In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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As at 19h45 on Tuesday, 152 Stilfontein illegal miners retrieved, 60 certified dead SowetanLive reports that a total of 152 illegal miners have been retrieved from underground at Shaft 11 of the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, North West, since the start of government’s rescue operation on Monday. National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe advised that as at 19h45 on Tuesday, 152 illegal miners had been extracted from underground. Out of the illegal miners retrieved, 92 were alive, and 60 were dead. Mathe indicated that Tuesday’s government operation was set to continue until 10pm. She stated that from the total 152 extracted by 19h45 on Tuesday, 92 have been arrested. “All (those) that have been arrested are facing illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the immigration act charges. Two illegal miners who were found in possession of gold have also been charged with being in the illegal possession of gold-bearing material,” Mathe advised. She said the joint operation would continue to provide a regular update on the figures on a daily basis. Government’s rescue operation to retrieve the illegal miners holed underground began on Monday morning. It is working with rescue company Mines Rescue Services (MRS) to retrieve the illegal miners. They are holed underground in Shaft 11 of the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein. The rescue operation will cost government an estimated R12-million. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka at Sunday World. Read too, Operation to retrieve illegal Stilfontein miners off to good start, say mine rescue experts, at EWN Stilfontein residents shout 'voetsek' and hurl insults at Mchunu and Mantashe over zama zama operation News24 reports that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe were forced to abandon their meeting with angry residents of Stilfontein after insults were hurled at them. The pair, who were joined by the North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and the police top brass, walked away from the abandoned Shaft 11 of Buffelsfontein gold mine, where they had addressed the media and residents who were chanting slogans. In one of the residents’ songs, they specifically insulted Mchunu, calling the police minister a dog. The crowd was being addressed by the attorney for Lawyers for Human Rights, Mametlwe Sebei, when they turned on Mchunu and Mantashe. "We should call it what it is. These ministers are here at the scene of the crime. Hundreds of miners have died underground in what can only be a blood culmination of their treacherous policies of the police operation, planned and executed with the approval at the highest echelon of the state, including the Cabinet," Sebei claimed. Mchunu lashed out at Sebei and said: "Look, we came here to listen and see what you wanted to say. If you are preparing for a (criminal) charge, go on. We are leaving you here. You are rude." "Voetsek," residents shouted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Stilfontein community disappointed by ministers not engaging them, at SABC News Mantashe says fight against illegal mining should be intensified TimesLIVE reports that Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) Minister Gwede Mantashe says the government should be intensifying its fight against illegal mining. He was part of a delegation of government ministers, including police minister Senzo Mkhize, that visited an abandoned Stilfontein mine in North West on Tuesday after the start of an operation to ensure that all the illegal miners in the mine were brought to the surface. Mantashe said the criminal aspect of illegal mining was the responsibility of the police “Because there is illegal mining, this is a crime scene. Once a decision is taken to start a rescue operation, I must liaise with mine rescue service, I must talk to the Mineral Council and the owner of the operation.” He went on to indicate: “The reality of the matter is that I have not changed my view that illegal mining is a criminal activity. What will never shift to me is the way we deal with illegal mining. It should be intensifying the fight against illegal mining.” In Mantashe’s view, illegal mining is a crime against the economy. “It is a criminal activity. It is an attack on our economy by foreign nationals in the main,” Mantashe stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Pregnant employee shot at KFC drive-through window in Gqeberha SABC News reports that police in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape are investigating a case of attempted murder after a four-month pregnant employee was shot at a drive-through window at a fast-food outlet. Police spokesperson Andre Beetge said the incident occurred on Monday night at Koyana street in Zwide. “It is alleged that an unknown male suspect shot a female employee of KFC through the drive through window. She is four months pregnant and was rushed to hospital for medical attention. The suspect drove a white Nissan double cab bakkie and SAPS are looking for this suspect. An attempted murder case was opened and is being investigated by the police in Kwazakhele,” he reported. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Taxi security guard killed and seven persons wounded in shootout at Nyanga taxi rank SABC News reports that a taxi security guard was fatally shot, and seven others were injured during a shootout involving rival taxi groups in Nyanga on the Cape Flats. Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembesile Patekile confirmed that 13 rifles and seven handguns were seized at the scene. Nineteen security guards have been taken in for questioning as part of the investigation by the provincial taxi task team. Patekile said the shooting was between two warring groups within the same taxi organisation. “So, they were shooting at each other, guarding different groups within the same association. The motive at this stage, we are informed that it is about money. There is bucket money or collection money that get collected in the taxi industry, which is used for various things. That’s where the gist of the matter is,” he indicated. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Ga-Chuene Clinic in Limpopo reopens after brutal attack on nurses IOL News reports that the Ga-Chuene Clinic outside Polokwane in Limpopo has reopened after two nurses were recently attacked. The Limpopo Department of Health announced the reopening of the clinic on Tuesday, after it was temporarily closed following incidents of break-in, abduction and the sexual assault of nursing staff. It is alleged a heavily armed man entered the clinic, overpowered three security personnel, and tied them up before abducting two nurses. The incident happened around 1am last Friday while the nurses were on night duty, and they only reappeared around 5am in the morning. The department said the decision to reopen was made after thorough consultations with staff, unions, the clinic committee, and local traditional authorities. The clinic will now only operate during the day, Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm. Spokesperson Kapudi Moagi indicated: “The department recognises that the current environment poses challenges, and the safety of the staff remains paramount. Hence, more efforts are being directed towards working diligently to create a secure atmosphere for both healthcare providers and the community.” Phillip Maponya of the Public Servants Association (PSA) indicated that the union was concerned about the security system’s failure. He said a single perpetrator overpowering three security guards raised pressing questions about the adequacy and efficiency of security services provided by the contracted service provider. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thobeka Ngema at IOL News
National Treasury veteran Mmakgoshi Lekhethe to take helm of IDC in February BL Premium reports that the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC’s) new CEO, Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, will take over the role next month, the development institution said on Tuesday. The IDC in December announced the appointment of Lekhethe as its next CEO to replace Tshokolo Nchocho, who stepped down at the end of 2023. Lekhethe, who previously served as the Treasury’s deputy director-general in charge of asset and liability management, will begin her responsibilities as CEO on 1 February. She will be the IDC’s first female CEO. Lekhethe has a multi-layered career at the Treasury, having first joined in 1996 as deputy director of foreign debt management. Before starting her career, Lekhethe studied economics at the University of Durban Westville and the University of Witwatersrand, and receiving a master’s degree from the University of London. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana expressed his confidence in the new CEO back in December, calling her “an accomplished public servant and a proven leader”. He added: “She has a proven track record and is without a doubt a benefit to any organisation. She has served the National Treasury for close to two decades and as sad as we are to see her go, I am glad that she is not lost to government entirely.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Hawks in Mpumalanga warn public not to fall victim to offers of police job opportunities TimesLIVE reports that the Hawks in Mpumalanga have warned the public not to fall victim to fraudsters offering fake jobs in the police service. Head of the Hawks in the province, Maj-Gen Nico Gerber, said on Tuesday that police had received a number of complaints about people receiving calls from 'police personnel' promising them job opportunities in the police service. “Members of the public should bear in mind that there is no institution that can just call you about employment opportunities without you having applied. It should serve as a red flag when the caller begins to demand money during the conversation,” Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Magonseni Nkosi said. Gerber cautioned not to provide any personal or financial information to any person claiming to be a representative of the SA Police Service. Nkosi said at no stage would the police service or any government department demand money in exchange for employment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
Important employment equity deadline for employers on Wednesday BusinessTech reports that employers have until midnight today, 15 January 2025, to submit their annual 2024 Employment Equity reports (EEA2 & EEA4 forms). The deadline for employers to submit their 2024 Reports will be at on 15 January 2025. Although the Employment Equity reporting season for both manual and online opened on 1 September 2024, the deadline for the manual reporting period closed on 1 October 2024. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the proclamation notice giving effect to the commencement date on the implementation of the Employment Equity (EE) Amendment Act on 1 January 2025. Nevertheless, the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) said that employers were expected to use EE legislation that predated the 2022 amendments. The EE Amendment Act was assented into law by the President in 2023, with the implication of the signing meaning that small businesses (those employing less than 50) would be exempt from developing EE plans and submitting EE reports to the department. The most noteworthy change coming in terms of the EE Amendment Act allows the DEL Minister to set numerical targets for the 18 different sectors identified by the Minister. Despite two separate and vastly different draft regulations setting out the proposed sectoral targets having already been published, the Minister has yet to issue a final version of such regulations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luke Fraser at BusinessTech
Royal AM saga far from over as coaches, security also demand pay Sowetan reports that contrary to claims that normality is returning at troubled PSL side Royal AM, even more chaos is brewing notwithstanding some of the soccer club’s players having received their salaries last weekend. Sources said on Tuesday that the technical team and support staff, led by head coach John Maduka, had still not received their salaries. Meanwhile, players pitched at the training facility on Monday only to be greeted by locked gates as security complained they too were owed money. The uncertainty prevailing at the club puts into doubt Royal's next fixture against Orlando Pirates, scheduled for 23 January. On Tuesday, Sowetan gathered that Royal players haven't trained, apparently because the coaches and other support staff have still not received their pay. A player claimed he was still owed money, even while some of his colleagues had received their pay. The SA Revenue Services put Royal AM under curatorship amid reports that club president Shauwn "MaMkhize" Mkhize is under investigation over her tax affairs, apparently with an outstanding bill of R40m. Her assets, including luxury cars, were seized by the tax collector after a raid in December and Royal's bank accounts were frozen. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Neville Khoza at SowetanLive
DA demands explanation from struggling Emfuleni Municipality about overtime payments EWN reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is demanding that the financially strained Emfuleni Municipality explain why it is spending so much on overtime payments to its staff. This came after it was revealed the municipality paid over half a billion rand in overtime over the past five years. While the municipality does not believe its overtime spending is excessive, the DA strongly disagrees. DA Gauteng Legislature member, Kingsol Chabalala, questioned why the municipality was allocating such a large amount to overtime payments when it was struggling to provide basic services. "The political leadership in that municipality is not playing their oversight role in terms of ensuring that financial resources of the municipality are not wasted. Also, I delivered an indictment to the municipal manager, via the accounting office, that he is turning a blind eye to acts of corruption," he said. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Judge’s clerk testifies about late night messages from Eastern Cape judge president IOL News reports that the judge's clerk who claimed she was sexually harassed by Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge said she endured his late night WhatsApp messages to her, as he was an elderly person and she respected the fact that he was her boss. Andiswa Mengo told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that because he was a powerful person, she was afraid not to respond to his messages. “I was afraid of losing my job as I am a single mother. I do not know what he would have thought if I had spoken to him in a rude manner.” On Tuesday, Mengo took the stand for the second day during the proceedings in which the tribunal is hearing evidence about her complaint. The tribunal, led by retired judge president Bernard Ngoepe, must establish whether Judge Mbenenge is guilty of any misconduct. According to Mengo, the messages started in June 2021 after he saw her child one day in her office. He enquired about the child’s father and asked her how many children she had. While she felt uncomfortable by the questions, she humoured him as he was her boss. She became even more uncomfortable when he asked her to send him pictures of herself. Mbenenge’s counsel on Monday told the tribunal that his response to the complaints against him would be presented to the tribunal at a later stage during the proceedings. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at IOL News. Read too, Judge asked secretary for nude picture of “top part” tribunal hears, at GroundUp Complainant breaks down in tribunal hearing into sex harassment claims against top judge EWN reports that emotional scenes played out in Rosebank on Tuesday afternoon during the testimony of a woman who has accused Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge of sexual harassment. Andiswa Mengo battled to compose herself after explicit WhatsApp messages between herself and the senior judge were read out before the tribunal. The tribunal, which will sit for two weeks, is tasked with investigating the allegations against the senior judge. Mengo, who was a junior employee in the division at the time, said his sexual advances were unwelcomed, despite Mbenenge’s claims that they were consensual. An emotional Mengo needed a brief moment to compose herself after she broke down before the tribunal. At the time, Mengo was being probed on WhatsApp messages sent by Mbenenge asking her about sexual positions. Evidence leader, advocate Salome Scheepers, read out the messages before the tribunal. The sitting will continue on Wednesday, with Mengo expected to furnish the tribunal with further details and provide clarity on some of her submissions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zoleka Qodashe at EWN
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