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 the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
|
Six hundred workers to lose jobs as Assmang Manganese in Cato Ridge set to close down Sunday Tribune reports that about 600 workers will be without jobs by the end of May as the controversial Assmang Manganese Cato Ridge Ltd is set to close down. The workers have been served with retrenchment letters. Their future remains uncertain as some have had their health compromised because of the long-term exposure to hazardous chemicals. Leaders in the area have described their plight as dire, with devastating economic effects for the entire Cato Ridge and KwaXimba area, which has a population of about 20,000. “Six hundred workers unemployed equates to 6,000 people being affected,” said Mlondi Mkhize, the ANC eThekwini Regional spokesperson. The communication from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the union that represents most of the workers, has also not been very clear, claimed Mkhize. He said the message from the NUM’s provincial branch was that the company was running at a loss, while the message from the national office was that it was no longer profitable, had reached its lifespan and required a huge investment. The ANC held a picket on Friday to raise its concerns about the job losses. The party believes that not enough has been done by the company to prevent it from closing and workers from being unemployed. The NUM’s regional secretary Muzikayise Zakwe said that they were opposed to any form of employee dismissals or retrenchments. Last year, the union reached a five-year wage agreement with the company. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Annie Dorasamy & Sandile Mdadane at Sunday Tribune
M23 rebels, SamiDRC seal deal for SA soldiers to return home City Press reports that the end is in sight for South African soldiers who, for 64 days, have been held under the watchful eye of M23 rebels in Goma and Sake in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An agreement was concluded on Friday between a southern African military delegation and the rebel leaders that the regional force's soldiers and their equipment could be withdrawn. However, recent history has taught the soldiers to be weary of the rebels. One of the SA soldiers told Rapport: “It's an agreement on a piece of paper and these are rebels. We don't let our vigilance slip for a moment, because they are afraid of us and the only way they could control us until now was to keep us locked up.” Friday's meeting was the first time since the M23's advance to Goma and the major battle to gain control of the airport in January that any SA generals could see the soldiers. The SA National Defence Force chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, and the rebel leaders visited the soldiers together. Under the agreement, the southern Africa regional force (SamiDRC) soldiers will be allowed to withdraw with all their equipment. This was previously a major point of contention. The M23 also agreed that the SADC could repair the Goma runway to facilitate the withdrawal flights. The runway was damaged in places during the fighting. The M23 also parked vehicles on the runway to ensure no aircraft could land. The decisions from Friday’s meeting will likely need to be ratified by the SADC member countries before the withdrawal proceeds. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Two labourers killed in Phoenix house structural collapse The Citizen reports that two men have after being trapped under a house structural collapse in Phoenix. Sections of an incomplete home renovation in Canehaven Drive are believed to have given way at roughly 11am on Saturday morning. First responders reported that the men could not initially be removed from the rubble as they had been pinned against a permanent structure. Paramedics declared the labourers dead shortly after their initial assessments. Reportedly Mozambican nationals, the men were digging a trench to redirect a drainage system as part of a home renovation project. The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act state that residents must gain prior approval in writing from a local authority before erecting, altering or modifying any building. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jarryd Westerdale at The Citizen After two workers die, KZN MEC Siboniso Duma warns against cutting corners with cheap foreign labour News24 reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, has warned construction contractors to follow rules that forbid the hiring of unskilled and undocumented foreign workers. The measures aim to prevent incidents like the building collapse in Phoenix on Saturday, which killed two men from Mozambique. The men, aged 27 and 31, were digging a trench at a house when a retaining wall, and sand and metal reinforcing collapsed on them. They were allegedly job seekers who wait on the side of the road for contractors who need a temporary labour force. "While we understand that there is a need to create job opportunities and that there is an informal sector of our economy, which must create jobs, we are of the view that there are processes that should not be bypassed to ensure that we save lives, and do not create dangerous working conditions," said Duma. He added: "The issue of randomly picking up people from the streets presents challenges, especially in an incident where people have died, and they have no documentation which indicates their next of kin." Duma urged contractors to prioritise hiring locals, especially those from rural and township areas, for infrastructure projects. "On the other side of the coin, we are sending a warning to contractors that they must not cut corners by bringing in cheap labour in the form of foreign nationals, because this is something that will not be tolerated," Duma warned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa and view photos at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Bidvest security firm loses bid to avoid paying employee shot in eye during mine strike Sunday World reports that the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed Bidvest Protea Coin’s appeal to avoid paying damages to Mandla Mabena, an employee who lost sight in his left eye during a protected strike nine years ago. Bidvest sought reconsideration and variation of a dismissed appeal, but the court upheld previous rulings, confirming Bidvest’s liability. Mabena was injured during a month-long strike organised by the Association of Mine Workers and Construction Union at Wonderfontein Mine outside Middelburg. The incident occurred when a non-striking harvester drove into a striking worker’s vehicle, escalating tensions. The judgment reads: “The striking workers, in response, threw stones at the harvester and at employees of Bidvest who were in place to secure the mine. Employees of Bidvest, as they had done earlier in the day, in two groups, advanced upon the workers and opened fire with rubber bullets. The striking workers ran into the nearby bushes, where Mr. Mabena was struck by a rubber bullet in his left eye, as a result of which he lost the sight of his eye.” Mabena sued Bidvest for compensation. The Middelburg High Court found Bidvest 100% liable. Bidvest denied the incident, claiming no intent or negligence, or alternatively, that their employees acted in a “situation of sudden and unexpected emergency” or that Mabena’s negligence contributed to his injury. But, the SCA struck the case off the roll and awarded costs to Mabena. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshwarelo Mogakane at Sunday World Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Gwede Mantashe's second chief of staff pick also rejected Sunday World reports that Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe‘s second attempt to appoint a chief of staff has suffered a blow after the new candidate he recommended for the post was rejected due to lack of the required experience. Mantashe had recommended former SABC journalist Unathi Binqose to be given the job but the human resources unit in Mantashe’s department rejected Bingose, saying he was inexperienced for the job. Binqose’s rejection comes a few months after Mantashe‘s first preferred candidate, Charles Makola, was rejected by the Department of Public Services and Administration, which has a final say in the appointment of chiefs of staff. Binqose’s rejection has left Mantashe without a chief of staff for nine months. Workers in the department responsible for human capital allege that Mantashe has been “harassing and abusing” them to appoint unsuitable candidates to fill the vacancy. However, Mantashe dismissed the claim, saying if it were true, he would have long bulldozed his way into having one of the two candidates that were rejected appointed by force. Mantashe said that he had in fact elected not to have a chief of staff because of the process that rejected the two candidates. The minister originally recommended Makola to be given the nod to lead his political office, but the candidate was turned down because he allegedly did not possess the required NQF 7 qualification for the post. Mantashe then presented Binqose, who was overqualified with NQF 8, but his name was shot down on the basis of lack of managerial experience. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande Amashabalala at Sunday World Seven illegal immigrants engaged in illegal mining arrested in Sabie in Mpumalanga SABC News reports that Mpumalanga police have arrested seven illegal immigrants during Operation Vala Umgodi in Simile township in Sabie. The suspects, aged between 18 and 67, were found in possession of illegal mining equipment, which included phendukas, gas cylinders, motors, oxygen cylinders and generators. Mpumalanga SAPS Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi said the police remained committed to fighting illegal mining activities in the province. The suspects are expected to appear at the Sabie Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News
Home Affairs extends temporary visa concession again as delays are still biting News24 reports that for the third time since Minister Leon Schreiber took office, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has extended a temporary concession to protect foreign tourists, students, and workers from delays while they await the outcome of their visa applications. The concession was introduced in 2022 to protect long-term visa applicants from adverse effects if their status expired while they were awaiting the outcome of an application. This concession was set to expire at the end of March, but a notice published by the DHA on Friday advised that it had been extended for six more months until the end of September 2025. The DHA has justified the concessions by acknowledging that processing delays for some visa and permit categories have meant that people might be left with an expired document through no fault of their own, while trying to go through the legal application process. Schreiber extended the concession in July last year in his first official act as minister. In its notice last week, the DHA said that while it had "addressed the backlog in its visa and permitting regime" between the December extension and the further extension announced last week, the system still had deficiencies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by William Brederode at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read the extension notice here
Orderly CEO succession at Capitec BL Premium reports that Capitec boss Gerrie Fourie will hand over the reins of the company to Graham Lee in one of the most orderly successions in SA’s banking sector – ending a period that saw the bank transform from an unsecured lender to offering sophisticated financial products. Fourie, who has been with Capitec for nearly 30 years, presided over a surge in the share price and profitability, adding nearly 20-million new customers during his tenure. He will retire in July after being part of the executive management team for the past 25 years, the bank indicated on Friday. “Gerrie has built a strong and diverse leadership team poised to carry the bank into the future. To this end, the executive structure was expanded to establish divisional executive teams responsible for the retail bank, business bank, insurance company and strategic initiatives leaving a strong senior leadership team enriched with expertise, experience and deep institutional knowledge,” Capitec added. Lee joined Capitec in 2003 and has held numerous strategic positions in credit, technology and data, retail operations, and most recently, as group executive of the Retail Bank division. He has been a member of the group executive team since 2022 and will succeed Fourie on 19 July. Lee holds BBusSc (Hons) and MBA degrees and is a chartered management accountant. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo & Jacqueline Mackenzie at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Suspended Mpumalanga school principal has received full pay for almost six years while sitting at home News24 reports that a Mpumalanga school principal has been sitting at home on full pay for almost six years after community members expressed serious concerns over his alleged poor performance. Erick Malekane, headmaster of Lamulelani High School in Madras, Bushbuckridge, was relieved of his duties at the school on 3 May 2019 after parents complained about its dismal 11.8% pass rate in the 2018 matric exams. The provincial education department then brought back the school's former deputy principal, Willie Mhlanga, who was redeployed to another school in March 2018, which resulted in the institution achieving a 100% pass rate in the 2019 matric exams. Mpumalanga Education Department spokesperson Jasper Zwane said that "as things stand, Malekane remained an employee and the principal of Lamulelani High School". Jan Naudé de Villiers, chair of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, commented: "The principal's case is obviously completely undesirable and adds to the unnecessary waste of the public service wage bill which is something our committee wants to try and help eliminate from the public sector." Eight provincial education departments, excluding North West, paid out a total of R63.3 million to 203 officials and teachers who were placed on precautionary suspension between April 2023 and March 2024. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Ex-Denel chairperson, former CEO in court on Friday corruption charges News24 reports that former Denel board chairperson Lungisani Daniel Mantsha and ex-group CEO Zwelakhe Nhlanganiso appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday on multiple counts of corruption for their alleged involvement in the irregular approval and establishment of the Denel Asia joint venture. They stand accused of disregarding a directive from the Department of Finance stipulating that all transactions relating to state-owned arms manufacturer Denel should be subjected to the minister's approval and later allegedly getting kickbacks for facilitating the deal. The Investigating Directorate against Corruption (IDAC) said on Friday: "They allegedly signed the venture without following due process and further misrepresented facts to the ministers that the deal was not yet signed while it was." The allegedly irregular joint venture was a formation between Gupta-linked VR Laser SA (VRLSA) and Denel Asia, a private company registered in Hong Kong. The alleged offences were committed between March 2014 and March 2018. The pair were each granted R30,000 bail on Friday and the matter was postponed to 16 May 2025 for disclosures. The charges against the accused include contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, the Companies Act, the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, and fraud. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Controversy over naming of two Bergview College staff members as suspects in rape of seven-year-old pupil News24 reports that the Police Ministry has advised that two staff members of Bergview College are suspects in the alleged rape of a seven-year-old pupil. The Ministry's spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said on Saturday: "All outstanding statements have since been obtained by the investigating officer. DNA tests have also been conducted. The senior State prosecutor will be consulted in the course of the coming week, whereafter the family will be provided with feedback on the matter." AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, which represents one of the staff members, however, said the man was not a suspect, nor had the SA Police Service (SAPS) ever regarded him as a suspect, which would justify their request for a buccal sample for DNA testing. "AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit challenges the SAPS to provide the evidence to support any suspicion that [the man] is linked to the case," said spokesperson Barry Bateman. He added that the employee had not provided a sample of his DNA to the police. Yet, the Ministry maintained that the necessary DNA samples had been obtained, and the required testing conducted. In a statement, Bateman said the unit understood that the man had no contact with the victim before the offence was committed, and there was no evidence that the offence took place on school grounds. The alleged rape of the seven-year-old happened on 14 October 2024 as she was waiting for transport after school. On Friday, Eastern Cape authorities issued a notice to deregister the school over concerns about its ability to provide a safe and secure environment for its pupils. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anelisa Kubheka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Lees ook, Privaatvervolgingseenheid verwerp bewerings dat hy ‘verkragter’ beskerm, by Maroela Media
Prasa’s test train run from Cape Town to Khayelitsha welcomed SABC News reports that the Western Cape government has welcomed Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) trial operations on the Cape Town to Chris Hani in Khayelitsha rail corridor, in restoring public transport. The line was suspended in 2019 due to vandalism and theft. It was affected by illegal electrical connections and dwellings being built on the infrastructure. Provincial Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku said the restoration would improve mobility and reduce road congestion. “Prasa is delivering on its commitments, overcoming immense challenges to restore a service that is the backbone of public transport and economic growth. They have re-ignited a lifeline for thousands who rely on this service daily, restoring dignity, mobility and opportunity. This railway line was rebuilt through the hands and hearts of our own community. Now, it must be protected by those same hands and honoured by those same heart,” Sileku commented. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page