WEDNESDAY, 11:00AM:
ALMOST 7 000 miners went on strike yesterday at the Harmony gold mine in the Free State, in protest against a new wages contract signed last month.
The contract links the miners’ wages to the mine’s productivity, which has been flagging in the past few months with Harmony posting disappointing results for the September quarter. The workers have not as yet made any official demands to management, but did not turn up for work on the night shift last night, despite an ultimatum issued by the managing director. About half the workers are on strike, and production at five shafts has been seriously affected.
The National Union of Mineworkers has distanced itself from the strike, announcing yesterday the strikers were mobilised by a non-union faction.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
JOBS BILL ‘IGNORES HOUSING’ LABOUR Minister Tito Mboweni criticised a shortcoming in his own Basic Conditions of Employment Bill in a presentation to the National Council of Provinces. Mboweni said the bill does not include any initiative to house workers close to their work places, which he identified this as a restriction on the bill’s ability to provide greater flexibility.
OMAR TAKES ‘REPARATIONS’ TAX SERIOUSLY JUSTICE minister Dullah Omar says he is taking the “company tax” proposed by Stellenbosch economist Sampie Terreblanche seriously. Terreblanche suggested to the Truth Commision last week that white business, which benefited from apartheid, ought to pay a tax towards uplifting black South Africans. Omar said the Truth Commission would make recommendations to parliament next month, but that business should consider how it would compensate for apartheid.
IBA-SATRA TO MERGE The merger of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has been set for the first quarter of next year, the Department of Communications announced on Monday. Seven committees to handle a range of issues relevant to the merger, from human resources to information technology, will be staffed with representatives of Satra, IBA and the department.
BOTSWANA LOAN THE Development Bank is to loan Botswana R242 million to help fund a project to carry treated water from the north to the dry Gaborone area in the south. The project will cost R1,5 billion when completed.
ABACHA SACKS CABINET NIGERIAN strongman General Sani Abacha celebrated his fourth year in power by firing all but three of his ministers and ordering them to hand over their posts — and their cellphones. The reshuffle is part of a ‘new look’ in preparation for elections next year. Abacha also suggested that he may free key political dissidents.
JOB CUT AT COPPER CO Gold Fields of South Africa announced on Monday it would be cutting 686 jobs at the O’Okiep copper subsidiary because of the closing of the mine next year and a general restructuring. Gold Fields says it will be offering early retirement and voluntary retrenchment packages.
RAND LOANS In an effort to promote the growth of the African financial market, the African Development Bank announced on Monday it has added the rand to its lending portfolio, the first African currency so treated.
AWARD TO EX-ESKOM BOSS Dr Ian McRae, South Africa’s former national electricity regulator, will receive a special award from the World Energy Council to mark its 75th anniversary next year, the council announced on Monday. The award will acknowledge McRae, former CEO of Eskom, as “an eminent international personality who has contributed substantially to general understanding of the global energy sector”. ROOIVALK DEAL ON HOLD MALAYSIA, first foreign customer for South Africa’s Rooivalk military helicopter, has postponed the R1 billion deal due to the fall in its currency and tough austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund.
MIH VIEWERS GROW MIH, the M-Net-linked holding company for pay-TV and digital satellite TV throughout Africa, the Middle and Far East, has reported strong viewer growth in the six months to September to 1,16 million, pushing turnover above R1 billion. Digital television now reaches 177 000 homes, an increase of 73 000. MIH has also begun major investments in the Internet, under the brand M-Web, which has a five year plan to become market leader in connectivity and interactive content.