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.
|
SA’s consul-general in Dubai recalled to explain visa scam Sunday Times reports that a top South African diplomat stationed in Dubai is accused of arranging break-ins at his offices as part of an elaborate scheme to sell visas for UAE citizens to enter SA. A preliminary investigation by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) found that Andrew Tsepo Lebona, SA’s consul-general in Dubai, committed several security breaches. They include allowing a UAE citizen to illegally enter the mission through the roof and ceiling on two separate occasions in January and July 2023. The “burglaries” were apparently committed to obtain visa and passport-related documents as part of a scheme to issue illegitimate travel papers, work permits and other such credentials. The probe apparently also found that Lebona arranged for his son to illegally obtain diplomatic travel authority. Dirco has recalled Lebona to explain himself. He is employed by Dirco, but also represents the DHA in Dubai and performs various functions for South Africans, such as issuing them with travel documents. DHA Minister Leon Schreiber indicated on Saturday that he was involved in “ongoing engagements” with other relevant ministers “on how we can strengthen and improve the visa regime and clamp down on corruption.” The DHA charges at least R2,600 for a study visa or work permit. But allegedly Lebona, in cahoots with some of his juniors at the consulate, was running a parallel operation in which they issued handwritten visas and pocketed the fees themselves Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Mokone at Sunday Times (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Western Cape government calls for harsher penalties for attacks on social workers GroundUp reports that the Western Cape provincial government has called on the Department of Justice to intervene after an “alarming increase of attacks on social workers”. After a presentation by the provincial Department of Social Development to the standing committee on Social Development earlier in August, the committee wrote to Justice Minister Thembisile Simelane, asking for attacks against social workers attacks to be reclassified as an “offence against the state”, with harsher legal consequences. According to the head of the provincial department, Dr Robert Macdonald, the department has recorded one attack a week on social workers this year. “We tell our social workers that if they are going into a high-risk area, they must take a police escort. But this isn’t always possible,” he pointed out. Wendy Kaizer-Philander (DA), chair of the committee, confirmed that there had been an alarming rise in hijackings and physical attacks on social workers, especially while they were driving in government vehicles. She said harsher legal consequences “would elevate the urgency with which these cases are treated”. Tsekiso Machike, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, said that any “offence against persons performing a public service is viewed in a serious light”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Matthew Hirsch at GroundUp. Lees ook, Al meer aanvalle op Wes-Kaapse maatskaplike werkers, by Maroela Media Family told that soldier exhibited erratic and odd behaviour prior to his disappearance from base in May News24 reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier who disappeared from the SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatla, Northern Cape, allegedly exhibited odd behaviour, including walking around the base naked and speaking weird sentences, before he vanished in May. This information was given to the family of Lance Corporal Luntu Basil Hatta last week by a woman from the SANDF human resources department. Hatta's brother, Sithembile, said the family was contacted by the woman, who identified herself as "Dineo", from the Port Elizabeth SANDF office. She called to relay the message to the family to find out whether Hatta had any illnesses. "That was shocking news to us. My brother has never been a sick person and certainly wasn't mentally challenged,” Sithembile advised. Hatta had been part of a team that was deployed to ensure safety in Limpopo during the voting period. He was due to return to Cradock, Eastern Cape, after the elections. However, the 53-year-old soldier failed to report for roll call at Lohatla on 31 May, and has not been seen or heard of since. His family travelled to the Lohatla base last week for an update on the investigation and to see where Hatta was last seen. "His belongings were given to us, but there is still no sign of my brother. We were told that the police were still looking for him. At this stage, we just really need them to find my brother, so we can have closure," Sithembile said. The family said the SANDF and police had been regularly updating them about the progress being made in the investigation, but believed that the chances of Hatta being found alive were diminishing with the passing of time. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24 (registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Wage strike at Premier’s Mister Sweet factory entered fifth day on Friday GroundUp reports that the strike by about 600 employees of Mister Sweet at their factory in Wadeville, Germiston, entered its fifth day on Friday. Following negotiations that took place at the CCMA on Thursday, the workers are now demanding R12,500 for the least paid workers, and R16,500 for workers occupying higher positions. They had initially demanded a minimum wage of R19,500 a month. The company has stuck with its initial offer of 7%. According to union representatives, most workers have been earning between R6,000 and R7,000 per month for the past 10 years. Many of the striking workers are members of the Simunye Workers Forum. Mister Sweet, which was acquired by Premier FMCG in 2021, makes sweets, including gums, jellies, marshmallows, and chocolates. On Friday, the Simunye Workers Forum sent representatives into the factory to continue negotiations with the company, failing which, they plan to take the strike to Premier’s headquarters on Monday. In its previous response, Premier spokesperson Siobhan O’Sullivan said the workers’ demands were “unrealistic” and that it would continue to engage until a resolution was reached. In a statement on 22 August, parent company Premier stated that in April 2024, it reached an agreement with trade union UCIMESHAWU, to implement a 7% wage increase backdated to January 2024. According to the company, this offer was accepted by the majority, with only some employees rejecting the increase. Premier has issued a lockout notice affecting employees who participate in the strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberly Mutandiro at GroundUp
Board chair says there is no conversation around retrenchments at SABC SABC News reports that SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board chairperson Khathu Ramukumba has rejected any rumors of a second Section 189 (retrenchment) process at the public broadcaster. More than 600 SABC employees were affected during the retrenchments in 2021, under the previous board. Speculation has resurfaced that the SABC may embark on another Section 189 process. However, this has been dismissed by Ramukumba, who commented: “There is no such. I can categorically state that the board has never engaged in such conversations and I do not believe that the progress we have made in the last 15 months, this board working with management and all its staff members of the SABC, we are in a situation where we can talk about retrenchments, business rescue. We are not there. And our commitment to the SABC employees and stakeholders, including viewers and the listeners of SABC, is that we are committed to make the SABC work.” Ramukumba also touched on the SABC’s commitment to honour the remainder of last year’s outstanding wage agreement. “Our position remains that end of September we would have gone at least half way through the new financial year. Let’s sit around the table, let’s look at the progress that we have made so that we can see how then do we take care of this critical asset of the SABC because our position is that there is no SABC without its employees,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mercedes Besent at SABC News
Relief at Absa as CEO Arrie Rautenbach bows out Business Times writes that some senior managers were in a jubilant mood last week after the news broke that Absa CEO Arrie Rautenbach is to take early retirement just two years into his tenure in charge of the banking giant. Absa announced Rautenbach's early retirement last Monday, saying he would step down as CEO and executive director as of 15 October, followed by a six-month contractual notice period of “garden leave”. Head of the Corporate and Investment Bank, Charles Russon, will take over as interim CEO. Rautenbach's fall follows a series of reports about corporate governance failures at the bank under his watch. One senior executive described the mood since Monday's announcement as positive and hopeful. “Senior people are looking forward to putting his tenure behind us and rebuilding an Absa that we can all be proud of. The reaction was mixed, there’s recognition that under his leadership we had no chance of building a culture that could move the organisation forward. The market response mirrored the internal feeling of hope,” said the insider. Absa said on Friday that finding a permanent CEO was its immediate priority. According to multiple sources inside and outside the bank, Rautenbach was forced out because the board was, among other things, unhappy with what they perceived as a “top-down” management style rather than a consultative one. Another insider said the board lost trust in the outgoing CEO as they felt he was withholding critical information from them. This included his attempt to force out the group's Africa operations head Saviour Chibiya, which the board later reversed. Apparently, patience with Rautenbach had worn thin over the poor performance of Absa's local operations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only)
DA and Solidarity call for re-run of 2022 census as flaws are too significant to be ignored The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the re-run of SA’s 2022 census. This after Statistics SA (SSA) withdrew some crucial data from census 2022, which was scheduled to be released later in August. Income, employment, mortality, and fertility data have all been excluded. DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp labelled the census 2022 failure as a national crisis. "This is not merely an issue of bureaucracy; it is a failure of monumental proportions, with implications for all citizens. The flaws in the current census are too significant to be ignored or patched up with half-measures. We cannot afford to base our national planning on data that is fundamentally flawed," Aucamp argued. Meantime, trade union Solidarity issued a statement on Friday calling for an early national census in 2026 as “the only way to intervene in the catastrophe that the 2022 census brought about.” According to Connie Mulder, Head of the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), the situation with the census could still lead to a major crisis. “Shortly after the census, we raised our concern about the huge undercount of more than 30% and the obvious methodological flaws. These fears came true. The value of the census is now extremely limited and raises bigger questions about SSA and specifically also the Statistician-General’s competence,” said Mulder. He called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove the Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, from his job due to his incompetence, “as the census of 2022 is unsound and not fit for purpose.” Based on a report by Ntuthuzelo Nene at EWN and Solidarity’s press statement at Politicsweb. Lees ook, StatsSA erken ‘sensusdata is onvolledig’, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
North West deputy speaker resigns amid claim of forged matric certificate, but Cosatu wants 'more action' News24 reports that facing allegations that he forged his matric certificate, deputy speaker of the North West Legislature, Tshepo Khoza, tendered his resignation last week, without giving many details as to the reasons behind his decision. In his letter to legislature speaker Desbo Mohono, Khoza said he was requested to do so by the ANC. Responding to Khoza's resignation, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the North West said it was keenly aware of the surge in criminal activities, including the faking of documents. Cosatu provincial secretary Kopano Konopi said this activity came as some politicians insisted on occupying positions in society, which they were neither qualified for, nor deserved. Konopi said Khoza’s removal as a deputy speaker was not enough and he called on the ANC to remove him from all areas of deployment, as his conduct had put the organisation into disrepute. Konopi continued: “If the allegation that he falsified his qualifications is proven to be true, Cosatu in the North West calls on our ally to initiate criminal charges against him so he can be held accountable for his misdeed.” ActionSA's Kwena Mangope called for a full, transparent and independent investigation into the matter and said taxpayers' monies inappropriately used in Khoza's appointment as deputy speaker must be recovered without delay. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 (registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
GDE refuses to pay pension to ex-teacher hit by stroke because he wasn’t removed from payroll immediately after retirement Saturday Star reports that a Gauteng teacher says he has been left stranded by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) , which has refused to pay his pension. Lucky Tsotetsi, 60, retired as an educator after suffering a stroke in 2016. He elaborated that when he retired on 3 July 2023, the GDE continued paying his salary until it was stopped in March 2024. The GDE now insists that Tsotetsi is indebted to it and should refund it payments made from August 2023 to March 2024. He said the department was punishing him for something he did not have knowledge of, adding that he was not aware that he had to ask the department to remove him from its payroll system immediately after retirement. “My pension benefits are still to be paid and the district says I owe it R266,861 which I did not even borrow whatsoever. I am broke as it is, all my policies lapsed due to the GEPF and GDE blunders which have affected my health and well-being”, Tsotetsi lamented. Furthermore, he said the district director was aware of his situation but that also did not help. Tsotetsi said his financial situation was dire and he was on the verge of losing his car due to none payment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Jack at Saturday Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Growing burden of medical aid costs on South Africans requires urgent attention Shaun Meintjes of Consult by Momentum writes that over the past decade, medical aid premiums and out-of-pocket expenses have surged, placing immense pressure on individuals and families. One primary driver of cost escalation is the rising prices of medical services and treatments. New diagnostic tools, surgical procedures, and treatments are often expensive, and these costs are passed on to consumers. Additionally, the increasing burden of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, requires ongoing and costly management, further driving up expenses. Many South Africans are finding it increasingly difficult to afford comprehensive medical aid coverage. This has led to individuals downgrading their plans or opting out of medical aid entirely. But, those who leave medical aid schemes must rely on the public healthcare system, which is already under significant strain. Employers are also feeling the pinch. Many companies provide medical aid benefits as part of their employee compensation packages. However, the rising cost of these benefits is becoming unsustainable. Employers face difficult choices, namely absorbing the higher costs, passing them on to employees, or reducing coverage. Absorbing costs can strain company finances, passing them on to employees can lead to dissatisfaction and decreased morale, and reducing coverage can leave employees vulnerable to high medical expenses. It’s a lose-lose situation. Meintjes points out that addressing rising medical aid costs requires a multi-faceted approach, but it is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. Read the full original of the article in the above regard by Shaun Meintjes at Moneyweb
Pretoria High School for Girls deputy principal transferred amid racism probe News24 reports that a senior staff member at Pretoria High School for Girls has been placed on precautionary transfer to an education district office in Tshwane while investigators determine whether a culture of racism exists at the institution. Paul Sauer of the Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU) confirmed that deputy principal Doret Schoombie was issued with a notice of precautionary transfer with effect from 22 August. She is the second staff member at the school to be sanctioned by the Gauteng education department. It placed the principal, Phillipa Erasmus, on precautionary suspension on 30 July for 90 days pending an investigation into allegations that she ignored pupils' complaints of racism. This followed a visit to the school by Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane on 30 July after 12 white girls, including eight prefects, were suspended on 24 July for suspected racism. They were subsequently cleared of the allegation during a disciplinary hearing earlier this month. After the announcement of the girls being found not guilty, Chiloane said he would launch an independent investigation "to determine whether a culture of racism exists at the school". On Schoombie, education department spokesperson Steve Mabona indicated that the outcome of the investigation would determine what further steps would be taken. Sauer commented that while the union respected the employer's prerogative to act in these cases as it saw see fit, the union's view was that the department's action was "a bit of an over-reach". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (registration required). Lees ook, ‘Absurd’; Pretoria Girls High-adjunk ook uitgeskop, by Maroela Media
Two senior Dihlabeng municipal employee and service provider in court for over R600,000 fraud IOL News reports that three suspects who allegedly defrauded the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in the Free State appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate's Court on Friday and were granted bail of R10,000 each. Ntokozo Erick Shabalala, the director of public works at Dihlabeng Local Municipality, and former municipal manager, Lekgetho Isaac Mokgathle were arrested together with Thabang Johannes Thinyane, a service provider, by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks) Serious Corruption Investigation team. It is alleged that Mokgathle and Shabalala irregularly appointed Thinyane, without following due processes, to supply and install diesel generators at water treatment works in Saulspoort dam. “It was further reported that the Municipal Manager and the Director drafted an appointment letter for a service provider at a cost of R7.2 million. The service provider only erected the slab at the site and invoiced the municipality an amount of R611,000,” provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Christopher Singo, further indicated. As a result of the fraudulent activities, Dihlabeng municipality suffered a total loss of R611,000. The trio face charges of fraud, forgery, uttering, and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. The case was postponed to 18 September for further investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page