Taking COSATU Today Forward, 17 May 2024
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY Today, it’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia #Back2Basics #ElijahBarayiBrigades #VoteANC #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
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17 May 2024
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Employment and Labour in KwaZulu-Natal announces plans to establish service delivery points in township
- South Africa
- Gauteng Provincial Legislature supports communities’ call to change management of Police Stations in Soshanguve area
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Union protests massive job loss at gold mines in South Africa
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Employment and Labour in KwaZulu-Natal announces plans to establish service delivery points in township
17 May 2024
Employment and labour in KZN to establish government services points in townships
The
Department of Employment and Labour in the KwaZulu-Natal Province has announced plans to establish service delivery points within the township communities of Durban.
The Employment and Labour service delivery office points programme, which is in the pipeline for areas covering Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu (INK); and the township of Umlazi – was announced by the Department’s KZN Chief Director: Provincial Operations (CDPO),
Mr Edward Khambula, during an Employer Breakfast Session in KwaMashu’s Indoor Sports Centre earlier today (16 May 2024).
The Breakfast Session, which was held in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development, was also meant to provide a platform for small business operators to engage with the Department, while informing and teaching them about various labour
laws to comply with in the country.
“Because we know that the small businesses in townships sometimes struggle to comply with labour laws and that is why there has been a proposal for us to get closer to the people and teach them and clarify to them the manner that can assist them to comply without
necessarily having to employ the services of consultancy agencies. And our help would be free of charge.
“There are plans of establishing a services point here around the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu) area, which would bring services closer to the communities. So that has been approved and we would like to plead with the community to use the service point offices
properly. We are trying to expand to other townships such as Umlazi as well, because we can see that it doesn’t help for people to travel to town to receive services. So we will do that,” said Khambula.
He reminded employers and the small business community that there are ways to mitigate and negotiate if in fact a business is unable to comply with labour laws.
“The Department is fully aware about the challenge of unemployment and the state of the economy is dire,” he said.
Khambula further informed the employers that there is an exemption to apply for from the Department to mitigate certain non-compliance issues.
“Instead of running away from the inspectors, try by all means to seek guidance from them so they can guide you on how you can obtain an exemption. And we have also heard that you can pay the money you owe through instalments. So that facility exists and officials
are sensitive about it,” he said, adding that it was never the intention for the Department to close down businesses, which would subsequently result to unemployment.
“The Department is warry that an employee can lose a job due to its interventions. So today’s programme has been part of our plan to get closer to shopping centres where we can find people to provide them with services. We are still going to have that same
programme from time to time,” he said.
Employment and Labour Minister, Mr T.W. Nxesi was also expected to host an employee representative engagement session tonight (16 May 2024), at the KwaMashu Indoor Sports Centre; and will again attend the Jobs and Careers Fair at Umlazi, tomorrow (17 May 2024).
For media inquiries, kindly contact:
Teboho
Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: teboho....@labour.gov.za
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
Gauteng Provincial Legislature supports communities’ call to change management of Police Stations in Soshanguve area
17 May 2024
Community Safety Committee supports calls to change management of Police Stations in the Soshanguve area
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety supports the communities’ call for rotation of station commanders and their respective police officers, especially of Rietgat, Soshanguve, Fochville, and Ratanda Police Stations. Rotation is a recognized intervention that has in the past produced the required outcomes of effective policing.
The
Committee acknowledges the urgent need to address escalating crime rates in these areas, which have reached unacceptable levels.
In response to community concerns, the Committee will formally request the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, to accede to the demand made by these communities.
It's important to emphasize that these changes are not a reflection of dismissal, but rather a strategic redeployment aimed at infusing new leadership and fresh approaches to policing.
The Committee firmly believes that the introduction of new leadership will bring about innovative crime-fighting strategies and restore community trust in the police's ability to ensure their safety.
The recent tragic murder of 5-year-old Ditebogo underscores the pressing need for decisive action to combat crime in the Soshanguve area.
The committee welcomes the recent arrest of the two suspects involved.
The Committee calls for the implementation of more stringent measures to tackle crime effectively and create a safer environment for all community members. It remains committed to working collaboratively with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders to address these pressing concerns.
For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact:
Mr
Thebe Khumalo
Cell: 072 266 1021
E-mail: TKhu...@gpl.gov.za
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Legislature
International-Solidarity
Union protests massive job loss at gold mines in South Africa
16 May, 2024
On 11 May, hundreds of workers from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) marched and petitioned multinational mining corporation Sibanye Stillwater over the loss of 4,022 jobs at its gold mining operations.
The march took place in Carletonville, Johannesburg, and comes after 3,107 permanent workers were given retrenchment notices, while 915 contract workers will also lose their jobs. The NUM said the job losses will impoverish mineworkers who support up to ten family members.
The union said it is surprised that the retrenchments are taking place when the gold price is high, and while Sibanye Stillwater, listed on the Johannesburg and New York Stock Exchanges, is paying millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses to its CEO, Neal Froneman. For example, Froneman earned R291 million (US$15,8 million) in 2021, R198 million (US$10.8 million in 2022) and R56 million (US$3 million) in 2023. The NUM said these amounts were too high for a company that claims financial difficulties as part of the reasons for the retrenchments.
“Sibanye Stillwater has been retrenching workers yearly to cut costs and make huge profits at the expense of mineworkers. The retrenchments are taking place even though the gold price is high. We are surprised that the retrenchments were announced just before the commencement of the wage negotiations with the company,”
said Mpho Phakedi, NUM acting general secretary.
The NUM, affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, said over the years Sibanye Stillwater has put some mining shafts under “care and maintenance” as an excuse to retrench workers and the union is calling upon the departments of mineral resources and energy (DMRE) and employment and labour to investigate this practice. The NUM also says the government must enforce the “use it or lose it” principle with regards to the mining licences that the multinational is holding.
The NUM is also concerned because Sibanye Stillwater is amongst the worst mining companies in South Africa when it comes to health and safety as eight workers were killed in mine accidents at its operations in 2023. The union attributes this to non-compliance with the Mine Health and Safety Act, and that this was worsened by ineffective labour inspection by the DMRE which has fewer inspectors than are required for the inspections.
“Sibanye Stillwater must seriously consider workers livelihoods before embarking on mass layoffs. The concerns of workers and communities must be prioritised before closing the mines. Mining multinationals should not only be driven by the profit motive, but by environmental, social, and governance issues,”
said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director.
In a solidarity letter to the NUM, the United Steel Workers (USW) Local 11-0001, an IndustriALL affiliate in the US, said:
“The treatment of the skilled and dedicated South African workforce by Sibanye Stillwater is deplorable. We would like to convey our concerns as well as our support with the troubling situation that Sibanye has placed them in.”
____________________
Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017
P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348