In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related reports.
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Ill South Africans have to wait as health posts stand empty due to budget cuts BL Premium reports that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has told MPs in a written response to parliamentary questions that the budget cuts implemented by the National Treasury have hobbled the ability of provincial health departments to fill posts, placing strain on staff and forcing patients to wait longer for care. He indicated that all the provinces were scrambling to deliver services with fewer doctors, nurses and senior managers. The vacancy rates for doctors ranged from 22.4% in the Free State to 5.5% in the Western Cape, while that for nurses ranged from 28% in the Free State to 5% in the Eastern Cape. More than two-fifths of the senior management positions in the Northern Cape stand empty. The Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga reported that about a quarter of their posts for senior managers were unfilled. The reduction in the headcount had increased the workload for remaining staff, leading to higher stress levels and decreased job satisfaction, Motsoaledi pointed out. He assured parliament the remaining staff “continue to provide good quality clinical services”, but conceded having fewer personnel negatively affected the number of patients that could be attended to. The February budget set aside a consolidated health budget that will grow by a nominal 3.4% over the medium term. This is below the Treasury’s estimate that inflation would average 4.7% over the next three years, meaning the budget will shrink in real terms. Meanwhile, the Treasury is finalising the medium-term budget policy statement, due to be released in October. Provinces will be looking for relief from their budget pressures, which are being felt across all front-line services, including education. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Shortage of staff no excuse for ill-treatment of patients at Helen Joseph, Wits professor insists SowetanLive reports that according to Prof Shabir Madhi, from the health and science faculty at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), poor infrastructure and lack of staff does not excuse health workers from extending their services to vulnerable patients. He said they were fully aware of the poor infrastructure and the shortage of healthcare workers at most health facilities in Gauteng. Nonetheless, they were fully committed to ensuring that Wits trained students to be compassionate and to maintain the dignity of all patients when engaging with them. Madhi's sentiments came after the release on social media of a video recorded by former broadcaster Tom London about lack of care that patients were subjected to at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, where he had been hospitalised. In the six-minute video, London shows non-functioning equipment, poor infrastructure and also alleges a patient died without being attended to for hours. He also complains about lack of compassion by health workers towards their patients. Madhi acknowledged that staff were often stretched to capacity to provide optimal healthcare, coupled with managing rotation (especially interns) and other administrative challenges. “[But] this does not excuse us from extending professional healthcare services to vulnerable patients,” Madhi pointed out. He encouraged health workers to treat patients with dignity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nandi Ntini at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Firefighters contain blaze at Joburg Country Club, all staff accounted for and no injuries reported News24 reports that a building at the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park caught fire on Tuesday afternoon. “City of Johannesburg emergency management services received a structural fire call around 4.20pm. On arrival at Johannesburg Country Club, firefighter crews found the building gutted with flames,” Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi indicated. Employees had to be evacuated as dark plumes of smoke rose from the building. The fire was contained in the kitchen, reception area, and dining hall. "So far, we don't have any injuries that have been reported," Mulaudzi said, adding that all staff had been accounted for. Security was tight at the premises and members of the media were denied access. A group of staffers was seen leaving the premises with their belongings. One staff member reported that he had heard a commotion while he was in the building, and people were screaming "fire fire". He added: "I saw smoke, but I was not sure where it was coming from. I then followed the voices that were calling us to come out, and I just went out of the building." Watch a video clip and read the original of the short report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya and Alfonso Nqunjana at News24 Pilots, air traffic controllers and others told to go for re-examination after fraudulent medical certificates issued The Citizen reports that pilots, air traffic controllers, cabin crew, flight engineers and other aviation personnel who have been examined by a former senior Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME) have been urged to present themselves for re-examination and certification. This after the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on Tuesday said it was finalising an investigation into alleged improper and fraudulent conduct by Dr Nonhlanhla Sishaba, who was designated to ensure aviation personnel, including pilots, meet the required standards for a valid license. The SACAA said the probe followed a series of non-compliance and enforcement actions taken by the regulator against Sishaba. SACAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said the SACAA online system flagged that Sishaba continued to examine and issue medical certificates, in gross violation of civil aviation regulations. “Under the regulations, all the certificates issued from 1 April 2024 are therefore invalid. All license holders who received medical certification from Dr Sishaba from this date must present themselves for re-examination and certification to a current and valid DAME within the next 15 working days. Further investigations identified the alleged use of non-medical and unauthorised personnel for conducting medical assessments and filing of fraudulent and incomplete medical reports in the SACAA medical system,” Gwebu indicated. Sishaba’s designation is under scrutiny due to ongoing investigations into alleged improper and fraudulent conduct. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Wesizwe finalises retrenchments as it plans Bakubung platinum mine ramp-up Business Report writes that Wesizwe Platinum has completed a retrenchment exercise at the Bakubung platinum mine, where from early next year it will be ramping up production prior to a concentrator upgrade exercise. In November last year, Wesizwe said it was pursuing negotiations pursuant to retrenchments at the Bakubung mine, which was switching to new mining methods aimed at reducing operating expenditure. In December, the Bakubung mine was rocked by an underground sit-in protest by employees. There had been disputes with mineworkers prior to the sit-in, some of whom felt that they were being unfairly treated by the company over the mine’s retrenchment processes. According to Wesizwe, it has now completed Section 189 (retrenchment) negotiations with mineworkers affected by its switch to a new mining method. It had been feared that the restructuring would impact as many as 345 employees. Wesizwe advised that out of the 345 redundant positions, an unnamed number of employees had been laid off due to natural attrition, while other employees had been transferred to in-house vacancies. Others had opted for voluntary separation packages. “Ultimately, only 13 employees were retrenched, of which seven of the 13 are to be absorbed by the company’s training services provider,” Wesizwe reported in a statement. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tawanda Karombo at Business Report Bushveld Minerals embarks on cost cutting initiatives, including retrenchments Mining Weekly reports that Bushveld Minerals has begun work on cost-cutting and development initiatives to return the company to profitability. The company said on Tuesday that this decision was driven partly by global market conditions, but also by the recent decision to focus on its core operating asset Vametco, while disposing of other assets, including its downstream energy assets, the Mokopane development project, and Vanchem. Bushveld said it was pursuing a multipronged approach to reducing costs and maintaining Vametco's production. This included reducing the current labour complement at both Vametco and head office to ensure a fit-for-purpose structure enabling the long-term sustainability of the company. In that regard, Section 189 (retrenchment) notices will be issued to affected employees. "These initiatives are vital to ensure a sustainable long-term business for the benefit of all stakeholders, from those that work at and live near the mine, to those that have provided the vital funds required for Vametco to stay in business within this prolonged, weak pricing environment," Bushveld Minerals CEO Craig Coltman stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Operation Vala Umgodi leads to three arrests for illegal mining in Northern Cape The Citizen reports that three suspects were arrested and charged for the possession of illegal mining equipment in the Northern Cape on Saturday. According to Northern Cape SA Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane, it was later found that two of the suspects were in the country illegally and they were then charged with the contravention of immigration laws. The multi-disciplinary team of Operation Vala Umgodi, comprising different stakeholders, were conducting disruptive actions and high-visibility patrols around the illegal mining area in Kleinzee. While conducting stop and searches in the Bontekooi informal settlement, the members came across three men in possession of suspected illegal mining implements. The suspects were expected to appear in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The team continues to clamp down on illicit mining activities in the Namakwa district. In another illegal mining case, 65-year-old homeowner Nthabisseng Tsimane and 31-year-old Tshepang Evans Kgasago appeared in Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The two were arrested for illegal mining, tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods. It is alleged that the homeowner allowed a group of men to utilise a hole in one of her bedrooms as an entrance to the nearby Khuseleka mine shaft. Their case was postponed to 16 September 2024 for formal bail applications. The case of the eight other suspects is still in process. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Oratile Mashilo at The Citizen
Maj-Gen Mpembe, five others acquitted for the five 13 August 2012 Marikana deaths TimesLIVE reports that the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (Seri) says it is disheartened with the acquittal on Monday of former North West police commissioner Maj-Gen William Mpembe and five other officers for their alleged involvement in the events in Marikana on 13 August 2012. This was three days before the notorious Marikana massacre when 34 mineworkers were shot and killed. The events on 13 August resulted in the deaths of mineworkers Semi Jokanisi, Thembelakhe Mati and Pumzile Sokanyile as well as W/O Tsietsi Hendrik Monene and W/O Sello Ronnie Lepaauku. A few days into the strike at the Marikana mine in the North West, mineworkers marched from Karee shaft towards the K4 shaft of the Lonmin mine to persuade others to join the strike. Before reaching the shaft, the mineworkers turned back to return to the koppie that they had occupied in Wonderkop. They were intercepted by the police, led by Mpembe, who attempted to negotiate with the mineworkers, seeking to disarm them of their traditional weapons. However, the police suddenly refused to continue with negotiations. Mpembe was later charged in his capacity as head of the operation for instructing police to fire teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets which led to the chaos that resulted in the deaths of the mineworkers and police officers. Mpembe was also charged with the attempted murders of six surviving mineworkers and one police officer. The other five accused were charged alongside Mpembe with the murder of Sokanyile, who died as a result of being shot in the head after allegedly being pursued by the police, about 620m from the scene of the main confrontation. All the accused were acquitted on Monday in the Mahikeng High Court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE
Job market sees some positive signs of recovery even amid rising unemployment City Press reports that despite SA’s unemployment rate continuing to rise and having reached 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024, the job market has shown some promising signs of recovery. The August 2024 Job Market Trends report from online recruitment platform Pnet offers a glimpse of optimism for job seekers. According to the report, local hiring activity increased by 8% between June and July 2024, indicating a steady upward trend. Year-on-year, hiring activity grew by 4% compared to July 2023, while a two-year comparison shows a 3% rise in recruitment activity since July 2022. The report highlights several fields experiencing an increased demand for skilled professionals, including Business Analysis (IT); Nursing and Professional Caregiving (Medical and Health); Executive Management / Directorship (Business and Management); Quality Control (Manufacturing and Assembly); and Building Project Management (Construction). These fields reflect the sectors showing the highest hiring activity growth in recent months. Notably, the architecture and engineering sectors reported a 9% year-on-year increase in hiring, while manufacturing and assembly saw a 6% uptick. Pnet’s report also emphasises the ongoing demand for accounting skills, aligning with the government’s National List of Occupations in High Demand published in April 2024. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sthembiso Lebuso at City Press (subscriber access only)
Top private school fires sports coordinator for failing to disclose dismissal for misconduct at another school News24 reports that a top private school has fired its sports coordinator after finding him guilty of failing to disclose that he had previously been dismissed for misconduct by another school. Pinnacle College Founders Hill, in Modderfontein, Gauteng, which is owned by private education group ADvTECH, confirmed that Richard Dannhauser was no longer working at the school. The institution suspended him on 16 August after revelations emerged about him being found guilty of misconduct while he was the director of cricket at Sutherland High School in Centurion, Pretoria. Dannhauser was charged by Pinnacle College for non-disclosure of his previous misconduct at the time of his latest appointment as sports coordinator on 6 May. He started working at Sutherland High in August 2023 and resigned in March before he could face several charges of misconduct. Despite his resignation, Sutherland High held a disciplinary hearing against him. On 4 April 2024, Sutherland High informed Dannhauser that his employment had been terminated after he was found guilty on some of the charges, which included sexual harassment, assault, inappropriate behaviour in the presence of pupils during cricket practice, and general inappropriate conduct towards pupils. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (registration required)
Transnet starts disciplinary action against 12 executives in national ports authority Fin24 reports that Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips told MPs on Tuesday that the company had initiated disciplinary action against 11 executives at the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), plus CEO Pepi Silinga, who has been suspended from his position since March. Phillips was briefing Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Transnet's financial performance for 2023/24. Silinga was suspended following a forensic report into the award of a tender for the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Ngqura that had been flagged by a whistleblower. Before his suspension, Silinga himself had been investigating corruption at the TNPA. Phillips said that Bowmans had been asked to investigate all the allegations. "There were matters that Silinga and some members of this team were alleged to have been involved in, and then there were also matters that Silinga was investigating. Bowmans found the allegations were founded in both instances and referred it to the board for a decision." Phillips took over as acting CEO of Transnet last October following the abrupt departure of former CEO Portia Derby. A new board, appointed in July 2023, appears to have taken on a central operational role at the request of then-Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. The consequence was much higher board fees and many board meetings over 2023/24. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 (registration required)
Seven Durban cops and civilian in court after arrest by Hawks on ‘counterfeit cigarettes’ extortion charges TimesLIVE reports that seven police officers and a civilian appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on corruption charges. Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Simphiwe Mhlongo said members of the Durban serious corruption investigation unit arrested three off-duty police officials and one civilian on Sunday in connection with a complaint about corruption in Phoenix. He elaborated: “The complainant alleged while he was busy at his shop a customer entered and requested three boxes [cartons] of cigarettes. He paid R400 and was given his change. A few minutes later, four suspects entered the shop and one introduced himself as a police official. He introduced his accomplices as colleagues from Pretoria. They searched the shop and confiscated cigarette stocks, claiming they were counterfeit.” They then demanded the owner’s gun and drove him to the Phoenix police station where they demanded a R100,000 bribe to release him and his stock. The man contacted his wife, who managed to raise R79,500 and alerted the Hawks. A meeting point was arranged and the suspects were arrested after taking the cash. On Tuesday morning, four more police officials handed themselves over to the Hawks and were also charged for corruption. The eight suspects, aged between 31 and 54, were charged with corruption. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mfundo Mkhize at SowetanLive. Read too, Seven police officers arrested for extortion linked to cigarettes in KZN, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
City of Cape Town pushes for Prasa’s finalisation of its plan to manage commuter rail GroundUp reports that the City of Cape Town has approached lawyers acting for the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) for a response to a service level plan for management of the Metrorail network. The City received no response more than a month after sending Prasa on 29 July a “legally vetted” service level plan, which had been negotiated with Prasa, for its own vetting and signature. A letter from the City to Prasa’s attorneys on 30 August, followed with another on 6 September, relates to an application at the Western Cape High Court brought by commuter activist organisation #UniteBehind in October last year to compel Prasa and the City to finalise a service level plan for commuter rail. The City’s lawyers indicate that the City has “followed up on numerous occasions” since submitting the plan, but has had no response. They ask Prasa to explain the delay and ask that Prasa “prioritise the finalisation of this matter”. Agreement on the plan would be the first step toward the municipality managing commuter rail in line with national policy and the Land Transport Act of 2009. The Act states commuter rail should be located “in the appropriate sphere of government”, and the City has been trying to claim this responsibility since 2017. #UniteBehind’s Joseph Mayson said the service level plan the City submitted to Prasa was “very tame” and they would be meeting with their lawyers on Friday to discuss it. “My feeling is it is a very weak document; it uses pre-existing responsibilities and doesn’t introduce any higher standards than Prasa says it already wants to comply with in terms of its corporate plan,” he noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Steve Kretzmann at GroundUp
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