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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Three teachers and general worker seek protection orders against 'threatening' Joburg primary school principal News24 reports that in what could possibly be an unprecedented move in SA, three teachers along with a general worker from a primary school in Johannesburg are seeking a protection order against their principal whom they allege has been threatening them. The four from Everest Primary School in Newclare are hoping that the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court will grant the order against their headmaster, Brian Berry, on 26 September. The four attended court on two previous occasions in connection with the matter. One of the teachers, Shahied Allie, alleged in his 11 July application for the protection order that he was "verbally ridiculed" by Berry and that this subsequently "escalated to threatening me with physical violence". Another teacher, Theodelcia Wessels, stated in her application that she was threatened by the principal in a meeting. "I have been harassed since he started as the principal because he does not want me to be part of his SMT [senior management team],” she alleged. General assistant Craig de Lange stated in his application that he sometimes felt like not going to work "because of all the threats". Approached for comment, Berry denied the allegations against him, describing them as "ridiculous and having no merit". He initially said that he had never threatened any of the four staff members but later indicated that he was not allowed to speak to the media and referred queries to the Gauteng Education Department's legal department. The department requested more time to provide comment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (registration required) Search launched for police trainee who went missing in Pretoria on Thursday News24 reports that police have launched an investigation after a police trainee went missing in Pretoria on Thursday. Tristan Chowles, 23, was undergoing a nine-month Basic Police Learning Development Programme at the Tshwane Police Academy. He was admitted to a hospital in Pretoria on Wednesday after developing health complications and was discharged from hospital on Thursday. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe indicated: "He (Chowles) went missing from the hospital after getting discharged. The South African Police Service has launched an investigation and a widescale search." Chowles is 1.78m tall and had short blonde hair and blue eyes. A missing person's case has been opened at the Garsfontein police station. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24. See too, Search for missing police trainee after discharge from hospital, at TimesLIVE. En ook, Jong polisiestudent in Pretoria vermis, by Maroela Media Members of SAPS raise health concerns after water supply at Brixton police station cut Sunday Independent reports that employees at Brixton police station in Johannesburg have raised concerns about their health and poor working conditions. This follows Joburg Water cutting the water supply at the police station last week. The employees said all the toilets have been locked, forcing them to share one that is not being cleaned. Inmates are even taken to Sophiatown police station because the holding cells are also affected. “Even at courts, there is no water. We went there to use their bathroom and they told us they also did not have water,” claimed the employees. The matter has apparently been taken up with the Department of Public Works, but it is unclear when it will be resolved. Support head Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Wiese said his office was trying to arrange a water tanker or two to supply the station in the meantime. “Until water tankers arrive, commanders must evaluate the situation at his or her component on a day-to-day basis and decide how he or she will be managing personnel under their command,” Wiese indicated. He said the Community Service Centre must remain operational 24 hours and members were requested to use alternative options for bathrooms such as the court, filling stations and recreation centre across the road from the station. “Personnel are requested ‘Not to Use’ any of the toilets or bathrooms at the station until water supply has been restored as this will cause blockages in the drains that must fixed again,” Wiese added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Manyane Manyane at Sunday Independent Simon's Town naval buildings renamed in honour of three submariners who died at sea News24 reports that the three main buildings at the SA Navy base in Simon's Town have officially been renamed after the three submariners who died at sea a year ago. Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector, Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela lost their lives after being swept off the SAS Manthatisi off the coast of Kommetjie in the Western Cape in September last year. The crew had been conducting "a vertical transfer" exercise involving a SA Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter and the vessel. On Friday, an emotional ceremony was held at the Simon's Town Naval Base as colleagues and Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, the chief of the SA Navy, observed the one-year anniversary of three submariners' death. The families of the sailors were present. Lobese advised that a board of inquiry had found that no one was responsible for the tragedy. "At the end, it was nature, working through the wind and waves, that had the final say,” Lobese indicated. He added that the mariners on board the submarine, who suffered no injuries at the time of the incident, would be awarded bravery medals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24 (registration required)
Cosatu wants Mantashe to stop ‘callous’ Seriti’s jobs bloodbath Sunday World reports that trade union federation Cosatu wants Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum Gwede Mantashe to intervene in the planned retrenchment of more than 1,100 workers by mining and energy company Seriti Resources. The coal producer announced last week that it had embarked on a Section 189A consultation process, which is expected to result in the retrenchment of 1,137 employees. The company said its multi-product operations at Middelburg Mine Services and at Klipspruit South-east pit, Mpumalanga, “are not currently commercially sustainable and require material restructuring to improve unit costs and the prospects of future sustainability”. Furthermore, “these mines continue to be adversely impacted by, amongst others, Transnet under-performance and generally market volatility.” The mines are located on the Mpumalanga Highveld, where coal mining remains the lifeblood of the local economy. Cosatu accused Seriti of being a “callous employer with exploitative intentions and relentless greed.” Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela stated: “What is beyond shocking is the company’s replacement of permanent, highly skilled employees with contractors to fulfil its main objective of exploitation and to maximise profit … To impulsively embark on a jobs bloodbath at the expense of hundreds of workers who have families to feed in a strained economy is vicious.” Sabela called on Mantashe to intervene, saying the federation trusted he would “heed our joint call with our vigilant affiliate, NUM, and engage productively to save the jobs of these employees”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lucas Ledwaba on page 12 of Sunday World of 22 September 2024 Half of new Northern Cape copper mine’s employees are from host communities Mining Weekly reports that half of the employees of the emerging Prieska Copper Zinc Mine in Northern Cape were, as of 30 June, made up of members of the host community towns of Prieska, Marydale, Vanwyksvlei and Niekerkshoop. This was reported by Orion Minerals on Friday. Through the development of its mineral resources base located in SA’s Northern Cape, Orion Minerals aims to be a next-generation base metals producer supplying future-facing metals for the global transition to a lower carbon future. The final drawdown from the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation of SA and Triple Flag funding facilities, which collectively totaled R370-million for site establishment and trial mining, was received this month. Trial mining has already resulted in 103 members out of a total of 206 on-site employees being near-mine people, the JSE-listed Orion stated in a release. In addition, a consequential proportion of the Prieska mine’s goods, services and subcontracting opportunities have been awarded to local suppliers in that 69% of contracts have been awarded to businesses that are either based in, or employ labour from the host communities of Siyathemba and Vanwyksvlei, and 31% to businesses located elsewhere in the Northern Cape. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
‘This is a personal witch hunt,’ claims TANG restaurant CEO amid labour law compliance crackdown The Citizen reports that a recent crackdown by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has embroiled prominent restaurants, including TANG and Ocean Basket, in a labour law compliance controversy. The DEL raid last Wednesday resulted in the temporary closure of TANG’s Sandton establishment. TANG CEO and Founder, Nicky van der Walt, vehemently denied claims of non-compliance, labelling media reports as “sensationalist and false journalism”. Van der Walt claimed: “TANG feels like this is a personal witch hunt to tarnish TANG’s award-winning image.” He also watered down the allegations surrounding the arrest of a manager during the raid. “Our HR Manager was never arrested nor charged with any malpractice; she was interviewed in relation to employee record verification,” Van der Walt clarified. TANG further addressed allegations of employing undocumented workers, explaining that four workers taken into custody had valid work permits or were in the process of renewing expired ones. The DEL last week embarked on a four-day multi-inspection blitz following Babel restaurant in Menlyn, Pretoria, being investigated for labour law violations. Babel was exposed on TikTok by one of its former employees Mihlali Nobavu, who alleged that the company ill-treated and exploited its employees. Ocean Basket also refuted allegations of labour law non-compliance following a raid at its Menlyn location on 15 September. The establishment said an independent investigation found no evidence of illegal foreign workers, confirmed that all staff received wages, tips, and commission, and verified that no money was owed to staff members. Ocean Basket expressed concerns over the DEL’s handling of the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Enkosi Selane at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Suspended SAA chief medical officer denies allegations of misconduct and seeks reinstatement BusinessLive reports that SAA’s suspended chief medical officer Nonhlanhla Sishaba has denied allegations of misconduct levelled against her by the airline and the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). She has sent SAA a letter of demand seeking to be reinstated and has also demanded that the two organisations retract their media statements about her and issue a public apology. SAA suspended Sishaba on 10 September after SACAA instructed more than 100 pilots, cabin crew, flight engineers and air traffic controllers to undergo new medical examinations, alleging she had cleared them to fly without the authority to do so. “I categorically deny the allegations levelled against [me] by the civil aviation authority and SAA. The innuendo in the media releases is that I, through fraud, compromised public safety. This is simply not true,” said Sishaba in a statement issued on her lawyer Emile Myburgh. She had demanded SAA reinstate her within seven days and would seek damages for defamation, said Myburgh. Earlier this month, SACAA said Sishaba’s status as a designated aviation medical examiner (DAME) had expired on 31 March, but she had continued to conduct medical examinations and unlawfully cleared people to fly. None of the medical certificates she issued after this date were valid, according to the civil aviation authority, which directed all the affected people to undergo new medical examinations within 15 days. Speaking through her lawyer, Sechaba claimed that SACAA had on two previous occasions allowed her to issue medical certificates after her DAME status had expired and approval of her renewal application was pending. In neither of those instances had it accused her of fraud, thus setting a precedent. SAA said it stood by its decision to place Sishaba on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the investigation conducted against her by SACAA and SAA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive
Mining Qualifications Authority boss facing allegations of sexual misconduct and creating a toxic work environment City Press reports that the Mining Qualifications Authority’s (MQA’s) CEO, Thabo Mashongoane, is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct and allegations of creating a toxic work environment. Chief financial officer Lebogang Matlala has accused Mashongoane of kissing her without her consent, after a work meeting at a Joburg restaurant in August last year. This led her to file a sexual harassment complaint. For over a year, other than a fact-finding inquiry, the investigation into the complaint was not finalised and the complainant received no feedback, despite the entity’s board saying the matter would be taken seriously. Matlala was, however, informed on Thursday, just hours after City Press reached out to Mashongoane for comment, that an investigation had found no proof of her claims. She lodged a second grievance in June 2024, claiming that Mashongoane was making her working environment a living hell by victimisation because of her sexual harassment complaint. In the grievance form, Matlala accused the CEO of abuse of power, a witch-hunt, a culture of lawlessness and attacks for upholding ethical conduct in the entity, because she had reported him for sexual harassment. Matlala claimed in the grievance letter that the CEO had used every possible opportunity, especially staff meetings, to ridicule and degrade her in front of colleagues. Matlala also said there had been internal efforts to mediate the tension, but that she was told she was the one who started it and must withdraw the sexual harassment case. Mashongoane has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscriber access only)
Nearly 600 Correctional Services officials dismissed in last five years The Citizen reports that the level of corruption within correctional services in SA was detailed in recent parliamentary discussions. A written response to a parliamentary question reported on the disciplinary outcomes at the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for the 2019/20 to 2023/24 financial years. A total of 1,679 officials were suspended over those five years, with 586 of those resulting in dismissals. Dismissals reflect termination of service, while suspensions fall into two categories. Some charges come with an automatic suspension based on the seriousness of the offence, while other suspensions are considered if the presence of the employee poses a danger to the investigation. Of the 1,679 suspensions, 1,393 of the cases have been finalised and 286 are still pending. The 586 dismissals represent 42% of all suspensions in the last five years. The new Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald has stamped his authority on the department in his first three months in charge. The minister’s spokesperson Euné Oelofsen commented: “The minister has said on record that, by far, the majority of employees within the department are hard-working, honest employees with integrity. “Incoming employees should take note of the zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. New appointments should be based on merit and persons should be fit for purpose.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jarryd Westerdale at The Citizen
Three new cop recruits arrested for extortion after just three weeks on the job at Olievenhoutbosch police station City Press reports that three SA Police Service (SAPS) recruits, who completed their training three weeks ago, have been arrested for extortion and kidnapping. The trio, from the Olievenhoutbosch police station in Centurion, allegedly went to Pretoria Central, which is out of their policing jurisdiction, where they cornered Ethiopian national Yoseph Weldemokel and held him hostage until extortion money was paid up by his brothers. According to the incident report, on 17 September in Marabastad, west of Pretoria, the three officers searched his car after his way had been blocked by the BMW vehicle of an accomplice. They found 36 branded pairs of takkies. Weldemokel was taken by the two female police members and a male police member in full uniform to the Olievenhoutbosch SAPS. On arrival, they demanded R50,000 in order for him not to be arrested. Weldemokel only had R10,000 on him, but they refused to take it. According to the report, two of Weldemokel’s brothers were called to the police station and later handed over R50,000 in cash. The three police officers and the driver of the BMW then allowed Weldemokel to take possession of his own vehicle, but not before they took the 36 pairs of branded shoes he had in his car. Weldemokel opened a case of kidnapping and extortion, and the constables were arrested. The trio appeared in court on Friday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Abram Mashego at City Press (subscriber access only)
MyCiTi bus fares to decrease at beginning of October IOL News reports that MyCiTi bus fares are set to decrease on 1 October, bringing some relief to commuters across Cape Town. This adjustment follows a steady decline in diesel prices over the past three months, allowing the City to pass on savings to passengers. Each year, fares are reviewed on 1 July, based on the City’s budget. This year’s fare cut will be particularly welcome for those relying on public transport in challenging economic times. The updated fare structure includes reductions across various distance categories. Trips of 0-5 km will drop from R12.50 to R11.50 during peak hours, while off-peak fares will remain at R10.50. Others reductions are outlined in the news article. Peak fares will apply on weekdays between 6.45am and 8am, and 4.15pm and 05:30pm, while off-peak rates are available all day on weekends and public holidays. The Myconnect card will continue to cost R40, with no additional fees for minor tap-in and tap-out mistakes. “We welcome this fare reduction during these harsh economic times as every cent counts,” Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ronewa Jessica Mashamba at IOL News
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