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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Another SANDF soldier dies in the DRC, bringing toll to 14 The Citizen reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that another soldier has died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He died from his wounds in hospital on Saturday. This brings to 14 the number of SANDF soldiers that have been killed in the DRC in the battle with M23 rebels. On Saturday, the SANDF released the names of the soldiers who had died in the DRC (full list in news article). Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held crisis talks in Zimbabwe on Friday about the escalating violence in the DRC. Following the summit in Harare, the SADC resolved to dispatch a team to North Kivu in the DRC to facilitate the repatriation of deceased and injured SANDF members, as well as those from Malawian and Tanzanian forces. Earlier last week, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola met with his DRC counterpart to address the escalating hostilities between the DRC and Rwanda, which have also caused a diplomatic spat. While Lamola warned that escalating hostilities between the DRC and Rwanda could spiral into a full-scale regional war, he said the SA government was pushing for a ceasefire agreement. The deaths of the SA soldiers have led to criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government and increased pressure on him to pull the country’s troops out of the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen. Read too, DRC conflict: SA death toll now at 14, SANDF releases names, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) South African soldiers in DRC on a ‘suicide mission' Rapport writes that one of the last desperate messages sent by the besieged SA soldiers in the DRC before M23 rebels cut off their cellphone communication with the outside world was as follows: “Where is the help and the planes? No one knows anything. They have forgotten us. We are being sacrificed. This entire deployment is a suicide mission." By late last week, the SA troops were effectively prisoners or hostages of the M23 rebels after bloody battles during the rebels' advance on Goma. Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and her generals, in contradictory comments about the status in the DRC, claimed to have everything under control. Conversations with the soldiers there, however, told a different story. A despondent message sent by a young soldier reads: “We are completely on our own. It feels like my soul is leaving my body. If someone could just shoot me and get it over with. I know it will happen someday, so, the sooner, the better.” This soldier was part of a group of soldiers who unsuccessfully fought last week to defend their base at Sake against the rebels. The M23 assault continued almost uninterrupted for a week, severely straining the nerves of the young soldiers. For many of them, the current deployment with SAMIDRC, the Southern African Development Community's mission in the DRC, is their first foreign operation. They underwent combat preparation to give them a taste of jungle warfare like in the DRC, but nothing could prepare them for the actual conflict at Sake (about 25km northwest of Goma) and at the Goma airport. Last week, Motshekga and the military assured that all South African soldiers were "safe" in their bases. Read the full original of the above report by Erika Gibson in Afrikaans at Rapport (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, DRC: A mission doomed from the start, at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). And also, Pressure mounts on Ramaphosa to pull SA soldiers out of DRC, at The Citizen SADC sending senior members to DRC to facilitate repatriation of SA soldiers killed in Goma EWN reports that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit will be sending senior members to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to facilitate the repatriation of 14 South African soldiers killed fending off approaching rebels in the city of Goma. A soldier succumbed to his injuries in hospital this weekend, bringing the number of fallen SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members there to 14. SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said that they could not set a time frame for exactly when the repatriations would occur, but negotiations were underway. "It would be impossible because, as I say, these are discussions that are going on. But from our side, we would really like to have our members back home so that the families can get closure," he said. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntokozo Khumalo at EWN. Read too, Families of SANDF soldiers in the DRC anxious as conflict escalates, at Sunday Tribune
Bodyguards for top Putco officials following R250m arson attack City Press reports that the Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) has provided around-the-clock security to its top officials, including spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu, following a threat assessment indicating that their lives were in danger. This after a group of individuals in a Toyota Quantum, Mercedes-Benz Vito and VW Polo arrived at the bus company’s three depots in Mpumalanga and torched 51 buses in a coordinated attack in the former KwaNdebele homeland in Mpumalanga. The attack has been linked to intimidation of Putco by local taxi operators, with revelations that last year a well-known taxi boss had issued a warning that the buses would be burnt. A company official said Putco had decided to provide security to identified officials after it came to the company’s attention that their lives were in danger. He indicated: “The company is dealing with ruthless taxi industry hooligans who have for some time now been threatening the company’s operations. This is the reason these threats cannot be taken lightly. Security has been posted outside the officials’ houses and they have to be guarded wherever they go.” The KwaNdebele United Local and Long-Distance Taxi Association has denied any involvement in the attack and took issue with Xulu’s assertion of tension with the taxi industry. Putco's MD, Franco Pisapia, said that, in the past 18 months they have had 300 incidents of intimidation from taxi operators and that they were aware of the prior threat to burn the buses. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Mpumalanga commuters’ daily lives impacted by torching of buses, at Sunday World Putco to resume full operations in Mpumalanga on Monday as it tightens security at depots SABC News reports that bus company Putco says it is ready to resume full operations on Monday following an arson attack at various of its depots in Mpumalanga a week ago. A group of armed suspects targeted several depots in the province, setting 51 buses alight. The motive for the attack is not clear, however, investigations are continuing. Putco Spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said “fortunately, we were able to allocate 51 new buses that are going to go into the area of Mpumalanga. They are going to be servicing the people of Mpumalanga and replace the buses that burnt. It is a setback for the company, we were building a pool and trying to continue with our bus replacement programme to replace the old fleet with the new one. But we are ready to operate on Monday.” The bus company has tightened security at its depots in Mpumalanga. “There’s extra security even on the routes that we operate. What we’re basically doing is patrolling those areas, but police are also doing the same in terms of guarding some of the routes we are operating on – especially the Moloto road which is where these buses would be travelling on a normal operation,” Xulu advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Viola May at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Suspended Exxaro CEO blasts 'biased' ENS probe into her corporate bullying Business Times reports that the suspended CEO of coal miner Exxaro, Nombasa Tsengwa, has questioned the objectivity of an independent investigation by law firm ENS into allegations against her of corporate bullying. Tsengwa's lawyer Eddie Claasen on Friday said his client would soon “expose the agenda being served by her unjust suspension”. He added: “She has little confidence in the objectivity of the investigation, which ENS, who also act as Exxaro’s attorneys, are presently conducting. That too shall be revealed in the fullness of time.” This argument was also advanced in the North Gauteng High Court, where Tsengwa sought to have the suspension overturned and described the ENS investigation as a witch hunt. Tsengwa was placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an independent investigation into allegations related to workplace conduct and governance issues. Several former Exxaro employees accused Tsengwa, who is also president of the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) and deputy chair of the Energy Council, of having instilled a culture of fear at the company. At the time of her suspension, nine top executives had either quit in frustration, been fired or placed on suspension. One of the executives who resigned described working under Tsengwa as “the most horrifying time of my career at Exxaro”. On Thursday in court, Tsengwa argued for the suspension to be lifted and for the matter to be heard on an urgent basis. Petrus Louw SC, on behalf of Tsengwa, told judge Mncedisi Khumalo the board was “misguided” and the suspension was unlawful and should be overturned. Judgment on whether the application was urgent has been reserved for Monday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only)
Bail for four cops accused of helping Stilfontein zama zama 'kingpin' escape from police car News24 reports that a clandestine operation by police investigators in the North West led to the arrest of four police officers accused of allegedly assisting wanted fugitive and alleged zama zama kingpin, James Neo "Tiger" Tshoaeli escape. Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national, escaped custody immediately after being brought to the surface from a Stilfontein mine shaft on 15 January. The four officers, connected to Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein, made their first appearance on Friday for allegedly aiding Tshoaeli. They were arrested on Friday morning and promptly taken to the Stilfontein Magistrate's Court, where they were granted R1,000 bail. They are Warrant Officer Jack Motlhabya, Warrant Officer Menzi Shabalala, Sergeant Ntutuko Dladla and Sergeant Samkelo Mbotho. The four are expected back in court on 5 March. The four officers were part of the team deployed to Stilfontein. Their commanders from various units have been informed so that internal processes can begin. Tshoaeli has been accused of assaulting, killing, starving, and hoarding food from other illegal miners who reported to him underground. He was the last person to reach the surface after 246 individuals and 78 decomposed bodies emerged over the course of three days at shaft 11. He allegedly disappeared from inside a police vehicle en route to the Stilfontein police station for detention. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Read too, Four cops arrested for allegedly aiding zama zama kingpin escape removed from Vala Mogodi operation, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). And also, Four police officers face disciplinary action over illegal mining allegations, at IOL News Despite assurances of no zama zams left at Stilfontein mine, five more emerge News24 reports that despite reports from the police and the Mine Rescue Service (MRS) that there were no illegal miners left at the abandoned Buffelsfontein Gold Mine shaft 11 in Stilfontein, more zama zamas (illegal miners) resurfaced last week. Last Monday, a decomposed body of an illegal miner was brought to the surface at Margaret Shaft, a few kilometres away from shaft 11. North West Acting Police Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng also indicated: “On Wednesday, two illegal miners resurfaced followed by three more on Thursday. The five zama zamas were interrogated and have revealed to us that there were more illegal miners underground. We have also observed that none of the five had signs of emaciation which says there was still enough food underground." Scroll down for the above in the wider report by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Motorists need to brace for steep fuel price hikes on Wednesday Business Report writes that economists have warned motorists to start filling up their tanks as a steep petrol price increase is on the cards from this Wednesday (5 February). This would mark the fourth consecutive increase in petrol. According to economist Dawie Roodt, motorists should be prepared for an increase of around 80 cents to R1 a litre. “It’s unfortunate news that we are facing another fuel price increase. The weaker Rand and higher oil prices are the main contributors to the expected petrol price increase. The Rand has been gaining a little and the oil price is a little lower, but because of the overall period, we still have an increase in the petrol price,” Roodt explained. He added that it was difficult to say what will happen to the fuel price in the next few months. Waldo Krugell, an economics professor at North-West University, said motorists were looking at increases in the petrol price of between 80 cents and 90 cents for petrol and between R1.03 and R1.08 for diesel. Professor Irrshad Kaseeram, from the University of Zululand's economics department, said that fuel prices were expected to rise quite substantially. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Yogashen Pillay at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
‘Two-pot’ payouts top R43bn, SARS advises Moneyweb reports that more than 2.4 million South Africans have applied to withdraw money from their savings components under the ‘two-pot’ retirement system, with a staggering R43.4 billion paid out to date. This was indicated by the SA Revenue Service (SARS) on Friday. SARS noted that it had so far received 2,664,279 applications for tax directives for withdrawals. Of the total number of applications, 2,403,379 tax directives were approved for funds to be released. The remainder were declined for a variety of reasons, including incorrect ID numbers and incorrect numbers. It was previously reported that many retirement fund members who opted to withdraw funds were disillusioned and unaware of the tax implications, notwithstanding extensive awareness campaigns. A number of claimants ended up with no payouts as a result of the higher tax rate combined with outstanding debt to the revenue service. Withdrawals from the savings pot are taxed at the marginal tax rate ranging between 18% and 45%, depending on taxpayers’ income scales. However, a substantial number of taxpayers “willfully understate their incomes” said SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liesl Peyper at Moneyweb Mafube’s missing R500m pension fund money is just the 'tip of iceberg', says union City Press reports that days after the Bloemfontein High Court ordered four high-ranking Mafube Local Municipality officials to pay back R14 million in unpaid pension fund contributions, union sources commented that this was just the tip of the iceberg as millions of pension funds were unaccounted for. On Tuesday, the court ruled that the Mafube municipal manager Mothusi Lepheana, chief financial officer Dimakatso Tryphona Tau, executive mayor Tlhoare Motsoeneng and administrator Thomas Mkaza should be held liable and pay more than R14 million for failing to pay over the pension funds of municipal workers, despite deducting the contributions. The municipality has been deducting retirement and pension funds from more than 500 municipal employees for more than a decade. Despite the monthly deductions, the officials failed to pay the contributions into the municipal workers retirement and pension funds, which resulted in employees eligible for retirement remaining on the payroll because the municipality could not afford to pay their pensions. Sources said the municipality owed the two funds about R500 million. In its ruling, the court stated that the municipality had violated the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) to the detriment of the workers' constitutional rights. The damning court ruling exposed how the managers of the cash-strapped municipality, which has been under provincial administration for more than two years, abused their power by deducting funds but not paying the money into relevant accounts. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Norman Masungwini at City Press (subscription or trial registration required)
NPA’s Batohi ordered to pay R1m to former NPA employee who was dismissed in ‘witch-hunt’ Sunday World reports that National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Advocate Shamila Batohi was ordered recently by a bargaining council to pay an employee who was dismissed through “witch-hunt” charges almost a R1-million within 14 days. Adv Phumeza Futshane, who was a chief public prosecutor in Joburg, was dismissed in February 2022 for allegedly posting “hate speech messages” on a WhatsApp group she had created called JHB EXCO Group, which had NPA officials in Gauteng as members. One of the alleged hate speech message that Futshane was charged with was for warning one of her colleagues to be “careful of snakes” who were out to “eat him”. An IT expert confirmed that most of the messages that Futshane posted on the group were forwarded messages that were already in the public domain. The bargaining council in Pretoria ruled that although Futshane’s dismissal had been substantively fair, it was “procedurally unfair”. The chairperson of the disciplinary hearing had refused to postpone Futshane’s hearing as per her request and also did not allow her to cross-examine witnesses. The bargaining council ruled that the chairperson’s action “amounted to procedural unfairness, and it tainted the substantive unfairness of the dismissal”. The bargaining council also found that Batohi “simply dug out” old allegations against Futshane on which she was previously cleared by her predecessor, Adv Shaun Abrahams. It pointed out: “That is not permissible because it means an employer is free to charge an employee with allegations on which the employee was cleared years ago simply because an interest group had complained.” The bargaining council -ordered Batohi to pay Futshane R 999,999.96 within 14 days and not later than 4 February 2025. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mzilikazi wa Afrika at Sunday World
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