In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related reports.
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UIF to collaborate with various government entities on job creation initiative Engineering News reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) is spearheading an initiative to combat unemployment in SA and, as part of this initiative, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is planning to collaborate with various government entities. According to the DEL, these partnerships will be aimed at creating more than 234,000 new job opportunities and, over the next three years, these opportunities will provide support to small, medium-sized and microenterprises. Organisations, including the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the National Youth Development Agency, the National Empowerment Fund and the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, are expected to receive more than R7.7-billion from the UIF to implement the interventions. This was revealed by UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping during an Employment and Labour Ministerial meeting with UIF management, in Pretoria, on 16 July. During the meeting, the UIF provided a comprehensive briefing to DEL Minister Nomakhosazana Meth. The briefing encompassed key aspects such as the UIF’s mandate, programmes, performance, financial standing, business processes and employment creation interventions. More information about the job creation partnerships will be disclosed during the official launches, which are expected to take place in the current financial year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Staff evacuated as fire at Sappi Mill in KZN sets off tanker explosion, no injuries reported Fin24 reports that a fire broke out at the Sappi Saiccor Mill in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), on Wednesday, leading to the explosion of a liquid oxygen truck. Sappi Southern Africa said in a statement it safely evacuated all personnel and contractors on site with no injuries reported. "The onsite firefighting team of the Saiccor Mill responded immediately to the ensuing fire, assisted shortly thereafter by Durban Metro Fire and Emergency Services. The fire was rapidly brought under control and ultimately extinguished," the statement said. The company assured the members of the surrounding community that the fire had been extinguished and that there was no danger with regards to any fumes from the liquid oxygen content. "We express our sincere gratitude to the members of the metro services and to the quick reactions of our in-house teams for containing the fire rapidly and safely," Sappi added. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24. See too, Sappi mill staff evacuated after tanker explosion at Umkomaas factory, at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Uasa and Petra Diamonds sign five-year wage agreement for Cullinan mine Mining Weekly reports that trade union Uasa has signed a five-year wage agreement with the management of the Cullinan mine, which is owned by London-listed Petra Diamonds. The agreement is effective from 1 July this year to 1 July 2028, stipulating a 5.5% or consumer price inflation (CPI) increase for entry level, or C Lower, employees for the first three years and a 6% increase in years four and five. C Upper employees will receive a 5% or CPI increase every year in the first three years of the agreement, and a 5.25% or CPI increase in years four and five. The company’s pension fund contribution for C Upper employees will increase by 0.5% from 7.5% to 8% for the duration of the agreement. Uasa welcomes the agreement with Petra, saying collective bargaining had prevailed. “The mining industry remains the backbone of South Africa, and we believe that such a positive increase will positively contribute to the livelihood and wellbeing of our members and all workers employed in the organisation,” the union indicated. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Department of Justice staff to pocket R4.2bn in cost-of-living adjustment BusinessLive reports that the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development has allocated R4.2bn from its budget of R25.1bn for 2024/25 to “cost of employment” adjustments to address the cost of living for staff. Delivering the department’s budget vote speech on Wednesday, Minister Thembi Nkadimeng, said the R25.1bn budget would support critical operations across the department, including court services, state legal services, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and auxiliary and associated services. Out of the budget, R628m has been earmarked for implementing the crucial recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and the Zondo commission, “ensuring we continue to enhance our justice system’s integrity and effectiveness”. Nkadimeng indicated: “In the new financial year, the department received a baseline increase of R1.321bn on the compensation of employees to fund the carry-through costs for the cost-of-living adjustment. This adjustment will relieve financial pressure on the department’s compensation of employees budget in the current financial year, as there was no additional budget allocation previously provided to fund the same.” She added that a budget reduction of R1.586bn had been implemented as part of National Treasury’s drive to manage state debt. The budget cut was criticised by opposition parties who argued it would hamper the dispensation of justice in the sector. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive
Schreiber wants to fix ‘hostile’ skilled worker visa regime Bloomberg reports that according to the new Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Leon Schreiber, SA must fix a dysfunctional work permit system or sacrifice economic growth. He has pledged to resolve a crisis that employers say limits investment. A byzantine application process that can extend beyond a year has contributed to a backlog of hundreds of thousands of applications, while miring the DHA in lawsuits from persons demanding rulings on their submissions. A German-South African business association, which represents companies including Volkswagen AG, has said the chaos threatens operations that support 100,000 jobs. One of the minister’s priorities includes adopting a points system to allow skilled workers to take up employment based on their qualifications, job offers and income level. Another is resolving confusion around a so-called nomad visa, which is designed to cater to remote workers who want to base themselves in SA. It became law earlier this year but has frustrated potential applicants because the requirements are unclear. "The points based system is, I think, fundamental to overhauling the whole system because it’ll do away with these different requirements for different categories. It will streamline that whole process," Schreiber opined. He also said repairing "the hostile" relationship between Home Affairs and permit applicants was key to turning the department into "an economic enabler" focused on job creation. In addition to the work permit problem, Schreiber said he would focus on complaints about getting tourist visas, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Antony Sguazzin at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
New Basic Education Minister Gwarube to ask Ramaphosa to send BELA Bill back to Parliament News24 reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Siviwe Gwarube will be asking President Cyril Ramaphosa to send the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill back to Parliament for review. Gwarube said she would "advise" Ramaphosa, "whom I will be engaging on this matter", to refer the BELA Bill back to the National Assembly "to fix those parts which have been rejected by the education sector". The bill was passed by 223 votes against 78 in the National Assembly on 17 May and is awaiting Ramaphosa's signature to be signed into law. It was vehemently opposed by the DA, with its former spokesperson on basic education, Baxolile Nodada, labelling it "draconian". In his view, it granted disproportionate decision-making power to provincial education departments, "diminishing the influence of school governing bodies and local communities in determining language and admission policies". DA federal chairperson Helen Zille also reportedly said that the bill "is a non-negotiable" and "the right of school governing bodies to determine the language policy of a school is a red line for us". The BELA Bill makes Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age, criminalises parents who don't ensure their children are in school, and requires a delegated official to conduct a pre-registration site visit when parents apply to have their children home-schooled. Gwarube did not want to be drawn into what aspects of the bill she found problematic, saying she did not want to dwell on that "because Parliament has done the process of public hearings". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24. Lees ook, Hokaai met Bela, vra nuwe onderwysminister, by Maroela Media Solidarity supports Basic Education Minister Gwarube’s call to have BELA Bill reviewed Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday gave its support to the new Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s stated intention to refer the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA) back to the National Assembly (NA) as soon as possible. According to Johnell Prinsloo, education researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), Gwarube, who is a Democratic Alliance (DA) MP, has since her appointment as DBE Minister shown a willingness to try to convince President Ramaphosa to amend parts of the Amendment Bill before he finally signs it. The Amendment Bill was approved by the National Assembly on 17 May, but still awaits to be signed into law by the President. In a statement, Solidarity indicated: “For a long time, the reprehensible aims of the BELA clauses specifically dealing with language and admission policy have been rejected in the strongest ways by Solidarity as being an attack on schools’ independence – and specifically also on Afrikaans education.” Prinsloo commented: “The idea that, for the sake of greater state control, communities and school governing bodies be stripped of their rights to decide about language and admission themselves is unacceptable. During public participation South Africans have also expressed similar sentiments. Yet, their input was flatly rejected by the ANC government.” Read Solidarity’s full press statement on this matter at Politicsweb
Eastern Cape principal in hot water after learners, aged 6 and 9, beaten for allegedly stealing from school IOL News reports that an Eastern Cape primary school principal has been accused of assaulting two minor children after they allegedly stole items from the school during the July holidays. According to Mali Mtima, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Education, a dual investigation is under way by local police and the department’s internal structures following the incident involving the eQuleni Junior Primary School principal. The children, aged six and nine-years-old, are accused of stealing items from the school, including reams of A4 paper, a heater, a bin and a microwave. The learners are in Grade 1 and Grade 3. Mtima said the department was informed after police arrived at the school to arrest the principal. “We are meeting with school management, members of the School Governing Body, department officials as well as police and the local Community Policing Forum to establish the facts around this matter. Internal processes are also under way so not to interrupt learning at the school,” Mtima indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Se-Anne Rall at IOL News Arrested Limpopo teacher found with drugs, unlicensed firearm and ammunition The Citizen reports that a Limpopo man believed to be a teacher was arrested on Tuesday after police responded to a drug-related tip-off. Officers in the Capricorn District were patrolling hotspots on 16 July when they received information about drugs being sold from a VW Polo in the Polokwane CBD. Police intercepted the 33-year-old shortly after 1 pm and found the man in possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and drugs with an estimated value of R20,000. “Such educators who are in drugs cannot be entrusted with the education of our children. We call for the department to take harsh measures and remove such from the system and its payroll,” provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe remarked. Police investigations are continuing and the man is due to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court this week. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Jarryd Westerdale at The Citizen Temporary maths teacher appointed at Makhanda school after days of protest by learners GroundUp reports that the Eastern Cape Department of Education on Wednesday appointed a temporary teacher to teach mathematics at Mary Waters Secondary School in Makhanda, after days of protests by learners. The school has about 1,200 learners, with an average of 45 learners in some classes. Learners have been gathering at the school gates since Monday, demanding a maths teacher in the senior grades. They claimed that grades 10 to 12 have not had a maths teacher since June and they indicated their intention to continue protesting until a permanent teacher was appointed. One matric learner said: “We are stressed because it is the middle of the year, and we don’t know if this vacant position will be filled or not. The teacher they called (on Wednesday) is not permanent.” Another learner added: “In 2022, we had this problem of teacher shortages, and the posts are not filled with permanent teachers. We know that this teacher is going to leave again in a few days.” Eastern Cape education department spokesperson Mali Mtima confirmed that a teacher had been appointed and would start on Wednesday. He said the permanent post would be filled by the end of the month. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Dyongman at GroundUp
More than 40% of retirement funds have not yet submitted rule changes to allow for ‘two-pot’ system Moneyweb reports that the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is still waiting for more than 350 retirement funds to submit their respective rule amendments that will allow them to implement the two-pot retirement system. This was reported at a media briefing by Zareena Camroodien, head of fund governance and trustee conduct at the FSCA. She advised that the FSCA must consider, approve, and register the amendments of every single fund before the respective fund would be allowed to consider claims from its members who wanted to access money from their savings pots from September. There are currently 867 active retirement funds in SA, and the authority has so far received the rule amendments of 500 funds. The two-pot system comes into effect at the beginning of September, allowing members of retirement funds access to one third of their pension while two thirds will be preserved for retirement. The FSCA had requested funds to submit their rule amendments by no later than 15 July, but has extended the deadline to 31 July. Camroodien cautioned that any fund that tried to submit its fund amendments after the new expiry date would have to abide by the “normal service level commitments”. She added: “You can’t expect to come mid-August or end-August and say: ‘Please register our rule amendments.’ And that is going to mean that your funds aren’t going to be ready for the two-pot implementation.” Besides concerns over the rule amendment submissions, the industry is also waiting for President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign the Pension Funds Amendment Bill into law. The signing of the Bill will be critical because only then can the FSCA start registering the various funds’ rule amendments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liesl Peyper at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
GNU partners still struggling with NHI Act, but DA hopes issues can be ironed out within Cabinet News24 reports that according to Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen, the 11 political parties in the government of national unity (GNU) have not yet found common ground on how to proceed with the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. The opposition party leader, who is now also the agriculture minister, was nevertheless upbeat on Wednesday about the GNU, but saying that there remained some sticking points around which the 11 parties could not agree, one of which was the NHI. He indicated: "I would say this, there's no single party that is part of the GNU that does not fundamentally believe we have to have universal access to basic health care and that we have to do something to improve the quality of care for every South African citizen, but particularly to ensure that nobody is deprived of good medical assistance based on their income." Steenhuisen went on to explain: "I think where there are differences is on the funding model. I think around the issue of choice and where are we going to be making a very strong pitch that instead of us tying up the NHI with decades of constitutional challenges and the like, are there ways that we could look at that particular bill to achieve the outcomes that I believe we all want – universal access to basic health care in a way that doesn't deprive people simply because they can't afford it." In Steenhuisen’s view, the NHI Act could be tweaked as there were “some areas where the bill can be amended or changed or the approach and regulations can be changed to reintroduce choice to treat the private sector as a partner in fixing the public healthcare sector." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24. Lees ook, Só voel RNE oor NGV, by Maroela Media
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