In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Decomposed body retrieved from Shaft 11 at Stilfontein mine News24 reports that a decomposed body was hauled out of Shaft 11 at Stilfontein mine in the North West on Tuesday afternoon. Community volunteers who lowered food parcels into the shaft earlier on Tuesday, pulled out the body after they received a note from illegal miners (zama zamas) to let them know they would be sending up bodies. The note stated that they would use the same ropes that were used for the food parcels. Paramedics were on the scene. According to community leader Mandla Charles, there are more bodies underground. "The illegal miners underground are complaining about the sight and stench of the dead bodies. They have asked us to send down the rope to fetch more bodies quickly," said Charles. The zama zamas will apparently prioritise badly decomposed bodies followed by those who died more recently. Four zama zamas who resurfaced told authorities that their colleagues were dying in numbers from hunger. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Zama zamas ask for beef underground as 1,000 units of mageu lowered down, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). En ook, Stilfontein-myn: Ontbinde liggaam na oppervlak gebring, by Maroela Media Food, water sent to zama zamas underground in Stilfontein SowetanLive reports that humanitarian aid started on Monday making its way to illegal miners (zama zamas) underground at several disused shafts in Stilfontein, North West, after a court order over the weekend. On Sunday, the Pretoria High Court ordered several government officials, including the police and the mineral resources minister, to allow “community members, charitable organisations and interested parties” to provide humanitarian aid to the miners underground at shafts 10 and 11 and Margaret shaft. Community-based organisation Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) was granted the interim relief pending the finalisation of the main court application, which will be heard on Thursday. Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe shared images of supplies sent down on Monday afternoon. These included mageu, instant porridge and water. "Police are monitoring the process and are not participating as per the court order," Mathe indicated. More supplies were due to be sent down on Tuesday morning. Police and soldiers began blocking supplies of food, water and other necessities to the illegal miners in mid-October. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khanyisile Ngcobo at . Read too, Police minister found in breach of court order on aid to Stilfontein zama zamas, at Sunday Times Daily Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Denosa concerned about lack of security at Northern Cape health facilities SABC News reports that the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) in the Northern Cape has raised concerns over the lack of security at health facilities, following the stabbing of a 23-year-old man at the Galeshewe Day Hospital on Sunday. According to Denosa Northern Cape Chairperson Derek Sak, repeated requests to the provincial Health Department to address safety issues have been ignored. “We have been pleading with the Department of Health to address the issue of safety and security in the workplace, which has fallen on deaf ears. We have an HOD of Health who doesn’t engage with Denosa in the province. Our position is very clear, the safety of our members and the public is priority number one,” said Sak. The stabbed man is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he is receiving medical treatment. The suspect, who allegedly stabbed the patient multiple times while he was receiving treatment at the hospital, is expected to appear in court this week. Provincial Health spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said the incident was highly regrettable. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Health Department confirms 24 ambulances in Mpumalanga allegedly sabotaged by staff The Citizen reports that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff in Mpumalanga are believed to be behind the sabotage of their own vehicles. The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed that the provincial office was investigating suspicious malicious damage to ambulances by EMS personnel. The DoH was responding to a question posed in parliament. Last week, it provided details of the extent of the problem. Staff members were first implicated in October after 24 ambulances were rendered inoperable due to multiple acts of unexplained damage. Sabotage to the vehicles was first suggested by the automotive dealer tasked with servicing the vehicles after multiple ambulances were sent in for repairs for the same faults. The dealership listed seven suspected acts of sabotage, including the addition of oil to the brake fluid reservoir, fuel contamination, punctured radiator pipes and removed fuses. Other faults that could imply neglect rather than sabotage, included vehicles driven without water in the radiator and damaged seatbelts due to misuse. In her question to the health ministry, EFF MP Lorato Tito-Duba suggested the staff’s motive for the alleged sabotage was in order to skip work. Mpumalanga police could not confirm on Tuesday if any cases had yet been opened against any individuals, while the province’s health department could not confirm if any individual staff members had yet faced any disciplinary action. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jarryd Westerdale at The Citizen
Shock as SA's economy shrunk by 0.3% in third quarter Fin24 reports that the SA economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.3% from the second quarter to the third quarter this year. Economists polled by Reuters had expected growth of 0.5%. In the third quarter, the economy was only 0.3% larger than a year before. The main problem was agriculture, which shrank by almost 30% in the quarter. "Drought plagued the production of field crops such as maize, soya beans, wheat and sunflower. Adverse weather conditions also hindered the production of subtropical fruits, deciduous fruits and vegetables in parts of the country," Statistics SA noted. Excluding the agricultural sector, the economy would have expanded by 0.4%. But there was also a slowdown in transport services, trade (due in part to weak vehicle sales and slow business at restaurants and fast-food outlets) and government spending. Lower employment numbers in the civil service also dragged on economic growth. However, finance - SA's biggest economic sector - grew. Also, there were hopeful signs in other sectors. Stronger manganese and chromium ore production helped boost mining. Iron, steel and machinery production drove much of the upward momentum in manufacturing. The construction sector grew by 1.1% - the biggest increase in two years. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Helena Wasserman at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required). Lees ook, BBP daal in 3de kwartaal; landbou het veral rowwe kwartaal, by Maroela Media
Big fuel price hikes for December dims festive sparkle TimesLIVE reports that motorists are in for an expensive festive season with the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy announcing higher than expected December price increases for petrol and diesel. The retail prices of petrol (93 and 95) will go up by 17c/l on Wednesday, while the wholesale price of diesel will increase 55c/l for high sulphur (0.05%) and 56c/l for low sulphur (0.005%). The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will increase by 49c/l. The department attributed the increases to the rand depreciating against the dollar during the period under review, from R17.53 to R17.95, and the international price of diesel increasing. International prices for petrol decreased, but the Regulatory Accounting System that determines margins for petrol at wholesale, retail and secondary storage and distribution levels has offset any gains and added to under-recoveries for petrol prices. The government has imposed a 15.4c/l increase in the annual margin adjustment on petrol and 8.88c/l on diesel and illuminating paraffin. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive. See too, Here is the official petrol price for December, at BusinessTech. En ook, Brandstofprys-vakansie verby, by Maroela Media
Job losses as Tupperware shuts operations in SA at end of December Cape Argus reports that employees at Tupperware will be laid off after the iconic US food storage container company announced it would be closing operations in SA at the end of December 2024. This after the company filed for bankruptcy in September due to declining sales and increasingly dire financial circumstances. Party Products, a company formed by the lenders, bought certain assets of Tupperware to help the kitchenware company emerge from bankruptcy, with a focus only on the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Korea, India and Malaysia. Head of commercial at Tupperware, Justin Korte, advised: “It now appears that Tupperware South Africa will not be included in the license being assumed by the purchaser and will not be receiving equipment to continue manufacturing products.” Under the circumstances, Korte said the prudent approach was to reduce costs, and consequently, the company had issued Voluntary Severance Packages across the board, with services to terminate on 31 December 2024. Thereafter, any remaining staff who had not accepted the VSP, would be laid off from 1 January 2025. Economist Ulrich Joubert said one of the biggest challenges that Tupperware faced was failing to adjust to the new trends in the consumer market. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sinenhlanhla Masilela at Cape Argus
Nedlac says Solidarity’s agreement with Basic Education Department on BELA Act only binding on those two parties The Star reports that according to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), the agreement reached between trade union Solidarity and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister in respect of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA) is only binding on those parties. While the Act was passed by Parliament in October 2023, and assented to in September, the implementation of sections 4 and 5 have been delayed by three months to allow for multi-party discussions and proposals on resolving the disputes. Lisa Seftel, Nedlac executive director, advised that the agreement reached by Solidarity and the DBE was binding, but only on the parties which signed it. “The agreement does not bind the parliamentary process, or the GNU (Government of National Unity) process or the president, or the clearing house, or the deputy president, or anybody else for that matter. It is an agreement between Solidarity and the minister of Basic Education (Siviwe Gwarube) about the issues that she should raise with the president as a solution to this matter,” Seftel explained. She added that Nedlac’s understanding was that the agreement reached at the council would be used as input into the ongoing GNU process seeking an amicable solution on the matter. Over the weekend, Ramaphosa said the Act would commence if the deadline of 13 December arrived without an amicable solution. “In the end, as the president I signed the bill and I have given three months for solutions to be found. Those solutions have to be credible, and they have to be solutions that everyone buys into,” Ramaphosa indicated. Seftel advised that the Presidency had participated in the Nedlac engagements leading to the agreement between the DBE and Solidarity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jonisayi Maromo at The Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Unpaid EPWP workers in Gauteng in great distress over non-payment issues The Star reports that scores of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants in Gauteng have been expressing their frustration after not receiving payment for three months. A female worker shared her distress, stating: “For the past three months (September, October, and November), we have not been paid. Now it is November, and there is no transparency regarding this. Some of us have heard that an official has used the money. This is affecting all of us who are under the Panyaza project.” The situation escalated when it was reported that a female EPWP participant was allegedly assaulted by her partner after he accused her of lying about the non-payment. Another worker highlighted the urgent need for accountability from the relevant departments. “We asked during a recent meeting for the department to account for this. We recently lost some participants; one from Jabulani, Soweto, was shot, and others have been injured at work while employed under the department,” the worker lamented, illustrating the palpable tensions among staff. In a statement dated 21 November, Blade-Mosley Letafola, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Environmental Health, had confirmed that the department was currently reconciling all submitted claims from EPWP participants who have not been compensated. But, the issue of unpaid salaries is not new and it gained public attention in June when a group of aggrieved EPWP contractors blockaded roads leading to the Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital in Soweto, protesting against alleged corruption and nepotism by a local ward councillor. Earlier this year, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, acknowledged extensive reports about the non-payment of stipends for EPWP participants across various municipalities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star
Teacher unions slam North West education department for circulating retiring teachers' personal details News24 reports that teacher unions have accused the North West basic education department of flagrantly disregarding the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) after it published the personal information of teachers retiring next year in a circular. In a document dated 4 November and entitled ‘Management of Normal Retirements’, the provincial department attached a list of the surnames and initials of 248 employees, including teachers, due to retire in 2025. The list also included the employees' Persal (personnel and salary system) number, date of birth and age. "We are shocked about this blatant disregard for the Protection of Personal Information Act. We have also learnt of an increase in incidents of individuals calling school administrators to obtain personal information of recently retired employees," said Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa). He added schools were being harassed to release certain information of teachers who would be retiring, and some schools were unwittingly releasing this information "exposing employees to possible harm". He explained further: “People know these people are going to come into money and it endangers their own lives and the safety of their children and families. It is unacceptable." George Themba of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union in the North West said that after seeing the circular, the union immediately told the department the attachment with teachers' personal details was problematic. Themba said he was still waiting to hear from the department's acting head of department, Maropene Seshibe, about how they would resolve the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Legal council CEO refused to fill in lifestyle audit form, claiming it invaded staff privacy News24 reports that the CEO of the Legal Practice Council (LPC), Charity Nzuza, objected to a lifestyle audit at the body because it asked staff for details of their family's financial interests. She said she had "never heard of an organisation which invades staff's privacy in that manner". That response brought Nzuza into sharp conflict with the organisation's recently resigned head of risk and compliance, who last week released a report detailing what he described as the deep rot at the regulatory body and Nzuza's alleged failure to address it. He has also provided evidence to the Special Investigating Unit and has asked not to be named out of fear for his safety. Legal Services Ombud Judge Siraj Desai has confirmed that he and his team interviewed the former LPC risk and compliance head about two weeks ago, when he "came to us as a whistleblower". Desai said Nzuza was disputing her accuser's claims. In response to questions, Nzuza said she had "personally approved" lifestyle audits for LPC staff in January 2024 and had agreed for a form about the issue being sent out. But there “had been complaints from staff that they were not willing to sign this form. I said I will not sign this form in its current form, and it must be amended to exclude staff's relatives' private financial and asset information." But, in an email sent on 15 May, Nzuza references the financial disclosure form and asks the official: "Why and who said employees must fill in this form? I find it very inappropriate and invading people's privacy." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Karyn Maughan at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Ice-cream, bathrobes, but not forensic probes: What cash-strapped LPC spent its money on, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
KZN Transport Department to meet with long-distance taxi owners on Thursday to resolve ongoing strike EWN reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport says it will meet with taxi owners on Thursday to resolve an ongoing taxi strike. On Tuesday, operators from the Durban Long Distance Association were on day five of a strike. The long-distance taxi operators have accused the KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements of withholding their permits and not allowing them to reclaim impounded taxis. Several vehicles from the association have been impounded due to not having permits. KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said they would meet to pave a way forward. “We’ve already invited all of them just to make sure that we assemble as a team, we’ve agreed in principle on the issue of adherence and obeying the law that as long as they don’t have permits, they can’t be on the road - we are going to impound them,” he commented. Duma added his department would not tolerate lawlessness. “Our (aim) is to ensure that we apply zero tolerance on the roads so that we attract more tourists and investors in the province.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Nhlanhla Mabaso at EWN Read too, Day Five of long distance taxi strike, at The Witness
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