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Nr. 586 - 15/05/2014 |
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Returning workers in platinum belt need more protection |
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The explosive situation in the platinum belt now require firm action by mining companies and the government who should not allow perpetrators of violence to go unpunished. The Solidarity trade union has called on mining companies to ensure that the perpetrators be prosecuted with perseverance after every incident where the disciplinary code of a workplace had been violated or violence had been committed. According to Solidarity General Secretary Gideon du Plessis, murder and intimidation currently threaten to derail the resumption of production at several platinum mines after a months-long strike. ‘Workers who want to return to work are fearing for their lives. For production to resume, workers who want to return to work must have complete confidence in their employers’ ability to protect and support them. |
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Telkom restructuring suspicious due to racial thinking and lack of long-term vision The Solidarity trade union this week expressed concern over the continued shortcomings in telecommunications giant Telkom’s efforts to become financially viable again. These shortcomings include a lack of long-term vision as well as a misguided attempt to use race as a criterion for retrenchments. |
Savings initiatives in petroleum sector may complicate negotiations The savings initiatives being implemented by key companies in the petroleum industry may complicate this year’s negotiations with the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry (NBCCI), the Solidarity trade union said this week. |
Transnet coal lines up for maintenance The annual maintenance of state-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR)’s coal export line is due in May. The line would be shut down for a yearly, 12-day maintenance programme from 14 to 25 May, giving TFR an opportunity to “catch up” on maintenance backlogs; replace old, obsolete and problematic infrastructure; and accelerate major capital expansion and upgrade projects. Read more. Click here. |
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| SOLIDARITY MAGAZINE | SOLIDARITY MAGAZINE TEASER |
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Have a look at the new edition |
Water quality a ticking time bomb Having studied the results of its 2014 national water monitoring campaign, called the Blue- and Green-drop Branch Project, AfriForum has expressed its concern about the poor management of water in South Africa. More than a 100 AfriForum branches across the country participated in this project. According to Julius Kleynhans, AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs, issues regarding the quality of drinking-water can be rectified quickly, but sewage water poses significant health risks to communities across South Africa. “Negligence in planning, management and infrastructure maintenance is causing massive pollution of our water resources. This may pose significant risks to human and environmental health,” said Kleynhans. Read more on page 34. Click here.
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Solidarity Magazine Photo competition
Solidarity lawsuits in the spot light
Meet the people behind the lawsuits
Christopher February
Employer: Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
Years of service: 17
February applied for the post of Senior State Accountant and was recommended as the best candidate. However, the Director for Employment Equity argued that the recommendation was not consistent with the affirmative action plan, and the second best candidate, a black female, was recommended for the post. She, however, had already accepted another post, and the post was re-advertised. February is a coloured employee who has 17 years’ service.
Show your support for Christopher February by contributing to the Solidarity Legal Fund. SMS the word “Regsfonds” to 34388 and we will contact you shortly.
AfriForum rejects “secret” meeting about water tariffs
AfriForum’s local branch in Elliot in the Eastern Cape today objected to a meeting called by the Mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality to discuss water tariffs while proper notice was not given in this regard.
AfriForum wrote a letter to Mayor Mxolisi Koyo submit their complaints.
Helping Hand to intervene in growing need of school feeding schemes in platinum belt
Solidarity Helping Hand took action this week to support and supplement feeding schemes at seven schools in the platinum belt as these feeding schemes have grown substantially since the strikes at the platinum mines began.
In April, Helping Hand declared the platinum belt a partial disaster area because of the strike that began at platinum mines about three months ago. The disaster area includes the towns of Rustenburg, Brits and Mooinooi, among others.
| INDUSTRY NEWS | MY WORK | LEGAL QUESTION | ||
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AMD treatment has started at Central basin The Department of Water Affairs’ short-term solution aimed at addressing current and near future acid mine drainage (AMD) is in full swing. According to the state owned entity, the Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the pumping, treatment and release of AMD from the Witwatersrand Central basin AMD treatment plant in Germiston, has started on Monday, 12 May. |
The benefits of performing to the best of your ability at work You are used to doing as little as possible at work and to get away with it. No-one has ever admonished you about it. You don’t actually feel like doing more than the most basic tasks expected from you. However, experts warn that you might lose out on several surprising benefits if you do not apply yourself to your full potential in the workplace. |
Trade union access to workplace Question Answer |
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| ECONOMIC NEWS | INTERNATIONAL NEWS | MY HEALTH | ||
Double tax and fuel standards Over the past few years the South African government followed the international trend of implementing several forms of so-called environmental tax. There’s an environmental levy on plastic bags, an environmental levy on electricity and several types of environmental levies on different activities of companies. |
By Inge Strydom Record number of voters in India’s general elections A record 551 million voters cast their ballots in India's general election, which also saw the highest ever turnout rate of 66,38%, election organisers said Monday. |
Healthy habits – for life 10 May is international Move for Health Day. This day is supported by our own Department of Health as part of a global movement towards a healthier diet, physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. |
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| KNIGHTS AND KNAVES | ||||
By Inge Strydom Knight The farmers from the Brits area who are demanding intensified action in respect of farm attacks by the local police, are this week’s knights. This farming community, who are at their wit’s end, marched to the local police station to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the police. This action comes after, among other things, the brutal attack on Bennie Dercksen and his family on their farm in the area. Dercksen’s brother died in the attack. The community reportedly demanded that the police react to their requests within 60 days through stronger police presence in the area and swifter response should a farm attack occur. Knave This week’s knave is Lt Thokozani Zungu (31), branch commander of detectives at the White River Police Station in Mpumalanga, who appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of reckless and negligent driving, failing to stop after an accident and drunken driving. Brig. Selvy Mohlala, a provincial police spokesperson, said Zungu was allegedly involved in two separate accidents involving three other vehicles on Friday afternoon at 15:55. Maroela Media reports the collisions took place on the R40 between White River and Mbombela (Nelspruit). ‘[In the] first instance he is alleged to have collided with a Ford Bantam at a robot at Rocky’s Drift. He failed to stop and on the off-ramp to Riverside Mall, he collided with another Ford Bantam and a Toyota Fortuner,’ said Mohlala.
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Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. - Robert Frost
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This is how you can join the Solidarity Running Club You can join the Solidarity Running Club by contacting club chairman Hendrik van der Westhuizen on 082 851 9451 for more information or send an email to atletiek@solidariteit.co.za. |
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PO Box 11760 Centurion 0046 |
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