In our roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
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SA soldiers in DRC told they will have to surrender weapons when they cross into Rwanda City Press reports that the sentiment expressed by SA troops stranded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) waiting for buses to evacuate them from the conflict-stricken region, is that a soldier without a weapon is nothing more than a target. The soldiers have been given specific instructions that no personal weapons or firearms will be allowed once they cross the border into Rwanda. Four months after the Battle of Goma, the SA Development Community (SADC) maintains that the withdrawal of its SAMIM forces from the DRC is proceeding smoothly. However, soldiers on the ground say they still have no idea when they will be leaving the country. According to Molatlhegi Ntelamo, head of planning in the SADC’s department for political, defence and security affairs, the troops are expected to begin withdrawing “soon – likely within the next week”. This is yet another timeline given for the withdrawal. So far, the departure dates have come and gone without explanation. The soldiers only know that at some stage buses will arrive, and then the first group will board for the long journey via Rwanda to Chato in Tanzania. From there, another 250km trek follows to Mwanza International Airport, from where South African soldiers will return to Bloemfontein. Roughly 2,200 SA troops need to withdraw. When questioned whether SAMIM soldiers might find themselves in a vulnerable position, Ntelamo dismissed these concerns. He claimed the soldiers would remained fully armed with their personal weapons, ammunition and protective gear as long as they were within the operational area. The soldiers in Goma categorically deny this. They also question where the operational area starts and ends. Once they cross the border into Rwanda, an ally of the rebels, they will be unarmed, the soldiers state. They fear they may become targets on the 720km route to Mwanza, despite Rwanda guaranteeing their safe withdrawal through the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at City Press (subscription / trial registration required)
WhatsApp warning of shutdown in Gauteng on Monday is misinformation, Masemola informs public SABC News reports that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says law enforcement officials are on high alert and will not tolerate any lawlessness following messages warning of a shutdown in Gauteng on Monday. This followed WhatsApp messages seeking to mobilise communities to block highways, close schools and food outlets in Gauteng. Masemola cautioned those behind the WhatsApp messages to refrain from spreading fake news and misinformation, which he said sought to instil fear, bully community members and incite violence. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe indicated: “We take this opportunity to assure all residents living in Gauteng that police and other law enforcement agencies will be on high alert and will not tolerate any lawlessness. Everything from businesses, schools to services will be operational. There will be no shutdown or road closures. We are not going to allow lawlessness and acts of criminality, those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law, will be dealt with accordingly. The N1 Sandton, N1 Pretoria and M1 and M2 motorways will be opened.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by SABC News
KZN commissioner Mkhwanazi pleads for public support for police, cites emotional toll on officers News24 reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has called on the public and religious leaders to show greater support and appreciation for police officers who face immense emotional and physical challenges on a daily basis. Speaking at an Interfaith Provincial Prayer Day in Durban, Mkhwanazi highlighted the police’s wide-ranging responsibilities, from fighting crime to conducting dangerous rescue operations during natural disasters. He urged communities to recognise the human cost behind the badge while urging religious leaders to include officers in their prayers. He stressed that police had many responsibilities and were involved in many activities besides just arresting suspects and emphasised that law enforcement personnel often faced trauma while serving the public. Referring to incidents in which suspects were killed, Mkhwanazi indicated: “The police also die emotionally as well. When the police are standing there, looking at the family of the criminals crying over them, it’s not nice. This is because police officers are also human beings.” Asking religious leaders to pray for the police officers, Mkhwanazi added that it was the police who were facing one of the country’s most difficult jobs. KZN Premier Thamisanqa Ntuli pointed out that the communities’ role was essential in fighting crime in the province, and the police alone could not curb crime. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Man arrested after hijacking of bread truck, mugging of driver The Citizen reports that a man has been arrested in Mpumalanga after he and an accomplice hijacked a bread delivery truck. He was arrested on Saturday between Tweefontein and Gemsbokspruit, but police are still searching for his partner who escaped on foot. The driver of the truck told police that he was making a delivery when the two forced him inside the back of the vehicle. Locked inside the vehicle with the product, according to the driver the two men used the bread to make a few extra sales. “The suspects drove around and stopped at a few shops selling and delivering bread,” confirmed Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. The suspects let the driver out of the vehicle along a main road, where they stole from him almost R500 and his cellphone. The men then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, after which one of them was caught with the help of community members. “The suspect is expected to appear before the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” stated Ndubane. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jarryd Westerdale at The Citizen. Read too, Suspect arrested after hijackers lock driver in truck and sell bread, at IOL News ‘No arrests, no justice’, laments Intercape as it slams police inaction amid ongoing violence Weekend Argus reports that long-distance bus company Intercape appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Police last week and urged parliament to intervene because police continued to fail in addressing a wave of violence and intimidation directed at the company. The Committee, chaired by DA MP Ian Cameron, heard evidence detailing the severity of the crisis, including more than 200 cases opened with police – ranging from murder and attempted murder to intimidation and extortion. Despite the volume and seriousness of these cases, Intercape said no arrests had been made and no prosecutions had followed. Advocate Kate Hofmeyr SC told the Committee that the police’s response had been “a failure… in its statutory and constitutional duties,” even in the face of repeated court orders. Senior police officials claimed for the first time that 11 arrests had been made, but Hofmeyr claimed that this had not been reported to the courts or Intercape, as legally required. Intercape said it has spent more than R420,000 on medical costs for injured passengers, lost over R30 million in revenue due to suspended services, paid R3 million for private security, and R5.5 million for coach repairs. CEO Johann Ferreira said tensions escalated sharply when the taxi industry began questioning the validity of Intercape’s bus permits. Once investigations confirmed no irregularities, Ferreira said the situation evolved into “a new level of warfare.” Cameron commented: “With regards to the violence against the bus industry, it was shocking to see the lack of resolve or the lack of enthusiasm or urgency to attack the problem and solve the issue.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tracy-Lynn Ruiters at Weekend Argus
Palm Ridge Court cleaners face poor working conditions, delayed salaries News24 reports that cleaners employed at the Palm Ridge Court in Katlehong, Gauteng, claim they are subjected to appalling working conditions, late salary payments, and an environment marred by threats, intimidation, and a lack of essential resources. Pilgrim Business Holdings employees say that over the last two months they have been forced to rely on loans to afford basic necessities such as food, rent, school fees, and transport. Workers claim that wages for April were received only on 14 May, while salaries for March were received on 5 May. One cleaner said they were subjected to consistent mistreatment and that the working conditions were not good. The woman also expressed frustration over the lack of basic cleaning materials. She alleged that despite essential supplies like soaps, gloves, and mops being unavailable, supervisors pressured employees to continue working. The woman described the supervisors as being unprofessional, and said they often allegedly threatened workers with dismissal if they spoke out or failed to meet expectations without proper materials. Adding to their frustrations, the women said they were also not entitled to leave and were forced to report for duty despite producing sick notes. She claimed that in July last year, she collapsed at work, but was forced to return. If workers were absent, R250 was alleged tken from their salaries. Department of Public Works and Infrastructure spokesperson James de Villiers said the allegations raised were “deeply troubling”. He indicated that they were engaging with the court manager and justice facilities management to determine whether they were aware of any of the allegations that had been raised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Department of Military Veterans is a ‘playground for those who can’t find jobs elsewhere’ City Press reports that in a letter the SA National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA) sent to Parliament’s joint standing committee on defence, it is alleged that the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) is riddled with ANC appointments and the offspring of generals who cannot find work elsewhere. The committee recently recommended that the department be placed under administration. The DA’s Chris Hattingh has described the department as “systemically dysfunctional”, while the EFF’s Carl Niehaus has repeatedly spoken about the department’s shortcomings. According to the SANMVA, there are only a handful of professional appointments in the department, while the rest are part of the ANC’s political structures, with some senior staff members not showing up at work for months or simply refusing to work at all. About 140 employees receive monthly salaries, but 40 of them remain in contract positions because they do not qualify for permanent posts. Most of these 40 have been on the books for more than a decade without contributing much to the effective management of the department. Additionally, according to the SANMVA, there are children of generals and other senior officers who hold no qualifications beyond a high school certificate, yet have secured positions in the department that require higher qualifications. A proper skills audit of the department’s employees should have been conducted long ago to cut out the dead wood. However, whenever such drastic action was proposed, political leaders blocked the action due to concerns it would reflect poorly on the ANC. Several expensive forensic investigations have been conducted since 2013 to probe financial misconduct and corruption within the department, yet the findings have never been acted upon. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erika Gibson at City Press (subscription / trial registration required)
All 260 Sibanye-Stillwater miners surface safely after Kloof gold mine incident BL Premium reports that all employees of precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater who were trapped underground last week were safely returned to the surface on Friday night. Sibanye confirmed in a statement that all 260 employees had safely returned to surface after the shaft incident at Kloof 7 on Thursday. At no point was there any risk of injury to employees during the incident, which occurred when the skip door of the Kloof 7 sub-shaft rock winder opened at the loading point on level 39, affecting levels 40, 41 and below. Based on safety evaluations, a decision was made for employees to remain at their respective stations underground rather than use emergency escape routes, which would have required long walking distances. Mine rescue and medical teams were deployed and measures taken to ensure employees were safe and had access to food and water. The group said comprehensive safety inspections and a shaft integrity assessment, along with the necessary repairs, were carried out before employees could be safely brought to surface. The first group of employees surfaced at 1.30pm on Friday with the remaining workers returning safely from about 7.30pm. Sibanye said it was engaging with the chief inspector of mines, the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy and trade unions. Operations would only resume once all safety and risk assessments had been concluded and the shaft was deemed safe, it added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacqueline Mackenzie at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
KZN paint company appeals Labour Court ruling on unpaid maternity leave discrimination IOL News reports that a Durban paint company, which was ordered to pay a former employee more than R700,000 after the Labour Court found that it had unfairly discriminated against the pregnant woman by sending her early on maternity leave without pay, is set on appealing the ruling. It will argue that the court made several erroneous findings against it. Induradec Coatings in Pinetown was ordered to pay Tiisetso Daisy Moleme, a chemist working for the company, R724,000 in compensation, which is equivalent to 11 months' salary. The paint company has since filed an application for leave to appeal the ruling. As Moleme's job entailed the development of products and research, she became concerned about the chemicals with which she had to work when she became pregnant. After telling her employer that she was pregnant, she expressed her concern to the HR department and requested to be moved out of the laboratory. She said she was promised alternative duties in the meantime, but this never happened. Instead, she was told that she was being placed on early maternity leave, without pay. The court ruled that Moleme had been unfairly discriminated against on the grounds of pregnancy. The court also found that the company had failed to establish that Moleme's removal from the lab for the duration of her pregnancy had been necessary. In requesting leave to appeal, the company questioned this and other findings and said the court failed to consider that Moleme was the one who had asked to be removed from the laboratory. The company said the court also erred in dealing with the aspect of compensation to be paid to Moleme. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at IOL News (subscription / trial registration required)
Some debt paid down with two-pot money, but it was also used it to take on more debt for used-cars News24 reports that although South Africans used some of the R32 billion they have received so far from two-pot retirement payouts to pay down debt, they also appear to have used it for deposits to take on more debt for used-cars, according to the Bureau of Market Research (BMR). At the same time, they also used the money on essential consumer goods purchases. The trend of using payouts to get into even more debt was particularly worrying for Andrew Bradley, who heads up Fiscal Private Client Services. He pointed out that those who made use of the two-pot system for second-hand car purchases would ultimately find themselves climbing deeper into debt, and poorer when it came time to retire. The bureau indicated in a report that NaTIS vehicle registration data showed that used car sales experienced a “sharp increase” from September to December 2024. October 2024, the month that immediately followed the launch of the two-pot retirement system, recorded the “highest number of monthly used car registrations” in 12 years. SARS previously confirmed that it had received valid claims totalling R43.4 billion between 1 September and 31 January, with net receipts of about R32 billion. The study by the BMR also made it clear that those who made use of the two-pot system had not been utilising the money for savings. An analysis of bank deposits “indicated no significant deviations from historical savings trends, suggesting that two-pot receipts were not primarily allocated to household savings”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at News24 Business (subscription / trial registration required)
General surgeon accused of inappropriate conduct and harassment dismissed from working at Mediclinic Panorama. News24 reports that a general surgeon accused of inappropriate conduct by a patient and harassment of female staff has been dismissed from working at Mediclinic Panorama. According to Mediclinic spokesperson Nokuzola Plaatjie, Dr Ignatius Botha has permanently vacated the hospital group’s premises in Cape Town and his admission privileges have been revoked. “Mediclinic’s workplace behaviour policy does not tolerate misconduct of any kind,” she indicated. Although doctors practise independently, action can be taken if the group’s workplace behaviour policy is contravened. Botha was suspended from working at the private hospital earlier this year amid an internal investigation into the complaints against him. According to sources, he had been accused of performing a pelvic examination without surgical gloves on a young woman who presented with an abscess under her arm. Following his suspension, Botha denied any “intentional wrongdoing” that the two women working at the hospital “perceived” as inappropriate. He claimed to have been made aware of the complaints months after they ostensibly occurred. In addition, he said he did not know who his accusers were, which made it near impossible to put the “perceived inappropriate conduct in its proper perspective”. A complaint had also been lodged and subsequently investigated by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), which accepted the explanation of the respondent. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tammy Petersen at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Former Ditsobotla municipal manager reports two High Court judges who ‘granted secret order’ to oust him Sunday World reports that Ditsobotla Local Municipality’s ousted municipal manager, Olaotse Bojosinyane, has reported two North West High Court judges to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya for violating court procedures, ignoring appeals, and effectively conspiring to remove him from office without due process. The two are Judge Maria Reid and Acting Justice Jenine Khan. In a sworn affidavit addressed to Maya, dated 15 May, Bojosinyane alleges that Judge Reid granted a court order in his absence, failed to notify relevant parties, disregarded statutory requirements, and enforced a judgment already under appeal. Bojosinyane’s complaint centres on a sequence of legal events following his controversial appointment as municipal manager on 4 July 2024, with his tenure beginning 8 July. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has acknowledged receipt of both complaints against Reid and Khan. In a letter dated last Monday, the secretariat of the JSC Dimakatso Ramaisa said the complaint against Khan would be forwarded to the Judicial Conduct Committee “for consideration”. The full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at Sunday World provides a detailed account of Bojosinyane’s complaint
Second trainee comes forward in case against Tshwane Police Academy captain accused of rape News24 reports that more charges have been added to the case of the 59-year-old police captain accused of raping a 20-year-old Tshwane Police Academy trainee. The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday that another female trainee had come forward to say that the same man, a firearms trainer at the academy in Pretoria West, sexually assaulted her in March, two months before her colleague reported a rape. Kedibone Masemola, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) senior investigator, testified in the bail application that the captain was now facing charges of rape and sexual assault. The cases have been joined. Masemola briefly took the court through the women’s testimonies. It is the state’s case that the captain used his authority to intimidate and coerce the trainees into non-consensual acts. Masemola told the court that because IPID had reported the matter and it was on social media, other women who trained at the centre had said on social media that the captain had also abused them. “This tells us there may be more victims to come forward,” Masemola stated. The state opposed the accused’s bail application. In the captain’s affidavit, he denied all allegations and said he intended to plead not guilty. Members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) were in court on Friday to support the victims. The matter was postponed until 29 May for arguments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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