Johannesburg – SAA technical staff will continue to strike until their wage demands are met, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) said on Wednesday.

“We, as the majority union, have not reached an agreement,” spokesperson Vincent Masoga said.

“We are not happy with the wage offer and we will strike until we have won.”

The airline announced that it had reached an agreement with the Aviation Union of Southern Africa (AUSA).

“SA Airways Technical (SAAT)… has concluded a wage deal with AUSA, which represents a large portion of engineers and technical staff at SAAT,” SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said in a statement.

“The deal, signed earlier today, means SAAT and the airline will be able to continue with operations with minimal, if any, disruptions.”

Tlali said the wage agreement would be for one year, with an increase of 6.5% of total cost to company.

Wage talks between SAA and Satawu resumed on Wednesday, but they could not reach a resolution. SAA said negotiations with Satawu would continue on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier the airline said it applied for an interdict to address “unruly, intimidating and unlawful behaviour by Satawu members during picketing”.

“Contrary to assertions by Satawu, the interdict is not intended to stop the strike as this is a protected strike,” Tlali said.

He said only two of 47 departures from OR Tambo International Airport had been delayed as a result of the strike.

The delays were of seven and 14 minutes, he said.-www.news24.com

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Cape Town – The winter weather lashing the Cape claimed its first victim on Wednesday.

Two unidentified men were found huddled under wet cardboard boxes on Main Road in Kuilsriver.

ER24’s Vanessa Joubert said the one man had already died when the paramedics arrived at the scene.

The other man, barely clinging to life, was treated at the scene and then rushed to Tygerberg Hospital by ambulance.

He has already shown signs of improvement and is moving his limbs.

The man is still receiving treatment in hospital, according to Joubert.

Disaster Risk Management said on Wednesday that several areas across the Peninsula had been affected by flooding due to the heavy rains.

They are currently assisting those affected by the weather in informal settlements around the city.

News24

Cape Town – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s decision to probe a complaint against the government task team, which probed the irregular landing of a private jet by the politically connected Gupta family, was welcomed on Wednesday.

“We welcome the fact that the public protector will effectively be investigating the investigation into ‘Guptagate’,” DA MP David Maynier said.

“However, it is obviously very disappointing that the public protector will not be investigating the role of President [Jacob] Zuma and his Cabinet in ‘Guptagate’.”

The complaint was lodged by Waterkloof Air Force Base official Lieutenant Colonel Christine Anderson, who was implicated by the team in its report.

SA National Defence Union (SANDU) secretary Pikkie Greeff said in May the findings against Anderson, the base officer commanding movement control, were not objectively reached.

Anderson was accused of giving the go-ahead for the landing without following proper protocols, and of dereliction of duty.

Maynier said he had received a letter from Madonsela stating that there was not sufficient evidence to probe Zuma.

Madonsela and her spokesperson could not be reached to confirm this.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Parliament will table a report by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Pansy Tlakula, it said on Wednesday.

“Parliament has today [Wednesday] received the report…. The report will now be tabled and, thereafter, referred to a relevant oversight committee for consideration,” it said in a statement.

“The committee is required to report back to the National Assembly [NA] and recommend a course of action.”

Parliament said the IEC was a “state institution supporting constitutional democracy” and reported on its activities to the NA.

“Until the NA adopts the report and recommendation of the committee, the Speaker, in terms of the Constitution, legislation and the rules, is not in a position to embark on any other course of action.”

Madonsela recommended on Monday that Parliament consider taking action against Tlakula.

She said Tlakula had played a “grossly irregular” role in procuring the Riverside Office Park building in Centurion for the IEC’s head office.

In a probe into the matter, Madonsela found improper conduct and maladministration on Tlakula’s part, and a conflict of interest involving a co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.

“The speaker of Parliament… [should] consider whether action should be taken against advocate Tlakula for her role in the procurement… in light of the undisclosed and unmanaged conflict of interest and her contravention of the procurement laws and prescripts,” Madonsela said in her report.

She recommended that the IEC review its agreement with Abland, which was awarded the contract to lease the Riverside Office Park building.

Romantic affair

Tlakula is accused of having a romantic relationship with Parliament’s finance portfolio committee chairman Thaba Mufamadi, who owns a 20% stake in Abland by virtue of co-directorship in Lehotsa Investments.

Allegations about their romantic involvement were not investigated as there was no “tangible” evidence.

A whistle-blower employee denied the allegation when interviewed by the Protector’s office.

However, Madonsela found that Tlakula had failed to disclose her business relationship with Mufamadi to the bidding team, which had compromised her independence and objectivity.

The office of ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani said on Wednesday that political parties in Parliament had to stop commenting on Tlakula.

“It makes a mockery of parliamentary processes and undermines the institutional role,” it said in a statement.

“Parliament recommends the appointment of the IEC chairpersons. It is therefore irresponsible for parliamentary parties to make public judgements… on a matter that they would still deliberate on [in parliamentary committees] and take a decision [as part of National Assembly].”

SAPA

The conditions of the two Members of the North West Executive Council (MEC’s) have improved to the extend that one of them has been discharged from hospital, North West Premier Thandi Modise announced on Wednesday.

Premier Modise is hopeful that both MEC’s will be fit soonest to carry on with their official duties.   

MEC for Sport, Arts & Culture, Tebogo Modise was discharged over the past weekend while MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Motlalepula Rosho was transferred to a hospital outside Mahikeng as the number of visitors she received at the local hospital did not give her sufficient time to rest and recuperate.    

Last week’s bi-weekly Exco meeting was adjourned for about 45 minutes for MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike and the Acting Director General, Major General Dr. Mokgethi  Radebe to attend to both MEC’s  before they were rushed to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.

The incident started when MEC Rosho complained of a back pain and collapsed as she was being led out of the meeting to see her private doctor. MEC Modise who was escorting her collapsed minutes later.

Stress and fatigue was suspected to have led to their collapse.

Johannesburg – Political parties in Parliament must stop commenting on IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula, who was found guilty of improper conduct and maladministration by the public protector, ANC chief whip Stone Sizane said on Wednesday.

“It makes a mockery of parliamentary processes and undermines the institutional role,” he said.

“Parliament recommends the appointment of the Independent Electoral Commission chairpersons. It is therefore irresponsible for parliamentary parties to make public judgements… on a matter that they would still deliberate on [in parliamentary committees] and take a decision [as part of National Assembly].”

Sizane said political parties should not “prejudge” the matter.

Irregular conduct

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Monday recommended that National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu consider taking action against Tlakula after it was found she had played a “grossly irregular” role in the procurement of the Riverside Office Park building in Centurion for the IEC’s headquarters.

Madonsela’s report also revealed there was a conflict of interest between Tlakula and a company co-director, with whom she was accused of being romantically involved.

The co-director, Thaba Mufamadi, is Parliament’s finance portfolio committee chairperson. He also owns a 20% stake in Abland, which was awarded the contract to lease the office park premises.

“In line with parliamentary procedure on matters such as this, the speaker would refer the report… to the relevant parliamentary structure, which will apply its mind and then make recommendations for consideration by the House,” said Sizane.

“The House is the final arbiter on this matter… We call upon all parliamentary political parties to respect this process.”

SAPA

By TDN

The North West Provincial Government will be hosting the National Skills Authority (NSA) Provincial Consultative Workshop in Mahikeng on Friday, 30 August 2013.

Using the theme “Taking the National Skills Development Strategy to the People,” the consultative workshop is expected to bring together stakeholders from business, government, community and labour organisations.

The workshop is intended, among others, to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the national skills development strategy and examine challenges facing the province with regard to post school education and training needs.

Premier Thandi Modise, who is scheduled to open the worship on Friday morning, says the workshop comes at the right time.  

“We are prioritising skills development as an integral part of our effort to empower our people. We are hopeful that delegates attending this consultative workshop will emerge at the end of their sessions with recommendations that will enable us to fast-track the implementation of the national skills accord,” said Premier Modise ahead of the one-day workshop.

The event that is scheduled to commence at 08h30 on Friday morning at Cookes Lake, Mahikeng.-TDN

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