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Water talks fail - Unions prepare to strike!
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT 30th July 2010
The crunch talks on the wage dispute that exists in the water sector failed to deliver any positive results yesterday. Employer body SAAWU (South African Association of Water Utilities) refused to make any further move beyond its offer of 9% across the board.
This intransigent position left SAMWU and its Trade Union allies no option but to ask the commissioner to issue a certificate that will allow the Unions to call their members out on a national strike. The water supply to Municipalities throughout the country will dry up!
SAMWU’s chief negotiator, Dale Forbes, expressed his disappointment in the immaturity and irresponsibility of the employers’ organisation. Such behaviour will leave many consumers without water for the duration of the strike, which could be quite some time.
In view of SAAWU’s stance, the Unions’ final demand remains unchanged at 13.5% for the lowest paid and 11% for the highest paid workers respectively.
SAMWU will be having further discussions with affected communities and other public sector unions who are considering their own industrial action in support of their wage demands.
For more information contact Dale Forbes (Collective Bargaining Officer) 084 299 6567.
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity Officer.
tahir.sema@samwu.org.za
Office: 011-331 0333.
Cell: 0829403403.
5000 mineworkers down tools
NUM 29 July 2010
Over five thousand mineworkers have today downed tools at Northam Platinum mine in Rustenburg in order to mourn the deaths of the two mineworkers who lost their lives last week. The workers will today gather at Northam Platinum at 12H00 for a memorial service and then disperse to their respective homes. This is part of the NUM resolution to observe a day of mourning each time mineworkers lose their lives. The NUM calls on all its members countrywide to observe days of mourning whenever mineworkers lose their lives as per the resolution of the union in an attempt to put more pressure for companies to observe health and safety policies.
Lesiba Seshoka
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
7 Rissik Street ,JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 377 2047
Mobile: 082 803 6719
Public Service strike going ahead - PSA
Public Servants Association 28 July 2010
Union says its 200,000 members will be downing tools from midnight
More than 200 000 members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) will
down tools from midnight tonight in pursuance of their salary and
benefit demands.
Public servants demand a 8.6% salary increase, a housing subsidy of R1
000 and medical aid subsidy parity with effect from 1 April 2010, whilst
Government is only offering a 6.5%-salary increase and R620 housing
subsidy with effect from 1 July 2010.
"The fact that Government's offer to its core public sector employees is
so much less than the settlement rates in other public sector
institutions and entities infuriated our members, who face the same
economic realities than their colleagues in these sectors, with the
reality that the real inflation on their expenses that gulps up more
than 90% of their disposable income, is not close to CPI, for instance
electricity, food, fuel, clothing and healthcare," said Koos Kruger,
Provincial Manager for the PSA in Cape Town.
According to the, this situation informed their demands which are
regarded as reasonable and fair in the circumstances.
"Public servants in all sectors will be participating in the strike
except for our members in essential services on whom we call to act
responsibly and to obey the law. We do, however, foresee major
disruptions to key services especially immigration services at airports
and other ports of entry, deeds offices and non-court services at the
Department of Justice where the PSA represents the majority of
employees", said Kruger.
The PSA plans country-wide mass actions, including a mass-protest march
to Parliament in Cape Town in 29 July 2010, where a memorandum of
demands will be handed to a Government representative.
Whilst calling on labour unity from all unions in convincing the
employer to meet the demands, Kruger said: "We trust that public
servants will show the same resolve they had in 2007, when we claimed a
major victory with our country-wide strike."
Statement issued by the Public Servants Association, July 28 2010
Road Safety Highlights Protest after Durban hit-and-run
SAPA 26 July 2010
Community members in Kwamashu's K section, near Durban, protested on
Monday after a child was killed in a hit-and-run accident, KwaZulu-Natal
police said.
"Community members are blocking the roads with tree branches and burning
tyres. They want speed humps because many children have been killed in
this way," said Captain Thulani Zwane.
He said a 4-year old child was killed by a speeding vehicle on Saturday
and died at the scene. Police were investigating the incident.
Police officers had been dispatched to the scene where about 60
protesters had since calmed down.
Community members had allegedly complained to authorities about the
problem of speeding cars but no action had been taken.
- SAPA
This press release was emailed out at : 28 July, 2010 19:00
The eThekwini Municipality has taken note of protests by residents of
KwaMashu K-Section who are demanding the erection of speed humps on
Nkonjane Road.
Speaker of the Council, Councillor James Nxumalo has assured residents
that the matter is receiving attention from his office.
"We have taken note of the concerns raised by residents. As a
government that listens to its people we want to assure residents that
their problems are receiving attention from my office. We will work
with the local Councillor and the relevant departments to attend to
the request for speed humps on Nkonjane Road. The safety of our
communities, especially children, is a priority for the Municipality."
Speaker James Nxumalo, accompanied by Municipal officials and local
Councillors, will on Friday, 30 July 2010 at 10am, visit the area to
assess the situation and get first-hand accounts from residents.
Issued by the eThekwini Municipalitys Communications Unit. For more
information contact Thabo Mofokeng on 031 311 4820 or 0827317456 or
e-mail mofokengthabo@durban.gov.za
MUT students protest
Latoya Newman (The Mercury) 22 July 2010
THE police were called to Umlazi’s Mangosuthu University of Technology
yesterday after students protested that agreements reached at the
beginning of the year had not been unfulfilled.
SA Students Congress KZN chairman Sandile Phakathi said a payment plan
for students who owed residence fees was not practical. He also
complained that lecturers were often absent and that a books allowance
had been done away with and a campus bookstore closed.
Marcus Ramogale, Vice-Principal Academic, said the students
representative council was not involved in the protests because it was
in discussions with the management.
“The demonstrations were over the payment of fees. Some students are
keen on continuing a culture of non-payment. The university is owed over
R100 million by non-paying students. The position of executive
management is that students who have not fulfilled their financial
obligations towards the institution in terms of a fee payment plan
cannot be registered,” he said.
Ramogale said the bookshop had not been closed. “What has been
discontinued is a facility whereby the university pays the bookshop for
books acquired by students. The facility has been discontinued because
students do not, in turn, pay back the university by settling their
fees. The management is in discussions with the SRC,” he said.
Protest continues at Kuyga Intermediate School
23 July 2010
FOR the second consecutive day, irate parents of Kuyga Intermediate
School in Greenbushes are protesting over overcrowded classrooms.
More than 700 pupils and their teachers were locked out of their school
yesterday (July 21) as parents took to the streets to call for the
Education Department to allow the children access to 14 new classrooms
built in February.
The protest continued this morning. Provincial legislature member
Christian Martin was attending a meeting at the school this morning in a
bid to resolve the issue.
Parents of Kuyga Intermediate School pupils yesterday said they felt
they had exhausted all other avenues. Their children were forced to
share overcrowded classrooms because the department had failed to pay
the contractor to complete the work, they said.
Children are using an old dilapidated building and sharing dirty toilets
while the new classroom block stands idle.
School governing body chairman Boy Mantewu yesterday said parents had
decided to take action after a public meeting on Tuesday night.
“They feel they want the department to come and address the issues.”
He said as many as 70 pupils shared a classroom, and more than 100 Grade
R pupils who were being taught in a nearby community hall had to vacate
the premises at the start of the new term. Even more frustrating was
that the contractor was yet to build a Grade R classroom, while
furniture, water and electricity were needed for the new classrooms,
which had been completed in February.
“We have written letters to the department, our principal has written
letters and nothing has happened,” said Mantewu.
“The contractor said he has not received money from the department and,
as a result, he has not come back to complete his work.
Principal Nomvuyo Dubula said:
“Our Grade R pupils have had to vacate the nearby community hall and we
have no choice but to make space for them ... it’s frustrating.”
Dubula said, however, that the department had made two teachers
available for a 12-month period for Afrikaans.
“The department made the teachers available following a sit-in at its
offices before schools closed in June.
“It’s sad. Teachers and parents keep coming to the school and asking me
when the new building will be opened. I have exhausted all the avenues.”
Dubula said the contractor should not fight battles using the school.
“Why does the contractor keep our new building locked? ... The
department will eventually pay.”
Jeffreys Bay marchers say no to nuclear plant
Melanie Gosling 18 July 2010
Just over 2 000 people marched through Jeffreys Bay on Sunday in protest
against the multi‑billion‑rand nuclear power station which Eskom plans
to build at the nearby Thyspunt.
While marchers converged on the local municipal offices where organisers
handed over a memorandum, 14 chokka (squid) fishing boats dropped anchor
behind contestants in the Billabong International Surfing Championship
and switched on their lights in support of the marchers.
Thyspunt Alliance spokesperson Trudi Malan said: "We thought we would
not get many people because we were competing with the surfing and the
rugby, but some of the surfers phoned and said please can we wait till
the Kelly Slater heat had finished. We did and they all came rushing over.
And some rugby fans told us they could always watch rugby again, but
they may not have the opportunity to show their support again against a
nuclear power station that would affect all their lives."
This breaking news article was supplied exclusively to www.iol.co.za
by the news desk at our sister publication, The Cape Times.
Bus commuters protest in PTA
13 July 2010
Disgruntled bus commuters have threatened to continue protesting if the
Tshwane council does not review its ticket prices.
Dozens demonstrated outside the bus ticket office at Church Square in
Pretoria.
Two weeks ago the Tshwane Metro Council made unannounced changes to the
bus tariffs which included numerous increases. Commuters said they
cannot afford the new prices.
In the past a single trip cost between R5 and R12, depending ont he
destination. Now all trips, no matter the distance, cost R10.
Metro police were keeping an eye on the situation but the number of
protestors dropped as some made their way to work.
Service delivery protest blocks highway
Sapa 14 July 2010
About 500 protesters blocked the Golden Highway south of Joburg with
burning tyres yesterday, police said. Captain Kay Makhubela said police
dispersed the crowd at about 7am, but they moved to an open field, where
they were waited for officials to speak to them about service delivery.
The situation was calm just before noon, she said. - Sapa
Arson closes 19 schools
Sapa 14 July 2010
Mafikeng - Nineteen North West schools were closed
indefinitely
on Tuesday after three classrooms, a staff room and store room at
Sebitlwane High School were set alight by Tlakgameng residents
during a service delivery protest, the provincial education
department said.
"MEC Johannes Tselapedi had to take the decision to close the
schools to ensure that pupils and teachers in the area are
safe," spokesperson Charles Raseala told Sapa in a telephonic
interview.
Police said a vehicle was also burnt out early on Tuesday
morning.
"The MEC has indicated that the department cannot put the
lives of teachers and pupils in danger.
"It is clear that the community there does not want the
schools to reopen. They will remain closed until it is safe for
teaching and learning to take place."
Previous riots
Raseala said locals embarked on the service delivery protests in
May, just before schools closed for the June holidays, to demand a
22km tarred road between Tlakgameng and Ganyesa.
Four schools were set alight in the village, about 75km outside of
Vryburg. Schools in the area were closed for eight days due to the
riots.
"They say the transport department had promised to build the
road some time ago, and that the promise had not been
fulfilled," said Raseala.
"Now they feel they are justified to burn down any government
property to get their demand met."
"These people target staff rooms, science laboratories,
libraries and computer laboratories, which have the most expensive
equipment in the schools."
The closure affected 9 092 pupils.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions in the province condemned the
destruction of community property.
Matric exams
"We agree with the education department that this
anti-revolutionary programme of burning and damaging community and
government properties is politically motivated," Cosatu
provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.
"We are asking why investigators are taking so long to arrest
perpetrators of such crimes".
He however appealed against the closure of all schools the
area.
"Most of the schools that are now closed are not affected by
the fires. Cosatu is therefore asking the MEC to allow (pupils) who
are prepared to learn to continue with their classes."
The future of pupils, especially those about to write their Grade
12 final examinations, was being jeopardised, he said.
Police said it was quiet in the area on Tuesday afternoon and they
were monitoring the situation.
SAPA
11 000 workers down tools at Murray and Roberts Cementation
NUM 14 july 2010
Over 11 000 workers employed by Murray and Roberts Cementation will today down tools to observe a day of mourning for the six mineworkers who lost their lives in a horrific mine accident at Aquarius in Marikana last week. The workers from across four Murray and Roberts Cementation operations of Marikana, Kroondal, Wonderkop and R5 Rustenburg will as from 09H00 gather at RTM Bleskop stadium in Rustenburg. The event will begin with a memorial service and workers will later disperse to their homes. This is in line with the NUM ‘s resolution to protest against mine deaths and to force the mining industry to work on improving health and safety instead of the constant singular focus on production. “Our people are more important than production and that is the most important message we are sending to employers” says Lazarus Ditshwene, the NUM‘s Regional Chairperson in Rustenburg.
Lazarus Ditshwene (NUM Regional Chairperson)- 082 882 2947
Lesiba Seshoka
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
7 Rissik Street ,JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 377 2047
Mobile: 082 803 6719
POPCRU Members are on strike at Privatized Prison in Free State
POPCRU 14 July 2010
POPCRU over 150 members at privatized Prison at Klobal Solution, Bloemfontein, are on strike over non-implementation of an agreement that dates back to 2007 over job grading. Our striking workers could no longer tolerate the snail’s-pace attitude by the employer. A Work Study that was supposed to have been done was put on ice by management, a move we deplore.
As POPCRU, we are content that the demands are genuine, and demand that management must come to the party. This comes a few weeks after the same attitude was displayed by a privatized prison management in Kutama Senthule, Limpopo.
For more information contact:
POPCRU General Secretary-Cde Nkosinathi Theledi 0825677803
POPCRU Collective Bargaining HOD-Cde Simon Madini 0738501301
Issued by:
Norman Mampane
National Spokesperson
Tel: 0112424600/4615
Cell: 0720737959
Fax: 0866253054
Email: normanm@popcru.org.za
01 Marie Road
Auckland Park
2006
Land invasion: Angry backyard dwellers grab land near Happy Valley Backyard dwellers stake their claims
Aziz Hartley 6 July 2010
ANGRY about their long wait for houses and others getting preference,
120 Happy Valley backyard dwellers near Blue Downs invaded nearby land
on which they demarcated plots.
Police and law enforcement officers who intervened came under a barrage
of insults as the backyarders claimed empty promises of proper homes and
a move to give families outside Happy Valley the land had sparked their
land grab.
Yesterday's invasion followed a weekend meeting of backyarders over
reports that families from the Zille Rain Heights informal settlement
near Ottery would be moved to Happy Valley. The Zille Rain Heights
families had lost a court battle to prevent the council from evicting them.
While police kept an eye on the situation, metro police and law
enforcement officers were verbally abused as they removed wooden stakes
marking plots and a makeshift shack erected earlier. Incensed, the
backyarders demanded the area's councillor Bertus van Dalen come and
address them. But he was hardly given a chance to speak as people
screamed and shouted at him.
Van Dalen tried to explain that houses would be built and allocated to
people ‑ including from Happy Valley. But he was lost for words when
told some Zille Rain Heights families were going to Happy Valley. As Van
Dalen moved from the crowd to make a call, about 50 residents ran to
barricade the settlement's entrance.
Later, community leaders intervened as a group of backyarders threatened
to demolish the house of a family the council had given land to earlier
this year. Police took up position outside the house while its owner,
Marika van Niekerk, explained how she had waited years to have her own
place.
SA National Civics Organisation member Theona Kefile said: "We will not
break down people's homes. Council officials who put that family here
must move them. Officials must also not stop our people from building
houses for themselves. Our people's living conditions are terrible."
Said Happy Valley development forum organiser Willem Swarts: "People are
fed up of waiting. The mayor visited here a few months ago and promised
there will be houses, but to date ‑ nothing. This weekend we heard
people from Parkwood are coming and will get land. It made the community
very unhappy."
Contacted later, Van Dalen said 1 460 formal houses were planned for
Happy Valley and that backyarders who qualified would receive them. He
would investigate the Parkwood issue.
Late last night residents again moved on to the land "to sleep there",
Kefile said.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said: "We are aware of it and are
maintaining order. So far no action has been taken."
aziz.hartley@inl.co.za
Failure to pay R1bn in claims 'could trigger land invasions'
XOLANI MBANJWA Political Bureau 6 July 2010
ALMOST R1 billion has not been paid to hundreds of land claimants, and
Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti says this could trigger land
invasions.
Details of the outstanding amount were revealed by Nkwinti in a reply to
a parliamentary question from the DA's Annette Steyn.
Nkwinti said the department has identified 389 cases where land
claimants had not been paid and are now owed R944 996 101 in grants.
Asked how the non‑payment of grants could affect beneficiaries, Nkwinti
said delays could jeopardise projects and "farm invasions could take
place where beneficiaries cannot occupy farms as a result of delays in
the transfer of properties".
He also said that the non‑payment could result in community conflicts,
mismanagement of funds and could see beneficiaries leasing farms back to
white farmers. Nkwinti also noted in his reply that delays might result
in the decline in crop production.
He said the responsibility to pay the grants lay with municipalities
because the department transferred the funds to municipalities to pay out.
According to the department, claimants in the Eastern Cape are owed R396
million, Free State and the North West R13m, Western Cape R196m, Gauteng
and North West R35m and Limpopo R305m.
Steyn warned that non‑payment of the grants would threaten the country's
work on equitable and sustainable land reform.
"By not paying out these post‑settlement grants, the department is
incapacitating land claimants from making a success of the land
transferred to them, unfortunately evidenced by the 90 percent failure
rate of land transferred."
She added that the department had been forced to divert R500m from its
current budget to recapitalise some of the ailing projects, which could
have been avoided.
A very strange conspiracy ‑ Zille
Helen Zille 5 July 2010
The DA leader on the emerging truth about the Khayelitsha toilets saga
Another step closer to the truth behind the toilets saga
One of the ground rules of political communication is captured in the
aphorism: When you're explaining, you're losing.
But like all rules, there are exceptions. When things are not what they
seem, I believe it is important to explain why. During the Erasmus
Commission for example, people advised me to stop talking about the
matter because I was merely playing into the hands of those trying to
smear me.
I didn't listen and instead used every platform to get the truth across.
That we were vindicated of any wrongdoing, coupled with the High Court's
finding that former Premier Rasool had violated the Constitution in
setting up the illegal Commission, justified my breaking this rule.
I have decided to break it again by explaining another poorly‑understood
issue: the "open toilets" saga.
Let me be clear at the outset: nothing justifies an open toilet. It is
an affront to human dignity. But that is precisely why this saga, as it
has been told and re‑told over the past six months, makes so little
sense. There are too many contradictions and unanswered questions. And
too few facts.
The media have reported, again and again, that 55 families in Makhaza
were forced to relieve themselves in full public view for over two
years. This has been repeated so often, in various ways, that I believed
it was true. I apologized in Parliament. And I asked myself: how was it
possible for this to happen under a DA administration, and on my watch
as Mayor?
But the more I thought about it, the less the story hung together:
If this project started in 2007, why did I only hear about it in January
2010? Why did no‑one protest sooner?
Why did none of the numerous DA public representatives in Khayelitsha,
ever raise the alarm?
Why had the vigorous local Khayelitsha media never reported on so
newsworthy a matter?
During that period, I had participated in numerous talk shows on the
local Khayelitsha radio station. Why had no listener ever called in to
complain?
Even more mystifying was why the ANC didn't use the "open toilets"
against me in the run‑up to the 2009 election?
And most puzzling of all: why did Andile Lili, the project's paid
facilitator since 2008 (as well as a local ANC Youth League leader),
only start to protest against the project when it was 96% complete?
Indeed, given that he was the project facilitator, why was he protesting
at all?
The answer is simply this: there were, in fact, no open toilets in 2007
or 2008 or indeed until the end of 2009. The 55 toilets that remained
open were those installed in the very final stage of the upgrading
project ‑‑ in November 2009 ‑‑ when 96% of the 1,316 toilets provided
for each family had already been enclosed. For some reason, the last 55
were not.
Following a newspaper photograph of an open toilet in January 2010,
Mayor Dan Plato immediately ordered them to be covered, despite the
objections of the 1,261 families who had enclosed their own toilets. But
on January 25th, when the City arrived to enclose the toilets, they were
prevented from doing so by a small group of people claiming to represent
"the community". Two subsequent attempts by the City to erect
enclosures, were thwarted when the ANCYL tore them down, despite almost
all the individual families requesting, in writing, that the City
enclose their toilets.
During the time that the 55 toilets remained open, no person was
"forced" to use them. The community is well serviced with an alternative
option ‑ one enclosed toilet for every five households which is the
national norm for incremental upgrading projects. Given that 96% of the
families in the project now have their own toilets, the communal toilets
are free most of the time.
In other words, the repeated allegation that ‑ "for two years, 55
families in Makhaza were forced to relieve themselves in full public
view" ‑ is entirely without foundation. .
Furthermore, as soon as the City learnt about the open toilets, they
attempted to enclose them. But the ANCYL wanted them open, because it
suited their agenda. The 55 open toilets happened to be located in the
precise area where the ANCYL's leading "thugocrats", Andile Lili and
Loyiso Nkohla, conduct their reign of terror. Given the contradiction
between the community's wishes and the ANCYL's actions, there is only
one conclusion: the open toilets were a direct result of the ANCYL's
intimidation in order to drive their political agenda.
I experienced this first‑hand when I visited the area to speak to
members of the community. I was informed that the last person to openly
express opposition to the ANCYL, had to live with the consequences.
Despite their palpable fear, the first two families I spoke to said they
wanted the City to enclose their toilets. But then a menacing individual
arrived, refused to give his name, and said people could only speak to
the community through the "committee". It was an instructive, if
devastating, glimpse into life in a closed, fear‑driven community, run
by the "thugocrats" of the ANC Youth League.
Many people understand the political motives of the ANCYL, but argue
that we should just put this to rest by providing the concrete‑enclosed
toilets?
This sounds fair and reasonable. So why can't we erect concrete
enclosures for the 55 families? And why did the 1,261 families who
enclosed their own toilets, not demand concrete enclosures as well?
I put this to the officials working on the project. And I found the
answer instructive.
The upgrading of informal settlements has two phases. The first involves
the provision of infrastructure services: roads, stormwater, water,
sewage etc. The second is the erection of a top structure (the house).
It is essential to ensure that the two phases are aligned. If concrete
toilet enclosures are provided on each erf during phase one, they must
be removed in phase two in order to incorporate the toilet into the
house. This means an additional cost of R4,000 per erf. This amount has
to be deducted from the R75,000 subsidy for each family's top structure.
This means, in practical terms, that a concrete enclosure in phase one,
will result in a house in phase two that is two square meters smaller
than it would otherwise have been. If you enclose your own toilet in
phase one, it can be incorporated into your house in phase two, and you
will reap the benefit of a bigger house. This is why families choose to
enclose their own toilets in phase one. It is an empowering and logical
choice. That is, until the ANC Youth League decides otherwise.
The saddest aspect of this saga is the pitiful report of the Human
Rights Commission, which is full of the factual inaccuracies required to
reach the conclusion that the Council violated the human rights of the
residents of Makhaza. It is the clearest possible demonstration of what
happens when the ANC deploys its parliamentary cadres into institutions
that are supposed to be independent of the ruling party. They become
extensions of its power abuse instead of limits on its power.
Three years ago when the City was locked in a make‑or‑break battle with
the Province over the unconstitutional Erasmus Commission, Professor
Pierre de Vos took me to task for saying: "some judges allow themselves
to be used and, unfortunately, (Judge) Nathan Erasmus is one of them."
Today, I repeat that in relation to the SA Human Rights Commission: Some
Chapter Nine institutions allow themselves to be abused and,
unfortunately, the SA Human Rights Commission is one of them.
This article by Helen Zille first appeared in SA Today, the weekly
online newsletter of the leader of the Democratic Alliance.
South African miners launch indefinite strike
Django 8 July 2010
Miners at four sites owned by Shanduka Resources Ltd have downed tools to demand the equalisation of pay and working conditions.
Hundreds of miners are involved in the walkout, which has hit mines in Springlake, Leeufontein, Graspan Colliery and Townlands. The indefinite strike is backed by the South African National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
Workers at different sites have varying terms and pay, and are subject to separate bargaining arrangements. Workers at some sites do not receive allowances and bonuses which are part of the terms at other sites; for instance miners in Kwa-Zulu Natal receive a “living out” allowance that those in Mpumalanga are denied.
The strike follows a wave of workers' struggles in South Africa, including the Transnet transport workes' strike, wildcat bus workers' strikes, postal strikes, walkouts by construction workers, and the high-profile strike by match stewards during the world cup.
Shanduka Resources describes itself as “a leading African black owned and managed investment company”, and amongst its business principles are “Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment” and the promotion of “social responsibility”.
libcom.org
Strike begins at Shanduka
NUM 5 July 2010
Hundreds of members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) downed tools at four Shanduka operations this morning over centralized bargaining. The operations are Springlake, Leeufontein, Graspan Colliery and Townlands. The workers demand that Shanduka should centralize its bargaining so that conditions of service get harmonized. “We demand that Shanduka should allow its workforce to have similar pay and similar conditions of service since all operations fall within one group” says Paris Mashego, the NUM ‘ s Regional Secretary for the Highveld region. Springlake operation is in Kwazulu-Natal whereas the other three operations are in and around Emalahleni (Witbank). “Our workers have decided to go on an indefinite strike action after mediation by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) failed to resolve the dispute” says Mashego.
Paris Mashego (NUM Regional Secretary)- 082 809 2393
Lesiba Seshoka (NUM National Spokesman)- 082 803 6719
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