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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related reports.
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Joburg mayor Dada Morero retracts suggestion to absorb foreign nationals as JMPD officers EWN reports that ANC chairperson in Johannesburg and the city’s mayor Dada Morero has retracted his suggestion to employ foreign nationals in the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) following considerable criticism and backlash. During the ANC’s regional executive committee (REC) lekgotla on Sunday, Morero suggested that employing foreign nationals as police officers could help address language barriers in the fight against crime. His proposal has since been rejected by several political parties - including the ANC’s provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi. Speaking during a media briefing in Magaliesburg on Monday, Morero apologised to Joburg residents for any “anxiety” his comments might have caused. He said he realised his suggestion was not consistent with the policies of both the ANC and the SA government. He therefore withdraw my proposal and expressed his appreciation for “the robust manner in which our people were engaged in this discourse, especially on social media.” Noting that the party realised that language barriers hindered the metro’s crime-fighting efforts, Morero said the ANC REC lekgotla resolved to train JMPD officers to be proficient in foreign languages – especially those deployed to areas with a high concentration of immigrants. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN. Read too, Joburg mayor Dada Morero criticised over JMPD jobs for foreign nationals, at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Gold Fields appoints new CFO Mining Weekly reports that JSE-listed Gold Fields has appointed Phillip Anthony Murnane as CFO and executive director. He will be based at the Gold Fields corporate office in Johannesburg. The company is currently finalising his commencement date, which is expected to be in early 2025. Murnane will succeed Paul Schmidt, who served as CFO and executive director until 30 April, and will take over from Alex Dall who has acted as interim CFO from 1 May to date. To ensure a seamless transition, Dall will continue as interim CFO until Murnane’s employment begins. Murnane is a qualified accountant, with an operational finance background and more than 20 years of experience in the resources sector, including several stints as CFO. He began his career at Deloitte before embarking on an international career spanning four continents. He has subsequently held senior roles at Centrica, Glencore, Noble, Ferroglobe and most recently at commodities brokers ED&F Man. The announcement coincides with a turbulent period for Gold Fields, with production shortfalls, particularly at its South Deep mine, as well as underperformance across its operations in Australia, Ghana, Peru and Chile. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read too, Gold Fields appoints Phillip Murnane as new CFO, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
At 3.9% in July, consumer food price inflation at lowest level since January 2020 Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of SA, writes that after a prolonged period of much higher food price inflation, the recent data paint a welcome picture of notable easing. SA’s consumer food price inflation slowed to 3.9% in July 2024, from 4.1% in the previous month. This was the lowest level since January 2020 and was underpinned by the continued moderation in price inflation across most products in the food baskets, except for bread and cereals and meat. In recent months, it was feared that the rise in the prices of bread and cereals and meat products would change the direction of food inflation to a slight uptick. Positively, they have been fairly outweighed by the continued moderation of other products. The slowing price inflation in products such as oils and fats, milk, eggs and cheese, fruit, and vegetables is a result of increased supplies and, to an extent, the stronger rand to the dollar helps in the case of imported vegetable oils. However, the prices of bread and cereals may increase in the coming months, but are not expected to be substantial. SA imports nearly half of its annual wheat consumption, about 1.5 million tonnes yearly. Additionally, SA imports about a million tonnes of rice each year. Favourable global production conditions for wheat and rice in the 2024-25 season and the possible subsequent price softening will be welcome developments in an importing country like SA. Beyond these grains, the meat price increases could remain mild in the coming months. The weak consumer demand remains a problem, particularly for red meat, and this could keep meat prices in check. Read the full original of Wandile Sihlobo’s article at Mail & Guardian Other internet posting(s) in this news category
President moves public enterprises portfolio to line departments BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has transferred the executive shareholder powers of crucial state-owned entities from the dissolved Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to their respective line functions. Monitoring and evaluation minister Maropene Ramokgopa has been assigned the responsibility of finalising the National State Enterprises Bill, which was recently re-introduced before parliament. The legislation aims to restructure state-owned enterprises (SOEs) into a single shareholding company where the state will be the sole shareholder of the asset management company, while the door will be open for strategic equity partners to be brought into the underlying SOEs. In the interim, the DPE will continue to exist under the stewardship of Ramokgopa “until the human and financial resources are transferred appropriately.” The transport minister, Barbra Creecy is now the executive shareholder of two state-owned airlines, SAA and SA Express, as well as state logistics company Transnet. Electricity and energy minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa is responsible for power utility Eskom, while state-owned arms company Denel has been moved to the defence and military veterans ministry, led by Angie Motshekga. The state-owned SA Forestry Company (Safcol) has been moved to the department of the environment, forestry and fisheries, led by Dion George. Minerals and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe is now responsible of state diamond miner Alexkor. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Dié SBO’s aan ander departemente toegewys, by Maroela Media
Rustenburg municipal manager’s appointment challenged in court Sunday Independent reports that the appointment of Ashmar Ranthekeng Khuduge as the municipal manager of the Rustenburg Local Municipality is being challenged in court, with the litigant asking that the appointment be declared “unlawful, irrational and invalid.” In an application lodged in November last year in the Mahikeng High Court, former councillor Ratanang Nke sought to have the appointment of Khuduge set aside on the grounds of illegality. Nke argued in his court papers that the process leading to the appointment of the Khuduge to the post was characterized by grave irregularities. Among the alleged irregularities, Nke claimed that there was no council resolution approving the shortlisted candidates as required by the law and added that the competency-assessments were conducted by a non-accredited service provider. “The Report which was supposed to have been compiled by the panel as envisaged by the Regulations was not presented to the Council for consideration. The appointment thus proceeded on the basis of an incomplete report, which was not compiled by the panel, rendering the process adulterated with illegality,” he argued. Khuduge said he could not comment because the matter was before the court. Cogta in the North West said it would be guided by the decision of the court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at Sunday Independent
Higher education portfolio committee aims to block CETA board's overseas junket News24 reports that the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training intends to prevent the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) from undertaking a "benchmarking" trip, allegedly at a cost of R4 million, to several countries. At a heated meeting of the committee on Friday, CETA board chairperson Thabo Masombuka dismissed the media's critical reporting on the institution as an attempt to "vulgarise" its work and lamented that they had been called to Parliament to account for this. But, MPs were not impressed. Furthermore, a CETA employee and member of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) spoke to the committee, despite her fear she might be suspended on Monday. She likened CETA's management to apartheid. Last month, it was reported that CETA CEO Malusi Shezi and CETA board members were planning to go on a trip spanning 24 days to Kenya, Egypt, the UK, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. City Press reported that R4 million had already been spent for the flights, car hire, accommodation and facilitator fees. The eight board members would apparently also each receive a stipend of R250,000. Shezi told MPs that the trip had been postponed, but not cancelled, and still in the planning stage. Shezi also denied board members were given R250,000. CETA's presentation to the committee stated that the "comprehensive study trip was to benchmark and gather insights on global best practices in the construction education and training innovations.” But, ANC MP Tebogo Letsie asked: “What are you benchmarking when your term of office has ended? You are not going to use public funds for such things." He said there would be no trip to benchmark and that he would be writing to Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, and the director-general. MPs from across the political spectrum agreed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscriber access only). Read too, Corruption allegations pile up for CETA as yet another tender scandal emerges, at City Press
Limitations on courts’ power to interfere in respect of dismissals that have not been found to be unfair BL Premium reports that precedent has been set for the powers to appeal against bargaining council findings in the dismissal of an appeal by the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in favour of the City of Cape Town. The case involved the City’s firing of a senior superintendent for subverting tender provisions involving a compost company. In 1998, Ricardo Cheemee was employed by the City of Cape Town, eventually becoming a senior superintendent at the Kraaifontein solid waste disposal facility. Cheemee had a clean disciplinary record for decades, but after investigation, the City found him guilty of gross negligence and dishonesty, and dismissed him. Cheemee took the dismissal to the SA Local Government Bargaining Council, but commissioner Ursula Bulbring found the City’s dismissal fair, as Cheemee had “created an ongoing risk for the City”. She ruled that “a demotion would have been appropriate at the time”, given his years of service; however, she could not overrule the City’s chosen sanction. Cheemee took this ruling on appeal to the Cape Town labour court, asking for a lesser sanction than outright dismissal. The City opposed, wanting him to remain fired. On 16 August 2024, acting judge Bart Ford found in favour of the City. “The commissioner does not have the authority to consider a sanction afresh,” he wrote. Ford noted that “Cheemee was found guilty of various counts of serious misconduct, which warranted his dismissal” and did not challenge the facts, only the sanction. As a result, Ford dismissed his appeal in favour of the City, with no costs order. The judgment is said to highlight the limitations of interference with employers’ dismissals unless they are found to be unfair. Courts cannot overrule proper findings by employers – especially government employers, which have to serve the public. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Gauteng teacher who was irregular appointed dismissed without pay The Citizen reports that according to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), there is a rise in irregular temporary, permanent or acting appointments. In one such case, a Grade 2 substitute teacher who was irregularly appointed, leading to a contractual dispute, was subsequently dismissed. The teacher, who was appointed to teach isiZulu, English, maths and life skills, alleged she was appointed by the deputy principal in May at Ntokozweni Primary School in Springs. The principal and the school’s governing (SGB) body chair signed off on an application for a contract of temporary appointment by the GDE. The contract apparently stipulated that the teacher would earn R29,000. In July, she was suddenly told “there are challenges with regards to the processing of my payments and thus, the school intends to pay me from the SGB coffers an amount of R250 per day”. While the teacher went back and forth between the principal and her deputy and the district, she was dismissed without an official letter. She then took the matter to the Education Labour Relations Council. The GDE’s Xolani Mkhwemte indicated that the appointment was rejected because the school engaged the educator without permission to assume duty, making it an irregular appointment. “The school then decided to appoint her to an SGB post after realising the department would not process her appointment. However, the teacher is refusing the SGB post, citing an insufficient salary, citing a preference for the salary paid by the department” In a letter sent by the GDE to its officials, it advises that “assumption of duty in a post without the obligatory appointment letter is not allowed and may result in nonpayment for services rendered.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jabulile Mbatha at The Citizen Education Labour Relations Council rules that dismissal of Free State teacher for sexual misconduct 'fair' News24 reports that a former matric pupil described in graphic detail how a teacher allegedly forced her to touch his penis in an office after calling her out of a classroom during a geography lesson last year. The pupil, who attended LE Notsi Secondary School in the Free State and was 18 years old at the time, was one of two complainants in disciplinary proceedings against Mojalefa Tshabalala, 28, who was charged with sexual misconduct. The other complainant was 15 years old last year, when he allegedly exposed himself to her. After he was found guilty of sexual misconduct in the disciplinary proceedings, and the education department dismissed him, Tshabalala took the matter to the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). On 12 August, the ELRC found that his dismissal was fair. In the ELRC ruling, senior commissioner Coen Havenga gave details of the allegations levelled against Tshabalala (details outlined in the News24 report). Havenga said: "The complainants' version has been materially the same throughout the inquiry. I find it improbable that they would make up such a detailed version of events without any reason. The employee's [Tshabalala's] version that it is a fabrication is not plausible." He found Tshabalala's dismissal by the provincial education department "fair and appropriate in the circumstances", and found him unsuitable to work with children. The ELRC was directed to inform the Department of Social Development to include Tshabalala's name in the National Child Protection Register. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (registration required) Zondo slams army's decision to fire Awol soldier, orders that he be reinstated and paid R3 million City Press reports that in his last court ruling before retiring as Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo dealt a blow to the military in a case that had dragged on for 12 years. Sergeant Molefi Mamasedi had been accused by the military of being absent without leave (Awol) for more than 30 days at the end of 2011. He claimed that he had been kidnapped, but, despite his defence, the military dismissed him. After a long legal battle, which went twice to the high court and twice to the Supreme Court of Appeal, Zondo ruled in favour of the soldier in the Constitutional Court (ConCourt). According to article 14 (a) of the SA National Defence Force’s rules of discipline, a soldier is prosecuted if he is absent without leave for more than 30 days. These cases are usually heard in a military court where the soldier can present reasons for his absence. However, article 59(3) of the rules of discipline states that the soldier can be dismissed without any alternative after 30 days. Mamasedi was dismissed under this article. The dispute arose over whether weekends and holidays, when a soldier is not on duty, should be included in the 30 days. Mamasedi’s argument was that he could not be punished so severely without his defence being considered in the dismissal. Zondo criticised the military, stating that its own board of inquiry had failed to make any findings on the validity of Mamasedi’s defence. Zondo ordered the military to backdate and pay Mamasedi’s salary to 2012, as well as all parties’ legal costs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, ConCourt rules that army Sergeant who missed work for over a month, claiming kidnapping, keeps his job, at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
KZN Public Works and Infrastructure head Sboniso Majola suspended The Witness reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thami Ntuli has suspended Public Works and Infrastructure Department head Sboniso Majola pending an independent forensic investigation into “serious” allegations. On Sunday, Ntuli indicated that he had written to Majola informing him about his decision. “I can’t disclose the details of the allegations against Majola, but their serious nature warranted drastic action. I suspended him, but the matter now is in the hands of the investigators and we need to give them space to do their job. Only the outcome of the investigation will determine the next move,” Ntuli advised. Dr Vish Govender, chief director for immovable asset management, has been appointed as the acting head of department. IFP national chairperson and provincial legislature member Blessed Gwala said the suspension was an indication that the premier’s goal was to “sweep” government departments clean. He added: “He [Ntuli] acted on solid information and I do not doubt that this is the beginning of a process to clean all government departments to ensure that resources are used for the benefit of the taxpayers. We can’t discuss the details of the allegations while they are still under investigation.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Ndaliso at The Witness Last three of 13 social development officials suspended in ‘crackdown on corruption’ return to work GroundUp reports that the last three of 13 Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) officials suspended during an alleged “crackdown on corruption” returned to work last week. The three were suspended on full pay in September last year. Like the other ten officials who were all suspended on full pay and who returned to work at the end of July, they were charged but never faced disciplinary hearings. At the time of their suspensions, the department was under the leadership of MEC Mbali Hlophe and head of department Matilda Gasela. Hlophe was removed from the ANC-led Gauteng provincial government’s Cabinet after the May elections. Gasela left in April amid allegations of corruption when her contract was not renewed. According to a GDSD source, the suspended officials were told that even though they had returned to work, they could still face disciplinary hearings. Initially, they were suspended because of a 2016 forensic report. But later they were told that it was because of a much more recent report by forensic audit firm FSG. Many of the FSG report’s findings were successfully challenged by the non-profit organisations named in it. It also did not support or prove any of Hlophe’s allegations of corruption by any officials and merely found that there may have been “administrative mistakes” on the part of some of them. During Hlophe’s term, GDSD was racked by numerous controversies, which resulted in a funding crisis for many non-profit organisations dependent on government funding. Some of them closed down or retrenched staff and cut back services to keep their doors open. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Raymond Joseph & Daniel Steyn at GroundUp
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