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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Cosatu in Western Cape calls for stay-away on 26 February over WCED cuts to teaching posts IOL News reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has joined hands with other trade unions and organisations to declare outrage against the Western Cape Government and the MEC of Education, David Maynier, over what they call “its unilateral draconian decision to cut over 2,000 teacher posts”. The federation held a briefing on Monday where it announced plans for a stay-away, and called on all workers to support protest action set to take place on 26 February, which will coincide with Premier Alan Winde’s State of the Province Address in Beaufort West on that day. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced in August its plan to cut approximately 2,400 teachers from its payroll, which came into effect at the start of the year. According to the WCED, the decision came after they received only 64% of the cost of the nationally negotiated wage agreement, leaving the province to fund the remaining 36%. This meant a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion over the next three years. Cosatu’s Malvern de Bruyn said they were taking the stay away action after a failure to resolve the dispute at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). "We want the provincial government and the MEC of Education to change their mindset and review the decision and reinstate those workers whose contract was terminated," he explained. De Bruyn argued that the department was not open and honest “as there is money in the fiscus”. Premier Alan Winde said that they respected organised labour’s right to embark on industrial action, but “as I’ve always said it is counter-productive to protest during the working week when we are doing everything we can to kickstart economic growth”. He called on Cosatu to work with the provincial government to motivate for more funding for critical provincial services like education, healthcare and social services. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Theolin Tembo at IOL News
Openly gay imam Muhsin Hendricks, who fought for queer rights, assassinated GroundUp reports that Muhsin Hendricks, an imam who was outspoken in his support of queer people in SA’s Muslim community, was murdered on Saturday in Gqeberha. He was reportedly the world’s first openly gay imam. According to a statement by police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, Hendricks was shot dead at Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp. A widely circulated video shows a gold-coloured Volkswagen T-Roc – in which Hendricks was a passenger in the backseat – attempting to pull away from a curb in a residential area. A silver-colored Hilux double cab blocks the exit. Two people get out. One of them runs up to the T-Roc and opens fire towards the back window. It is hard to make out the precise actions of the second person who is less visible in the video. The driver in the T-Roc was left unscathed and nothing was stolen, which strongly suggests it was an assassination. Reportedly, Hendricks was in Gqeberha to officiate a wedding between two women. While political assassinations over money and power are not uncommon in South Africa, murders for purely ideological reasons are extremely unusual. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at GroundUp. Read too, Slain openly gay imam Muhsin Hendricks was to have presided over an interfaith marriage, at TimesLIVE. En ook, Muhsin Hendricks-moord: ‘Ondersoek moontlikheid van haatmisdaad’, by Maroela Media Two arrested in connection with murder of Springs police officer Captain Wynand du Toit Springs Advertiser reports that the Springs SA Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrests of two men on Monday morning in connection with the murder of Captain Wynand du Toit. He was tragically gunned down during a shoot-out on Sunday morning in Geduld following his brave attempt to thwart a robbery in progress involving four male suspects. Du Toit sustained injuries and was transported to Life Springs Parkland Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. One of the suspects was apprehended at Pholosong Hospital and another fled to Evander, in Mpumalanga, to seek medical attention for gunshot wounds sustained during the shootout. “He was pursued all the way to Evander where he was trying to escape,” said Springs SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Themba Tshabalala, who added that the investigation was still ongoing. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Kea Shilakwe at The Citizen. Lees ook, Gemeenskap rou saam ná rowerkoeël lewe van polisiekaptein eis, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Richards Bay Minerals ready to expand as community relationships improve BL Premium reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), which extracts titanium, iron, zircon and rutile in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), has had a tough time expanding its operations in recent years. A joint venture between Rio Tinto and SA communities, RBM has had to put its Zulti South expansion project on hold since 2020 due to security concerns, which came to a head when GM Nico Swart was assassinated on his way to work in 2021. However, according to MD Werner Duvenhage, the social environment has since turned around, with RBM’s relationship with local communities and provincial government strengthening over the past 12 months. He expects the $500m Zulti South expansion to receive Rio Tinto’s blessing by the middle of this year as the pilot plant built to test the project’s viability has operated without community disruptions since last year. Duvenhage indicated: “On October 1, we went into the area to start opening up roads and building sites and erect overhead power lines. That’s been going on for over four months now with no disruptions, no threats and no violence. As a matter of fact, the community is quite engaging.” He added: “We do have a court case against our community trust, which we want to be restated. That case’s outcome is pending, so the relationship [with the trust] is tense, but with the community on the group it’s excellent. We’ve been sharing a lot more information with them. We ensure we keep them up to date with what we are doing.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) It’s all change at the top for SA’s major mining companies BL Premium reports that the imminent retirement of Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO Neal Froneman is the latest change at the top of SA’s largest mining companies, with the bosses of Harmony, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Exxaro and Thungela all stepping down in the past year or so. Richard Stewart, Sibanye chief regional officer for Southern Africa, will take over from Froneman in October. The industry retirements and resignations have seen a new breed of mining executives coming to the fore to take the industry forward – in the biggest C-suite shake-up in more than a decade. The change of the guard at SA’s top mining houses has largely been smooth, with many internal candidates appointed as CEO designates/successors. Peter Steenkamp retired as CEO of Harmony Gold in December and was replaced by group COO Beyers Nel, who took over at the beginning of the year. Thermal coal miner Thungela Resources is also on the verge of a leadership succession. CEO July Ndlovu is set to retire in July, and will be replaced by Moses Madondo – the CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations. Industry veteran Michael Schmidt in 2023 stepped down as African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) CEO after more than a decade at the helm and was replaced by then-COO Velile Phillip Tobias. Exxaro Resources is on the lookout for a new CEO after the acrimonious departure of Nombasa Tsengwa this month, after her suspension in December. The exit of Natascha Viljoen as CEO of Amplats at the tail end of 2023 to take up a senior post at Newmont leaves Kumba boss Mpumi Zikalala as the sole female CEO of a JSE-listed mining house. Viljoen, with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, was swiftly replaced by Amplats’ then CFO Craig Miller. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Petra Diamonds CEO Richard Duffy quits with immediate effect amid high debt TimesLIVE reports that London-listed Petra Diamonds has announced the resignation by mutual agreement and with immediate effect of CEO Richard Duffy. This as the company’s debt soared and it faced rising cost pressures during the six months ended December amid a weak diamond market. Petra has appointed chief restructuring officer Vivek Gadodia and operations executive at Cullinan Mine Juan Kemp as joint interim CEOs. Gadodia will be responsible for group corporate matters and Kemp will head group operational matters. Both will report to the board and lead Petra's executive committee. “At this point they will not be appointed as directors,” the company indicated. José Manuel Vargas, Petra's chair, said: “On behalf of the board I thank Richard for his hard work and dedication as CEO since he joined Petra in 2019. We wish Richard all the best for the future.” Duffy said: “It's been an honour and a privilege to serve Petra for the past almost six years. I would like to thank the Petra team and my fellow directors and wish Petra every success.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at TimesLIVE. Read too, Petra Diamonds CEO Richard Duffy resigns with immediate effect, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Old Mutual CEO opts for surprise early retirement BL Premium reports that Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson has opted to take early retirement, and will vacate the role he has held since 2020 at the end of August, so ending a 32-year association with the group. At 55, Williamson’s early retirement comes as a surprise. Old Mutual, SA’s second largest insurer, did not reveal the reasons behind the CEO’s retirement, merely saying it hoped to name a successor soon. “The board has accepted Mr Williamson’s request to take early retirement, after 32 years with the group, the last five as CEO, and extends its heartfelt thanks for his remarkable commitment and service to the company, its clients and the industry … The board has initiated a process, considering internal and external candidates, to identity a new CEO to lead the company through its next phase of growth and innovation. The board intends to conclude this process expeditiously,” the company indicated in a statement. Williamson’s appointment to the role of CEO in 2020 brought about leadership stability after the acrimonious exit of his predecessor Peter Moyo in the middle of 2019 after he was shown the door by the Trevor Manuel-led board over an alleged conflict of interest. The imminent departure of Williamson leaves the board with a lot of work to do to fill two key roles, with the group’s CFO having reached retirement age. The company in October said Casper Troskie had agreed to remain as CFO until April 2027. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Numsa dismayed by possible restructuring of Volvo SA’s dealerships; will do ‘whatever is necessary to defend jobs’ BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) will be writing to Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Car SA to demand that it formalise a planned restructuring process that could see the number of dealerships in SA reduced. Dealerfloor, a motor industry news source, quoted Volvo as saying recently: “While we have plans to resize our dealer network locally, Volvo remains fully committed to the SA market. This commitment is evident in the continued investment in electrified mobility and the introduction of new models.” Numsa national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola commented on Monday: “All we can say is that we were not formally informed. We will be writing to them to demand that they formalise this process by serving us with section 189 [a Labour Relations Act process dealing with retrenchments]. Everything we know right now is based on media reports.” She said the union was dismayed that the restructuring process might result in the “closure of some of its dealerships.” Numsa is a recognised union, “but it has not been officially notified of Volvo’s plans”. Hlubi-Majola went on to state: “Numsa condemns the management of Volvo SA for not respecting the [Labour Relations Act] process and causing widespread panic to workers at dealerships. Numsa is demanding that a formal process be followed in order to ensure that the rights of workers are not violated in this process.” She indicated that the union was ready to defend workers and their livelihoods and “we will do whatever is necessary to defend jobs”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
SIU strips two former Transnet Property bosses of their pensions, luxury properties Fin24 reports that two former Transnet Property bosses have been stripped of their pensions and luxury properties to pay back millions of rands in debts to Transnet. This follows a three-year-long investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into kickbacks they received while employed by Transnet. According to the settlement agreement concluded last week, Zakhele Thabo Lebelo, former CEO of Transnet Property, and Phathutshedzo Mashamba, a former manager under Lebelo, reached a deal with the SIU and Transnet in relation to kickbacks received between 2014 and 2019. The SIU probe, launched in 2022, found Lebelo and Mashamba guilty of receiving "bribes" and "secret profits" related to tender deals with Superfecta Trading 209 (since renamed to Dynamic Power Engineering) and BBDM Bros Advertising Agency. The Special Tribunal froze the pension and properties of Lebelo and Mashamba in 2022, and a curator was appointed to safeguard the assets for the duration of the investigation until they could be sold. Lebelo received three luxury apartment units and an "exclusive-use balcony" at The Capital on Bath in Rosebank from Superfecta, valued at between R3.8 million and R4.2 million. These properties will now be sold, and Lebelo's pension (which will be paid from the Transnet Retirement Fund to Transnet) will be used to settle his debt with the entity. Mashamba was found to have received about R2 million from Superfecta to purchase a Diepsloot property, which was then sold to buy a luxury Dainfern property valued at around R6.5 million. He also received "at least" R4.5 million from BBDM to purchase several properties, according to the settlement documents. Mashamba's pension and the sale of the properties will be used to settle his debt with Transnet. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aurelia Mouton at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Former Transnet executives to pay back millions to settle debt with company, at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sowetan teacher suspended after 11-year-old pupil was allegedly raped SowetanLive reports that the Gauteng Department of Basic Education has removed a 45-year-old teacher from a school after allegations were made that he raped an 11-year-old pupil at his house. It is alleged the teacher, from Lufhereng Secondary School in Soweto, raped the child on 13 February. MEC Matome Chiloane said he was “deeply disturbed and devastated” by the allegation. He indicated further: “A police case has been opened against the teacher and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this allegation. As an immediate step, the educator has been precautionarily removed from the school. This measure is taken to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of the affected learner and the broader school community. The department will also ensure that all due processes are followed to address this matter appropriately.” Chiloane also appealed to law enforcement agencies to handle the case “with the sensitivity it deserves”, while indicating that any form of alleged misconduct by educators would not be tolerated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nandi Ntini at TimesLIVE. Read too, Soweto teacher investigated for alleged rape of Grade 11 pupil, at News24 Two Moorressburg police officers arrested over alleged kidnapping, rape Cape Argus reports that two police officers alleged to have kidnapped and raped a woman to whom they offered a lift on a farm in Moorreesburg have been arrested. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed the arrests on 15 February. The incident is believed to have taken place on 8 February just after 10:30pm near a gravel road in Moorreesburg. The 27-year old victim was travelling to the residence of her boyfriend from her workplace on a farm when she was apparently offered a lift by the two police officers who said they could take her to her destination. In doing so, they allegedly raped her more than five times, including forcing her to allegedly perform oral sex. After dropping the victim off at her destination, they gave her five beers. Whistle blower Zona Morton said a pandemic was growing within the police force, with this being the fifth case in the province involving allegations of rape. She urged the provincial commissioner to act immediately in providing GBV workshops for police members under his command. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Serra at Cape Argus
Railway Safety Regulator to assess repair work to Gautrain tunnel TimesLIVE reports that the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) says it will assess the remedial work necessary after illegal digging caused water and soil to seep into a section of a Gautrain tunnel causing train operations between Rosebank and Park Stations to be suspended. According to the Gautrain Management Agency, investigations have established that illegal drilling for a borehole was being conducted on a private property above the tunnel. The regulator's spokesperson Madelein Williams indicated: “The RSR will investigate to determine the cause of the disruption. Additionally, the RSR will interrogate the operator's risk management strategies and contingency plans to ascertain their preparedness for externalities that could compromise safe railway operations.” Gauteng transport and logistics MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela visited the site on Sunday to assess work being done to repair the section of the tunnel affected by the seepage. A Gautrain bus replacement service has been set up between Rosebank and Park stations, with buses running every 15 minutes between the two stations from 5.30am to 8.30pm as an interim measure. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE Gautrain train services between Rosebank and Park stations could resume next week SABC News reports that according to Gautrain Chief Executive Officer Tshepo Kgobe, train services between Rosebank Station and Park Station could resume by next week. IIllegal borehole drilling activity on a private property compromised a section of the Gautrain tunnel system, causing water and soil to seep through. As a result, services between Park Station and Rosebank have been halted since Saturday. Bus services have been scaled up to mitigate the disruption. Kgobe indicated: “We are looking at it to be in place for this week at least. And we have already decided on the method of repair and that in itself will take about a week, and then with us making sure that in the coming week we could then return to proper service. “ Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News
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