MONDAY, 5.30PM:
MEMBERSHIP of South African trade unions rose 13% last year, to 64% of the 5,4-million workers in registered in non-agricultural employment, labour ministry announced on Monday.
Releasing the ministry’s annual report, Labour Minister Tito Mboweni said that registered unions now represent over 3,4-million members. Total union membership comprises about 24% of South Africa’s estimated 14 297-million economically active population.
Commenting on the increase, Mboweni attributed much of the success of unions over the last year to the new Labour Relations Act. The new LRA provides for trade unions to register in sectors, such as the public sector, and has further simplified registration procedures, he explained.
Mboweni also detailed a sharp increase in the number of trade unions and employer organisations, which totalled 417 unions and 258 employer organisations at the end of 1997. These stood at 334 and 196 respectively at the end of 1996.
He added, however, that the proliferation of small trade unions — some with fewer than 50 members — vying for registration is a cause for concern.
“The growth of small trade unions spreads limited capacity, and the emergence of non-bona fide unions can bring our labour relations framework into disrepute,” Mboweni explained.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
GOLD FIELDS CLOSES UP IN NAMIBIA
GOLD FIELDS has decided to close its Tsumeb copper mine after losses caused by low copper prices and industrial unrest. An application for sequestration will be heard on Tuesday in the Namibian High Court.
SA PLUNDERING TOOTHFISH?
THREE South African fishing concerns — Premier Shipping, Aluship and Hout Bay Fishing Company — have been accused of involvement in the illegal trade in the endangered deepwater Patagonian toothfish by an Australian research body, Isolfich. A prized delicacy in Japan, the legal yearly catch is 10000 tons, but the illegal catch is believed to be 80000 tons. The South African companies have denied involvement in the trade — but say that as agents for foreign-owned ships they have no control over their operations.
AMIC TRADES CHEMICAL INTERESTS WITH SASOL
ANGLO American Industrial Corporation (Amic) may sell its interests in AECI, Chemserve and Polifin to Sasol, in return for a stake in Sasol, if expectations raised by a cautionary announcement from these companies prove correct. Amic has a controlling share in AECI, which dominates Chemserve’s shareholding, which in turn controls Polifin. The bulk of AECI’s profit comes from its Chemserve and Polifin shareholdings.
JCI DITCHES RANDFONTEIN
JOHANNESBURG Consolidated Investments is to sell its 37% interest in the marginal Randfontein Estates gold mine to shareholders by the end of June, rather than to JCI Gold, the company said last week. The JCI gold management team, led by Gordon Miller, will continue to manage Randfontein. JCI says the move is intended to create two distinctive gold investment vehicles, but investment sceptics say the move proves JCI sees Randfontein as something of a white elephant, not to be bundled with JCI Gold’s better assets.
FIRST BLACK SHORT-TERM INSURER
FIRST Central Insurance, the first black-owned short-term insurance company, was launched on Sunday on a starting capital of R75-million. More than 75% of its equity is black-owned. Non-executive chairman Ismail Ayob holds a controlling 21%.