Update on labour unrest causing instability in SA as on 20 January 2013

The past week saw labour unrest continuing in various sectors in South Africa with the potential for instability in the labour market increasing which eventually affects the crime potential.

·         The seasonal farm workers strike in the Western Cape continued with high levels of violence and threats of “taking it to the streets of Cape Town” in the coming week. Interestingly has farmers not openly or “desperately” complained about influences on existing farming activities and it can be expected to have an influence in the latter half of February with grape harvesting, although less people might be temporarily employed but achieving more productive results.

·         The illegal strike by bus workers in Tshwane ended on 15 January 2013.

·         The legal strike by Dairy Belle workers in Bloemhof in North West Province is continuing.

·         The announcement by Amplats relating to the layoff of 14 000 workers in their Rustenburg operations caused major tension involving the ANC, government and organised labour all lashing out at Amplats with the ridiculous “calls for the nationalising” of the Amplats mines by the AMCU (union emerging in the platinum industry).

·          Harmony Gold is still keeping their Kusasalethu Mine shut until agreements could be reached with organised labour in a peaceful way forward which could eventually see some 6 000 people being retrenched. Tension in Rustenburg and Carletonville is high and other mines who already threatened with restructuring at the end of 2012. They could announce their plans soon which could add to the tension and instability.

·         A strike by employees from SAA which was initially averted, started on Friday 18 January 2013 due to the SAA Board and Executive Committee being divided if the union who has 1 300 members out of a workforce of 11 000 should be recognised.

·         On 16 January 2013 construction has stopped on the Medupi power plant in Limpopo. Contract workers from Hitachi and Alstom, companies sub-contracted by Eskom, went on strike as workers want December bonuses.

·         On 16 January  the Gauteng Department of Health has taken a decision to close down the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College indefinitely following a week-long illegal protest and class disruptions.  Student nurses were expected to vacate the college premises on 16 January 2013. This follows their demand that three Heads of Department (HODs) should be removed from the college. The students have also defied a court interdict compelling them to stop the protest and return to classes.

·         On 17 January 2013 a group of approx  240 dissident security officers took to the streets of Pretoria to hand over a memorandum with demands to the Dept of Labour. The group was not represented by a union. This follows various demands and a previous attempt to launch a march on 14 December 2012 when the turnout was more than 500 people. A minimum wage of R7 500 is demanded. It is not known what the content of the memorandum and specific demands were but it is believed (from unconfirmed information) that they threatened that they could embark on strike action if they don’t get feedback from Government. It seems as some of the 240 attendees were there through intimidation.

The potential for instability, which is further influenced by community unrest as already seen in Burgersfort (Limpopo) and Sasolburg over job creation, is high. Unemployment and poverty in areas where external employment takes preference to local employment could raise the potential for community unrest. At a mine near Steelpoort it was alleged that 500 people were laid off but they continued to employee external workers. Service delivery issues could, as in other years rise from March onwards.