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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Transnet and trade unions square up over salary increases BL Premium reports that the two largest unions at Transnet have demanded wage increases five times the rate of inflation, citing a variety of issues facing workers. In what could be a sign that both parties recognise the high stakes and the strong likelihood for disagreement, the parties signed picketing rules two weeks before the negotiations even started on Tuesday. Transnet has offered an increase of inflation plus 4.5% in the first year of a three-year deal and inflation plus 0.5% in the second and third years, totalling a cumulative 14.5%. Consumer Inflation is hovering around 3%. The SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) is demanding a 17.5% three-year hike. The United National Transport Union (Untu) wants a one-year, 12% across-the-board increase. Union leaders say their demands reflect the escalating costs of education, housing and healthcare even though overall inflation has eased. Satawu also wants a freeze on job cuts while the deal is in force and cheaper medical aid. “The union is rather disappointed by the management’s approach … We are hopeful that the management will table a decent and reasonable offer,” Satawu’s Amanda Tshemese commented. Untu’s Atenkosi Plaatjie said: “It is evident that management is employing positional negotiation strategies, and we are concerned that this approach will hinder progress.” Untu also wants a no-retrenchment provision, a R2,750 monthly housing allowance, a R2,950 medical aid allowance, overtime capping to be removed and for the wage talks to be concluded by 1 April. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Transnet and trade unions square up over wage demands, at Moneyweb
Slain Durban police officer laid to rest in his hometown of Inanda EWN reports that slain Durban police officer Mvelo Gcabashe was laid to rest on Wednesday in his hometown of Inanda, north of Durban, when family, friends, and colleagues paid their last respects to him The officer was shot and killed in the crime-ridden Inanda area a week ago. Police said he was attacked by two suspects who also robbed him of his cellphone and service firearm. The public order policing member had less than five years in service as he only joined SA Police Service (SAPS) in 2022. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the province described his passing as a great loss for police as the battle against intense crime continued in parts of the province. The union urged communities to help protect police officers and not see them as their enemies. Police said a search for the two suspects linked to Gcabashe’s murder was ongoing. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Nhlanhla Mabaso at EWN
Officers accused of aiding Stilfontein illegal mining kingpin to escape in court SABC News reports that four police officers suspected to have assisted alleged Stilfontein illegal mining kingpin Neo Tshoaeli appeared in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The police officers, namely Jack Motlhabya, Menzi Shabalala, Ntutuko Dladla and Samkelo Mbotho, were arrested on 31 January and granted R1,000 bail each on the same day. The four accused face two counts of defeating the ends of justice. Their case was postponed to 29 May for further investigations. Tshoaeli, who is popularly known as Tiger, escaped after he resurfaced from underground at a disused mine during a government-led operation. He was retrieved from shaft 11 on 15 January but never made it to police holding cells and is still on the run. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News. Lees ook, Vier van polisie in hof wat zama-zama-baasbrein glo help ontsnap, by Maroela Media. As well as, Officers linked to illegal miner kingpin's escape oppose their faces being shown for safety, at SowetanLive North West police believe illegal mining kingpin ‘Tiger’ is not dead and will soon be arrested The Citizen reports that North West police have dismissed reports that illegal mining kingpin James “Tiger” Tsoaeli, who escaped from custody in Stilfontein, has died. Tsoaeli resurfaced from a shaft at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine on 15 January during a government-sanctioned rescue mission to retrieve illegal miners (zama zamas). However, he managed to evade capture, sparking a manhunt led by the SA Police Service (Saps). During a media briefing on the province’s crime statistics on Wednesday, acting North West police commissioner Patrick Asaneng provided an update on the investigation into Tsoaeli’s escape, stating that it was at an advanced stage. Asaneng rejected claims that Tsoaeli was dead and reassured the public that the Lesotho national would soon be apprehended. Asaneng also revealed that one of the shafts at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine would be rehabilitated, with heavy machinery such as bulldozers already clearing the site. The commissioner further reported that of the 93 bodies of zama zamas retrieved from the mine, only eight had been identified. The identified individuals were foreign nationals – three from Mozambique, three from Lesotho, and two from Zimbabwe. Asaneng reaffirmed that Operation Vala Umgodi would continue in Stilfontein and other provinces affected by illegal mining. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Joburg looks for new city manager TimesLIVE reports that the City of Johannesburg has approved a report that outlines the guidelines to be followed in the search for its next city manager. The report was tabled by group corporate and shared services MMC Loyiso Masuku and agreed to by council. This follows the ousting of former city manager Floyd Brink after a DA-led challenge to his appointment and court having found it to be irregular. The city government took a decision not to appeal the outcome but instead appoint city operations officer Tshepo Makola to act in the position while they searched for a replacement. Councillors urged the executive to speed up the process and ensure a city manager was appointed to stabilise governance. Masuku told councillors it was in the executive’s interest the vacancy was filled, but they could not commit to a timeline. Noting that the process of recruitment would be external, Masuku indicated: “It is not entirely up to us to ensure it is wrapped up in two months. There are processes to be undertaken. There is also the vetting process where we use state institutions once a shortlisting has been conducted. Our intention is not to deliberately drag [out] the recruitment process.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisanda Mbolekwa at TimesLIVE
Luthuli House staff left in limbo as ANC fails to pay February salaries Sunday World reports that the ANC at its head office appears to be broke again, with incumbent treasurer-general Dr Gwen Ramokgopa having failed to pay the February salaries of Luthuli House workers. Non-payment includes the politicians who work on Pixely Seme Street full-time. As of Wednesday, workers were in the dark about when they would receive their salaries. Consequently, the workers are said to be in a state of panic and uncertainty. Their emotional rollercoaster, which started with debit orders bouncing on 28 February, has been worsened by the complete silence on why they were not paid. As a result, they have been left with no choice but to speculate that the organisation is bankrupt. “Everybody has not been paid, including the secretary-general [Fikile Mbalula], head of organising [Mdu Manana], national spokesperson [Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri], and Sibongile Besani [who heads ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s office at Luthuli House),” one employee claimed. A senior person in the ANC said the organization had also been defaulting to pay suppliers and service providers. Apparently, the party has not paid for the big cake for its anniversary celebrations in Cape Town in January. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande Amashabalala at Sunday World
Alexforbes sees surge in savings pot withdrawal claims as new tax year starts The Mercury reports that with the new tax year having kicked off this month, retirement fund administrator Alexforbes has already received over 33,000 savings pot withdrawal claims from members. This followed 260,000 logins on its digital platform since 1 March. Alexforbes said research showed that those who claimed in the previous tax year had a high likelihood of claiming again in the new tax year. "This already appears to be the case, given the significant numbers of claims in just four days. This high level of claims so early in the tax year once again highlights that many South Africans are financially stretched," Alexforbes said. The retirement fund administrator indicated that a previous survey had shown that 80% of claimants used their withdrawals for debt repayment and essential living expenses. However, it added that indications from banks suggested that some individuals were using the withdrawals for consumption. Meanwhile, trade union federation Cosatu last month submitted proposals to the government requesting greater access for workers to their pension funds under the two-pot system Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Mercury Conflicting union responses over potential pension contribution pause at GEPF Business Report writes that the ongoing debate surrounding a proposal that the state’s contributions as employer to the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) be paused for one year in a bid to raise about R53bn to plug the deficit in the national budget has sparked significant discord among trade unions. The tensions reflect broader concerns about the impact of fiscal policies on public servants and their long-term financial security. The Presidency on Tuesday said a team led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and supported by National Treasury tabled a variety of options that were considered by Cabinet on Monday. “Cabinet mandated the Minister of Finance to select from the discussed options and fund the Budget in a manner that takes into consideration the fiscal constraints of the country; mitigates the impact on the poor and middle income households; and supports economic growth,” the Presidency said. Labour federation Cosatu has urged the National Treasury to initiate discussions with the GEPF, which it noted was overfunded. However, the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) on Tuesday opposed any suggestion to reduce government spending by pausing pension contributions to the GEPF. “Fedusa understands that South Africa is facing tough financial decisions. While it is important to cut wasteful spending and improve efficiency, workers' pensions should not be the answer to balancing the budget,” said the federation. The SA Teachers Union (SAOU) concurred in rejecting the proposal. Trade union Solidarity has also strongly opposed the contribution holiday proposal. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report
Cosatu backs government in court battle over NHI City Press reports that Cosatu has thrown its weight behind government in the legal battle over the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. The labour federation staged a picket at the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday. Cosatu expressed its frustration over the attempt by private healthcare bodies to challenge the legislation, calling it a delaying tactic that hindered the much-needed reforms in the country’s healthcare system. Speaking at the demonstration, Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela criticised the legal challenge brought by the Board of Healthcare Funders and the SA Private Practitioners Forum. The two organisations maintain that the NHI Act, signed into law earlier this year, is unconstitutional. In their view, President Cyril Ramaphosa had an obligation to return the legislation to parliament "because it is irrational, unconstitutional, or otherwise unlawful". At the heart of the debate is the present two-tier healthcare system, which Cosatu and government say is unsustainable. Sabelo acknowledged the concerns about the implementation of the NHI, particularly around resource allocation and service delivery gaps in the public healthcare sector. However, she argued that these challenges should not be used as an excuse to maintain the status quo. Sabela highlighted the stark healthcare inequalities. She pointed out that nearly half of the country’s healthcare budget serviced just 16% of the population, namely those with private medical aid, while the remaining 84% relied on an overstretched and underfunded public system. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sthembiso Lebuso at City Press (subscription or trial registration required). See too, Pro-NHI groups rally outside court as legal battle continues, at SABC News
'Expense claim fiddle' lands six Khayelitsha cops attached to detective unit behind bars TimesLIVE reports that two police sergeants and four constables from the Khayelitsha detective service were arrested on Wednesday by their anti-corruption unit colleagues for allegedly submitting fraudulent expense claims. Police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk said the suspects had travelled to the Eastern Cape for investigation purposes between 18 January 2022 and 25 September that year and “on their return submitted fraudulent claims for subsistence and travelling allowance to the total amount of R16,065”. According to allegations, they would pay for accommodation and then request a receipt with a higher amount reflected as having been paid. Members would also share a room but then requested two separate receipts. One of the members faces an additional charge of defeating the administration of justice on another Khayelitsha case after failing to make travel and accommodation arrangements for a witness in a pending murder case. Combined, the members face 26 counts of fraud. They are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Read the original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE. See too, Six police officers attached to Khayelitsha detective service arrested for fraud, at EWN Six Ekurhuleni metro police drug unit officers arrested for alleged robbery during unlawful search News24 reports that six constables from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department's Drug Unit were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly robbing a motorist and then conducting an unlawful search of his home and robbing him. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Lizzy Shuping said after stopping a Congolese national for an alleged traffic offence, the six officers requested his identification documents to confirm his status in the country, which the man had provided. Thereafter, they went to verify his credentials at Home Affairs in Boksburg. Shuping reported further: "After the verification process, they drove with him (the victim) to his house in one of the estates in Boksburg, where they searched the house without a search warrant and confiscated the amount of money found on the premises." The officers, aged between 31 and 39, are expected to appear in court soon. They will face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Six Ekurhuleni metro officers arrested for allegedly extorting a Congolese national, at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
RTMC investigates fatal crash in Free State between City-to-City bus and truck that claimed 10 lives The Citizen reports that the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has sent a team of investigators to the Free State to probe the cause of the fatal crash that claimed 10 lives on Wednesday morning. The crash between a bus and a truck happened at around 3am on the N6, about 15km from Reddersburg. The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) confirmed its City-to-City bus was involved in the collision and the 10 who died had been on the bus. Ten people – mostly adult females and one minor – died on the scene, while 31 others were injured and transported to hospital for medical treatment. The bus driver was critically injured. RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane indicated: “Information at this stage indicates that the bus was travelling on the N6 from Reddersburg in the direction of Smithfield while the truck with two trailers was travelling in the opposite direction. The two vehicles collided in a side-swipe type [of a] crash.” He went on to say: “We further urge all road users to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the early hours of the morning. Statistics show that most crashes take place before dawn.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lesego Seokwang at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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