Day: September 23, 2022

Limpopo looks at economic recovery as it hosts Provincial Mining, Energy & Industrialisation Investment Conference

The Limpopo Provincial Government will on 29 to 30 September 2022 host the Limpopo Provincial Mining, Energy & Industrialisation Investment Conference. The event is a follow-up to the initial investment conferences (Limpopo Investment and Mining Conferences) that were held in August and September 2021, respectively. This year’s conference will specifically highlight the wealth of opportunities and innovation expressed in the mining and energy sector and how that shall assist in economic recovery.

Limpopo Premier, Mr. Stanley Chupu Mathabatha and Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy, Mr. Gwede Samson Mantashe will lead this conference to harness on the commitments made in the previous years.

“We are happy and grateful to see investors showing interest in investing in our province. This conference will enhance our strategies towards sustaining and achieving an industrialised inclusive economy, especially when we look at rebuilding our economy,” Mathabatha said.

He added that the conference aims to bring together direct foreign and domestic investments in which to greatly benefit the people of Limpopo. That is, it will aim at adding onto the R250 billion commitment last year by targeting R50 billion in this year.

Said Mathabatha: “In line with the provincial government’s purpose of driving Limpopo’s growth, we are committed to delivering positive economic value to the citizens of the province.

During the 2021 conference, a significant number of businesses expressed interest in investing in Limpopo despite the global economic challenges that increasingly thinning the economies across the world.

This year, the conference, under the theme “Realising Limpopo’s Investment Potential in Mining and Other Strategic Sectors of the Economy”, will further focus on re-emphasizing Limpopo’s position as one of the three mining capitals in South Africa and a global relevant player in the future mineral space.

Among other objectives, the conference will profile the strength and comparative advantages that Limpopo offers to investors and its trading partners as well as focussing highly on the development. and implementation of the Special Economic Zones in both Fetakgomo/Tubatse and Musina/Makhado.

Limpopo’s strategic position within the country adds immense value to investors who want to benefit from improved access to large markets and this conference aims to bring together the private sector and various industries to address critical success factors for nurturing and supporting industrialization in Limpopo.

The province has a keen interest in further encouraging and optimising private sector investment through the Limpopo Development Plan and the Economic Recovery Plan which hinges on the SEZ programme, with a promise of a long-term imagined inclusive growth.

Source: Government of South Africa

LRA provides protection against victimisation of workers – Employment and Labour Minister, Nxesi

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said despite the myriad of problems in the labour market, the Labour Relations Act (LRA), enacted in 1995, still remains the overarching principal labour legislation in South Africa.

Nxesi expressed concerns of emerging slavery like working conditions, where workers are caged in factories to work for 24 hours. He said the Department would never have millions of inspectors to keep an eye on all workplaces. He said the Department through the inspectorate would however, come hard on employers violating labour legislation.

He condemned employers who were budgeting to pay fines, warning them, “we will come hard on violators”.

The Minister was speaking yesterday during the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Fourth Annual Labour Conference 2022 at the Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre in Boksburg. He was speaking on the importance of effective legislation and dispute resolution institutions in promoting labour market stability, peace and equity.  

The Conference, with the leading theme: “25 years in pursuit of Social Justice and Equity”, will reflect on the 25-year Anniversary of the CCMA and the Labour Relations Act of 1995. It ends today.

Nxesi said the LRA was introduced after years of discriminatory labour laws, and “what we would now deem to be unfair labour practices in the labour market. This Act also provides for a system of statutory dispute resolution”.

 “The introduction of the CCMA in 1996 was breaking new ground, and continues to play a fundamental role in the dispute resolution arena. CCMA rules were developed to ensure that arbitrations and conciliations remain just and fair practice is exercised equally in all cases.

My assessment would be that the CCMA has delivered on the implementation of this legislation – strengthening workers’ rights and supporting social justice. One measure of the effectiveness of legislation and the CCMA is through public awareness. There can be few employers and employees – perhaps in some remote areas – who are not acquainted with the terms ‘unfair labour practice’ and ‘unfair dismissal’ – as well as the role that the CCMA plays in facilitating a settlement,” he emphasised.

The Minister also expressed concern on the proliferation of unions to the detriment of workers.

“It appears, however, that there is fierce competition for membership to the point where some trade unions are using collective bargaining as a recruiting turf for membership by portraying their rivals as ‘sell-outs’ and by resorting to intransigent tactics. I need to mention that this is an important area where the CCMA plays a role in facilitating the settlement of long and damaging strikes,” Nxesi said.

He said the Department has witnessed an increase in the number of ‘unprotected’ strikes in recent years – pointing to a fraying of respect for collective bargaining institutions.

Said Nxesi that: “the processes of social dialogue were central to the development and implementation of the ERRP (Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan). Part of the plan addresses issues of job creation and preservation. In respect to the latter the CCMA has played an important role in respect of Section 189A applications for large scale retrenchments – which allowed the CCMA a platform to offer its facilitation services towards ensuring employment security through its Job-Saving strategy – in recent years, saving half of the jobs threatened with retrenchment.”

Source: Government of South Africa

Housing Handover marks a New Chapter for Elderly Beneficiaries in De Hoop, Malmesbury

Earlier this week, a new chapter was marked in the lives of seven elderly beneficiaries when Premier Alan Winde handed over the keys to their brand-new homes in the De Hoop Housing Project, Malmesbury.

The beneficiaries, aged between 65 -75, received their homes from Western Cape Premier together with the Mayor of Swartland Municipality, Alderman Herold Cleophas.

The De Hoop housing project is a catalytic pro ject and an Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) of the WCDoHS. Phase 1 of the De Hoop Housing project will deliver 395 housing units by the end of January 2023, of which 145 are completed. 

“I am very happy today. I have waited long and finally I have my own home. It is a blessing from God for me and my family. Thank you to the Department.” expressed 75-year-old beneficiary, Magrieta La Meyer.

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers said: “These are the fruits of the concerted collaborative efforts between the two spheres of government. Through this project we have ensured that we restore the hope and dignity of residents from this community. The De Hoop project will see a fully integrated community from different backgrounds and deliver over 3 500 housing opportunities.”

Premier Winde said: “We are building hope in De Hoop.” He implored recipients to take pride in their homes, adding that “such opportunities come with responsibility, and presents a foothold for upliftment of families.” After touring some of the homes, Premier Winde referenced the Swartland Municipality’s motto: “Hope and a dignified life for all”.

The multi-phased development will deliver a total of 3 590 housing opportunities when complete.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Employment and Labour in Limpopo Province will take services closer to the people of Vhembe during the last week of September 2022. The purpose of the initiative is to bring services closer to those who have to travel long distances to access departmental services.

Clients must bring their ID or Passport, completed UI.19 form, UI2.8 form and salary schedule.

Other services such as Public Employment Services and Compensation Fund will also be available. Unemployed people can bring their CVs and ID to be captured on the system for potential work placement.

Source: Government of South Africa