In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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George building collapse revealed to be result of ‘systematic failures across multiple levels of oversight’ Engineering News reports that an independent forensic investigation into the building that collapsed in George last year has found that systematic failures across multiple levels of oversight, noncompliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and the project’s personnel were responsible for the tragedy. Briefing the media on the findings of the investigation on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said these failures included irregular status upliftment, late enrolment, inspection lapses, material quality issues and safety violations. On 6 May 2024, the Neo Victoria project, a residential building that was still under construction, collapsed without warning, claiming the lives of 34 of the 62 construction workers on site. Many of the survivors were also critically injured. Multiple investigations were initiated to determine the cause of the collapse and to hold accountable those responsible. The NHBRC investigation focussed largely on the failures of inspectors and internal controls insofar as the council is concerned. The investigation revealed that the George municipality approved the building plans only after construction had already commenced, meaning the work on site began before approvals were finalised. The Department of Human Settlements, together with the NHBRC, has started drafting a new Bill to address the deficiencies identified in the report and the accompanying recommendations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read too, George building collapse: Negligence behind tragic loss of 34 lives, says Minister Simelane, at City Press (subscription or trial registration required). And also, Negligence, misconduct led to the collapse of George building, at TimesLIVE Five NHBRC officials suspended amid ongoing investigation into George building collapse that killed 34 Cape Argus reports that no arrests have been made yet following the George building collapse on 6 May 2024, which resulted in 34 fatalities and 28 injuries. But on Wednesday the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, announced the suspension of five officials from the National Home Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC) pending an investigation by the SA Police Service (SAPS). She had told the portfolio committee that two NHBRC staff members had been suspended, but she upgraded that figure to five on Wednesday. The minister told the media that only the SAPS was in the domain to criminally charge those mentioned in an independent forensic investigation report. “The investigation revealed several breaches of our occupational health and safety (OHS) standards in relation to construction,” said Simelane. She confirmed that the officials concerned together with the construction company, Neo Victoria Development, had been handed over to the police for a criminal investigation. Simelane further stated: The outcome of the investigation has also made recommendations that implicated officials be held accountable for their actions. The charges that will be levelled against them include dereliction of duty, misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and misrepresentation in official inspection reports. We will continue to monitor that this is done by following due process." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Serra at Cape Argus. Read too, More officials suspended over George building collapse, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
One of five suspects in custody for murder of presidential protection service member EWN reports that one suspect is in custody and has been charged for the murder of the presidential protection service member who was killed in Inanda, north of Durban, last year. The sergeant died from gunshot wounds sustained after being attacked by five unknown criminals. Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda reported: “The officer managed to shoot back and injure one suspect before he succumbed to his injuries. The injured suspect was traced and arrested at a nearby clinic." Police investigations into the murder case are continuing and the hunt for the other four suspects accused of the murder of the VIP protector and stealing his service firearm is underway. The slain officer had recently completed his VIP training and was going to be assigned as a close protection officer within the unit. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Nhlanhla Mabaso at EWN More than 50% of SA educators considering exit from the profession due to burnout The Mercury reports that a new study reveals that 50% of SA teachers are considering leaving the profession due to excessive workloads and stress. Findings from the Teacher Preferences and Job Satisfaction in SA report show that 50% of teachers are considering leaving the profession within the next 10 years, with the primary reason being “excessive workloads and administrative burdens.” Dr. Heleen Hofmeyr, one of the report’s authors said: “While we don’t expect pre-retirement attrition rates to reach 50%, these findings highlight an urgent need to address teacher burnout and mental health.” Produced by the Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP) at Stellenbosch University as part of the Teacher Demographic Dividend (TDD) Project, the study surveyed over 1,500 teachers nationwide and included follow-up interviews with 80 participants to gain deeper insights. A staggering 70% of teachers cited administrative duties as their primary source of stress, saying the paperwork detracted from time needed for lesson planning and direct learner support. Surprisingly, teachers in better-resourced schools reported higher stress levels than those in no-fee and low-fee schools, a trend attributed to increased pressure from parents and management to deliver top academic results. The report paints a sobering picture of teachers emotionally overwhelmed by their expanding roles, from educators to de facto counsellors, caregivers, and social workers. The study also highlights a growing reluctance among teachers to work in rural areas. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphesihle Buthelezi at The Mercury Other internet posting(s) in this news category
With Satawu having signed a deal, Untu takes Transnet to CCMA over 10% wage demand BL Premium reports that Transnet and the United National Transport Union (Untu) are set to meet at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Monday following Untu’s refusal to accept a multiyear wage deal that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) accepted. The deal came into effect on 1 April. Untu and Transnet failed to reach agreement during an urgent bilateral meeting on Monday. Untu, which has 26,018 members at Transnet, recently gave the cash-strapped ports and rail operator 48-hours’ notice to “stop the unilateral implementation” of a three-year wage agreement that will see Satawu members receive increases of 6% in the first and second years and 5.5% in the final year of the agreement. Untu had threatened to strike if the state-owned enterprise extended the wage deal to its members. Transnet said it “will not implement the proposed wage increases and other benefits to Untu members. Transnet will, however, implement the final offer in respect of Satawu members, as well as all other employees”. The union has revised its 12% wage increase demand to 10%. Its demands include a one-year deal, a R2,500 housing allowance, R2,500 medical aid allowance and the removal of a cap on overtime. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Prasa’s wage dispute with Untu and Satawu to be heard by CCMA on Thursday BL Premium reports that a wage dispute lodged at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) by the United National Transport Union (Untu) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) is set to the heard on Thursday. The unions declared the dispute in April after Prasa management refused to formally table a wage offer. The decision to refer the matter to the CCMA came after three attempts to get going with wage negotiations for 2025/26. “To date, Prasa management has neither responded to the formal wage demands presented by labour nor presented any wage offer, effectively stalling the negotiation process. Instead of engaging in good faith, management has repeatedly offered excuses, despite knowing full well, as per the Prasa Bargaining Forum Rules of Engagement, that wage negotiations should have commenced in October 2024. Management is deliberately stalling the negotiations under the pretence of unpreparedness,” Untu spokesperson Atenkosi Plaatjie indicated. Satawu and Untu’s consolidated wage demands include a 15% across-the-board wage increase. The unions are also demanding a R3,000 housing subsidy, a standby allowance of R50 an hour, a night shift allowance of R10 an hour, a moratorium on retrenchments and a medical aid subsidy in terms of which the employer would contribute 70%. Scroll down to read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
ConCourt confirms that municipal staff are allowed to hold political posts Sunday World reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has confirmed a lower court ruling that set aside a clause of a municipal law that sought to bar all municipal employees from holding political positions in various political parties in the country. The ConCourt confirmed the ruling on Wednesday in a litigation process that started in July 2023. The law was promulgated in August 2022 and the legal battle to set it aside has been in court since then. The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) took on Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) regarding the matter. The law was meant to bar only municipal managers and the directors who directly report to municipal managers from holding political positions, but it used the words “staff member”. Despite CoGTA losing in the Concourt, the judges found that the limitations on municipal managers and directors from holding political offices was justified. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mavuso at Sunday World Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA mulls expanded incentives to shield vehicle manufacturing industry from huge tariffs BL Premium reports that SA is considering expanding its flagship vehicle industry incentive scheme to shield the nearly R500bn backbone of the nation’s manufacturing sector from the fallout of US tariffs. “What we’re currently considering is the possibility of expanding the automotive production programme to mitigate impact on the industry. Of course, we have to be cognisant of the impact on our fiscus,” Department of Trade, Industry & Competition Minister Parks Tau said on a radio station on Wednesday. The automotive production and development programme, which has been instrumental in driving nearly R80bn in investment since 2011, offers manufacturers incentives to support production and localisation. The government has doled out more than R20bn over the same period in incentives such as tax breaks to underpin the commercial logic of car factories for industry giants such Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota and Ford. But the industrial merits of some of the factories were thrown into doubt last week after US President Donald Trump unleashed a volley of tariffs for all countries. Tau did not go into detail on the support measures, saying his department was in the middle of modelling potential support packages for the sector and other industries to mitigate the fallout of the tariffs. The US was a destination for R35bn worth of vehicles in 2024, making it the sector’s third-largest export market. Until now, SA vehicles had entered the US duty-free under the African Growth & Opportunity Act. Mike Mabasa, CEO of vehicle industry body group Naamsa, has warned that the costs associated with the tariffs cannot be absorbed by the manufacturers without harming competitiveness. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tiisetso Motsoeneng at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Motsepe removes Thando Mkatshana as CEO at ailing platinum division BL Premium reports that African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has removed Thando Mkatshana as CEO of its underperforming platinum division after eight years at the helm. The news came roughly one month after ARM Platinum posted a headline loss of R689m for the six months to end-December, more than double that of the previous first half. ARM’s Bokoni platinum mines, acquired from Anglo American Platinum and Atlatsa Resources in 2022, weighed heavily on ARM’s interim headline earnings. Bokoni’s failure to meet production guidance during the period under review saw ARM scaling back development and restructuring the operation to mitigate financial losses. In an announcement to shareholders this week, ARM chair Patrice Motsepe thanked former ARM Platinum CEO Mkatshana for the “good work he did as the chief executive of ARM Platinum”. After eight years at the helm of ARM Platinum, Mkatshana will now serve as the CEO of ARM Technical Services, a division that the group has reintroduced. As the group embarks on its search for a new permanent CEO of ARM Platinum, division veteran Johan Jansen will act as interim CEO. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, ARM Platinum reshuffles leadership, revitalises technical services division, at Business Report Government to heed Minerals Council’s call for reworked illegal mining legislation BL Premium reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) has received communication from the government affirming that the long-awaited review of SA’s flagship mining legislation will include clauses around illegal mining. This marks a step towards the clearer and more comprehensive legal framework that the council has been calling for in recent months, particularly after the tragic death of 72 illegal miners at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein rocked global headlines in January. MCSA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) CEO Mzila Mthenjane said on Wednesday that SA’s department of mineral and petroleum resources had “indicated in our conversations that they have included clauses that speak to illegal mining, which is great”. While the state’s engagement was an encouraging sign, Mthenjane said the limited scope of SA’s illegal mining laws remained a concern and that the review should encompass the full value chain, rather than bring limited to primary mining. “There needs to be clarity in other pieces of legislation around the transport of legitimate material. For example, if you’re found to be in possession of [mined] material, you must have the necessary paperwork that indicates that you are the rightful owner and transporter,” said Mthenjane. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002 criminalises illegal mining activities, but the council has long criticised the law’s narrow and vague definitions of illegal mining. The rise of illegal mining in SA poses a serious risk to the sustainability of the local mining industry with negative social and financial effects on the state, employees, companies and the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Minerals Council hopes there will be no nasty surprises in the revised mining legislation, at Miningmx More than 1,700 suspects arrested in March during Operation Vala Umgodi SABC News reports that according to police, nationwide Vala Umgodi operations led to the arrest of more than 1,700 suspects of various nationalities in the past month. The suspects were apprehended for illegal mining-related offences, as well as crimes including murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk outlined some of the items seized during the operation: “Amongst some of the items seized during Vala Umgodi operations in March include 29 unlicensed firearms; 246 rounds of ammunition; 57 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, trailers, and excavators and 439 pendukas. Since the inception in December 2023, more than 20,000 suspects have been arrested, while over 600 firearms and 14 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized through Vala Umgodi operations.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Cleaners at Niemeyer Hospital in Utrecht in KZN unpaid for three months IOL News reports that cleaners at Niemeyer Hospital in Utrecht, Northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), are facing severe financial hardship after going three months without their wages. Despite their dedication to maintaining hygiene and sanitation within the healthcare facility, a payment dispute between their employer, Luyandiza Investments, and the provincial Department of Health (DOH) has jeopardised their livelihoods. Luyandiza claims that the DOH has failed to remit payments for cleaning services, leading to this delay. The precise nature of the DOH’s funding issues remains unclear, with possible reasons including financial constraints, inefficient administrative procedures, and contractual disagreements. The plight of these cleaners not only highlights systemic issues within provincial health funding but also raises critical questions about the protection and rights of outsourced employees in SA. ActionSA has requested a meeting with KZN’s MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, urging her to explain the untenable position of these workers, who continue to report for duty under harsh conditions despite the absence of wages. “It is disgraceful that the Department of Health has allowed such a situation to persist,” said an ActionSA representative. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lesedi Jonga at IOL News
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