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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Marikana massacre: Time 12 years on for reflection because mineworkers are 'unsung heroes of SA' News24 reports that political parties used the 12th anniversary of the Marikana massacre to reflect on the tragedy which left 34 striking miners dead in the North West. On 16 August 2012, 34 striking miners died when police opened fire at the Lonmin platinum mine, near Rustenburg. In a statement on Friday, the EFF noted that it “was born from the ashes of Marikana” and went on to indicate: "Twelve years have passed since that fateful day, yet the wounds remain open. The mineworkers who survived continue to toil in exploitative conditions, fighting the same battle for a living wage. The families of the fallen have been dragged through the courts, seeking compensation that will never bring back their loved ones. And yet, justice remains elusive." The party claimed that mineworkers still worked under the same conditions. The ANC's Zuko Godlimpi said the party was committed to ensuring that the tragedy never happened again and indicated that it has “championed the protection of mineworkers through rigorous enforcement of safety standards and labour rights across the mining industry.” In a joint statement, Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) said more than 100 people had yet to receive justice and reparations from the state, leaving them in limbo. "For the past two years, the Office of the Solicitor-General has publicised that it has settled about R71 million in loss of support to 34 of the families, comprising about 315 family members, between August 2018 and September 2019. What the office does not explain is that, of these claimants, about 129 people have received nothing," they said. SERI's Nomzamo Zondo, stated: "At the very core of the state's position is a denial of the humanity of the men gunned down on 13 and 16 August 2012.” Amnesty International SA's Shenilla Mohamed stated: "The lack of accountability for victims and their families is a recurring theme in South Africa, but we need to continue demanding answers as to why it is taking more than a decade, in the case of the Marikana massacre, for there to be any prosecutions, and ultimately accountability for the brutal loss of life." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Amanda Khoza at News24 (registration required). Read too, Marikana massacre: 12 years on, no apology, some victims remain uncompensated, at Saturday Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
No deaths or injuries as fires at public health buildings in Flagstaff damage properties SABC News reports that no deaths or injuries have been reported in fires which damaged public health buildings and workers’ belongings in Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape on Saturday morning. Ten buildings that accommodated 40 health workers were destroyed at the Holy Cross Hospital in Flagstaff. The fire which started at the Dutywa Community Health Centre, also burnt an incinerator room. Provincial health department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase confirmed the fire saying the incinerator room at a community health centre in Dutywa had been burnt to the ground by a fire that began outside the facility and later spread to other buildings. The fire began at around 10.30am. “The Department is making arrangements to accommodate the affected health workers while others will be released to go to their homes,” Ndamase indicated. Patients from healthcare facilities affected have since been transferred to Butterworth Hospital. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News. Read too, Two Eastern Cape healthcare facilities destroyed by veld fires on Saturday, no injuries reported, at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Some 100 Fidelity-ADT employees in Western Cape down tools over wage gap within merged company Weekend Argus reports that a number of Fidelity ADT employees in the Western Cape have downed tools over alleged pay discrepancies for employees performing the same functions. The employees have been picketing at the company's N1 City offices in Cape Town, demanding that the basic salary gap be reduced for those performing the same work and in the same positions. ADT was acquired by Fidelity Services Group in 2017, forming Fidelity-ADT. A 48-hour strike notice was handed over by the Democratised Transport Logistics and the Allied Workers’ Union (Detawu) to the company on 3 August, and the strike commenced on 5 August. Armed response officer Siyabonga Palaza indicated: “We are two groups. The first group was employed by ADT which was the previous company. So there is an ADT formation group (and) there is a Fidelity ADT formation group. They are performing the same duties but their salaries are different. There is a more than 50% gap. The ADT formation, their basic salary is R14,200, the Fidelity ADT group formation, their basic salary is R7,400. So there is a big difference. It's more than 50%, it's totally unjust.” He added: “We are not saying we are demanding equalisation as the company proclaims, we are demanding the closure of the gap, at least it must not be above 50%.” Palaza claimed an estimated 100 members were affected. In a statement, the Fidelity Services Group advised that the industrial action was limited to the Western Cape only. Group CEO Wahl Bartmann said the company would, “continue engaging with the union on issues which relate to a wage dispute and which dispute falls under the jurisdiction of the Bargaining Council for the Private Security Sector and is ongoing. We remain fully committed to finding a resolution to the dispute.” However on Tuesday, the workers said the company had refused to meet with them, except on one occasion. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shakirah Thebus at Weekend Argus
Fired security guards have been sleeping on the pavement outside Gauteng health department in Joburg since April GroundUp reports that dozens of security guards have been sleeping outside the Gauteng Department of Health (DoH) offices in Johannesburg for four months. They say they are owed money by security companies contracted to the department and want the DoH to intervene. The group of about 100 guards are sleeping in the heart of the city, where pedestrians and motorists pass daily. They are members of the SA Cleaners, Security, and Allied Workers’ Union (Sacsaawu) who were employed to guard various healthcare sites in Gauteng. They claim they were dismissed suddenly on 31 March without explanation or severance pay and claim they are owed provident fund contributions and bonuses. They started protesting outside the department in April and in May moved their protest to outside the ANC offices in Luthuli House and then outside the offices of the Star newspaper. Twenty-four of them were arrested. They then returned to the DoH offices to continue their protest. The protesters rely on donations for food. Sacsaawu general secretary Andries Diphapang Potsane, who is also sleeping outside, said they have handed over a memorandum of demands to the DoH. He said most of the security personnel had been underpaid, while some of them don’t have UIF or provident fund benefits even though contributions were deducted from their salaries. A DoH spokesperson said the service companies were no longer contracted to the department, which “cannot get itself involved in labour relations matters relating to employer-employee issues of other companies.” A Department of Employment and Labour spokesperson confirmed that the issue was before the CCMA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Silver Sibiya at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA’s gold mining sector in ‘deep structural decline’ despite record prices, says Minerals Council SA Miningmx reports that according to Minerals Council SA (MCSA) chief economist Hugo Pienaar, the record-high nominal gold price has not been able to stop the “deep structural decline” of SA’s gold sector. Reviewing the latest mining production and minerals sales statistics released by Stats SA for the second quarter of 2024, Pienaar said that manganese and chrome were the only sub-categories that had increased since the fourth quarter of 2019 – immediately prior to the Covid outbreak – until now. In overall terms, real mining production in the second quarter was 8.7% lower than the fourth quarter of 2019. Iron ore and gold had performed the worst. “To a large extent the weakness in iron ore and coal production is due to Transnet logistical problems, most notably a significant railway maintenance backlog. In the case of platinum group metals (PGMs), production has been curtailed in response to a sustained low PGM basket price,” Pienaar explained. According to Stats SA, total SA mining production showed a decline of 0.9% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2024 and this followed a contraction of 1.3% in the first quarter. Pienaar commented that “the further decline in mining in the second quarter is particularly disappointing against a backdrop where mine load-curtailment was absent for the entire second quarter and electricity generation increased by just over 2% in real terms.” In Pienaar’s view, overall mining production is likely to remain subdued in the foreseeable future. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brendan Ryan at Miningmx
Nehawu ‘syndicate’ accused of crippling Justice Department Sunday Independent reports that National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) leaders at the Justice Department have been accused of being part of a “syndicate” destroying the department and involving themselves in management squabbles. In a letter dated 5 July 2024, the Department’s Director-General, Doctor Mashabane, raised concerns with Nehawu’s general secretary Zola Saphetha, about the “misbehaviour” by the shop stewards, Peter Masango and Tsundzuka Moyana. Mashabane alleged in the letter that the two union leaders had, for a long time, been embroiled in management squabbles and differences – and were allegedly serving as the “mouthpiece” of some senior managers. “They are further part of a syndicate that has for long been destabilising the department and call themselves their advisers. There is a high possibility that you are not aware of their activities and association with forces outside the department that have long sought to prosecute activities not in line with the law,” the letter reads. The campaign was said to have “been ongoing in a sustained manner over some time.” Mashabane further claimed that the union leaders had no regard for the processes set up by the employer for engagement with labour unions to formally engage on labour issues. The letter to the Nehawu national leaders came as a response to Masango’s letter to the ministry demanding that Mashabane withdraw the suspension letter issued to the Deputy Director-General (DDG) Conny Mametja, who was reportedly suspended on 27 June. According to reports, Mametja was suspended after being charged by her boss for insubordination and plotting against Mashabane. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at Sunday Independent
Labour Minister papers over SA’s unemployment crisis with optimistic jobs outlook IOL News writes that SA’s unemployment crisis continues to deepen, with the official unemployment rate climbing from 32.9% in the first quarter to a staggering 33.5% in the second quarter. This grim statistic is said to lay bare the government's ongoing failure to curb the relentless rise in joblessness, despite repeated promises and initiatives. Recently-appointed Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has acknowledged the troubling rise, but was quick to divert attention to the marginal increase in the number of employed persons, from 14.1 million in Q2 2020 to 16.7 million in Q2 2024. However, this growth pales in comparison to the magnitude of the unemployment crisis, and according to analysts, the Minister's optimistic outlook does little to address the harsh reality faced by millions of South Africans. Meth also pointed out that the decrease in the unemployment rate recorded in provinces such as Limpopo, Free State, and the Eastern Cape was "encouraging and commendable under the circumstances." However, the Minister also emphasised that the SA economy was not growing as expected, attributing this to global economic pressures and geopolitical challenges. Meth stressed the need for an elevated partnership between government and business to drive economic growth and job creation. She highlighted the central role of her department in coordinating efforts to combat unemployment, particularly through the Unemployment Insurance Fund's (UIF) contribution to the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hope Ntanzi at IOL News. Read too, Corporate SA urged to help with youth unemployment, at The Citizen
Domestic workers face cost of living crisis as wage increases fall far short of inflation Fin24 reports that inflation and the broader cost-of-living crisis are taking an immense toll on SA’s domestic workers, the latest annual SweepSouth report on pay and working conditions in the sector has found. According to the report, living costs for the average domestic worker have increased 15% in the past year, dwarfing an average 5% earnings increase over the same period. "The lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are also evident in the domestic work sector, which has stabilised at around 850,000 jobs, marking a 15% reduction from its pre-pandemic peak," SweepSouth indicated. The survey's conclusions draw on responses from more than 5,600 workers, with 92% being female and the bulk of workers between the ages of 26 and 61. SweepSouth reported that 83% of the respondents were the sole financial support within their households, with an average of four dependents each. Some 36% of employed respondents reported losing some work due to employer affordability, while 21% of respondents lost full employment in the last year due to affordability and employer relocation. Financial insecurity is widespread, with 75% of respondents unable to save money monthly. Financial stress has had an impact on the mental health of domestic workers too. Positively, the survey results show a desire for ongoing education and skills development. When it comes to addressing these challenges, SweepSouth suggests several courses of action, including enforcing labour laws more rigorously, and exploring innovative solutions for compliance in private homes and considering diverse work arrangements. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24 (registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ninety-five Libyans arrested at illegal ‘military training camp’ deported on Sunday BusinessLive reports that 95 Libyans arrested at a security training facility in White River, Mpumalanga, last month returned to their home country on Sunday morning. According to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the group left the country from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on a flight paid for by the Libyan government. Charges against the men were withdrawn on Friday. They were arrested in July after police raided a Milites Dei Security Services facility in White River. The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority indicated earlier in August that the part of the facility where the Libyans were training was “illegal” and an investigation was ongoing. The suspects had been charged with contravening the Immigration Act after they allegedly misrepresented themselves when applying for “study visas”. DHA Minister Leon Schreiber indicated: “I commend the home affairs officials and other law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to ensure an expeditious deportation. We will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that the country’s immigration laws are respected and observed.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Safa wants Sports Ministry to pay coach head Hugo Broos’ R1.5m a month salary Sunday World reports that the cash-strapped SA Football Association (Safa) wants to send an SOS to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to assist with footing the monthly salary of Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos. The association’s finance committee met two weeks ago, when it submitted the recommendation to the office of chief financial officer (CFO) Gronie Hluyo. The CFO will pass on the recommendations to the national executive committee (NEC) to consider at its next conference. Broos, the senior national team coach, is reported to be drawing a salary of about R1.5-million a month and the national association is exploring ways and options to fund that salary bill. The latest revelation has raised concern that the financial situation at Safa House could be getting dire as officials are alleged to be always scrambling around to foot the hefty monthly salary. “This is just a recommendation and one of the ideas for a financial turnaround,” said an insider close to developments. “Other federations are supported by their governments, and maybe Safa can look into that and approach the minister for assistance. It was just a brainstorming session and the NEC will make the final decision,” he added. Another informer commented: “The downside of government paying the coach’s salary could be interference. They will become an active participant in the affairs of the national team and coaching. It’s a double-edged sword and it can either work or open a can of worms.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgomotso Mokoena at Sunday World
Police officer among three robbery suspects killed in KZN shootouts on Sunday The Citizen reports that three suspects, including a police officer, were killed in shootouts with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police on Sunday morning at two separate scenes. According to KZN police, six suspects, some disguised in police attire, held a shop owner and staff at gunpoint in Richmond before robbing them of their firearms, an undisclosed amount of money and other items. Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda reported: “Police operationalised intelligence and the two vehicles which were spotted fleeing from the crime scene were traced to a residence on Mgwenya Avenue in Lindelani. When the suspects realised the presence of the police, they opened fire as they ran out of the house. Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded at the scene. They were both found wearing police headresses. One of them was also in possession of a police firearm and a police bullet proof vest.” A vehicle belonging to a police officer, who had reported off duty earlier in the morning from his night shift at KwaMashu police station, was also found at the scene. Officers then received a report about an injured police officer who was hiding inside a shack at Phindangene informal settlement. Netshiunda indicated: “When the police arrived at the scene, the police Sergeant fired shots at the police officers and in a resultant shootout, he was shot and fatally wounded. He was found to be the owner of a police firearm which was found in possession of the slain suspect at the first crime scene, as well as the owner of the vehicle.“ Investigations are underway to establish if the police officer was involved in other robberies. A manhunt is still underway for the remaining three suspects. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen. Read too, KZN cop among robbery suspects killed in shootout, at News24 (registration required)
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