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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Home Affairs Minister overhauls work visa regime, making it easier for SA to attract skilled foreigners Fin24 reports that Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Minister Leon Schreiber has gazetted groundbreaking regulations to make it easier for skilled immigrants to work in SA while protecting jobs at the bottom end of the labour market. The regulations introduce a points system to evaluate applications for general work and critical skills visas. Applicants must have 100 points to qualify for a visa. Previously, individuals could only apply for a general work visa if an occupation was on the government-approved critical skills list. An earnings threshold of R650,976 a year will apply, limiting foreigners' access to work visas for jobs at the lower end of the spectrum. Under the new regulations, all applicants on the critical skills list qualify immediately for a visa with 100 points. An applicant whose occupation is not on the list is evaluated by qualifications; earnings plus an offer of employment; experience; language proficiency in one official language; and offer from a trusted employer. To become a trusted employer, companies must meet certain criteria, including employing 60% South Africans. The Remote Work Visa will enable highly paid individuals who earn above R650,976 a year who are employed abroad and do not compete with local workers to work legally in SA. Foreigners who are not tax resident abroad will be required to register with SARS, as will foreigners who spend more than 183 days of a 12-month period in SA, where a double taxation agreement applies. The new regulations circumvent the highly politicised process around the composition of the critical skills list, which has been the responsibility of the Department of Employment & Labour. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 (trial registration required). Read too, Visa relief for SA employers as Schreiber gazettes reforms, at BusinessLive. And also, Home Affairs introduces visa reforms to boost economic growth, at The Citizen
Major labour law amendments on the cards for South Africa BusinessTech reports that a “new wave” of labour law amendments is in the pipeline for SA, with major changes to dismissals and retrenchment. Labour inspectors have been advised to prepare themselves for its implementation. According to Acting Deputy Director-General: Labour Policy & Industrial Relations, Thembinkosi Mkalipi, a Nedlac report, which will explain the changes and set out the agreements and disagreements between the social partners, will be given to Minister Nomakhosazana Meth by the end of October 2024. After the Nedlac process, the Minister will then be requested to table the Bill before the Cabinet to approve it for public comments. “After public comments, the Minister will be requested again to table the Bill before the Cabinet for Parliamentary processes,” Mkalipi advised. He noted that the latest labour law reform was initiated in 2021 following a proposal from Nedlac social partners. He elaborated that the latest amendments were intended to ensure that labour laws were relevant and responsive to the changes and challenges in the current labour market, such as unemployment, growing small businesses and how employers could create employment without compromising job security. The labour law proposals will focus on numerous legislative provisions, including dismissal and retrenchment procedures; severance pay; improved efficiency of the Labour Court; simplification of procedural fairness; a limit on compensation for procedurally unfair dismissals; excluding high-paid employees from specific statutory protection, etc (full list in news article). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luke Fraser at BusinessTech
Violence against ambulance services is a growing crisis in KZN Daily News reports that according to two private ambulance services in Durban, paramedics often come under verbal abuse and are threatened with violence when they attend to patients at collisions or call outs. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane condemned an incident in which one of the department’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles was stoned by community members in eShowe on Sunday. The ambulance was pelted with stones when EMS paramedics responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a motorbike at Obanjeni Reserve. Two privately owned ambulance companies shared their concerns about safety. Prem Balram of Reaction Unit SA (RUSA) ambulance service said security teams accompany paramedics when they attended to patients in high-risk areas. According to Balram, certain communities become volatile when medical assistance is given to a person who is suspected of committing a crime. “Criminals are lurking everywhere and see paramedics as soft targets,” Balram lamented. Gareth Naidoo of KZN VIP Security and Ambulance said paramedics in Phoenix experienced similar incidents of violence against them. “We have had incidents in the townships where paramedics were threatened to be killed if they did not attend to every patient even if it was just one ambulance on the scene,” Naidoo indicated. The Daily News reports lists other reported incidents. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zainul Dawood at Daily News Nelson Mandela Bay clinics under siege as crime makes healthcare work a dangerous occupation Spotlight reports that fearing for their safety, nurses at Booysens Park Clinic in Nelson Mandela Bay now work behind locked gates. Patients are left to wait for hours outside after it suspended indoor queues because of an armed robbery. That clinic is one of several health facilities forced to operate in this manner as a result of armed gangs targeting healthcare workers and patients in Nelson Mandela Bay, which comprises the City of Port Elizabeth and the smaller towns of Uitenhage, Despatch and Colchester. People at Despatch Clinic were robbed for the fifth time in 12 months in August. Earlier this month, Motherwell NU8 Clinic was the target when staff and patients were robbed and the security guard was accosted and robbed. Security guards at Motherwell Community Health Centre were also not spared by criminal gangs when they were robbed of their belongings in July. Joe Slovo Clinic was robbed for the third time this year in September. Mkhululi Ndamase, spokesperson for Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa, told Spotlight various security measures have been taken to ensure the safety of staff and patients, which have saved the workers from potential harm and trauma. "This is why the department has ensured that at each of our almost 1,000 facilities, there are security guards. The department has also installed CCTV cameras, beams, panic buttons that are linked to 24-hour armed response, appropriate fencing, and gates, among other security measures," he said. Ndamase told Spotlight that 119 break-ins and robberies at health facilities across the province caused about R1.5 million in damages in 2023/24 and the current financial year so far. He said that during the 2023/24 financial year, the provincial health department spent over R700 million on security contracts awarded to different companies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luvuyo Mehlwana at News24 (trial registration required)
Inspector of Mines called on to ‘closely monitor’ inquest into Implats accident that killed 13 in November Mining Weekly reports that the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has called on the Chief Inspector of Mines, David Mzisa, to closely monitor the imminent inquest into the accident that claimed the lives of 13 mineworkers at an Impala Platinum (Implats) mine, in Rustenburg, on 27 November last year. A further 73 mineworkers, who were in the same conveyance as their deceased colleagues, were injured. These workers have since been discharged from the hospital and continue to receive psychological and post-traumatic care from the mine. The accident occurred when a lift cage, transporting miners to the surface from the 11 Shaft, suddenly plummeted about 200 m. “We will be following the inquest with keen interest, and we are urging [Mzisa] to monitor it closely, because we will be interested in the outcome and consequence management against anyone found to be in the wrong. No stone should be left unturned,” committee chairperson Mikateko Mahlaule said on Wednesday. In a statement, the committee said it was encouraged at the speed with which the mine moved to implement remedial action by installing new technology on the same conveyance, which will prevent any recurrence of a similar accident. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mining Weekly World Heritage site at Barberton in Mpumalanga not spared from illegal mining The Citizen reports that the arrest of two illegal miners at the Barberton Makhonjwa World Heritage Site in Mpumalanga shows that not even heritage sites are spared from zama zamas (illegal miners). The deputy minister of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, Narend Singh, welcomed the arrest of the illegal miners at UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre on Monday. The site is recognised for its well-preserved succession of volcanic and sedimentary rock formations dating back 3.5 billion years. It is also home to rich biodiversity and some of Earth’s earliest life forms, attracting scientists and researchers from around the world. Singh reported that the actions of the Green Scorpions, a dedicated unit of environmental management inspectors, resulted in the arrest of two suspects involved in unlawful mining activities at the heritage site. “The arrests mark a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to protect South Africa’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage,” Singh said on Tuesday. The Green Scorpions’ operation was in line with national efforts to address the surge in zama zama operations. Meanwhile, according to the SA Police Service (Saps), between 30 September and 6 October, 93 illegal miners were arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi. Of the 93 suspects arrested, 58 of them were arrested in Mpumalanga. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Citizen Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Drip Footwear goes into liquidation, leaving staff without jobs BL Premium reports that local sneaker brand Drip Footwear has been placed in liquidation, resulting in the dismissal of its workforce and the closure of 14 stores nationwide. The winding up of the company comes as a result of a court ruling stemming from a legal battle with advertising agency Wideopen Platform over an unpaid debt of R20m. In a letter to employees dated 7 October, Drip Footwear said it had exhausted all avenues to avoid liquidation and all employment contracts would be terminated immediately. Arrangements would be made to collect company assets as part of the liquidation process, it added. Founded in 2019 by Lekau Sehoana, Drip Footwear sought to promote local craftsmanship and cultural identity. The brand quickly gained popularity thanks to its innovative designs and a robust social media presence and it grew to 25 retail outlets. Despite its initial success, Drip has faced financial challenges in recent months. The court’s decision to liquidate the company has raised concerns about the livelihoods of its employees and the wider impact on their families. The situation has also attracted political attention. Gauteng economic development MEC Lebogang Maile has urged the Reserve Bank to reconsider the withholding of R3.6m from Drip due to violations of foreign exchange regulations. Maile argued that it was important to support local businesses, particularly those founded by historically disadvantaged individuals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nompilo Goba at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Big South African footwear company goes into liquidation, at Daily Investor
Bad news about petrol prices in SA in November Daily Investor reports that the price of oil has risen sharply over the past few weeks as increased tension in the Middle East threatens to disrupt supply, offsetting reduced demand from developed economies. This is likely to minimise any potential petrol price cuts for November and potentially push prices higher if a regional war breaks out between Israel and Iran. Although the Middle East’s role in global oil supply has been limited in recent decades by fracking in the US and increased supply from South America, it remains the source of around a quarter of all oil. Any escalation to the conflict would send the price of oil skyrocketing and over the past week, traders have begun pricing in such a possibility. Crucially, geopolitical tension also tends to result in a stronger dollar as investors flock to safety. This makes the rand relatively weaker and importing oil more expensive for SA. The rand reached R17.64/USD this week, up from R17.03/USD at the end of September, due to escalating geopolitical tensions. These factors have resulted in the rand price for oil rising by 7% to over R1,400 per barrel. If sustained, this will result in increased petrol prices in November. In SA, the rand price of oil is still 18% lower than a year ago. But, the big question, as always, is not the direct impact on inflation rates but the “second round” impact where companies pass on higher input costs to customers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shaun Jacobs at Daily Investor Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Over past two years, nearly R360m spent on overtime for VIP protection officers The Citizen reports that nearly R360 million in overtime has been paid by the SA Police Service (SAPS) to members of the VIP protection unit over the past two years. This was disclosed in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana had inquired about the total overtime payments made to VIP Protection Unit officers for guarding ministers and their deputies. Mchunu, in his response, disclosed that overtime payments totalled R198,045,844) during the 2022/23 financial year. The payments decreased to R161,885,074) in the following year. Both amounts totalled R359,930,918). Gana had also inquired about which ministries had had the highest overtime claims and requested details on the top five ministries. However, Mchunu clarified that overtime claims were consistent across all ministries. “All close protection officers are claiming the same number of hours for overtime, per month, which is 100 hours, due to the extra-ordinary working hours,” Mchunu indicated. In July, Mchunu presented the police’s budget for the 2024/2025 financial year in parliament. The budget for the VIP protection unit was criticised by some MPs during a vote debate in a mini-plenary session. Build One SA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster highlighted the growing size of the executive, which now included 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, as a strain on the police budget. Other MPs argued that these funds would be better spent on crime-fighting efforts. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Traffic officers involved in alleged assault of motorist near Southgate Mall suspended SABC News reports that Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi says the traffic officers allegedly involved in the assault of a motorist have been suspended pending an investigation. According to businessman Thulani Msimango, he was assaulted by two RTMC officers for reportedly refusing to pay a bribe. This after he failed to stop at a stop sign that was apparently not visible on Friday near Southgate Mall. A video of the incident was captured by bystanders as Msimango was continuously beaten. Msibi commented that the conduct of the officers in the video was inappropriate. Read the original of the report in the above regard and view the video at SABC News. Read too, Assault case opened against RTMC officers in Gauteng, at SABC News One government employee on suspension has received a salary for five years BusinessTech reports that the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mzamo Buthelezi, has revealed that 471 public servants are on paid suspensions and that one received a salary for five years. The minister provided this information as part of a parliamentary question and answer session last month. MP Sixolisa Gcilishe asked the minister what number of public servants were currently on paid suspension and what was the longest period a public servant had spent on paid suspension in the 2023-24 financial year. Buthelezi responded that as of the end of July 2024, 288 public servants from national departments and 183 from provincial departments were on paid suspension. He added that 54 public servants from national and provincial departments were suspended for longer than one year. The longest period a public servant has spent while on paid suspension in the 2023-24 financial year was five years, Buthelezi indicated, adding that the employee was from the Department of Defence. Buthelezi explained that the cases where employees have been on paid suspensions for longer than a year were complex and could not be finalised within the prescribed period. In the education sector, cases involving teachers committing sexual transgressions against learners were referred to the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). “The ELRC indicated it has a backlog of cases, which impacts the finalisation of cases,” Buthelezi said. The BusinessTech news reports includes a table showing the cases where public servants have been on paid suspensions for longer than a year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech
Tshwane bus services to be disrupted on Thursday and Friday due to disciplinary process over drivers’ strike in May SABC News reports that commuters using the City of Tshwane Bus Services (TBS) for the rest of this week will experience delays on some routes due to a shortage of drivers. This after the bus service announced a disruption of its bus operations on Thursday and Friday due to a shortage of drivers. Thirty-one bus drivers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) will be appearing before the city’s disciplinary committee for participating in an unprotected strike in May this year. The city’s spokesperson Selby Bokaba advised that 60 bus routes that were normally serviced on weekdays would have 15 less buses on both days. “The shortage will see some of the routes either experiencing delays in the scheduled times or fewer buses, as some of the on-duty drivers will be diverted to the high-volume areas. The following 15 routes will be affected: Villieria 3 Wespark, 1, 7 and 8, Voortrekkerhoogte, Die Wilgers, Lynnwood Manor, Garsfontein 2, Centurion, Danville, Doornpoort 2, East Lynne 1, Murrayfield, Moregloed 1, The Orchards 2.”, Bokaba indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Monique Lewis at SABC News. Read too, Tshwane Bus Services: Expect delays due to shortage of drivers following unprotected strike, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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