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 recent
South African labour-related articles.
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SA miners slashed almost 7,000 jobs in second quarter BL Premium reports that SA’s mining industry shed almost 7,000 jobs in the second quarter, reflecting a wave of restructurings and retrenchments over the past year as falling prices of platinum group metals (PGMs), rising input costs and logistical challenges continued to weigh on mining companies. The sharp drop in mining jobs in the past quarter, more than double that of the first three months of the year, took total employment in the industry to 472,000 at end-June, down 1.5% from the midpoint of last year. The implied loss of nearly 10,000 mining jobs in the first half of the year came after job cuts early this year and towards the end of last year, Minerals Council SA chief economist Hugo Pienaar noted. “Though there was already talk of significant mining job losses in the second half of 2023, the formal processes were only concluded earlier this year,” Pienaar pointed out, with the adverse impact on jobs now being reflected in the data. The PGM sector has come under huge pressure from low commodity prices as the rise of electric vehicles brought future demand for the metals, which are primarily used in internal-combustion engines, into question. “Given that the PGM sector is by far the biggest employer in mining – contributing 183,000 of the 479,000 total mining jobs in 2023 – the ongoing uncertainty about future vehicle demand for PGMs remains a big concern,” Pienaar said. On top of declining commodity prices, SA mining companies have been under pressure from rising power costs, which emerged as the primary driver of mining input cost inflation in recent months. Pienaar said Eskom’s application to increase electricity tariffs by more than 36% from April 2025 would be untenable, both for energy-intensive sectors such as mining and for households. Logistics also continue to be a constraint on SA’s mining industry, particularly for iron ore and coal mining companies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Amid ongoing strike, casual worker at Mr Sweet loses finger on duty GroundUp reports that a casual worker at Premier‘s Mister Sweet Factory in Germiston is receiving treatment after his finger was cut off while on duty over a week ago. The worker is among a group of casual workers who have been employed by the company amid a six-week strike by hundreds of its permanent staff members. The Simunye Workers Forum, representing the majority of the striking workers, says it is concerned that the company has continued to operate using casual workers. According to the Forum, these casual workers have not been properly trained and are expected to operate dangerous machines. “The casual workers are not qualified to meet the company’s high production levels, and the reports of injuries are proof enough. Premier should just swallow its pride and allow its qualified workers to go back to work and give them better wages,” said Jacob Potlaki, an organiser from the Simunye Workers Forum. He claimed some of the casual workers have been sleeping on bunk beds on the company premises to try and keep up with the high workload, breaching health and safety regulations. But, Premier spokesperson Sibhion O’Sullivan insisted that casual workers currently running production at the Mr Sweet Factory were qualified. According to the company, officials from the Department of Employment and Labour met with management at the factory on Wednesday and deemed Premier to be compliant with all health and safety requirements. According to O’Sullivan, 385 of a total of 602 employees are participating in the strike, and some workers have returned to work over the past few weeks. She said the company would continue to engage with the workers and their representatives to resolve the strike. The striking workers are asking for a minimum of R12,500 for the lowest-paid workers and R16,500 for workers in higher-level positions. The company has to date stuck to its initial 7% offer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberly Mutandiro at GroundUp
Fairtrade suspends local producer over farm workers’ poor conditions GroundUp reports that Fairtrade International has announced that it has suspended the certification of a South African producer following serious allegations of its farm workers living in poor conditions. This came days after Drakenstein Municipality hosted the first ever International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Africa from 20 to 22 September. During the conference in Paarl last week, dozens of farm workers supported by Women on Farms members picketed outside, expressing their frustration over poor wages and living conditions for workers on farms. Fairtrade-certified farms are meant to uphold international standards for fair working conditions. Some of these are that workers’ pay must be at least the minimum wage, that the right to collective bargaining is upheld, and that there is adequate housing. Farmers and producers who are certified can usually export their goods at a higher price. The premium paid on Fairtrade-certified products is to be kept in a separate account and used to improve the conditions of workers and farmers. While Fairtrade has been tight-lipped on revealing the name of the suspended local producer, the body indicated that this was not the first time producer concerned had been found to be non-compliant. Fairtrade also referenced a study done by Women on Farms last year which highlighted serious violations by certified producers and farmers in the wine industry. “We continued to act accordingly even though the specific names of farms and the associated allegations were not shared with Fairtrade,” the body said. Women on Farms has called for Fairtrade to impose harsher repercussions for certified farms and producers found to be non-compliant. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marecia Damons at GroundUp
Sadtu announces outcome of elections for national leadership; all top eight candidates retain their positions EWN reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has announced its national leadership, with all candidates in the top eight retaining their positions. Magope Maphila has been re-elected as the union’s president, with his deputy Mabutho Cele also remaining Sadtu’s number two. They were re-elected at the union’s 10th national congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Saturday. Maphila has been president of teachers' union since 2014 and has now been elected to serve another five-year term. He will continue to be deputised by Cele, who has also served as the union’s deputy president since the 2014 national congress. Mugwena Maluleke remains the union’s general secretary, while Nkosana Dolopi has been re-elected to serve as his deputy. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Qualifications of Prasa’s acting head of security questioned The Star reports that Alexio Papadopulo, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) acting head of security, has rubbished claims that he’s acting in the position without possessing the required qualifications. Papadopulo also poured cold water on allegations that he was not a SA citizen. He indicated: “I am a South African citizen, born in Pretoria. I have experience in intelligence and background in the security cluster. I also have vast experience with intelligence, SSA and even helped set up the Presidential Climate Commission. I have worked in various roles in both the private and government sectors for the past 22 years.” In justifying his role in the position, Papadopulo said he had been instrumental in restoring the passenger rail services and infrastructure. Furthermore, he pointed out that he had devised an integrated security strategy to help safeguard the restored rail infrastructure, as a result of which Prasa has seen a 75% reduction in infrastructure theft and vandalism. The rebuttal was prompted by an internal source who came forward and detailed how Papadopulo’s acting role as head of security for more than two years flouted Prasa’s regulations. According to the source, Papadopulo was brought into Prasa’s security department in 2021, as a cyber security expert. “In 2022, he was appointed acting head of security at Prasa, and to this day, he is still occupying the position in an acting capacity. The regulation governing acting positions clearly state that no individual is allowed to occupy an acting role for a period exceeding 12 months. Papadopulo is now in his second year in that capacity,” the source alleged. The source also claimed that Papadopulo did not possess a matric certificate. However, Prasa’s spokesperson Andiswa Makanda claimed that regulations for acting positions did not apply to the rail agency. Makanda further said the position of head of security would was advertised in May 2024 and would be filled soon once the process of appointing a candidate for this role had been finalised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Jack at The Star
Emfuleni employees unpaid for September after Eskom attaches bank accounts Sunday Independent reports that the situation at cash-strapped Emfuleni Municipality, headquartered in Vanderbijlpark, has gone from bad to worse as the employees have not received their salaries for September. This was after Eskom recently attached the municipality’s four bank accounts due to an outstanding electricity debt of R8 billion. The employees confirmed on Friday that they had failed to receive their salaries for this month and they also claimed that they were told that the mayor had no plan to resolve the situation. According to the municipal manager, April Ntuli, the situation will remain unchanged until the matter is resolved in court. Emfuleni spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni said a draft agency agreement had been submitted to Eskom for consideration, but they were still dealing with material differences around certain clauses. He confirmed that the municipality was still awaiting judgment by the Pretoria High Court. Emfuleni has been in a financial crisis since 2018 when it was placed under provincial administration. Nico de Jager, DA member of the Gauteng Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) committee, said despite the provincial Cogta taking over the administration of Emfuleni in 2018, there had been little to no improvement in the municipality’s financial management and service delivery. De Jager commented: “This action by Eskom will undoubtedly lead to a complete collapse of service delivery in Emfuleni … The municipality’s inability to access its funds will also jeopardise the payment of salaries to municipal staff, potentially leading to strikes and further deterioration of services.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Manyane Manyane at Sunday Independent. Lees ook, Emfuleni-werker kry meer as R100,000 vir verlof, by Maroela Media Key employees appointed by agriculture minister John Steenhuisen have not been paid for three months City Press reports that key personnel appointed by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen have been working for three months without a salary because their appointments are being delayed. Sources confirmed that there was significant dissatisfaction among his staff due to the “incompetence and malice” within the departments of agriculture and public service and administration, which were obstructing the finalisation of their appointments. Sources also claimed that all of Steenhuisen’s staff – even those not in top positions – had suddenly been subjected to a process for top security clearances after it became known that he had appointed Roman Cabanac, a controversial social media activist, as head of staff within the ministerial office. Steenhuisen asked Cabanac to resign two weeks ago, following sustained pressure from within and outside his party. However, it appears that Cabanac refuses to comply. A letter from Steenhuisen to Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi requesting a deviation from the minimum appointment requirements for candidates in his office apparently never reached Buthelezi. Buthelezi’s office said a month ago that the letter had still not reached his desk. He argued that the reason for this was the protocols and processes it had to go through. The source commented: “It’s clear that there are people within the department who’re opposed to Steenhuisen’s appointment as minister. Information’s being leaked to embarrass him, and his choice of candidates and their academic qualifications are being completely blown out of proportion, taken out of context and used as a political football. The fact of the matter is that ministers’ office staff are linked to the minister’s term, because [their appointments are] based on his personal choices and a relationship of trust. Work experience and trust therefore count much more than qualifications.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Johan Eybers at City Press (subscriber access only). Read too, ‘I have never refused to resign,’ says Cabanac, at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
Gauteng doctors treat patients badly, get paid for hours not worked, nursing union Denosa alleges IOL News reports that the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in Gauteng has castigated medical doctors who continue to defraud the public healthcare system by claiming and getting paid for hours that they do not spend at hospitals. Gauteng Denosa provincial chairperson, Simphiwe Gada, claimed on Sunday that doctors were sometimes not at the hospitals when they were supposed to be performing commuted overtime, yet they got paid for it. Additionally, Gada said these doctors treated patients badly and would need to be re-trained on the Batho Pele principles of government. “On the attitude of doctors, we want to advise Samatu (SA Medical Association Trade Union) to not play to the gallery by condemning all hard-working health workers and managers but rather to invest on training their members, which are the doctors, on ethics and also on the attitude that they display and how they treat our patients. They should treat our patients with dignity,” Gada stated. As an example, Gada referred to the recently case of Tom London, the former broadcaster who was a patient at Helen Joseph Hospital and who complained vigorously about the attitude of doctors within the facility. “Tom London was on record, clear, saying he never received bad treatment from nurses but he noted the bad attitude from the doctors,” Gada pointed out, adding that “theft and corruption comes in many forms in many forms” and currently, the doctors were “getting away with murder”. “They are taking the time that they should be treating South Africans and using it to gain money (at private health facilities),” he claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
GEPF members frustrated by delays, technical issues with ‘two-pot’ system withdrawals City Press reports that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has so far received around 205,000 withdrawal applications for the ‘two-pot’ retirement system with a total value of around R5.7 billion. It has also apologised for the challenges initially experienced by its administrator, the Government Employees Pensions Administration (GPAA), in implementing the new system. The GPAA will only start to make payments this week, unlike private sector funds which started payments within the first week of September. This has raised frustrations among members who were hoping to have funds before month end and who have also complained about technical issues when attempting to make withdrawal applications. The GEPF is the largest pension fund in the country with more than 1.2 million active members and nearly 500,000 pensioners and beneficiaries. Being a defined benefit fund, it has the added complexity of revising members’ years of service in the case of a withdrawal. According to the GEPF, it duly informed members that payments could take up to 60 days and says it is well within its promised turnaround time. However, many members appear to be facing challenges when attempting to lodge their withdrawals or make changes to their personal details. They complain that the self-service app is not working; they are unable to make changes to their banking details; the email helpline is not responding; and phones are not being answered. The biggest frustration for members is that they have no idea whether their application has been received or not. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Maya Fisher-French at City Press (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SAPS ‘speedy’ disciplinary processes hit speed bump Sunday World reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) scored a monumental policy victory last week as expeditious disciplinary measures in the SAPS take a back seat to fair hearings and due process. Popcru successfully stopped the controversial Regulation 9 of the SA Police Service Act, originally designed to swiftly address serious misconduct. However, according to Popcru, the policy quickly devolved into a nightmare. Officers found themselves hurtling down a bureaucratic fast track to unemployment, often without the courtesy of a fair hearing or the opportunity to defend themselves. At a recent Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council meeting, SAPS management finally conceded that using a process that skipped fair hearings and rapid-fire dismissals was not the best idea. SAPS agreed to halt all ongoing cases and manage them centrally at the head office. This new measure will remain in place until the minister of police formally amends the disciplinary regulations. According to Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya, the expeditious process was fundamentally flawed. “We are encouraged by the fact that SAPS management has recognised these issues, and we will continue working to ensure that the expeditious process is permanently removed from disciplinary regulations,” he said. Ngwenya added: “While disciplinary procedures are necessary to maintain order, they must be conducted in a manner that respects all employees’ rights.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at Sunday World
DA and EFF gun for top officials implicated in R100m Mahikeng tender scandals Sunday World reports that at least two political parties in the North West have laid criminal charges with the Hawks against Mahikeng municipal manager Adv Dineo Mongwaketse and manager in the office of the mayor, Lekgowa Mahole, over the R100-million tenders scandal recently exposed. Additionally, the DA has filed a notice of motion to suspend Mongwaketse for “misconduct” and Monday’s council meeting is set to discuss the issue. DA councillor Arista-Louise Annandale joined EFF councillor Gosekwang Sehole in opening a criminal case with the Hawks in Mmabatho against Mongwaketse and Mahole. The two councillors laid charges for corruption and contravention of the municipal finance laws. Sunday World reported two weeks ago that Mongwaketse signed off appointment letters for tenders worth more than R100-million to two companies linked to Mahole. One of the companies is BLTnP Security, which was awarded a three-year contract worth more than R63-million in March. At the time of contract award, the company lacked a VAT registration with SA Revenue Service (Sars). BLTnP Security was also appointed without any council resolution. Mongwaketse also signed off a R29.6-million tender in February last year to build a Mmabatho sports facility for the Global Extensive Network Project, a business joint venture where Alphons Makhoba, a cousin to Mahole, is a director. But Mahole has vehemently denied any links to the two companies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mzilikazi wa Afrika at Sunday World
Two former Kruger National Park rangers sentenced to 20 years in jail for involvement in rhino poaching News24 reports that two former Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers were sentenced on Friday to an effective 20 years in prison for their involvement in rhino poaching. Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu, former field rangers attached to the Crocodile Bridge section of the KNP, were arrested in January 2019. SA National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson JP Louw said the organisation had received information that both of them were involved in the transportation of poaching suspects in the Godleni area in that section, where two carcasses of white rhino were discovered. Vehicle tracking device analysis placed them near to the crime scene. "The two were taken into custody and confessed to taking part in the crime. An amount of R41,000 was recovered from Joe Sihlangu's room, and it was determined that the money was payment for his participation in the commission of the crime," Louw indicated. Mkanzi and Sihlangu were tried and found guilty in the Skukuza Regional Court, and on Friday they were sentenced to four years for conspiracy to commit a crime, 20 years for hunting two rhinos in a national park, and another 20 years for hunting and killing two rhinos in a national park. Some of the sentences will run concurrently, leading to an effective 20 years in prison. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Aphelele Mbokotho at News24 (registration required). Lees ook, Lang tronkstraf vir veldwagters wat renosters stroop, by Maroela Media
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