateria at Potchefstroom Herald
JJ Tabane clears rumours of his suspension by eNCA and says he is on ‘sick leave’ TimesLIVE reports that journalist JJ Tabane has cleared the air on speculation that he has been suspended by broadcasting channel eNCA after his ‘Power to Truth’ show was not aired this week. The broadcaster announced on social media that Tabane's show would not be broadcast but did not stipulate the reason. This sparked debate among hundreds of fans, with many speculating Tabane was in trouble with eNCA after his rant on last week's show about the government of national unity (GNU). What Tabane said on the show included: “The DA hates anything that has to do with transforming this economy so that it can benefit blacks. They want to give black people vouchers. Good luck to the ANC. As Steve Biko said, 'black man, you're on your own'.” On Thursday, Tabane said he was on sick leave. “I am on sick leave and will be back towards the end of July,” he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Innocentia Nkadimeng at TimesLIVE
Disciplinary hearing against Safa technical director Walter Steenbok postponed to next month TimesLIVE reports that the disciplinary committee hearing against SA Football Association (Safa) technical director (TD) Walter Steenbok, which was to have sat from Tuesday, has been postponed to next month. Steenbok has been charged by Safa for “gross mismanagement, gross negligence, gross dereliction of duties, gross insubordination and gross insolence”. He has also been charged with breaching Safa’s statutes and internal policies and procedures. Steenbok was due to have stated his case regarding allegations of a hostile relationship with Safa’s head of women's football Romaney Pinnock and insulting national executive committee (NEC) member David Molwantwa. Pinnock confirmed on Thursday she was informed the hearing was postponed but did not have the date when or further details. Among the allegations Steenbok faces, are that he “failed and/or neglected and/or refused to provide Pinnock with any strategic direction/guidance, targets, ways of working, schedules or legacy documents, to assist her in tendering her services to Safa and meeting her contractual KPAs”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sazi Hadebe at TimesLIVE
Mthatha man sentenced to ‘lenient’ suspended five year sentence after pocketing R120,000 as fake Eskom contractor News24 reports that a man accused of tampering with Eskom infrastructure and illegally connecting households to its electricity supply has been slapped with a suspended five-year prison sentence. Additionally, a company for which he was previously a consultant has been ordered to pay a R10,000 fine. On Wednesday, the Mthatha Specialised Criminal Court sentenced John Tazvivinga for falsely claiming to be an Eskom contractor to residents of Marhambeni in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. His prison sentence will remain suspended, provided Tazvivinga does not commit a similar offence during the suspension period. In a statement, Eskom said Tazvivinga, formerly a consultant for Inkitha Royal Empire Construction, had tampered with infrastructure in order to connect households illegally between January and April 2016, causing Eskom a loss of some R231,000. Under the pretense that he was an Eskom contractor, Tazvivinga had been hired by Marhambeni residents to connect electricity. He pocketed some R120,000. Eskom's general manager for security, Botse Skihwitshi, welcomed the court's finding, but added: “While the sentence may not be as severe as Eskom had hoped, it serves as a reminder to potential criminals contemplating tampering with critical infrastructure and stealing electricity, could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 30 years." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Handling of sexual harassment complaints rocks award-winning mental health and wellness company News24 reports that Lyra Southern Africa, a prominent provider of employee mental health services and known for its women empowerment accolades, is facing backlash for its handling of sexual harassment complaints. Recently lauded as the Top Women Business in Health and Pharmaceutical 2023 at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards, the company's reputation has been knocked by at least one incident of sexual assault in the workplace. One of the company’s employees in its Sandton office, Kevin Cupido, was found guilty by the Randburg Magistrate's Court of sexually assaulting a female colleague at work in 2021. Despite his conviction in May, he apparently remains employed at the company. His sentencing has been postponed until August. The complainant, a former female employee, said Cupido was a "very flirtatious guy". During a lunch break and in front of another colleague, Cupido hugged her tightly, pressing her against him and lifting her off the ground. Criminal charges were laid against him and management offered the victim counselling and encouraged her to open a case. But, it did not take disciplinary steps against Cupido. He charged with sexual assault and convicted. In December 2019 in another matter, an employee claimed she was raped after her drink was spiked at a company function. A rape case was opened in January 2020 and it was taken to court, but not enrolled. According to the woman concerned, the company fired her after the incident for allegedly "making false accusations of sexual harassment against fellow employees". She took her case to the CCMA, which ultimately dismissed it. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24
Hospitality sector cruises back to pre-pandemic levels, at Financial Mail (subscriber access only) Young engineers on Sanral project wants to leave a lasting legacy, at News24 Solidariteit vra KVBA-toesig oor Media24-proses, by Maroela Media Welcome confirmation about trade union membership requirements, at Moneyweb Former Pick n Pay CEO Pieter Boone gets R16m golden handshake after failed strategy, at BusinessLive Another three join ever-expanding group of accused in Stanfield ‘construction mafia’ case, at News24
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