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 roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that recently appeared.
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SANDF generals live it up in luxury homes while decrepit bases can't keep the lights on City Press reports that although they earn enormous salaries of nearly R2 million per year, the military’s top generals do not pay a cent for water and electricity because taxpayers pick up that tab. According to Rapport, some of the generals’ water and electricity bills amount to more than R20,000 per month. For a mere R1,600 per month, the generals can live in luxurious houses in prestigious neighbourhoods such as Waterkloof and that too is paid by the taxpayers. Moreover, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) pays huge amounts to refurbish the generals’ properties, which are guarded by soldiers. Renovation and maintenance work is often handled by the army’s own craftsmen, although the houses are rented through the department of public works. When load shedding was still in effect, each general had a military generator at his home. The generals’ royal treatment is increasingly viewed with resentment by the rest of the soldiers – especially since SA’s forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently suffering from a lack of equipment, proper accommodation and medical facilities. Pikkie Greeff of the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) commented: “Soldiers are growing more disillusioned because the generals don’t care about the troops at ground level.” Greeff had to obtain an urgent high court order last month to restore the electricity at 4 SA Infantry Battalion in Middelburg, where the offices and residences had been without power for nearly two weeks. "There are army houses where the geysers don’t work. The army’s attitude is that the soldiers can fix them themselves. We’re compiling a list of similar defects and then we’re going to fight the case in court, based on the provisions of the occupational health legislation. Soldiers just want to do their jobs in acceptable conditions,” said Greeff. According to the latest defence force annual report up to March 2023, there are a total of 15 generals at salary levels 15 and 16. They fall into the ranks of lieutenant-general and general – the equivalents of deputy director-general and director-general in the rest of the civil service. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at City Press (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Jy dok op vir generaal se Superman-kamer, by Netwerk24 (toegang slegs vir intekenare)
Pietermaritzburg firefighter rushed to hospital after sustaining chemical burns SABC News reports that a firefighter was rushed to hospital after sustaining chemical burns while battling a blaze that engulfed several buildings in Pietermaritzburg. It is believed that the fire started at a leather shoe manufacturing factory and spread to other buildings. According to Msunduzi Fire Services District Commander, Mbulelo Dlamini, the fire was contained. View a news video for more on this story at SABC News Parolee rearrested over faeces attack on healthcare worker at Free State clinic News24 reports that a disgruntled patient who reportedly poured a bucket of faeces over a healthcare worker at Thabong Clinic in the Free State has been arrested for violating his parole conditions. Provincial health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi reported that the man went to the clinic and was not helped as speedily as he had hoped. The patient left but returned the next day with a bucket of faeces, which he poured over a healthcare worker. "The perpetrator bragged and posted the aftermath of his violent and demeaning attack on Facebook," Mvambi said. Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi visited the clinic last week to interact with healthcare workers. They applied for a protection order against the perpetrator, and that was granted. Mvambi advised that the Department of Correctional Services had since identified the perpetrator as a parolee who had violated his parole by engaging in violence. He was taken to prison for breach of his parole conditions and will appear in court on 7 August. All healthcare workers at Thabong Clinic underwent trauma debriefing. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 Nehawu calls on North West health department to temporarily close Brits Mortuary over poor hygiene SABC News reports that the National Education, health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in the North West has called on the provincial health department to temporarily close the Brits Forensic Pathology Mortuary in the Madibeng Local Municipality. The union claims the mortuary’s hygiene standards are not up to scratch. Workers at the mortuary embarked on a protest last week. They were demanding compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to be provided. “The area is very stinking, workers are expected to work in a stinking working environment. There was no compliance as far as Occupational Health and Safety measures are concerned. And our members who are employees of the Department of Health in British Forensic Pathology were put in severe and unconducive working environment where the department is allowing more than 120 corpses in that forensic pathology,” the union’s provincial secretary, Ntombizodwa Moepeng explained. The department’s spokesperson, Lucas Mothibedi responded: “MEC Sello Lehari has directed that some bodies be referred or transferred to other mortuaries as a temporary solution. Deep cleaning has already been done to deal with the bad odor that was coming from the mortuary. We have agreed with the leadership of Nehawu and some workers who were protesting that the mortuary should be allowed to operate as the discussions and negotiations are at an advanced stage.” Read the original of the report in the above regard by Zebilon Maine at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Desperate former Lily Mine workers turn to illegal mining Sunday World reports that in the shadow of tragedy and economic despair, former workers at Lily Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga, have turned to illegal mining. The mine’s closure, precipitated by the catastrophic sink-hole on 5 February 2016 that claimed the lives of Solomon Nyerende, Yvonne Mnisi, and Pretty Nkambule, left a void in the community’s livelihood. The three workers perished when their lamp room was trapped 80m below the surface, amid the chaos that saw 87 of their colleagues rescued. The incident, which transitioned from a rescue operation to a retrieval mission, cast a long shadow over the lives of the surviving miners, who were thrust into unemployment and poverty. With desperation as their motivator, these men have turned to illegal mining, despite the inherent dangers. “We were trained and provided our labour honestly. But after the 2016 incident and the mine’s closure, we were left destitute. It’s excruciating to transform from a breadwinner to a beggar overnight,” said one miner. Their operation is as gruelling as it is dangerous. It takes an entire day to reach the mine’s depths, where they remain for days on end to extract gold. The miners disclosed that they sell their finds to Zimbabweans with connections to gold traders shielded by people with political and business interests. The miners also face constant threats from security guards and police, who frequently arrest illegal miners. In other parts of Mpumalanga, zama zamas scour the Barberton Greenstone Belt and old mining towns such as Pilgrim’s Rest, Deinjie and Sabie for leftover gold. Recently, residents of Pilgrim’s Rest took to the streets to protest against the heavily armed zama zamas. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshwarelo Mogakane at Sunday World Other posting(s) relating to illegal mining
Outrage over salary increases for Joburg city managers amid financial woes The Citizen reports that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is struggling with service delivery and financial problems, but it has granted its City Manager Floyd Brink and other senior managers a 3.3% salary increase. Currently, Brink is one of the highest-earning city managers in the country. He earns around R3.5 million while other senior managers earn between R2.2 million and R3.4 million per annum. These top salaries come with car allowances, medical aid, pension, and cell phone allowances. Some of the managers enjoy the privilege of VIP protection by members of the Joburg Metro Police (JMPD). Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Nicole Rahn reported that the council approved the increases at a meeting last week. “The worst of it all is that the people who will now benefit from these increases are the very same people who cannot meet their Key Performance Indicators. They are responsible for the reprehensible state of affairs Joburg finds itself in, now, they will be paid more to continue their ineffectiveness,” ” she said. Rahn opined that the salary increases were unethical and noted that were done at a time when the city was facing bankruptcy. She said the CoJ should be focusing on the current negotiations with the SA Municipal Workers’ Union instead of giving increases to top officials. “Currently, essential workers in the city are negotiating their wage increases. These include crucial benefits like pension funds and medical aid contributions. How will the city look our essential personnel in the eyes knowing that money that could have greatly improved their lives, will now line the pockets of already overpaid underperformers?” she questioned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA can create up to 275,000 green jobs by 2030, new report shows BL Premium reports that a new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows that SA has the potential to create up to 275,000 green jobs by 2030. The study, published by FSD Africa and Shortlist, with analysis from BCG, says SA is set to create 85,000 to 275,000 new green jobs in the next five years – mainly in energy and power production, and agriculture. The research projects the solar sector to lead job creation, with 140,000 pencilled in. SA has plans to build 14,000km of new transmission lines in the next decade to connect about 37GW of renewable energy to the grid. The BCG study indicates that as renewable energy generation and climate-friendly agriculture are scaled up, Africa’s green economy will create more than 3-million jobs by 2030. The report predicts the creation of 1.5-million to 3.3-million new direct green jobs across Africa, 70% of which will come from the energy and power sector. Of the 2-million jobs this sector is expected to generate, solar will account for 1.7-million. The sector with the second-highest job creation potential is agriculture and nature, which is forecast to add 700,000 jobs – over half of which would come from climate smart agricultural technology. Most of the predicted jobs will be skilled in nature, with 60% requiring some form of qualification. Of those, 30% will require vocational training and 10% university degrees. The unskilled jobs created will offer “ladders up the employment scale for candidates, whose employability will be enhanced by access to training and experience”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Police rescue 90 kidnapped and undocumented Ethiopians locked up in 'inhumane conditions' in Joburg News24 reports that ninety undocumented Ethiopian nationals, who were allegedly being kept against their will under inhumane conditions, have been rescued by the SA Police Service's Special Task Force (STF) in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg. A multidisciplinary team led by the STF was in the process of tracing a victim of kidnapping for ransom when they made the discovery of the undocumented Ethiopians. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the 90 Ethiopians were found locked up, confined, and packed into rooms. Investigations are underway to determine how they were trafficked into SA. Among the Ethiopian nationals was the kidnapped victim, who was also rescued. The victim was kidnapped in Benoni on Tuesday afternoon. His kidnappers immediately started demanding hundreds of thousands in ransom money from his family. "The Ethiopian nationals were all taken to hospital for medical attention. Two alleged human traffickers and kidnappers found on the property have been arrested," said Mathe. The pair are expected to face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24
Motsepe’s mining company shows the CCMA the middle finger over alleged unfair medical retrenchment Sunday World reports that Patrice Motsepe’s mining company showed the CCMA the middle finger when it failed to appear for a case of unfair medical retrenchment after it laid off a bodyguard who had sustained injuries. African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) cooked a snoot at the CCMA’s instruction to appear before a commissioner on 14 February to justify its decision to retrench Albert Muleya, who fractured his right thumb at the joint on 30 April 2021 while protecting Motsepe’s son Kabelo in a fight that broke out in Hi-Grow Cafe nightclub in Hatfield, Pretoria. As a result of ARM’s defiance, the CCMA referred Muleya’s case to the Labour Court for trial. Muleya had started working for ARM in November 2012 as a reaction unit security officer. After the injury, he underwent surgery and physiotherapy, during which period he was placed on special leave. ARM then accommodated Muleya with light duty activities, but later insisted that he return to normal duties. An occupational therapist subsequently advised that Muleya would have to be placed on permanent light duty. ARM then agreed to retain Muleya on light duty while considering suitable vacancies to accommodate him. On 29 September 2023, Muleya received a letter of retrenchment from ARM advising that, despite consultations, no alternative to retrenchment was viable. Muleya, who was earning over R37,000 per month, received a severance package of R163,338. According to Muleya, his dismissal was procedurally and substantively unfair. He is demanding his job back or appropriate compensation. He filed the case in court in March, but a date for trial had not yet been allocated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone & Ngwako Malatji at Sunday World
Rebogo Motlanthe returns to Safa as COO, eyes former CEO role City Press reports that in a dramatic turn of events, Tebogo Motlanthe is back with Safa, a year after quitting in a huff. The lawyer stunned the football fraternity when he dramatically announced that he was leaving the beleaguered Safa as its CEO last year. But he is now back as the chief operating officer (COO) with the word doing the rounds that he has been earmarked for his old CEO position in the near future. On Friday, Motlanthe attended Safa’s graduation ceremony where more than 20 graduate coaches received their coaching certificates at the Germiston Stadium. He was seen in the company of Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao and President Danny Jordaan. According to sources, it is a done deal and he has been offered a contract to return to Safa. “All that is missing is his signature and he will be back in the fold. Apparently, he has agreed to come back but has asked for more clarity of his role and responsibilities,” said one insider. He added: “He is seen as someone who can turn the administration around as he will see the daily operations of the association. The good thing is that he has been there before and knows the ins and outs of the organisation.” What will be a surprise to many is that Motlanthe’s U-turn comes a week after he was appointed newly promoted CEO of the Motsepe Foundation Championship side Kruger United. However, Motlanthe apparently decided against going to the Mpumalanga side following allegations of some underhand backstabbing by some football officials, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Timothy Molobi at City Press (subscriber access only)
UIF commissioner vows to improve service delivery, including steps to eliminate long queues The Citizen reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) says it is working on improving efficiency and the overall delivery of services to its clients. Speaking in the Northern Cape last week, UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping said members of the Fund’s Audit, Risk and Fraud Committees and the UIF Board would inspect local UIF service points. This will feed into to a report aimed at addressing operational incompetence. “The issues found during inspections and client engagements will form part of a consolidated report that will assist us in eliminating operational inefficiencies,” Maruping advised. UIF plans to hold a workshop for its officials in September to develop plans towards its goals. Officials from across the country will collaborate with management and governance structures to create and implement solutions for improvement over the short to medium term. Maruping further advised that the fund had already taken a variety of steps to eliminate long queues at service points: “[In addition] to implementing new service platforms such as the USSD and Mobile App we have installed free Wi-Fi at all labour centres and embarked on strategic partnerships with Absa and Capitec Bank to enable clients to obtain completed and stamped UIF 2.8 (bank forms) at ATMs instead of travelling all the way to banks.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Oratile Mashilo at The Citizen
SA Post Office staff to lose out on 88% of their pension payouts Sunday World reports that SA Post Office (Sapo) workers stand to forgo R1.3-billion of their hard-earned retirement funds. The Post Office Retirement Fund made this announcement last week in an internal staff mail, stating that the employees would only get 12% of their pension funds a final payment. Apparently, Sapo did not remit any contributions to the retirement fund from May 2020 until December 2023. This was despite the company deducting the money from the workers’ salaries. “You will recall from the fund’s communiqué of 10 May 2024 that, in accordance with the business rescue plan published on 23 November 2023, and approved at a creditors’ meeting held on 7 December 2023, 12c in the rand of the fund’s claim would become payable to the fund. The fund has since received an amount of R172,885,705 from Sapo being 12c in the rand of R1,440,714,215 (which was the total amount of the unpaid contributions on 9 July 2023),” wrote the fund’s principal officer Mike Faasen in the mail to staff. Workers’ representative Tutu Mokoena said “workers have contributed money to take this matter to court in order to recover every cent with interest that is owed to them”. Mokoena also referred to a Supreme Court of Appeal judgment ruling that Sapo had to “pay contributions, as defined therein, to the Post Office Retirement Fund on a monthly basis, in arrears, by not later than the first working day of each month”. Workers have contributed money to take this matter to court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Sibanyoni on page 12 of Sunday World of 4 August 2024 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nyandeni municipality in Eastern Cape embroiled in scandal over fraudulent use of employee petrol cards News24 reports that Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape has opened a criminal case against certain employees for allegedly using municipal petrol cards to embezzle funds. The small municipality, comprising the small towns of Libode and Ngqeleni, said it had lost between R600,000 and R700,000 as a result of the fraudulent acts. The figure may increase during the course of the police's investigation. It is alleged that employees used municipal petrol cards to fill up their own vehicles, and others are alleged to have sold the fuel to other motorists. It is not presently clear how many employees are being investigated. Municipal spokesperson Ncebakazi Kolwane indicated: "Our investigation covers all the employees who have access to the fuel cards that have been flagged for possible fraud. We are also not ruling out the involvement of external individuals who may have assisted to defraud the institution, hence the decision to open a criminal case." The case has been transferred to Mthatha police, who confirmed they were investigating. "Investigation of this matter is still ongoing as the investigating officer is waiting for outstanding documents [from the municipality]," said a police spokesperson. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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