Numsa Media Monitor Thursday 18 August 2016

A daily compilation of local, national and international articles dealing with labour related issues

Numsa

The whole world will hold Lungu accountable for violence - NUMSA

Oliver Chisenga, The Post [Zambia], 16 Aug 2016

WE and the whole world will hold Edgar Chagwa Lungu liable for all the violence before, during and immediately after the elections as the person who was constitutionally empowered and mandated to protect the lives and property of all human beings in Zambia in general and Zambians in particular, states the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

And NUMSA general secretary Irvin Jim says people the world over are shocked at the impunity of the Zambian Revenue Authority over their failure to abide by the ruling that ordered that assets of The Post be returned to the newspaper.

In a statement, Jim stated that Lungu, who had sworn to uphold and defend the country’s Constitution, needed to be made accountable for the violence seen in the country.

“While the two major parties – the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) – have both failed to contain and eliminate violence for the period leading up to the polls, it is the constitutional duty of the governing party and President of the country to stump out violence,” Jim stated. “The president of the Republic of Zambia had sworn to uphold and defend the Zambian Constitution and to protect the lives and property of all Zambians.”

He stated that the government had a duty to protect every Zambian.

“We repeat: the government of the Republic of Zambia has a duty and responsibility to all Zambians and all human beings in Zambia, to protect lives and property,” Jim stated.

He called on Zambians to resist the temptation to slide into more violence after voting on Thursday.

“We make a special appeal to all the workers of Zambia (employed or not) and the rural population – not to be used by politicians for their selfish political interests to further violence. We the Black and African workers of South Africa have learnt one main lesson we must share with the Zambian working class: unless the working class organise itself as a conquering force to win state power for themselves as a class, politicians from the other classes will always use us for their own ends,” Jim stated. “It is not by accident that both in South Africa and in Zambia workers blood has already been spilt in the elections. We stand ready to offer all the people of Zambia in general and the Zambian working class in particular, any solidarity they may demand of us! We remain confident, however, that both our countries will never conquer poverty, unemployment, inequalities, disease, ignorance, homelessness, hunger and all the miseries which the majority of our peoples suffer from until and unless the working class are organized for themselves to win state power from the capitalist classes of both countries!”

And Jim stated that it was shameful that The Post celebrated its 25th anniversary under difficult circumstances.

“We bow our heads in shame as the African working class that such an African jewel as The Post has had to celebrate its 25th year anniversary in such horrible circumstances! The Post is a newspaper that has rivalled some of the world’s best newspapers – and we the African working class are proud of its heroic history,” Jim stated.

He further stated that just like South Africa after 1994, Zambia after 1964 had seen a tiny fraction of citizens become very rich amidst national poverty and widespread unemployment.

“This situation in Zambia has become worse after 1991. After the democratic breakthrough in South Africa in 1994, we have seen the destruction of many Zambian businesses by South African white capital. This has further fuelled unemployment and mass poverty among Zambians,” stated Jim.

- See more at: http://www.postzambia.com/news.php?id=19649#sthash.yA40TXdb.dpuf

South African workers

Union threatens strike that will have ‘devastating effect on Gautrain commuters’

Nomahlubi Jordaan, TimesLive, 16 August, 2016

Gautrain operations could come to a halt this week if a looming strike by the United National Transport Union (Untu) takes place.

The Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) will on Wednesday rule on whether an ongoing dispute between Bombela and the union cannot be resolved.

“According to a collective agreement between Untu and Bombela‚ the union needs this certificate before giving the employer 48-hour written notice of its intention to go on a strike after obtaining a mandate from its members‚” the union said.

“Untu earlier declared a dispute against Bombela’s attempts to unilaterally short-change its hard working and hyper-efficient employees.”

The company‚ according to the union‚ started off salary negotiations with an offer to pay a 3% salary increase when it had demanded 15%.

“The gap narrowed to a 9% vs 7.6% divide when negotiations deadlocked‚” said Steve Harris‚ Untu’s general secretary.

“Bombela is not prepared to negotiate in good faith and that leaves Untu with no option but to ask our members to consider a strike even though it would have a more devastating effect on the already slow-growing economy.

“The reality is that more and more commuters rely on the Gautrain due to the petrochemical strike by the Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union entering its fourth week.

“A strike at the Gautrain now will have a devastating effect on commuters trying to get to work and back.”

Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said a wage negotiation dispute between the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) and Untu was initially referred to the CCMA for conciliation in July.

“As of the end of June 2016‚ according to BOC's records‚ Untu failed to meet the minimum threshold of 50%+1 in terms of membership as per the collective bargaining agreement with the BOC‚” Nayager said.

“In accordance to the collective bargaining agreement‚ the BOC issued Untu with a 90-day notice period effective from 1 July 2016.

“Based on the collective bargaining agreement‚ the BOC is‚ however‚ of the opinion that during this period the union does not have the right to substantively negotiate with the company as it is no longer the majority union.

“The CCMA has granted the BOC seven days to file its application to seek clarity on this issue and‚ as such‚ the BOC has been granted a point in limine hearing (a preliminary hearing on a specific legal point) in terms of Rule 9 and 31 of the Labour Relations Act.

“Tomorrow‚ 17 August 2016‚ the CCMA will advise on the point in limine‚” Nayager added.

She said that‚ in the event of a strike‚ the company will implement contingency plans to minimise the impact on passengers.

“In the interim‚ as stated previously‚ the company remains open to find an amicable resolution to the wage dispute.”

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2016/08/16/Union-threatens-strike-that-will-have-%E2%80%98devastating-effect-on-Gautrain-commuters%E2%80%99

NUM members to march at Northam

Siphelele Dludla, Independent Media, 17 Aug 2016

Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday said more than 7 000 of its members were set to embark on a massive march at Northam Platinum in Limpopo on Wednesday against “witch-hunting, victimisation, suspension” of its members.

Two months ago, Northam Platinum mine was plagued by union rivalry between the NUM and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), with clashes between the two unions claiming the lives of two workers at the Zondereinde operations.

In a litany of accusations, the NUM claimed Northam Platinum chief executive Paul Dunne disregards the Recognition Agreement. The NUM further alleged that Dunne has a history of dividing workers and unions.

The union said Northam Platinum had contravened the Labour Relations Act by establishing a cosy relationship with Amcu, which it gave access to the workplace when it did not meet the threshold.

The NUM is the majority union representing 80 percent of the workforce, while Amcu has only 6.7 percent representation at Northam.

In a statement, NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu said the union did not support the presence of Dunne at Northam Platinum.

“Paul Dunne has a history of dividing workers and unions. He mastered this art at Impala Platinum and under his leadership the company triggered a tumultuous tide of turmoil in the platinum sector,” Mammburu said.

“The NUM is going to fight and expose this divisive character... He is the real enemy of the workers.”

The NUM said Dunne had also refused to conduct membership verification through an independent verifier at Impala Platinum, where he was executive director until 2014, saying his behaviour had plunged the mining sector into chaos.

Among other things, the NUM demanded Dunne’s immediate removal, as well as that of the employee relations specialist.

Dunne was not immediately available for comment.

Northam Platinum spokesperson Marion Brower said he would comment as soon as he had gathered all the facts around the matter.

http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/num-members-to-march-at-northam-2058034

Samwu threatens Tshwane bus service with legal action over worker treatment

Kgomotso Modise, EWN, 17 Aug 2016

JOHANNESBURG – The South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has called on the Tshwane bus service to address issues of racism and the ill-treatment of staff within the next 20 days, or it will take the matter back to court.

Earlier this month, workers affiliated to the union went on an unprotected strike, complaining about discrimination among other things.

Last week the bus service was able to secure a court interdict instructing all staff to return to work, while the parties continued with talks.

Samwu's Mpho Tladinyane says members will not agree to work where they do not feel safe or appreciated.

“There is also inequality when it comes to the issue of discipline. If you are of a particular colour, you will be treated differently. You may have been found guilty of committing misconduct, but if you’re a particular colour you’ll be dismissed. However, if you’re lighter you may get a warning.”

http://ewn.co.za/2016/08/17/Tshwane-Bus-Service-could-face-legal-action-over-ill-treatment-of-workers

Education, Sadtu set for high court showdown

Adrienne Carlisle, DispatchLive, 17 August 2016

The Eastern Cape education department has accused the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) of violating children’s rights and riding roughshod over its own constitution and union code of conduct.

Acting head of provincial education Sizakele Netshilaphala, says in court papers that Sadtu has consistently and deliberately thwarted the department’s attempts to properly allocate adequate teachers to all schools.

She implies the union had consequently prevented many children from receiving a constitutionally guaranteed basic education.

The department has fired both barrels at Sadtu in two high court applications which could see the union on the wrong end of a far- reaching interdict, as well as a humiliating judicial declaration that it has flouted its constitutional duty to children. Both the union and the department have agreed that the two applications be argued simultaneously in the Grahamstown High Court.

The two applications indicate a massive power struggle between the department and union for control of education.

In the first application, the department asked the Grahamstown High Court to declare that Sadtu has a constitutional duty to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights of children to a basic education and that it was – through its actions – flouting this duty and preventing the department from meeting its own constitutional obligations.

It wants the court to declare as unlawful and unconstitutional Sadtu’s instructions to its members not to participate in the department’s attempts to re-deploy its 4200 excess teachers to understaffed schools, where they are needed.

Finally, it wants Sadtu to take disciplinary steps against Sadtu provincial administrator Sindisile Zamisa, who it says is behind attempts to stymie teacher transfers.

In a separate, but related urgent court application, the department – reacting to threats by the union – wants the court to interdict it from disrupting, interfering with or obstructing the provision of education at schools or the operations of the department.

It also wants the court to interdict the union and its members from intimidating or threatening the department’s employees, consultants or contractors or unlawfully occupying or preventing access to any of its offices, schools or other properties.

Each year, after assessing schools’ needs, the department declares the teacher staff establishment for each school. In the process, teachers additional to the establishment are identified and they should be transferred to understaffed schools where they are needed after following a strict specified process.

But Netshilaphala says the department had been consistently and deliberately thwarted by the union in carrying out the task of identifying teachers who should be transferred or retrenched.

“As a result of this conduct by Sadtu the provincial department is being gravely prejudiced and impeded in complying with its constitutional obligation to provide education to learners at understaffed schools.”

The 4200 excess teachers make up over 6% of the 54747 teachers needed at provincial schools.

Because the union prevents these teachers from being transferred to schools where they are needed, the department has had to resort to filling vacant posts from external sources, while still paying the excess teachers.

This has resulted in gross over-expenditure on its personnel budget.

Netshilaphala says that after they launched the first application in July, Sadtu had threatened in the press to “disrupt everything” after elections so “they know who they are dealing with”.

She said it had therefore been necessary to resort to the second application for an interdict.

The department’s correspondent attorney in Grahamstown, Marius Wolmarans, yesterday confirmed the union was opposing both matters.

http://www.dispatchlive.co.za/education-sadtu-set-high-court-showdown/

Uber upset raises major concerns about the industry

Guyck Van Heerden, TimesLive, 12 April, 2016

Let’s be honest. Cabs were (and for some still are) a luxury. That is until Uber entered the scene, flooding the market with cheaper trips and literally 1000s of drivers.

Today it is the world’s biggest ride-booking service, with a presence in 65 countries.

We’ve certainly seen its value in South Africa and aren’t a bit surprised to learn that every six months it doubles its passenger numbers in our fair country.

In spite of its growing popularity, though, the company’s latest sales strategy has caught some unwelcome backlash, shining new light on the ride-booking industry in general.

This week saw Uber driver-partners put a halt to work in reaction to the company’s winter discount of as much as 20%, effectively cutting R6 per kilometre from R7, in order to boost demand during the colder months.

While this discount does, admittedly, appear to be a good deal for consumers I, for one, had a mixed reaction. As a consumer I was quite happy at the prospect of paying less per trip, but being in the industry, my next thought was, ‘How can they reduce pricing by such a large quantum, particularly with fuel and vehicle price increases, and still allow the drivers to earn a living wage?’

When we look at Uber, we think about the convenience, the safety of not driving under the influence, and the relative affordability. We’re even understanding of their zero responsibility terms and conditions, because they are upfront and transparent about it.

Off the face of it, this model brings demand and supply together, affording both the driver and consumer the freedom of choice. It’s an ideal employment situation, where you can be your own boss, choose your ‘office’, and work your own hours, effectively determining your own earning power.

The harsh reality is that drivers borrow capital to finance their vehicle, incur debt, and come onto the platform ready to work. They are exposed to all the risk in the business, but have no say on the price at which their product is being sold.

This leads to drivers working 84 hour weeks to earn approximately R6 – 7k a month. There are only so many hours in the day and with drivers already operating close to the bone, the discounted rates will push them into a potential loss making position.

What kind of opportunity is it when you have no say about the price and still have to incur all the risk?

Someone who has worked an 84 hour week probably has the same concentration levels as someone who has had a more than a few drinks. Now, factor in the new discounted rates and you can bet that insurance, regular services, tyres, and brakes, and other expendables will go out the window.

You have to ask yourself, how safe is your trip, really?

Many consumers would reason that drivers should simply get out if it doesn’t work for them – and in a perfect world they would… if it weren’t for the fact that they have purchased a car, quit their jobs, and are, in a way, trapped.

We all want a sustainable and easy-to-use cab environment, one that gives us the satisfaction knowing that our driver is earning a decent/respectable wage and our ride is that much safer. Realistically, all it would take to create a sustainable, more

ethical industry is to increase or indeed subsidise cab fares by 20-25%, allowing drivers the financial freedom to invest in insurance, regular services, and shorter hours.

Until that happens, though, what are we to do? This isn’t a clear cut situation where consumers should boycott Uber as this would surely do more harm than good. But, if you are using Uber, then it is important that you check the condition of the vehicle you’re getting into.

It is equally important that you engage with your driver, because awareness is a vital step in the journey towards change. This means finding out how many hours they have worked, discussing their experience, and talking to them about how getting on the Uber platform has affected their lives. You might be surprised at the answers you get.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/ilive/2016/04/12/Uber-upset-raises-major-concerns-about-the-industry-iLIVE

Sugar tax could cost 70,000 jobs, says study

Fifi Peters, Business Day, 17 August 2016

THE Beverage Association of SA, whose members include almost all manufacturers of nonalcoholic drinks in the country, has warned that up to 70,000 jobs in the industry could be lost if the Treasury’s mooted tax on sugar-sweetened drinks were implemented in its current form.

This is the first time the industry has put a number to the potential ramifications for employment since the proposed tax was published for public comment in July.

The findings are based on an independent study conducted by Oxford Economics and commissioned by the association.

The study found the proposed tax would result in 60,000-70,000 workers losing their jobs. About 60% of the jobs lost would be direct, upstream jobs, says the report.

SA would be following in the footsteps of countries such as Mexico, Mauritius and Hungary, which have implemented the tax to tackle rising obesity and diabetes rates.

Experts forecast that the proposed levy could raise up to R4.5bn in revenue, relieving pressure on the fiscus. However, having already shed about 500,000 jobs in 2016, the country can ill afford to lose any more.

The Treasury’s proposal is for a tax of 2.9c per gram of sugar in all sugar-sweetened drinks. This could raise the price of popular soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola, about 20% — making the tax rate one of the highest in the world. In Mexico, which has a similar tax, the rate is about 10%.

On Tuesday, Phil Gutsche, chairman of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the largest bottler of Coke products on the continent, called on stakeholders to assist the industry in opposing the proposed tax to save jobs.

Beverage Association of SA executive director Mapule Ncanywa said the organisation had told the Treasury on numerous occasions that taxing a single

category of food would not be effective in tackling obesity and diseases, such as diabetes, that resulted from excessive sugar intake. Sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for only about 3% of total daily calorie consumption, she said.

"If sugar is the problem, why not go straight for the source?" asked Ncanywa.

The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) said it supported the government’s initiatives to tackle health challenges in the country. But it said it would have a problem with the proposed tax if it resulted in the volume of job losses the industry predicted.

"We cannot add an extra 70,000 workers to our existing army of unemployed," Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said.

The deadline for public comments on the policy paper is August 22.

The Treasury has said the tax will come into effect in April 2017.

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/2016/08/17/sugar-tax-could-cost-70000-jobs-says-study

Marikana

Vavi in Rustenburg to #RememberMarikana

Molaole Montsho, Independent Media, 16 Aug 2016

Marikana - Expelled Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi attended the Marikana tragedy commemoration for the first time on Tuesday.

Vavi was Cosatu general secretary when Lonmin workers downed tools and demanded to be paid R12 500 per month. The workers rejected Cosatu-affiliated union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and instead opted to elect a committee to lead them.

Vavi received rousing applause from the crowd when he was called to speak at the commemoration marking the day in 2012 when police opened fire on striking mineworkers, killing 34 and injuring more than 70 others.

Vavi said there was a need for an independent union that would not be in pockets of employers or political parties.

“We need a union that will fight for the rights of workers,” he said.

Vavi was expelled from Cosatu in March last year, for bringing for bring the federation into disrepute.

During the lead up to the shooting on 16 August 2012, there were reports of intimidation and assault between members of rival unions – the NUM and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed as violence escalated in the area.

Then on August 16, police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers at a koppie near Nkaneng. More than 70 others were injured.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/vavi-in-rustenburg-to-remembermarikana-2057703

Value miners, says Amcu’s Mathunjwa

Molaole Montsho & Ishmael Parkies, Independent Media, 16 Aug 2016

Marikana – Mineworkers must be valued, the Association of Mineworkes and Construction Union (Amcu) president Joseph Mathunjwa said on Tuesday.

“Our miners need to be valued. Mining underground is the hardest job within the market,” he said at the commemoration of the Marikana massacre in Marikana, in the North West.

He charged that mining companies were smuggling out gold out of South Africa and stashed taxes in off-shore account.

“A [United Nations] UN report revealed that companies are smuggling gold out of the country. The government has not instituted a commission to investigate this allegation and prove us [Amcu] wrong,” he said.

He said government funded a union to tarnish the image of Amcu and to resuscitate the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Amcu defeated the NUM as a dominant union in the platinum belt after the Marikana tragedy in 2012.

Another union, the Workers Association Union (WAU), was formed in 2014, it was assisting non-striking mineworkers to go to work during the five month long Amcu strike in 2014. The union provided transport and accommodation for the workers.

Media reports suggested that WAU was formed to destroy Amcu, the union was apparently funded from the presidency.

“We need to have a separation of powers …” he said. Mathunjwa said that he would be compelled to form a labour party if political parties continued to form trade unions.

He said President Jacob Zuma must apologise to the nation and compensate the families of the mineworkers that were killed and injured when police opened fire on them.

He accused the government of copying the minimum wage from other countries, he added that a minimum wage should not be less than R12 500

During the lead up to the shooting on 16 August 2012, there were reports of intimidation and assault between members of rival unions – the NUM and Amcu.

Ten people, including two policemen and two Lonmin security guards, were killed as violence escalated in the area.

Then on August 16, police shot dead 34 striking mineworkers at a koppie near Nkaneng. More than 70 others were injured.

http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/value-miners-says-amcus-mathunjwa-2057718

Amcu warns political parties against forming trade unions

SABC, 17 August 2016

Amcu President, Joseph Mathunjwa, has warned political parties against forming their own workers' unions, saying that will compromise the fight for better working conditions.

Mathunjwa made the comments on Tuesday in Marikana during the fourth commemoration of the Marikana tragedy, in which 34 people were killed.

Mathunjwa says, "I warn any political party who suggests to form a union that they will compromise their position at the end of the day. I think history must teach us that we need to have these separation of powers."

"As Amcu, we made sure that all our members are free to join and to vote for any political party of their choice," adds Mathunjwa.

The opposition parties say nothing has been done to improve living conditions in Marikana. They say workers continue living in shacks, where there are no roads, water and electricity.

Lonmin was not spared the blame.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa says, “Even with the massacre of workers, their basic demand for a living wage has not been met by Lonmin. Yet they continue to make profit out of the sweat of the workers.”

DA leader Mmusi Maimane couldn't agree more.

“There has been no justice that is taking place for those who died here in Marikana. It has become quite clear that if you are poor, and you are black and you are not connected, this government simply does not care for you.”

As for the EFF's Julius Malema, this was an opportunity to thank people of ward 26, which Wonderkop falls under, for having voted for the EFF.

He promised them that they will bring about changes in the platinum-rich area.

Malema says they will continue supporting Amcu, as they have done in the past four years.

‘All of you here, Amcu members, Amcu President, Bishop Seoka; we will travel this journey together.”

Former Cosatu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, says he has appealed to Amcu leadership to be part of the plan to create unions with a vision of advancing workers' interests.

“Mathunjwa and the Amcu leadership know that I'm travelling the whole country, asking them that we must unite, and build powerful unions, which are strong, and can ensure that workers in South Africa are organised under unions which will fight for a living wage.”

Lonmin CEO, Ben Magara, who attended the event, made an assurance that they will work towards improving the living conditions of the workers.

“I know very well that the living conditions that some of you are living in are not good enough. They require a change. But I can assure you, we continue to work hard to improve that. If you go around what we are doing, you will see.”

The EFF has pledged R1 million to the Marikana Amcu Trust, set up to assist the families of the slain mineworkers.

The DA and UDM have also pledged R50 000 each, with Amcu saying it has already injected R2 million into the account.

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/c86366004de50079aac7eeebaa746de2/Amcu-warns-political-parties-against-forming-trade-unions-20160817

Alliance between ANC and workers union treacherous: Amcu

Jonisayi Maromo, Independent Media, 16 Aug 2016

Marikana – An alliance between the government and a workers’ trade union is detrimental and compromises the position of both the governing party and the workers organisation, Association for Mining and Construction Union (Amcu) leader Joseph Mathunjwa said on Tuesday.

“We’re here today to say aluta continua. I think the lesson (from the Marikana events) is that once a political party is in an alliance with a union, and they form an alliance, that is dangerous. We are standing here today because of the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers),” Mathunjwa told thousands of people at the fourth anniversary of the Marikana massacre hosted near the koppie where the 2012 incident happened.

“The NUM (a member of trade union federations Congress of SA Trade Unions), the ruling party, the ANC and the SA Communist Party became an alliance and as a result today we’re mourning our comrades. So I’m warning any political party which suggests to form a union that they will compromise their position at the end of the day.”

Mathunjwa said it was critical in a democracy to have a firm line between the governing party and workers representatives.

“History must teach us that we need to have this separation of powers. As Amcu, we made sure that our members are free to join and to vote for any political party of their choice. There is therefore no need for a political party to form a trade union,” Mathunjwa emphasised.

“If political parties move to form a trade union, Amcu will move to the next step — to form a labour party where we consolidate everything under the Amcu banner. That will be a disaster to many political parties. We therefore support all progressive political parties.”

Mathunjwa had another message for the government: “They must say to this noble, mighty organisation called the African National Congress, pursue the State President

(Jacob Zuma) to apologise to the nation and to compensate the workers and the families of those who were killed and injured at Marikana”.

“Furthermore, they must declare this day (August 16) to be a public holiday. If all those things are done, it will close the chapter. Then we will see that we have a caring government which listens to the electorate.”

Mathunjwa made the remarks at the fourth anniversary of the Marikana labour-related unrest, which left 44 people dead in August 2012.

Members of the South African Police Service gunned down 34 mineworkers on August 16, 2012, during the violent wage strike at the Lonmin mine operations in Marikana near Rustenburg in North West.

Ten other people including two Lonmin security guards and two policemen were killed a week earlier. The policemen and security guards were hacked to death by the striking mineworkers.

Amcu has since formed a trust fund, to cater for the families of the deceased. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Tuesday pledged R1 million towards that Marikana Massacre AMCU Trust Fund at the commemorations.

Amcu has already pledged to donate R2 million into the trust fund. Nudged to donate by Mathunjwa, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa donated R50 000 each. Lonmin CEO Ben Magara pledged R100 000 into the fund.

Earlier, Malema on Tuesday saluted Marikana residents for removing the ANC in ward 26 of the Madibeng local municipality, which includes the Nkaneng informal settlement and the koppie.

“We’re here to say thank you for voting for the EFF, and we’re going to make sure that our people in this ward get houses, water and electricity. We’re going to make sure that the Rustenburg municipality builds roads for our people,” Malema told thousands of people,” said Malema.

“I hear people saying Jerusalem has arrived in Port Elizabeth. Jesus has also arrived in Rustenburg. This municipality, no matter what happens, will not fall in the hands of the ANC. We are eating this elephant called the ANC piece by piece.”

Maimane said there would never be freedom in South Africa until Zuma comes to apologise to the people of Marikana.

“Long live the struggle of Marikana, long live. We need a government that will put roads in this place so that the lives of Africans who live in this place will be restored. Until that time, none of us are free. We will continue to fight,” said Maimane.

“The ANC will forget this day, but we will not forget. Until Jacob Zuma comes here to apologise to the people, and pay back the money, there can be no freedom in South Africa. We are saying compensation (for Marikana murders) must come from the government.”

Holomisa said the government must make sure that Lonmin is held responsible for the development of proper facilities for its employers.

The leaders of different political parties were warmly received by the thousands of people at the Marikana commemorations.

Programme director Amcu national treasurer Jimmy Gama introduced Maimane, Malema, Holomisa and Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota to the lively crowd. The widows of the deceased miners were also on the stage.

http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/alliance-between-anc-and-workers-union-treacherous-amcu-2057737

Marikana remembered - but where was ANC?

Zintle Mahlati, The Star, 17 Aug 2016

Rustenburg - It is considered to be the greatest tragedy of democratic South Africa, so the absence of government officials and ANC politicians at the commemoration of the Marikana massacre was striking on Tuesday.

And opposition parties pledged money to help the community. The Marikana Massacre Amcu Trust Fund, which will help uplift Lonmin miners and the widows left without their breadwinners, drew in millions of rand from the EFF, the UDM and the DA.

The government issued a statement saying that it had been “hard at work to address the revitalisation of distressed mining communities and find sustainable solutions that are of benefit to all” through an inter-ministerial committee.

While many of those attending the commemoration, organised by mining union Amcu (Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union), questioned the ruling party’s no-show, they were not surprised.

This followed President Jacob Zuma’s itinerary being changed to give Marikana in North West a miss during the ANC’s election campaign. Marikana has become a no-go area for the ruling party with many holding it, the police and Lonmin responsible for the deaths of dozens of miners in 2012 and then doing very little to fulfil promises of service delivery and community upliftment.

“Government has done absolutely nothing for us. Not even our own President Zuma, never mind the government. No one has come to us to apologise or to even talk to us about what happened and why it happened,” said widow Nandipha Guluza.

She said that if Zuma had had the courage to apologise to those who lost their family members, it would bring them some peace.

Thousands of mineworkers, widows, politicians and religious leaders gathered at the Wonderkop koppie on Tuesday - where the mass shootings took place - to remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Miners said they did not regret participating in the 2012 strike and their fight for decent wages continued.

During the strike, 34 miners lost their lives and 10 people were murdered in the days leading up to the August 16 massacre.

While it seemed like a celebration as music was played and artists performed, workers told of the pain that day still brought.

Rock driller Mothusi Lekwape said that he could barely sleep on Monday night because of the memories.

“I was walking to the koppie for a meeting that day and I quickly reversed and went back home when I heard the shots, they were so loud. When I got home, I cried because I worked with those men,” said Lekwape while sitting on the koppie.

“I would do it again, because those people died for the R12 500 monthly wage because we haven’t achieved it yet. I don’t regret it and I never will because we have yet to earn that money,” he said.

His colleague Israel Motlade, who does rail maintenance at Lonmin, shared similar sentiments, saying he was angry that nothing had been done to make Tuesday a public holiday.

“This day made me angry, it should be the same as the Sharpeville Massacre. We are hurt by what happened,” said Motlade.

Widows also paid tribute to their husbands and pleaded for everyone to respect the area around the koppie as a sacred space.

“We want that this place must be respected by everyone at Lonmin, our blood was lost here. If you could buy a life, then we would work hard to make sure that those people’s lives are brought back.

“We lost our husbands here,” said a shaken Nosakhe Nokhamba.

Those who addressed the gathering included the EFF’s Julius Malema, the DA’s Mmusi Maimane, Cope’s Mosiuoa Lekota, the UDM’s Bantu Holomisa and Zwelinzima Vavi, who spoke on behalf of unions working to launch a new labour federation.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/marikana-remembered---but-where-was-anc-2057857

Lessons could be learned from Marikana - ANC

Jenni Evans, News24, 16 Aug 2016

Cape Town - The ANC believes Marikana can be turned into a beacon of hope if all stakeholders work together.

In a statement commemorating the anniversary of the shooting of 34 miners during a strike on 16 August, 2012, the party said lessons could be learned from the shooting about the importance of conflict resolution in the workplace, so that there is no repeat of similar incidents.

"We must never forget that a genuine campaign for workers' rights, including decent working and living conditions, was at the heart of the Marikana conflict," said ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.

"It is for that reason that the ANC calls on all stakeholders to use this occasion to work together and refocus their energies towards bringing lasting stability in the area. This can only be achieved by meaningfully redressing structural inequalities that still persist in the workplace, especially in the mining industry."

It urged the government to partner with mines to revitalise mining towns, and for Lonmin Platinum to fast-track its transformation and social responsibility programmes.

"The ANC will continue to work with the Marikana community to build social cohesion; working together we can transform Marikana into a beacon of hope, in honour of those we lost," said Kodwa.

In addition to the 34 people killed on 16 August, 10 people, including two policemen, were killed in the run up to the shooting.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/lessons-could-be-learned-from-marikana-anc-20160816

Local elections aftermath

Poll e-mail stirs ANC ire

Rochelle de Kock & Yoliswa Sobuwa, HeraldLive, 16 Aug 2016

Mabuyane furious over task team member’s scathing election postmortem

A glum, frank assessment of how the ANC came to lose power in Nelson Mandela Bay has infuriated ANC Eastern Cape secretary Oscar Mabuyane, who is adamant that it was “ill-discipline” to apportion blame on individuals and not take collective responsibility.

Mabuyane was responding to ANC regional task team (RTT) member Crispian “Chippy” Olver’s e-mail to the rest of the team, blaming the loss on a poor election machinery, President Jacob Zuma’s poor media profile and the “Fifa scandal”.

Olver was also scathing of the ANC provincial leadership for “crudely tampering with the popular outcomes” of branch meetings where councillor candidates were elected and for “imposing candidates aligned with their own interests”.

He sent the e-mail to the task team on August 8, days after the ANC suffered a massive bruising in the local government elections.

The party’s support dropped 11% compared with 2011.

Olver declined to comment on the e-mail yesterday, saying it was part of an internal assessment and was not for public circulation.

In his e-mail, he listed eight reasons why the ANC lost out in the elections, including:

◾ANC supporters were disgruntled and complacent and felt that the party had become too “absorbed” in its own self-serving interests;

◾The election machinery was weak, particularly at a branch level, and there were misleading reports of structures in place which did not, in fact, exist;

◾Many regional leaders did not pull their weight and RTT convener Vuyani Limba disappeared for the last two weeks of the campaign. Many functions were performed in silos;

◾There was poor marketing and communications. The marketing campaign started too late and never quite caught up with the DA in terms of visibility;

◾The moral shenanigans of the national leaders were underestimated. The leadership was ambivalent about local corruption issues;

◾Danny Jordaan was not a winning formula for the township voters and did not make significant inroads in the northern areas. The regional leadership was ambivalent about using Jordaan’s face for the campaign, while Jordaan failed to work with the ANC campaign machinery;

◾The province continued to interfere in the running of the elections, making some “disastrously bad” appointments to run the election machinery; and

◾A number of ANC leaders at branch and regional level were actively trying to sabotage the campaign. Good comrades were driven away into the hands of the opposition or into standing as independents.

Mabuyane has lambasted Olver for distributing his election postmortem, knowing that there was a real chance it could be leaked to the media.

“That was ill-discipline of the highest order. [The] ANC won’t tolerate and allow this going on [unabated], and comrades who behave like mavericks in our movement will be brought to book,” he said.

“[The] ANC, as a national revolutionary liberation movement, needs a high level of morality and revolutionary discipline.

“[The] NEC has instructed all structures to take collective responsibility on the [voter] decline and denounce any populist posture by any member.

“We condemn his behaviour in the most strongest possible terms.

“He is not doing this for the first time, and we called him [to] order last time.”

In January, Olver warned the ANC – in an e-mail to the RTT – that if the factional battles continued, the party would be forced into a coalition government after the municipal elections.

The letter, which was also leaked to the media, said the voters’ wrath would be felt at the ballot box if the “corrupt clique” emerged victorious at the planned elective conference.

The January e-mail read: “The ANC in the metro is in serious danger of losing the upcoming elections because of different factions continuing to vie for control.”

Mabuyane said Olver was warned against writing letters after the January letter surfaced.

“He knew that the letter could be leaked, especially when [he] sent it to everyone,” he said.

“We don’t participate in the ANC by writing each other letters when we have platforms to raise such matters.

“We call [on] all our members to refrain from behaving like loose cannons and exercise restraint.

“We must use ANC internal processes to raise our concerns about matters of the organisation.”

http://www.heraldlive.co.za/poll-e-mail-stirs-anc-ire/

EFF can’t support Mashaba because of ‘poor people can’t be trusted to rule’ view

TimesLive, 18 August, 2016

Democratic Alliance mayoral hopeful for Johannesburg Herman Mashaba’s comment that “poor people can’t be trusted to rule” has come back to haunt him.

That’s according to Dali Mpofu‚ who told Radio 702 on Thursday that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) did not support Mashaba as he himself “could not be trusted to…take a sensible look at the poor”.

Mpofu‚ the chairperson‚ said his party could not accept the DA candidate’s contention that “only rich people can rule” as it would be contrary to the EFF’s tenet of “economic emancipation”.

The EFF was not prepared to sacrifice this principle for political expediency‚ he added‚ and it was for the same reason that it had snubbed forming coalitions with the DA in major metros.

Mpofu reiterated EFF leader Julius Malema’s stance that the party would not take “short cuts” on its way to power‚ and did not want to get in through the “back door”.

He said the party “may take 10‚ 20 years” to achieve its aims as it would take time to reverse the “hundreds of years of state intervention” which had caused the inequalities in the country.

On Wednesday‚ the DA said it had declined a request by the EFF to change its mayoral candidate in Johannesburg in exchange for its vote in the metro.

The EFF said it would vote with the DA in all metros but that this was conditional in Johannesburg.

The condition was for the DA to rethink placing Mashaba at the helm of the metro.

But the DA has declined –meaning it will not receive the EFF’s vote in Johannesburg. The EFF’s vote would have placed the DA in the majority in the metro.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said voters chose Mashaba as its candidate and the party could not undermine that.

However‚ as Saturday is the deadline for coalition-making‚ there is still time for the ANC and the EFF to continue with negotiations.

Mashaba is a millionaire who founded the company Black Like Me.

He also served as chairperson of the Free Market Foundation and is a strong believer in free enterprise and the noninvolvement of the state in the economy — views that put him at odds with the leftist EFF‚ which believes in the setting of a national minimum wage‚ among other things.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016/08/18/EFF-can%E2%80%99t-support-Mashaba-because-of-%E2%80%98poor-people-can%E2%80%99t-be-trusted-to-rule%E2%80%99-view

Herman Mashaba remains our mayoral candidate‚ DA asserts

Natasha Marrian, TimesLive, 17 August, 2016

The DA has declined a request by the EFF to change its mayoral candidate in Johannesburg‚ Herman Mashaba‚ in exchange for its vote in the metro.

The EFF said it would vote with the DA in all metros but that this was conditional in Johannesburg.

The condition was for the DA to rethink placing Mashaba at the helm of the metro.

But the DA has declined –meaning it will not receive the EFF’s vote in Johannesburg. The EFF’s vote would have placed the DA in the majority in the metro.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said voters chose Mashaba as its candidate and the party could not undermine that.

However‚ as Saturday is the deadline for coalition-making‚ there is still time for the ANC and the EFF to continue with negotiations.

Mashaba is a millionaire who founded the company Black Like Me.

He also served as chairperson of the Free Market Foundation and is a strong believer in free enterprise and the non-involvement of the state in the economy — views that put him at odds with the leftist EFF‚ which believes in the setting of a national minimum wage‚ among other things.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2016/08/17/Herman-Mashaba-remains-our-mayoral-candidate‚-DA-asserts

South Africa

Cops, security use paintball and rubber bullets against UKZN students

Jeff Wicks, News24, 17 Aug 2016

Durban – Police and security guards fired paintball and rubber bullets at protesting students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Pietermaritzburg campus on Wednesday.

Several students were arrested for "carrying dangerous weapons" while trying to disrupt lectures, said a student who was part of the protest.

This was the third day that the academic programme on the campus had been disrupted due to protests ahead of Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s announcement on fee increases for next year. He was expected to do so before the end of the month.

University of KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said on Tuesday night that lectures on the campus were expected to continue on Wednesday.

Teaching and learning continued at UKZN’s Howard College, Westville, Edgewood, and Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine campuses.

UKZN and police could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/cops-security-use-paintball-and-rubber-bullets-against-ukzn-students-20160817

Ntlemeza running the Hawks ‘like apartheid unit’ – Popcru

Virginia Keppler, The Citizen, 17 Aug 2016

Popcru has accused Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza of suspending one of their shop stewards for an unknown offence in breach of an earlier agreement.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) yesterday accused the head of South Africa’s elite crime fighting unit, the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (Hawks), of suspending one of their shop stewards for an unknown offence and “running the police department like an instrument of the apartheid state”.

Suspending a Popcru union member before meeting with the union over the matter was, according to Popcru’s Tshwane regional secretary Herman Motshegoa, in breach of an earlier agreement signed between the union and the Hawks. Motshegoa added that this particular shop steward was being victimised.

“There are many other issues and one of them is about respecting agreements that were signed and the Labour Relations Act, which says, in brief, that before a shop steward can disciplined, the employer and the union should discuss the nature of the problem,” he said during a sit-in outside the Hawks’ offices yesterday.

According to Motshegoa, Hawks head Lieutenant General Berning Ntlemeza was also avoiding the union. While Hawks national spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the unit had sent a letter to the head office of the union to notify them of the shop steward’s suspension, the union claims not to have received the letter.

Mulaudzi further claims that Ntlemeza had met with Motshegoa and his team, but declined to provide further details. “The issue regarding the shop steward is between the employer and the employee,” Mulaudzi said.

Motshegoa maintains, however, that the union’s efforts to meet with Ntlemeza were rebuffed.

“We tried on several occasions to engage on this matter and we have not been given an opportunity to do that. We came here today without an appointment so that we must insist that we speak to the head in order to resolve the matter,” he told journalists yesterday.

The Hawks have since agreed to meet with Popcru today to discuss the matter of the shop steward.

http://www.citizen.co.za/1253422/ntlemeza-running-the-hawks-like-apartheid-unit-popcru/

Popcru welcomes police ministry's transformation task team

Cape Talk, 16 August 2016

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) says it looks forward to the findings and recommendations of a task team which may completely demilitarise the police service.

On the fourth anniversary of the Marikana shootings, where police gunned down 34 miners, Popcru says that the relationship between police and communities needs to be improved.

“The move to demilitarise the police has always been our call and we support it fully. We cannot improve relationships when the Saps is not demilitarised.” — Richard Mamabolo, Popcru spokesperson

The police ministry has given itself until 2019 to transform the South African Police Service (Saps) and address the working conditions and defects within the policing system.

Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo says the union hopes to see the task team re-think the remuneration of officers and other prison workers.

http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/15818/popcru-welcomes-police-ministry-transformation-task-team

Comment and opinion

Lessons from ANC decline - harmful politics cut support

Alex Mashilo, Sowetan, 16 Aug 2016

I completely agree with the preliminary assessment by the SACP's political bureau on the outcome of the local government elections.

Principally concerned about the ANC's decline, the political bureau was straightforward:

The core lesson that the ANC in particular, and its alliance partners in general, need to take to heart is that our core constituencies, our historical support base, have sent a powerful message.

The message is quite clear, don't take us for granted, don't assume that your struggle credentials will forever act as an excuse for arrogance and predatory behaviour in the present.

Don't marginalise us while being preoccupied with your own internal factional battles, your list processes, your personality and money-driven rivalries. Don't impose unpopular and discredited candidates on us, based on factional calculations about the next ANC elective conference.

This is the key message that needs to be taken to heart.

The ANC-led alliance needs to demonstrate in both word and especially in deed that it has heard the message, loud and clear.

There is no doubt, nevertheless, that in one sense the ANC has not lost the elections. The 54% of the overall vote won by the ANC, more than double that of the nearest opposition party, is a level of support most progressive political parties can only dream of in elections conducted on the terrain of a monopoly capitalist-dominated society.

But as the political bureau said, unless serious soul-searching and decisive corrective action are undertaken, the decline will continue, likely accelerate and eventually negate the ANC's hegemony with far-reaching consequences.

The issue is whether such serious soul-searching involving decisive self-introspection and corrective action will be undertaken, and whether it will be comprehensive.

As the political bureau urged, the issue is, especially, whether the assessment will be conducted in a sober, unifying and nonsectarian manner, whether the entire leadership will shoulder collective responsibility rather than point fingers at each other, or at this or that province, while the decline cuts across all provinces, metropolitan, district and local municipalities.

Already there are some positive indicators emerging from the last ANC national executive committee, at least in word - the real proof lies in actions.

It cannot be that some fellows, acting with impunity, discard the membership forms of those they disagree with and make their names disappear from or manipulate membership records.

They buy membership for their supporters as well as votes, lock out those they disagree with from internal public representative or leadership elections, at times through bouncers, private security companies, guns and so on.

They even remove candidates elected by branches from the list of candidates submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission if they disagree, replacing them with unelected candidates. In the end, some leaders dispense patronage to their supporters, at times using public resources.

Yet, after all these and other actions that distort internal democracy, they expect all members and supporters to back the outcome at the ballot.

The causes and drivers of the unhappiness behind the declining voter turnout reducing the ANC's electoral performance, starting in its own strong support bases, must be examined with complete honesty. It is important to start from within, in internal contradictions.

But the harmful politics eroding the ANC's electoral support is a direct product of deeper structural processes, particularly economic realities. The elections took place in the context of persisting high levels of class inequality, unemployment, poverty, widespread corruption allegations and decision-making errors.

A decisive self-correction must cover all of these areas.

Mashilo is the SACP national spokesman.

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2016/08/16/lessons-from-anc-decline---harmful-politics-cut-support