Affiliated to FEDUSA

Labour Report Autumn 2014

F or seven years UTATU SAR-WHU has stood its ground infighting for a member from

Prasa who was unfairly dismissedfor fraud. The effort was worth it asnot only was the member reinstat-ed in her job, but she also receivedcompensation in the amount ofR1,5 million for loss of income.

Rodney Blom, UTATU SARWHUexecutive council member was inher corner. He told LabourReport that from the facts of thecase it was clear that she hasdone no wrong. “She was theone who brought the misadmin-istration of funds to manage-ment’s attention. In no instancedid she act improper.”

In a letter the member wrote tothe union after the conclusion ofthe case, she expresses her grati-tude for the union’s support. Shesays “Very few unions, if any, wouldstick to their member for such along time and not give up.”

She explains how the case haschanged her and of the turmoil,stress, depression, medical issuesand financial instability that shehad to face. As if all that was notenough, PRASA filed a civil caseagainst her which came with itsown steep legal fees – luckily thiswas thrown out of court because

of a lack of evidence and the com-pany’s failure to appear in court.

She says: “Rodney has bent overbackwards in this case, respondingto my countless calls, emails andmeeting requests. I truly appreciateand acknowledge all the hardwork and hours that you put in.Even when it seemed all oddswere against us you still believedin me and never doubted my inno-cence. There aren’t many peoplelike you around anymore. Thankyou, thank you, thank you.”

Rodney says that the victory wasdeserved and he will do it all overagain for any member who is false-ly accused. �

Union fights forits members

NEWS

Ground-breakingPRASA pay dealPage 5

NEWS

SA rail industry poisedfor massive growthPage 6

NEWS

Your guideline throughthe e-toll mazePage 8

T he decision to postponeUTATU SARWHU’sCongress 2014 by a year

(until 2015) was a disappointment

for many. But now that the reasonsfor the rescheduling have becomeclear, the vast majority of theunion’s members have accepted

UTATU SARWHU president,George Strauss.

UTATU SARWHU president,Pholo Pholo.

Congress delayessential tofairness anddemocracy

the decision as an essential andpositive move.

BackgroundWhen Exco met in January toconfirm the progress of the union’s2014 elections and thearrangements for the November2014 congress, several key factorsbecame apparent:

Transnet’s delay in supplyingaccurate membership figures hadmade it unclear as to how manyTURs could be elected in theworkplace.

The former SARWHUcomponent of the union’smembership was not yetadequately integrated into thebranch structures and would havebeen seriously disadvantaged hadCongress 2014 gone ahead asplanned.

Had the 2014 elections beenallowed to proceed, the unionwould have been in conflict withits constitution.

That left Exco with one of twochoices:

To allow the union’s existingschedule to remain unchangeddespite the skewed representationand four years of unhappiness thatcould result.

Delay Congress by a year and usethat time to streamline the union’sfield representation and ensure thatall members had an equal chance ofchoosing their representatives.

When proper democracy andthe long-term welfare of theunion were examined, temporarydisappointments became lessimportant than permitting aprocedure that could structurallydamaged the union and causeserious long-term problems.

Levelling the playing fieldsTo create a fair way forward, onewhich will:

Break with the past practices ofboth merger partners to create anew and distinctive UTATUSARWHU approach to regionalelections

Fully inform all members oftheir rights and roles in theelections and Congress processes

Exco appointed a PlanningCommittee consisting of theunion’s two presidents, GoimotsoMoses Pholo and George Strauss,as well as Dan Khumalo (theunion’s first deputy president),executive councillors, Ben Jonker,Trevor Wasserfall, Peet Swart andLuvuyo Mdyogolo, and generalsecretary, Steve Harris.

Exco did not take this decisionunilaterally.To ensure that it wasacting correctly and in the bestinterests of its members, it soughtthe advice of senior legal counseland the Registrar of Labour.

The Planning Committee’simmediate goal is to ensure thatthe union’s branches are clearlydemarcated and that UTATUSARWHU members are properlyinformed in order to ensure thatthe union’s 2015 election will runeffectively.To aid this process:

At those depots and otherworkplaces where elections havenot already been conducted, theelection process has been halted.

Currently serving TURs willremain in their elected positionsuntil after the elections arecompleted in January/February2015.

Where elections have alreadybeen conducted in accordancewith the union’s constitution, the

elected TUR will hold office untilthe end of December 2018.

Explaining to Labour ReportExco’s decision and the wayforward, Goimotso Pholo said:“The decision to delay theconference is not a drama. It is anecessary step to realign thedifferent cultures and practices ofthe merger partners.”

George Strauss said that thedelay had caused some isolatedfrustration, but none that wasmore important than the biggerpicture for the union. “Someoffice-bearers were disappointedbecause they had been lookingforward to ending their terms ofoffice this year and there areisolated areas in which themembers want to elect new anddifferent representatives. Bothfrustrations were short-lived.Thoseoffice-bearers who are tired ofserving can quit at any time.Members who feel that they arenot being adequately or efficientlyrepresented can invoke the union’sconstitution.

“The Planning Committee isalready hard at work at its vasttask.The result of their efforts willbe a better-informed, better-educated and better-representedmembership . . . one which willelevate our union to even greaterheights.” �

Rodney Blom

2 Labour Report Autumn 2014

COMMENT NEWS

Steve Harris

During the more than 30 yearsthat I have been a union activist Ihave known of no more dramaticand dynamic a start to a year thanthis one. As you will read elsewherein this issue, at the domestic levelwe have a massive plan to restruc-

ture our union and inform itsmembers better, plus news of aground-breaking three-year paydeal at Prasa. At the working levelthe news has been dominated bythe R50-billion investment beingmade to refresh Transnet’s rail fleetsand the new approach to manage-ment and staff progression gleanedby Transnet’s recent study tour toBrazil.

The result of this year’s Prasa paytalks and the inflation-beating two-year deal we struck with Transnetlast year is improved pay levels forall plus greater economic certainty.

Not all of the remuneration andIR news is good. Frustrating anom-alies remain, as do some seriousmanagerial malpractices. But theseare being addressed and, becausethe UTATU SARWHU way is thehonest way, it will succeed.

With the reasons for delayingCongress 2014 and the follow-uprestructuring/education fullyexplained elsewhere in this issue,there is no need for me to com-ment further other than to say thatI believe our Planning Committeeis going to achieve a more repre-sentative and informed union thanever before. I appeal to members tohelp bring that about by keepingup-to-date with the PlanningCommittee’s communiqués and byattending its briefing/training ses-sions.

Transnet’s massive infusion ofcapital and equipment is going toexpand the role of rail in thenational economy and create somemore rail jobs over the next fewyears.That will bring with it morejob security and opportunities forpromotion than this generation of

rail workers has known. In short,there is again a future for rail thatwill offer worthwhile rewards tothose who make full use of theiropportunities.

The Brazilian approach to man-agement, employee remunerationand progression was illuminating. Itproved two points that UTATUSARWHU has been expounding allthese years:

Lavishly rewarding managers andseparating them from the coalfaceis a costly and counter-productiveexercise.

Workers who are well-remuner-ated, who know where they standand who have good relationshipswith their managers are far moreproductive than those who areshort-changed, pushed around andkept in the dark.

Don’t expect Transnet’s managers

to change their ways overnight.Those with privileges are seldomin a hurry to relinquish them. Butdo expect UTATU SARWHU topress Transnet managers to leadfrom the front whenever theyadvocate austerity and greater pro-ductivity. Each UTATU SARWHUmember has a role to play in thisregard. All the improvements wehave achieved thus far have beenthe result of our good sense andstrength in numbers.The better wecan proceed along this same path,the sooner we will be able to shapethe right management style andcircumstances for everyone. So let’swork together to ensure that mostof Transnet’s new employeesbecome UTATU SARWHU mem-bers. �

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM TELEPHONE – (011) 728 0120/1/2/3/5/6/7/9

During the week 31 March to4 April a ten-person teamfrom Transnet comprising

four Transnet executives, the TransnetFreight Rail human resources execu-tive, three UTATU SARWHU lead-ers (George Strauss, Steve Harris andWyndam Evans) and three SATAWUdelegates visited two major Brazilianconglomerates to study their approachto human resource management.Aprincipal aim of the study was toinvestigate the job progression meth-ods employed by Brazilian mining andtransport conglomerates,Vale and theAmerican Latin Logistics Company(ALL).The two companies are similarto Transnet in that they operate evenmore complex structures that embracemining, manufacturing, rail, harboursand maritime fleets.

“The Brazil study tour was a realeye-opener. It showed how Transnetwastes millions of rands, and couldhave a profound effect on the group’sfuture approach to job progression,overall human resource managementand structuring,” says UTATU SAR-WHU president, George Strauss.

“Vale and ALL each has a lean andefficient management structure whichplaces a high price on the value ofemployees. Both companies haveexcellent lines of employer/employeecommunications and provide clear-cut

job descriptions and opportunities forprogression.

“The HR system at ALL allowspeople to regulate themselves.Themore they put into their jobs, themore they get out of them.Two suc-cessive years of failed achievement istheir sign to resign.”

Says George Strauss:“The differ-ence between the Brazilian and SouthAfrican approach to people-manage-ment became clear when a Transnetexecutive asked a senior Vale execu-tive:‘Why do you discuss problemswith your employees when you don’thave to?’The Brazilian executive, whoseemed shocked by the question,responded:‘Because it’s the right thingto do.’

Further discussion on the issuerevealed that Vale believes that its up-front relationship with its employeesis a key contributor to its impressivelevels of productivity and industrialharmony.

“Another eye-opener was the leanmanagement style of the twoBrazilian companies. Unlike Transnetwhich separates its managers fromthe workforce and spends a smallfortune on treating them like royaltyin ivory towers,Vale’s CEO – a manwho started out as a labourer withthe company – sits in short sleevesalongside other workers in an open-

plan office.“The Brazilian companies’ integrat-

ed management of their complexoperations was a further revelation.Unlike the Transnet companies, whicheach has a costly hierarchy and muchduplication of costs and efforts inother areas,Vale and ALL have inte-grated their operations and run themmore economically through flat man-agement structures that make moremoney and plough more money backto their workers.

“With the Vale and ALL experi-ences as its guide,Transnet is going tobe hard-put to prove that its costlyand aloof approach to managing is itsmost economic and efficient way for-ward for the group.

“UTATU SARWHU has longbeen pressing for a more integratedapproach at Transnet.When I suggest-ed to our team during one of ourdaily briefing sessions that we neededto emulate the Vale and ALL models,my suggestion was well received bothby the management and union dele-gates. However, they are not Transnet’sdecision-makers and we are going tohave to wait to discover how muchTransnet is prepared to adapt its pres-ent management style.”

The Transnet team is presentlycompiling its report on its Brazilvisit. �

All correspondence must be addressed to the General Secretary at headoffice@utatusarwhu.com

Brazil HR investigation aneye-opener for Transnet

P RASA’s motto used to be GetSouth Africa to work.That iswhat the company wants to

achieve once again by introducing amajor modernisation project worthR150 billion – the biggest ever suchproject to be approved by govern-ment.

“The modernisation will bephased in over 20 years and involvesthe introduction of 3 500 new setsof trains.These trains will bring ourcommuting system on par with thoseof railway systems abroad.Think the

look and feel of the Gautrain,” saysPieter Greyling, UTATU SARWUdeputy general secretary.

A huge part of the modernisationwill focus on security.“Our com-muters need to feel safe on the trainsand we don’t want to give them anychances for vandalism,” says RodneyBlom, UTATU SARWHU executiveboard member.

Overcrowding will also be a thingof the past. Rodney explains:“Thetrains will be so efficient and so reli-able that people would not need to

overcrowd the trains, hang from therailings or sit in front of the driverwindscreen and obscuring his view.They will know that the next trainwill be on time and bring them towork on time and safely.”

The first trains will be implement-ed in 2015.The first ten will be builtin Brazil, but the whole project willmove to South Africa and will bemade by South Africans. For thispurpose a new plant is currentlybeing built in Nigel, Gauteng.Allraw materials will be sourced from

South Africa.Train drivers, technicians, electri-

cians and engineers will be trainedby Alstom in France.There will be ahuge skills transfer, which is in linewith government’s plan for thedevelopment of skills and creation ofjobs,” says Pieter.

Everything concerning PRASAwill need to be upgraded, from theticket counters, the workshops, to thetracks and signalling systems as wellas the security systems.

Pieter explains that government

wants to cut on its subsidies.Withthis modernisation PRASA can becompetitive and earn its incomethrough ticket sales and evenrevamping the property where thestations are located.“It can becomeone-stop shops with restaurants, retailshops, banks etc. PRASA owns manyproperties on prime locations thatcan be used for income revenue.”

“With this new plan the face ofcommuting can only change for thebetter,” says Rodney. �

PRASA – exciting modernisation coming

W ill Transnet train driverssee the company’s new20E locomotive as their

dream loco? After closely examiningits features and capabilities, veterantrain driver and locomotive connois-seur, Louis Brocket, believes that it isa genuine contender for that tag.“Iwould have loved to have had a locolike that in my day,” he told LabourReport.“Its spacious, air-conditionedcab is so comfortable that you almostwant to live in it.The instrumentpanel meets all of a train driver’sneeds and there is an adjacent toilet.The first ten 20Es have been import-

ed from China and are currentlyundergoing comprehensive testing.The remainder of the 95 units pur-chased will be assembled locally byTransnet Engineering while a sub-stantive amount of the componentswill be manufactured locally.The20E is going to be employed on thecoal line to Richards Bay. Says Louis:“Features of the loco that will sub-stantially improve the efficiency, safe-ty and economy of that line will beits greater traction and braking pow-ers. Its ability to automatically con-vert from AC to DC power will savea lot of time en route.” �

New 20E: a traindriver’s dream loco?

9928

I t’s good to see that SouthAfrica has sober unions whichcan get the job done.’

Measured against the labour tur-moil taking place elsewhere in thecountry, that comment by anoverseas observer aptly describedthe two days of earnest debate bythe 20 trade unions which tookpart in the Annual CollectiveBargaining Conference of theFederation of Unions of SouthAfrica in Roodepoort on 18 and19 February.

A foremost aim of the confer-ence was to examine the currentstate of the country’s collectivebargaining and the anticipatedimpact of economic and politicaldevelopments.To arm its affiliatesfor their forthcoming negotia-tions, Fedusa invited input from:

The Minister of FinanceLeading economists andacademicsSenior government officials andnegotiatorsThe International LabourOrganisationThe National Economic andDevelopment Council(NEDLAC)The Commission forConciliation, Mediation andArbitration (CCMA)

A key message to emerge fromthe debate was the unions’ con-cern about the weak rand and theresultant inflation. Rising fuel andelectricity costs, in particular, areputting pressure on members’ liv-ing costs.The delegates made itclear that they will be expectingemployers to adjust salaries andwages accordingly in the yearahead.The conference believesthat after taking into account thedynamics of the respective sectors,2014 settling points should be inthe region of 8% to 12%.

Continuing with economicissues, the Federation decided toengage with Statistic South Africato challenge the existing criteriafor determining the ‘inflation bas-ket.’ It feels that the CPI mightnot be the best yardstick to meas-ure cost of living - specifically for

the most vulnerable sectors of oureconomy - and has called formore attention to be focused onsuch cost pressures as medical aidfees, medicine, transport, educa-tion, safety and security.

Addressing labour unrestThe Fedusa unions’ concern

about the high levels of unionrivalry and strike violence cur-rently prevalent in the countrywas a feature of the conference.After listening to presentationsspelling out possible causes forthis unhappy state, the conferenceagreed that a fundamental reasonfor the breakdown in industrialorder is the departure from theprinciples of industrial democracy.They singled out Section 18 ofthe Labour Relations Act (LRA) –by which majority unions aresometimes allowed to excludesmaller unions that are operatingin the same space or industries –as a contributor to the mayhem inthe mining, manufacturing andengineering sectors.

‘The tendency to deny smallerunions their voice and space is notconducive to labour peace in oureconomy and in our country’ wasthe unambiguous message deliv-ered by the Fedusa debate.Theconference undertook to resist anyattempts by other unions andemployers to increase thresholdswhich would exclude Fedusa affil-iates and their members fromexisting recognition agreements.Conference further agreed thatFedusa must continue with theNEDLAC process regarding theprincipal of majoritarianism andto campaign for further amend-ments to the LRA.

During their debates the Fedusaunions pinpointed causes of thecurrent labour crisis which, ifheeded by management andlabour - and eliminated, could goa long way towards restoringindustrial peace.These are:

The lack of joint preparationsfor collective bargaining processesbetween employers and tradeunions, whereby a framework canbe established.

The absence of demand consoli-

dation on both sides when multi-ple unions and employers areengaged in the same negotiation.

The absence of a mutuallyagreed benchmark for demandsand offers, such as the ConsumerPrice Index (CPI) or food infla-tion.

It was agreed that trade unionsneed to engage in thoroughresearch before negotiations andshould attempt to reach agree-ment with employers on realisticand sustainable benchmarks forunion demands and employeroffers in wage negotiations.

The conference noted theimportance of proper mandatingprocesses since ineffective feed-back and reporting to constituen-cies lead to dissatisfaction andalienation. Conference agreedthat members remain at the centreof a trade union, and that mandat-ing will always be the only way toengage in collective bargaining.

UTATU SARWHU deputygeneral secretary, Eddie de Klerk,who is also the Fedusa vice-presi-dent responsible for education andtraining, was pleased with thehigh levels of enthusiasm and con-sensus achieved by the conference.“I believe that all 20 affiliatesbenefitted from the thought pro-voking input and are now in aposition to base their demands onsound research and economicreality,” he told Labour Report.

Ashley Benjamin, Fedusa’s Vice-President of Development, wasequally happy with the progressachieved. “Our affiliates are nowadequately prepared to confrontthe challenges facing their mem-bers during this year’s collectivebargaining season,” he said.

More news of the Fedusa con-ference appears elsewhere in thisedition. �

F edusa’s voice was among thefirst to slam the decision ofReserve Bank Governor, Gill

Marcus, when on 29 January sheraised the interest rate from 5% to5,5%.

“We know of the inflationaryand exchange rate challenges facedby our economy, but we must alsounderstand that consumers arereally battling out there. Mostworking people have several loans,at least for essential items like ahouse or a motor vehicle. Thisfurther increase in cost of living,on top of recent mammothincreases in fuel, energy and foodprices, will certainly hit themhard,” Krister Janse van Rensburg,

the Federation’s deputy generalsecretary, said in a media state-ment.

“Although Fedusa agrees thatinflation is enemy number one,and that we need to protect sav-ings of retired persons and privateindividuals, as Fedusa our interestwill always be with the workingwomen and men in our country.On macro-economic level we haveconsistently campaigned for theMonetary Policy Committee tohave due consideration for matterslike economic growth and unem-ployment. Our fear is that thisReserve Bank decision will nega-tively impact on these issues,” hesaid. �

Fedusa’s 2014 conferenceSober Fedusa showsway to industrial peace

‘Rate hike will hitconsumers hard’

Fedusa was quick to register itsdisappointment in Januarywhen the Competition

Commission ruled that supermar-ket chains do not engage in non-competitive behaviour.TheFederation challenged theCommission’s alleging that in rais-ing barriers to new entrants to thesector the supermarket chains wereimpeding small business opportuni-ties, employment growth and con-sumer choice.

The Competition Commissionhad been investigating allegationsthat the major supermarket chainsand wholesale retailers (namelyPick ‘n Pay, Shoprite,Woolworths,Spar, Massmart and Masscash) werepreventing or lessening competi-tion, and engaging in exclusionaryconduct.

In a media statement released onFriday 25 January, the Commissionreported that it had concluded itsinvestigation into exclusive leaseagreements entered into betweensupermarkets and property devel-opers, owners and managers ofshopping malls, finding ‘that thispractice raises barriers to entry intogrocery retailing’ but without ‘suffi-cient evidence to meet the tests setout in the Competition Act fordemonstrating anti-competitiveeffects.’

Expressing his unhappiness withthat decision, Krister Janse vanRensburg said: “We all know thatthese shopping giants have a gener-al tendency to ensure the insidelane for themselves, at the expenseof new entrants to the game as wellas consumers in general.” �

Ruling onsupermarketsdisappointing

‘

3 Labour Report Autumn 2014

NEWSNEWS

LABOUR REPORTLabour Report is the official organ of UTATU SARWHUStreet Address: UTATU House, 182 Louis Botha Ave, Houghton Estate

Postal Address: PO Box 31100, Braamfontein, 2017Telephone: (011) 728 0120/1/2/3/5/6/7/9 Fax: (011) 728 8257/8

Internal: (011) 773 8880 E-mail: headoffice@utatusarwhu.com Website: www.utatusarwhu.co.za

Durban OfficeUTATU SARWHU House206 Che Guavara (Moore) Road, DurbanPO Box 61267, Bishopsgate, 4008 Tel: (031) 823 5927, 082 922 3960E-mail: utatudbn@utatusarwhu.com

Cape Town OfficePaul Sauer Building, Room 316, 3rd Floor, Cape TownTel: (021) 449 5879

Kimberley Office5th Floor, Plims Building, 32 Chapel Street, Kimberley, 8301PO Box 2999, Kimberley, 8300 Tel: (053) 832 1500 Fax: (053) 832 1501

Bloemfontein OfficeRoom 206/207 Second Floor, Handisa Building 39 Blignaut Street, Hilton, BloemfonteinTel: (051) 447 9158 Fax: (051) 447 9207

Published by UTATU SARWHUEditorial and advertising: Schraaiber ccFax (011) 234 1501schraader@mweb.co.za ISSN 0004-3869

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4 Labour Report Autumn 2014

NEWSNEWS

A fter five days in Januaryspent thoroughly debatingthe progress and directions

of the National Economic andDevelopment Labour Council(Nedlac) with cabinet ministersand business leaders, the country’sthree major trade union federations– Cosatu , Fedsal and Nactu -have called for a re-evaluation ofNedlac’s focus and principles.

Labour has called on organisedbusiness and government, the otherpartners in the tri-partite organisa-tion, to engage in the same level ofintrospection.

Labour’s re-evaluation of Nedlacand the socio-economic sceneenjoyed top level support. Speakersat labour’s January conferencewere:

Deputy President, KgalemaMotlanthe

Minister of Labour, MildredOliphant

Economic DevelopmentMinister, Ebrahim Patel

Rural Development and LandReform Minister, Gugile Nkwinti

Deputy Minister of HigherEducation and Training, MduduziManana

Deputy Minister of Finance,Nhlanhla Nene

NEDLAC Executive Director,Alistair Smith

ILO Regional Director,Vic vanVuuren

Former Minister of Labour andGovernor of the SA Reserve Bank,Tito Mboweni

Director of the Chris HaniInstitute, Professor Eddie Webster.

In a detailed statement issuedafter its debate, Labour has saidthat it remains fully committed toNedlac. However, it is deeply con-cerned about the Employment TaxIncentive Act and other measures

that it feels will weaken the work-ers’ position.

Labour has reaffirmed that itsaim is to achieve decent work forall. Its statement in this regardreads:

‘We reaffirm that our core aim isto get more people in permanent,sustainable and decent employment,and that we will focus our resourceson ensuring that our membersenjoy job security and acceptableworking conditions.

‘We will fight for the introductionof a legislated national minimumwage and we recommit to the pri-orities and outputs of the SouthAfrican Decent Work CountryProgramme.We declare that we willimprove the co-ordination ofengagements linking this pro-gramme to other regional initiativessuch as the SADC Decent WorkProgramme.’

The Federation of Unions of SouthAfrica (Fedusa),which keeps aclose watch on all areas of the

country’s economic management,wasquick to approve the 2014 budget ofFinance Minister,Pravin Gordhan.‘Thebudget is expansionary and has a clearfocus on the implementation of theNational Development Plan (NDP),’said the Federation’s media statementassessment released shortly after theMinister had concluded his speech.

Fedusa pointed out that with alower than anticipated revenue collec-tion in the period under reviewbecause of low economic growth,increased financial markets and capitalflow volatility in emerging economiesas well as the current account deficitprojection of 2.8 per cent of GDP andhigh unemployment, Pravin Gordhanfaced a huge challenge this year.Against that backdrop, Fedusa went onto endorse the following social featurescontained in the Minister’s budget:

Extensions to the UnemploymentInsurance Fund.The tax relief for lower incomegroups.The R41 billion on HIV and Aidsprogrammes over the past fiveyears, and R43.5 billion budgetedover the next three years.The increased spending on hospitaland other health care expenses.Substantial increase on socialassistance spending (R75 billion in2008/09 to R118 billion this year).

Commenting on the social grants,the Federation said:‘When looking atthe various types of grants available tocitizens in South Africa, Fedusa feelsthat it would be an interesting andworthwhile exercise to research andperhaps implement here, the condi-tional type of social grant seen in rap-idly developing countries such asBrazil to ensure that the money bud-geted is being effectively utilised tobuild our society.’

Taking into account the complica-tions arising from the depreciationand volatility of the rand (moreexpensive foreign debt, the higher costof imported infrastructure spending),Fedusa welcomed the budget’s focuson the infrastructure investment.

‘Governments in power world-wide, rightfully or wrongly are usual-ly accused of using the budget forpolitical gain.This could take place bydeliberately re-allocating funds toown gain or by concentrating onaspects that could boost their image.This was also done in the budgetspeech 2014 but aligned to clear poli-cy direction with sustainable long-term impact,’ said Fedusa.

The National Development Plan(NDP) received huge attention in thisyear’s Budget, its analysis continued.Elements of the NDP launched inAugust 2012 were already included in

the 2013 fiscal framework. In thisyear’s Budget speech it is aligned withthe NDP implementation strategyand focuses on a range of policyareas, especially:

Stepping up infrastructureinvestment.Gearing for increased education.Improving health care by theimplementation of health reformsto ensure the National HealthInsurance (NHI) can beimplemented.Enhancing Social protection byextending social grants.Indicating a clear strategy withretirement reform where R500000,00 is now exempted fromtaxation in the future.Building a capable state.Promoting accountability andfighting corruption.

Referring to the youth subsidyscheme implemented in January 2014to combat youth unemployment,Fedusa said that it will be engagingwith the National Treasury to ensurethat the rights of older workers arenot eroded with the implementationof these provisions.

Fedusa did not expect many amend-ments on the tax front but was pleasedwith the provisions as contained inChapter 4 of the Budget Review 2014.Except for the usual increases in the so-called sin taxes and a tax relief for low-income earners, other announcementssuch as the comprehensive approach toclimate change and the tax on carbonemissions and acid mine drainage havebeen welcomed.

The new-look carbon tax policywill probably give more insightbetween the proposed carbon taxpricing mechanism and the desiredemission reduction outcomes(DERO’s) proposed in the NationalClimate Change Response Policy.The outcome of the TaxationCommission regarding SMEs is seenas a positive provision that will aidjob creation.

On the expenditure side, saidFedusa, the increases in socialallowances in the case of old age andchild care were expected.The provi-sions on the retirement provision andthe National Health Insurance (NHI)are seen as positive steps.

The changes to the taxation ofcontributions to retirement funds inline with the Taxation LawsAmendment Act (2013) will provideadditional relief to most retirementfund members and will enforce thefederation’s policy that all of thecountry’s workers need to make pro-vision for retirement.

The FEDUSA task team on retire-ment has been collaborating with theTreasury on the tax proposals and willengage in 2014 on the details of thecalculations and formulae. �

Fedusa approvesGordhan’s ‘clearlyfocused andexpansionary’2014 budget

United labour front calls fora re-evaluation of Nedlac’sfocus and principles

Continued on page 56833

NEWSNEWSLabour Report Autumn 2014 5

T he recently concluded salarydeal between labour andPrasa is remarkable in three

ways.It is the first time that labour

and management have concluded athree-year pay agreement.

It is the biggest guaranteed salaryimprovement ever negotiated.

It is the first time that the wagesof lower-income earners have beensingled out for so significant aboost.

The deal gives all junior employ-ees employed by Prasa the follow-ing pay increases:

A 7,5% pay raise for the2014/15 financial year effectivefrom 1 April 2014.8,5% for the 2015/16 financialyear.9% for the 2016/17 financialyear.The compound effect of thosethree pay rises will be almost a35% increase in present pay by 1 April 2017 based on totalguaranteed package.

Employees earning R110 000 perannum and below have been grant-ed an additional one per cent i.e.8.50% increase over the first year2014/15, employees earning R120000 per annum and below an addi-tional one percent i.e. 9,5% for the2015/16 financial year, employeesearning R125 000 per annum andbelow have been granted an addi-tional one percent i.e. 10 % for the2016/17 financial year.The com-pound effect of their three guaran-teed pay increases will be an affec-tive 37,5% increase on their presentsalaries by 1 April 2017 based ontotal guaranteed package.

In addition, the nightshiftallowances for year one and two ofthe agreement (i.e. 2014/15 and2015/16) have been increased byR4 and R4,50, respectively.Theseallowances apply to employeeswithin the bargaining unit inMetrorail and PRASA CRES(including Rolling Stock employ-ees) who work night shift.However, it is applicable only tothose employees who currentlyearn an allowance below R4- 00per hour for nightshift work.

In year two, applying the sameterms, the nightshift allowance willincrease to R4,50 for those whosecurrent earnings are below thatfigure.

Issues that remained outstandingat the end of the negotiationswere:

Finalisation of Prasa’sRemuneration Policy andPhilosophy.The implementation of thePerformance Management Policyfor employees within thebargaining unit.

Commenting on the outcomeof the pay talks, UTATU SAR-WHU deputy general secretary,Pieter Greyling, said: “Most mem-bers agree that this is one of themost solid all-round pay adjust-ments yet achieved with Prasa –one which improves our mem-bers’ salaries well ahead of infla-tion, provides a solid boost totheir pension savings and enablesthem to plan for the future.

“In evaluating the settlement, wehad to weigh up the differencebetween a deal that put guaranteedmoney into our members pockets,or opting for a play-safe plan thatwould result in fresh negotiationseach year and maybe advantageousdeals.We opted for the formerapproach because we believe it willremain the better deal even if theinflation rate does increase over thenext three years.” �

R ailways on the African con-tinent have begun a massivegrowth phase.There is a

huge demand for locomotives,coaches and wagons.TransnetEngineering (TE) - arguably thecontinent’s oldest and most experi-enced rail engineering unit - iswell placed to take advantage ofthis business opportunity. But it isfacing fierce competition frommanufacturers in China, France,Spain and other South Africa railengineering companies.To gearitself for this challenge,TE’s man-agements and unions are workingtogether to find ways of optimisingthe company’s efficiency and costs.

“Our collaboration is a huge steptowards management/employmentunity. In the past, when TE neededto cut costs and increase efficienciesit did so through arbitrary and uni-lateral restructuring,” says UTATUSARWHU deputy general secre-tary, Eddie de Klerk, who is over-seeing the union’s involvement inthe restructuring exercise.

“The stakes are high and thecompetition is fierce.We need topool our knowledge to find moreeconomic ways of getting the workdone because the companies whichsecure the best slices of the businessopportunities will experience mas-sive growth in turnover, profits andjobs. One of the main challengeswe are facing is that some of ourcompetitors – more particularlyChina and those SA companiesusing contract labour – have signif-icantly lower labour costs.

“The joint aim of the consulta-tive structure and its sub-commit-tees is to achieve the essentialeconomies through greater efficien-cy and not through job cuts orwage cuts. Consequently, we allhave a direct stake in the success ofthe venture.

“To ensure that we are all pullingin the same direction, there will behigh levels of communication.TEemployees will be kept informed ofthe committees’ progress throughregular roadshows and commu-

niqués from management and theirunions.”

The official objectives of theexercise, which is already underway,are to:

Establish focused consultativestructures under the auspices ofthe National BusinessCommittee (NBC), as providedby the Transnet RecognitionAgreement.The sub committeesare created for the specificpurpose of the engagementbetween the parties on key areasaimed at optimising the TransnetEngineering businessperformance and sustainability,and ensure the achievement ofthe Transnet Market DemandStrategy (MDS) objectives.Define the consultative processes,structures and terms of referenceto fulfill the objectives of theconsultative structure.Further establish a once-offspecial session that will ensurethat the proper information isrequested and disclosed for thepurposes of ensuring effectiveconsultation.Conduct the consultation processbased on the principles of theTransnet culture charter.

UTATU SARWHU is well rep-resented on the three eight-personsub-committees formed to achieveTransnet’s MDS objectives, namely:

Re-profilingOperations AdministrativeSimplificationSupport Service Cost Reduction

Adam Slabbert and TN Dlaminiare representing the union on theRe-profiling sub-committee; JohnShort and Heinrich Laubscher areUTATU SARWHU’s representa-tives on the Support Service CostReduction sub-committee, and BenJonker and Sakkie Reineke are ourvoices on the Support Service CostReduction sub-committee.Thespecific focus of these committeeswill be:

To review the Transnet

Engineering business modelTo redesign business processesRe-profiling skills and shortagesof skillsReskilling of employees acrossthe organisationRedeployment within TransnetEngineering and otheroperational divisions.To consolidate and reduce profitcentres.

Other key factors that will formpart of the committees’ functionsare their investigations into:

Material costsOutsourcing impact on TECustomer services to find moreworkUnnecessary costsBureaucracy in managementprocessesTimelines to implement plansLabour/overhead cost breakdown

“The committees have alreadystarted work,” Eddie explains. “Aswe write, they are completing thepreparatory stages and are about totackle the nitty-gritty of theirassignments.We are happy with thecomposition of the committees andwith management’s attitude thusfar.

“The aim is for the committeesto have completed their workahead of the August NationalBusiness Committee (NBC) meet-ing. By that time we should knowhow to streamline the costs andefficiencies of each business unitand how best to accommodate anddovetail the efforts of our loco andcoach businesses, ports business,support services, human resources,training and management.

“Now that Transnet Engineeringand its employees are finally work-ing as one, UTATU SARWHUbelieves that we should do so withthe enthusiasm and intensity of ateam approaching a World Cuptournament. If we can manage thatlevel of teamwork we will achieve amagnificent future for the companyand its employees.” �

The three labour federations haveundertaken to meet regularly to‘provide leadership, keep communi-cation channels open and iron outdifferences, establishing a continuousplatform of engagement where issuesare discussed on a systematic basis.’

The labour federations said thatthe Employee Tax Incentive Act andthe mushrooming of parallel tripar-tite forums were undermining theNEDLAC Act and Protocol, adding:‘We are unanimous in opposing thismoney act which seeks to providebetter incentives to employers that

pay lower wages.This constitutes afurther erosion of already strainedwages in the labour market . . .NEDLAC needs to be strengthenedto hold Government departmentsaccountable and discourage thosewho want to bypass it.’

The three labour federations havecommitted themselves to continuestriving for the tax system to bealigned to the goals of job creation,redistribution and industrialisation.They agree that the state shouldstrengthen its regulatory institutionsand mechanisms in the finance sec-tor as well as on the necessity of

protecting workers from exorbitantcharges and exploitative financialpractices.

They concluded their report say-ing: ‘Government must makeresources available so that NEDLACcan properly monitor the imple-mentation of the Financial ServicesCharter.We will also campaign for apolicy framework to establish a sav-ings regime for workers in the vul-nerable sectors.’

The full report of the three fed-erations’ January seminar can befound on the UTATU SARWHUwebsite. �

Ground-breakingPrasa pay deal

Labour and managementhave combined to createa more competitive TE

Continued from page 4

Deputy General Secretary,Pieter Greyling

United labour front calls for a re-evaluation of Nedlac’s focus and principles Group

Funeral SchemeLook out for your application forminserted in this issue of LabourReport . Complete and send back tothe contact details as listed on theadvert on page 13.

20027600

6 Labour Report Autumn 2014

NEWS NEWS

T ransnet’s announcement that ithas commissioned the supplyof 1064 new locomotives for

delivery from 2015 is good news forall rail workers,” says UTATU SAR-WHU general secretary, Steve Harris.“The ripple effects of these acquisi-tions along with the new rollingstock on order will:

Accelerate the shift of freight fromroad to rail.Create new jobs in all areas of thethree rail systems.Expand the production andimportance of Transnet RailEngineering.Ease the burden on footplate andother operating staff.

“These developments are particu-larly good news our long-servingmembers who for many years havehad to watch freight beeing need-lessly and foolishly transferred fromrail to road; have survived the yearsof downsizing and inadequate payadjustments and have had to operateobsolete and unsafe equipment.

“A decade ago the pervadingmood among railway employees was:‘I won’t allow any kids of mine tojoin Transnet.’ Now that is changing.Provided that (having got theirthinking right on the hardwareaspects of the business) the rail bossescan similarly modernise theirapproach to its human side throughimproved industrial relations prac-tices and remuneration levels, SArail can return to becoming a familybusiness.

“Other areas of the businessrequiring urgent attention are: work-er training, the up-grading of sig-nalling systems in ways that cancombat cable theft, rail security andcommuter communication/relations.If Transnet can get all that right, SArail and the national economy canlook forward to a golden era.”

How the media reportedthe dealHeadlined SA beoog sy eie loko-motiewe, an article in Rapport read:

Johannesburg. – Transnet hetMaandag kontrakte van R50 miljardmet vier van die wêreld se voorstetreinvervaardigers vir 1 064 loko-motiewe gesluit.

Net die eerste 70 van die loko-motiewe word ingevoer. Die res sal byaanlegte van Transnet Ingenieurswerkeby Koedoespoort in Pretoria-Noorden in Durban gebou word.

Die kontrakte is die grootste watnóg deur ’n Suid-Afrikaanse staatsbe-heerde korporasie gesluit is.

“Dit gaan die vervaardigingsektorin Suid-Afrika laat herleef en diegrondslag vorm vir ’n spoorver-vaardigingsbedryf wat die res vanAfrika bedien. Die kontrakte isopgestel met die doel om teen dieafloop daarvan van Suid-Afrika ’nvervaardiger van oorspronkliketoerusting te maak,” het BrianMolefe, uitvoerende hoof vanTransnet, gister gesê.

Bombardier, wat die Gautreingebou het, gaan 240 elektriese loko-motiewe verskaf teen ’n kontrakprys

van R10,4 miljard, CSR ZhuzouElectric Locomotive, ’n filiaal vanChina South Rail, 359 teen R14,6miljard, General Electric 233 teenR7,1 miljard en CNR RollingStock, ’n filiaal van China NorthRail, 232 teen R7,8 miljard.

“Ons het besluit om dit aan vierverskaffers toe te ken omdat ons nieoortuig kon word dat ’n enkele ver-skaffer die tydskale sou haal nie.

“Die kontrakte het strengvoorskrifte oor plaaslike inhoud,vaardigheidsontwikkeling en opleid-ing ingevolge die regering se verskaf-fer-ontwikkelingsprogram,” hetMolefe gesê. Die hoofdoel met diekontrakte is om masjiene en toerust-ing wat gewoonlik ingevoer word,plaaslik te vervaardig.

Die dieseleenhede moet ’n mini-mum plaaslike inhoud van 55% hêen die elektriese eenhede 60%.

Sowat R10 miljard van die begroteR50 miljard vir die kontrakte is ver-skansings- en ander finansieringskoste.

Die eerste lokomotiewe sal oor 12maande afgelewer word. Daarna saldie volle kontrakte binne drie en ’nhalf jaar afgehandel word. Op syhoogtepunt sal 480 lokomotiewe perjaar geproduseer word.Al die loko-motiewe is vir Transnet se algemenevragafdeling bestem. Die steenkoollynna Richardsbaai word vernuwe met112 nuwe lokomotiewe en vir dieysterertslyn van Sishen na Saldanha is64 nuwe lokomotiewe gekoop.

Die kontrakte sal Transnet semark-vraagstrategie afhandel waaraanhy R307 miljard bestee. Dan sal diedravermoë van die algemene vra-gafdeling toeneem van 207 miljoenton per jaar tot 350 miljoen ton.

Alstom van Frankryk en Siemensvan Duitsland het albei ook vir diekontrakte gebied, maar nie geslaag nie.

Under a headline “Transnet splitsR50bn, 1 064 locomotives contractbetween four global rail groups”Engineering News carried the fol-lowing report:

Freight logistics group Transnet hasawarded the much anticipated con-tracts for the procurement of 1 064locomotives, collectively valued atR50-billion, to four separate compa-nies, including two from China.

The R50-billion contract value,which is the largest ever concludedby the State-owned utility, includedhedging and escalation costs and theprocurement was conducted throughan open tender, initiated soon afterthe project received shareholder andboard approvals in April 2012.

CEO, Brian Molefe, announced onMonday that China South Rail(CSR) Zhuzhou Electric Locomotiveand Bombardier Transportation SouthAfrica, led by the German arm of theCanadian company, would collective-ly supply 599 electric locomotives,while General Electric South AfricaTechnologies and China North Rail(CNR) Rolling Stock South Africawould supply the 465 diesel locomo-tives.

Four companies had been chosen,Molefe said, because Transnet wasnot convinced that a single supplierhad the capacity to deliver on the full

package in the timelines envisaged.The first units were expected to beintroduced into the aged generalfreight business (GFB) fleet within15 months, with the full deploymentexpected to be completed during2019.

CSR Zhuzhou ElectricLocomotive would supply 359 elec-tric locomotives at a contract valueof R14.6-billion, excluding hedgingand escalation costs. BombardierTransportation South Africa wouldsupply 240 electric locomotives at abase cost of R10.4-billion.

General Electric South AfricaTechnologies would supply 233diesel locomotives at a base cost ofR7.1-billion and CNR RollingStock South Africa would supply 232diesel locomotives for R7.8-billion.

The average base price for a singleelectric locomotive was estimated atR41-million, while a single dieselunit would cost R32-million.

“It has been a long, complex anddifficult process,” Molefe said at acontract-signing function inJohannesburg attended by senior offi-cials from each company, as well asby ambassadors from Canada, Chinaand the US.

CSR Zhuzhou ElectricLocomotive was represented bycompany president Liu Hualong,Bombardier Transportation, by presi-dent and COO Lutz Bertling,General Electric South AfricaTechnologies by General ElectricTransportation Southern Africa CEOTim Schweikert, and CNR by presi-dent Xi Guohua.

Molefe insisted that the procure-ment process had been conducted ‘tothe letter’ by a negotiation team thatincluded CFO Anoj Singh,TransnetFreight Rail (TFR) CEO SiyabongaGama and Transnet EngineeringCEO Richard Vallihu.

A board subcommittee for acquisi-tions and disposals, comprising inde-pendent directors, oversaw the six-stage evaluation process.The evalua-tion of the bids was also monitoredby Transnet’s internal audit function,itself made up of independent com-panies, which had issued a report‘confirming that all governance andprocurement procedures were fol-lowed to the letter.

Localisation emphasisedBesides commercial, technical, blackeconomic-empowerment, trainingand technology-transfercommitments, the successfuloriginal-equipment manufacturers(OEMs) had also met theDepartment of Trade and Industry’s55% local-content stipulation for thediesel vehicles and the 60% thresholdfor the electric locomotives.

But Molefe said some supplierscould well deliver localisation spin-offs of 65% or higher and stimulate adomestic railways reindustrialisationprocess, while creating the platformfor the transformation of TransnetEngineering into an African railOEM.

Transnet Engineering wouldinvest R300-million at its facilities

in Pretoria and Durban to facilitatethe localisation programmes, whilethe OEMs had been given 90 daysto finalise their arrangements withlocal suppliers, including privatedomestic suppliers.

It was anticipated that CSRZhuzhou Electric Locomotive andGeneral Electric South AfricaTechnologies would build on thelocalisation platforms that they hadalready created north of Pretoriafor other TFR contracts, while theother two OEMs would implementtheir build programmes primarilyin Durban.

Transnet estimated that the pro-curement would create over R90-billion in localisation benefits overthe life cycle of the locomotives.“Approximately 30 000 direct andindirect South African jobs will becreated,” Molefe enthused, notingthat only about 70 of the unitswould be assembled abroad.

In their respective presentations,Hualong, Bertling, Schweikert andGuohua emphasised their commit-ment to meeting the local-contentstipulations and to partnering withTransnet Engineering, notwithstand-ing the group’s OEM aspirations,which are focused primarily on theopportunities that were likely to arisein the rest of Africa.

Operational improvementsThe performance of the TFR’s GFBunit, which transports all cargo bar-ring freight moved on the dedicatedcommodity export lines, was expect-ed to improve materially as a resultof the acquisition.

At present, the average age of aGFB locomotive was 33 years, whichwould fall to 22 years by the end ofthe contract period – that period wasofficially five years, but Transnethoped it could be shortened tothree-and-a-half years.

The contracts were central to therail portion of Transnet’s seven-year,R300-billion market demand strate-gy (MDS), which was launched in2012 in a bid to modernise andexpand the utility’s rail, ports andpipelines businesses.

It is also the single largest portionof the R194-billion set aside forTFR’s modernisation, which is beingpursued in an effort to support amaterial modal shift from road to rail.

At present,TFR had an estimated15% market share of South Africatransportable gross domestics prod-uct, but was targeting to raise this tobetween 25% and 30% by 2022.

The aim was to increase TFR’svolume from 208-million tons year-ly to 350-million tons by 2019,with GFB (which currently movesabout 83-million tons a year)increasing its volumes to 170-mil-lion tons over the period.The bal-ance of the forecast volume growthwould be derived from its dedicatedcoal and iron-ore export lines,which were also being expandedand modernised.

The acquisition of the locomo-tives would be funded through acombination of internally derivedresources and through the R80-bil-lion bond programmes associatedwith the larger MDS. However,Transnet was also hoping to receivesome funding support from exportcredit agencies from the homecountries of the four suppliers.

The sting in the story’s tailA week after it ran its storyannouncing Transnet’s R50-millioninvestment in new locomotives forthe South African rail systems,Rapport ran a follow-up storyrevealing irregularities in the Transnetawards.According to Rapport, atleast one of the shareholders wasamazed to discover, through themedia, that he had a share in theR50bn tender.The newspaper’s 23March story continued:

Among the local partners inTransnet’s massive new tender forlocomotives are the stationer, thecleaning contractor and the shuttleservice provider used by one of thetrain manufacturers.Another manu-facturer has included a 23-year-oldmotivational speaker in its otherwisesecretive consortium.

A partner of another tender win-ner is run by two former Transnetmanagers who seemingly createdtheir company after the tenderprocess closed.

No one can accuse Transnet ofempowering only the “usual sus-pects” with the massive four-waycontract for 1 064 new locomotivesthat was announced last Monday.

The tender has been split betweenfour major international originalequipment manufacturers (OEMs),each of which has local partners withstakes of 25% to 30% in the contracts.

The four-way tender forms part ofTransnet’s R300bn market demandstrategy, a massive series of infra-structure projects aimed at expand-ing and modernising South Africa’srail system.

The locomotive contracts consti-tute one of the largest public pro-curements in South African history,dwarfed only by Eskom’s expenditureon new power stations.

The DA on Friday indicated thatit would ask Transnet to explain thetender process, while the PublicProtector is already investigatingone of the four successful bidders.Jabatha Paper and Stationery – ashareholder in multinational trainmaker Bombardier’s local subsidiary– was unaware of its apparent rolein the contract, of whichBombardier Transport SA gets aR10.4bn share for 240 electriclocomotives.

“I was somewhat baffled, nothingof this nature was discussed withme,” said Jabatha owner JamesSibeko.

“I am meeting Bombardier onTuesday to discuss Jabatha’s role inthe contract,” he said.

Sibeko said his company had beensupplying stationery to Bombardier, alead contractor in the BombelaConsortium that built the Gautrain.

Sadiphiri Transport Services andMasana Hygiene Services – anothertwo Bombardier partners along withan employee trust – and Jabatha, own26% of Bombardier Transport SouthAfrica (BTSA).

Director and co-owner ofSadiphiri,Albert Sethoga, said:“I pro-vide a commuting service forBombardier.We mostly drive aroundtheir foreign employees when theyare in the country.”

Masana Hygiene Services is a closecorporation with one listed member,Cynthia Mkhombo.

“We cannot comment at thispoint,” she said.

SA Rail industry poisedfor massive growth

“

Labour Report Autumn 2014 7

NEWS NEWS

M etrorail’s managementand passengers are reel-ing following the Cape

Argus 26 March exposé ofMetrorail’s safety hazards headlinedTrains are on a line to ruin.

The article centred around thePassenger Rail Agency of SouthAfrica (PRASA) media briefing onits R233 million emergency planto keep Metrorail on track, con-ducted by the company’s regionalmanager, Mthuthuzeli Swartz.Instead of allaying fears about thecommuter rail system’s efficiencyand safety, the briefing triggeredfears that Metrorail is – as CapeTransport’s MEC, Richard Carlisledescribed it - hovering on thebrink of ‘some of the worst acci-dents the country has ever seen.’

The Cape Argus article contin-ued:

‘Carlisle said disaster wasinevitable as the rails are so oldthey no longer perform theirfunction of holding the wheels onthe track. According to Metrorailengineering service managerRaymond Maseko, Carlisle’s claimsare entirely true.’

The article went on to point outthat busy sections of the track nearthe CBD and Bellville are so wornthat trains which should be run-ning at 90 km/h are beingrestricted to run at only 15 km/h.The road bed which underpins thetracks and provides them with bal-last and spring is also failing.

Raymond Maseko told thenewspaper that for years moneyhad been channelled into moreimportant maintenance. Now thetracks were fast approaching a crit-ical point. Mthuthuzeli Swartz

agreed that a disaster was immi-nent unless something was done.Rebuilding road beds on hardest-hit areas was a priority, he said. Intotal, 37 km of Western Cape tracksuffer from rail and componentwear.The speed restrictions overthose areas make trains slower andlower their frequency. Commutersexperience this as overcrowdingand being late for work. “At leasttheir lives are not in danger.Weare prepared to take flak fromcommuters while we are doing theright thing.”

Mthuthuzeli Swartz went on totell the Cape Argus that much ofthe chaos of disrupted train sched-ules was caused by vandalism. “Weare fighting a losing battle againstsenseless and mad commuterbehaviour,” he said. He told thenewspaper that the railways’ prob-lems had their roots in a decisiontaken in 1988 when a law waspassed to deregulate the industry.The government started spendingon roads rather than railways andother investors began losing inter-est in the railway services.Theyears of neglect and disinvestmenthad taken their toll.

He went on to tell the newspa-per of PRASA’s plan to embarkon ambitious rail modernisationover the next two years that wouldresult in new stations, automatedticket-checking more trains andtrains running every 15 minutesduring peak hours.

‘This is no time for mealy-mouthed excuses’ - UTATUSARWHU

“We welcome the Cape Argus’accurate expose of the shortcom-ings of Metrorail’s Cape Town

commuter services. But it is notnews to UTATU SARWHUmembers. As is clearly shown inissues of Labour Report datingback to the early 1990s, this unionwas probably the first organisationto consistently point to the follyof government’s rail neglectregarding both the move from railto road and to under-budgetingrail maintenance,” says Eddie deKlerk, the union’s deputy generalsecretary.

“Those articles also accuratelyforecast most of the consequencesnow facing the company and thecommuting public.They werelargely ignored by government, byPRASA and by its Metrorail arm.Nor has this union ever been con-sulted by Cape Transport Minister,Robin Carlisle, which we findrather odd considering that ourmembers are the people on thespot who know what is and isn’thappening in the workplace.

“Now that the PRASA andMetrorail mess is out in the openit is the duty of all concerned is tocome together to protect the livesof rail commuters not only in theCape, but in the Gauteng andDurban areas where similar prob-lems prevail,” says Eddie.

“Failure to act speedily and effi-ciently on the preventive mainte-nance issue will put the lives ofcommuters at even greater riskand lay the company open tocharges of culpable homicide andit will leave UTATU SARWHUno other alternative to revert toour rights in terms of all the legis-lation at our disposal.” �

Fronting fearsBombardier’s spokesperson for west-ern Europe,Africa and the MiddleEast, Sandy Roth, rejected any sug-gestions that its BEE partnershipmight raise concerns of fronting.“This ownership model ensures thatBTSA’s employees, as well as variousblack-owned and controlled suppli-ers, will participate in BTSA’s futuresuccess and profitability,” she said.New partners might be introducedwho were more closely involvedwith actual train making, she added.“Bombardier has selected a numberof key subcontractors with experi-ence in the rail industry and engi-neering who will support the transferof technology and know-how to theSouth African rail industry for thisproject.“Eventually, some of these key sub-contractors may choose to becomenew members of the business trust toencourage their support of BTSA’slong-term success.“We understand the practice of‘fronting’ and have in no way putforward wrongful information inregard to this project,” said Roth.Azon Rail, one of the local partnersof another successful bidder, ChinaNorth Rail (CNR), has two direc-tors who were both, until recently,managers at Transnet.It is unclear when Babalwa Dludluand Zahra Pilane left Transnet, butcompany records show that Azonwas registered in April last year.Thiswas well after the bids for the loco-motive tender were submitted toTransnet late in 2012.According to her LinkedIn profile,Pilane was a senior manager atTransnet Freight Rail until the endof 2012. CNR will deliver 232 diesellocomotives worth R7.8bn.Another CNR partner is LinontandoInvestments, which was also seeming-ly registered after the tenders weresubmitted.

Company records show that LindiweNgcobo, the former business partnerof Edward and Mxolisi Zuma, sonsof President Jacob Zuma, is the soledirector.“Please ask someone from Transnetabout the contract, I cannot com-ment,” she said this week.The consortium for the largest win-ner in the tender process, CSRZhuzhou Electric Locomotive, isbeing investigated by the PublicProtector.The investigation stems from CSR’sprevious Transnet contract for 95locomotives in 2012, which arebeing delivered now.Public Protector spokespersonKgalalelo Masibi said:“We haverecently spoken to Transnet.Theywill provide additional informationand are giving us their cooperation.”CSR’s partner in the new contract isa slightly reconstituted MatsetseBasadi Consortium that participatedin its earlier Transnet contract.However, it now includes a small soleproprietorship called AdowordMotivational and Life Coachingowned by 23-year-old motivationalspeaker Nonhlanhla “Adoword”Ntuli.Ntuli said her media team wouldreply to questions, but at the time ofgoing to print, they had not respond-ed.

Transnet said in reply to emailedquestions:“Transnet did not influ-ence the composition of the consor-tia.We followed an open tenderprocess where anyone was entitled totender.”

Industrialisation and jobcreationAccording to Rapport, SiyabongaGama,Transnet Freight Rail’s (TFR)CEO, has called the contract “rapidindustrialisation”. Its report contin-ued:The more ambitious plan is for

Metrorail’s safety time-bomb:Intensified maintenance the essential life-saver

DeathsDecemberVan der Bijl P Spouse Cape TownNdlazi B Member Richards BayMabeka RL Member

JohannesburgMeyer CS Member ErmeloMhlongo SS Spouse GermistonBritz HG Member NseseMotswadi RS Member MafikengMthembu S Member Richards BayEngelbrecht WA Member PretoriaDe Villiers JMA Spouse SaldanhaUithaler K Member Beaufort WestGumede S Member PolokwaneKnoezen AC Member WorcesterFlam B Member Port ElizabethBoshoff M Member Port ElizabethMakhaye SS Member DurbanJanuaryDlamini AS Member DurbanMotau MM Member

KoedoespoortNtuli VS Member DurbanRamabenyane TB Member

BloemfonteinMkhize ZN Child KaserneMafato NP Child PretoriaAdams GJ Member Cape TownDipali SJ Spouse Bloemfontein

Geyer JJ Spouse LadysmithMnqayi CM Member Richards BaySteyn HFJ Member DurbanRencken HS Member Mason’s MillBiyela M Member WitbankFourie A Spouse PretoriaPretorius WT Spouse PolokwaneFebruary Maseko MA Member StandertonButterworth MJ Child SaldanhaViljoen FP Member Port ElizabethSmit F Member Cape TownNdala LB Member JohannesburgJama NM Member DurbanMtshali AM Member VryheidMostert JH Member Beaufort WestVan der Westhuizen CWP Member

Port ElizabethTafel DP Member Beaufort WestDlamini MV Child DurbanMazubuko S Spouse LadysmithXilavi E Member KomatipoortSeele JP Member Barkley WestNdlovu CN Member DurbanMthethi N Member East LondonBOTHA JH MEMBER PretoriaJUDI OF MEMBER ColignyNDLOVU GP SPOUSE Richards BayNGUBANE TA CHILD Durban

T’he 10 April meeting of thePlanning Committee showedgood progress in the complicat-

ed process of re-shaping the union’sfield representation and informingmembers of the changes and of theirvoting rights and responsibilities.TheCommittee has already succeeded inincreasing the number of UTATUSARWHU Trade UnionRepresentatives (TURs) at TransnetFreight Rail from 376 to 485.Because the union believes it is enti-tled to more TURs at TransnetFreight Rail, it is continuing to pressfor more representation and a clearerdemarcation of the areas that qualifyfor TURs.

Problems waiting to be resolvedare:

Branches not clearly defined.TURs not knowing their bound-

aries (some TURs did not know towhich branch they belonged).

Members not knowing theirbranches or how they function.

Uncertainty as to election processesand how they should be supervised.

To overcome these problems Exco

has instructed the PlanningCommittee to:

Clearly define and consolidate theunion’s branches.

Institute communications andtraining procedures that will make allFTURs and members aware of theirbranches, responsibilities and votingrights.

To facilitate these processes thePlanning Committee will beappointing area committee convenorsand co-ordinators.

The joint message to membersfrom the union presidents is: ‘Wehave launched a process that willconvert UTATU SARWHU into amodel democracy.As the PlanningCommittee’s work unfolds, newplans and procedures are going to beannounced regularly via the union’scirculars, its website and LabourReport. Our message to members is:for your own benefit please studythese communications so that we canapproach the all-important 2015elections and Congress as a well-informed and united body.’ �

Keeping membersabreast of the PlanningCommittee’s activities

Transnet to end up as a so-calledOEM in its own right, manufactur-ing a “Transnet locomotive” that isentirely local in contrast to the cur-rent order which still sees up to 45%of the value being imported for localassembly.Transnet is spending R1bn onresearch with the CSIR to helpdesign the new locomotive.The 1064 new locomotives will join the95 that were already ordered fromCSR in 2012 and are now beingreceived.Transnet will be scrapping about 800old ones between now and 2025.The current fleet of locomotives is 2280-strong, meaning that the compa-ny will end up with 2 639 locomo-tives 10 years from now.Some of the locomotives being usednow are 48 years old, said Gama.Ultimately, the average age ofTransnet locomotives will fall from33 years to 22 years.The locomotiveprocurement was touted as creating30 000 jobs and having “localisationbenefits” of R90bn – far outstrippingthe actual money spent.This sum uses the Industrial ActionPlan’s set of “sector multipliers”. �

43816

8 Labour Report Autumn 2014

NEWS NEWS

Justice Project South Africa (JPSA)is a non-profit company primarilyinvolved in the prevention and

addressing of corruption and powerabuse in law enforcement as well as inthe education of the public on a widerange of road safety issues. JPSA is pro-legitimate law enforcement, pro-civilsociety and pro-law and order.On theirwebsite (www.jp-sa.org) is an informa-tive article on e-tolls and everythingyou need to know about them.Withtheir permission,Labour Report pub-lishes an excerpt from the article

What choices do you have?You may choose to register withSANRAL as a registered eTag useror a Vehicle Licence Number user.These users are granted an up-frontdiscount on e-toll tariffs but eitherhave to maintain a positive pre-paidaccount or provide their bankingdetails for SANRAL to debit.

A ‘day pass user’ is someone whopurchases a ‘day pass’ (valid for 24hours) eTag - of which only 12 maybe purchased in a 12-month period.It is not clear if this means 12 peryear or one per month, but it appearsthat visitors to Gauteng may onlydrive on these roads at a ‘discountedrate’ without registering for one dayper month.

If you do not register - which isyour absolute right - you will bedeemed to be an ‘alternate’ user andyou are expected to go into a SAN-RAL ‘customer service centre’ andpay within seven days of drivingunder a gantry.

If I am an ‘alternate user,’what are my obligations?According to the e-Road regulations(government gazette 36911), an‘alternate user’ is someone who is‘not a registered e-tag user, a regis-tered VLN user, a day-pass user forthe e-road used or a non-registered

e-Tag user.’Simply put, this means a vehicle

which is not registered with SAN-RAL and has not purchased a ‘daypass.’We say ‘vehicle’ because eachvehicle, not person or entity isdeemed to be a ‘user.’

The obligation to pay toll isincurred immediately one passesunder a gantry - just like it wouldwhen one comes to a toll plaza onan ordinary toll road.You are thengiven seven days’‘grace’ to make pay-ment at a SANRAL ‘customer serv-ice centre.’

SANRAL MUST issue and sendan invoice to your address registeredon eNaTIS within 32 days of youpassing under a gantry - but withinthe first seven days’‘grace’ period theyare not compelled to issue any invoiceto you. Effectively, this means that theinvoice they issue after the expiry ofthe grace period must be issued with-in 25 days after the expiry of thegrace period.You MUST then begiven a reasonable period in which tosettle the invoice and these invoicesDO INDEED provide 30 days inwhich to settle them at a 60% dis-count.

Misinformation on the internetwith respect to SANRAL having touse registered mail to post invoices iscompletely invalid and there is NOREQUIREMENT FOR REGIS-TERED MAIL to be used to sendinvoices.These invoices are containedin envelopes marked ‘permit mail’and the envelope contains a thickwad of documents.

Why am I receiving SMSand/or email messages orphone calls from ‘VPC’?We cannot fathom why SANRALand TMT Services has chosen to putthe cart before the horse by accusingpeople of being ‘violators’ before theyhave so much as sent them an invoice,

apart from the fact that TMT Servicesis very fond of authoring threatsagainst the public - as they have doneunabated for several years now.

The email messages are quiteintimidating.

These demands are NOT legiti-mate demands for payment, but are infact an attempt to short-circuit the e-Road regulations and force people topay as quickly as possible without dueprocesses and legislation being fol-lowed.

Phishing, Internet andNigerian 419 scamsUnfortunately, we do not find it inthe least bit inconceivable that inter-net scammers will quickly catch onto the dubious practices of SANRALand TMT Services and we cannotsay for sure that they haven’t already.In fact, we would be very surprised ifthey haven’t already since SANRALand TMT Services have providedthem with all of the tools they needto commit this kind of fraud.

It is therefore our recommenda-tion that you treat suspicious emailswith extreme caution and refrainfrom clicking on links provided inthem or making payment to bankingaccounts stated thereon.Can I check how much Iowe and make payment fore-tolls online if I’m notregistered?The short answer to this question isno, you cannot.

SANRAL FORCES you to reg-ister as an e-toll user in order tomake use of their website.

SANRAL requires you to calltheir call centre to enquire, but willnot allow you to pay over the phoneeither.They insist that you go intotheir ‘customer service centre’ inorder to pay and even EFTs cannotbe done without a valid SANRALvehicle reference number - which is

Your guideline throughthe e-toll maze

only generated when you register oran invoice.

What do registered users getthat unregistered users don’t?Apart from the discounts and capsapplicable to registered users, theyalso get access to SANRAL’s e-tolling website where they can viewdetailed transaction records online.The functionality includes access todetailed transactions records, whichinclude three photographs of eachpass under each gantry.

Unregistered users get nothing.

Can I be arrested for havingoutstanding e-tolls?Recently,TMT Services has adjustedthe wording on their email demandsby stating: ‘Failure to make paymentwill result in you being identified as anon-payer and will be stopped bythe Toll Road Enforcement Unit.’

This threat is very serious indeedand it is clear that TMT Services andSANRAL are unaware of the factthat stopping a motorist prior to theexistence of a Warrant of Arrest istantamount to wrongful arrest if theyhave not committed an offence inthe presence of an officer.TheGauteng Department of CommunitySafety, Gauteng Traffic Police should,however, be aware of this and shouldbe mindful of the civil claims thatcould (and should) arise out of thisabuse. Officers from the GautengTraffic Police have been seconded bySANRAL to enforce offences on thee-toll roads and have NO specialpowers, beyond being traffic officers.

Even if these ‘enforcement units’issue an invoice to the road user atthe roadside, this would be a viola-tion of the e-Road regulationswhich clearly states that SANRALMUST send an invoice ‘to the lastknown address provided in terms ofthe National Road Traffic Act.’ Itmakes NO PROVISION for road-side invoicing or harassment.Theymay, however, issue summonses andAARTO infringement notices.

What does the law say aboutwhen you have committed a

criminal offence?SANRAL has tried to bamboozlepeople by saying ‘you commit anoffence when you pass under a gantryand do not pay.’ However, it is abun-dantly clear that they do not under-stand the basic elements of criminallaw.

Section 27 of the SANRAL Actsays:

Any person liable for toll who, at atoll plaza or other place for the pay-ment of toll determined and madeknown in terms of subsection (1),refuses or fails to pay the amount oftoll that is due—(a) is guilty of an offence and punish-able on conviction with imprison-ment for a period not longer than sixmonths or a fine, or with both theterm of imprisonment and the fine;and(b) is liable, in addition, to pay to theAgency a civil fine of R1 000.Thisamount may be increased in 1999 andannually thereafter in accordance withthe increase in the official consumerprice index for the relevant year aspublished in the Gazette.

Essentially, a person who uses atoll road and refuses or fails to paya toll is guilty of an offence, BUTthe regulations extends the time-frame wherein a person is com-pelled to pay from the time thatperson passes under a gantry, tosomewhere in the order of 131 daysafter passing under the gantry.Thisis achieved by the various ‘grace’and formal periods under which auser is granted to settle the toll.Thereafter, criminal charges MUSTbe brought and such cases MUSTbe heard by a court if the CriminalProcedure Act is used to prosecutesuch offences.

You DO NOT establish yourcriminal intent of committing acrime by simply saying ‘I refuse topay’; you must actually also fail todo so before criminality is estab-lished. Criminal intent in the com-mission of a crime MUST beproven by the State in a Court ofLaw before a conviction can occur.

If you ignore a criminal sum-mons, a Warrant for your arrest

47697

Labour Report Autumn 2014 9

GLOBALGlobaltransportRound-upBob Crow mourned

The railway industry lost one of itsgreat champions on 11 March, 2014when Robert “Bob” Crow died of aheart attack aged 52. He had served asthe General Secretary of the NationalUnion of Rail, Maritime andTransport Workers (RMT) from 2002until his death. He was also a memberof the General Council of the TradesUnion Congress (TUC). After hebecame leader, the RMT’s member-ship increased from around 57 000 in2002 to more than 80 000 in 2008,making it one of Britain’s fastest grow-ing trade unions.

Bob Crow was a deeply controver-sial and divisive figure in British poli-tics. Supporters praised him as a cham-pion of the working class and a suc-cessful trade unionist, while criticsargued that he held London to ransomthrough his use of strikes and placedhis union members above other work-ing people in London.

Rail activists fight fortheir rights at EuropeanParliament

More than 4 000 railway workersfrom at least 17 different countries ral-lied outside the European Parliamentin Strasbourg on 25 February as mem-bers of the Parliament voted on thefourth railway package.

If voted in, the fourth railway pack-age could introduce competition to allpublic rail passenger services in everyEuropean Union (EU) state.This, inturn, could lead to privatisation.Thepackage also covers the workers’ rightto strike, integrated railways companiesand rail safety legislation.

Despite the large activist presence,the vote was not an overwhelmingworker victory, although the worstproposals were modified. ITF inlandtransport secretary, Mac Urata, attendedthe rally.

ETF deputy general secretary,Sabine Trier, explained that:“Our callfor [outright] rejection was not heard.The package still means the openingup of domestic rail passenger servicesto the market. Integrated rail compa-nies are still under threat but the worstwas rejected.We were pleased to hearthe interference with the right tostrike was stopped.”

Portuguese dockers winstrike against arbitrarilyamended workingconditions

The February strike in the ports ofPortugal was called off after the rein-statement of 47 dismissed workers andassurance from management that anew collective bargaining agreement(CBA) will be negotiated.

A dispute involving the Sindicato desEstivadores, trabalhadores do Tráfego eConferentes Maritimos do Centro eSul du Portugal (SETC) had beenongoing since the Portuguese govern-ment adopted a new port law on 1February 2013 which initiated liberali-sation. It was the start of a process toprogressively deteriorate conditions forport workers, in particular in Lisbonwhere 47 workers were dismissed with-

out reason. It was also a breach of ILOConvention 137 on dock work whichPortugal has ratified.

There has been a mass display of soli-darity for Portuguese workers by dock-ers throughout Europe co-ordinated bythe European Transport Workers’Federation and the InternationalDockworkers’Council. Letters ofprotest were sent to Portugueseembassies in Belgium,Denmark,Estonia, France,Germany,Greece,Latvia,The Netherlands,Romania,Spain and the UK, in addition toindustrial and support actions.

Now, following a meeting in Lisbonon 14 February, negotiations betweenthe union and management over a newcollective bargaining agreement havebeen extended until September.Assurances have also been given thatpreference for professional dockworkerswill be given in port hiring practices,more professional training will be madeavailable for all workers and all partieswill maintain social peace during thenegotiation period for the CBA.

International Women’sDay a grim reminder

International Women’s Day on 8March served as a grim reminder that70% of women have experiencedsome sort of violence during theirlives.This violence causes more deathbetween women aged 15 and 44 thancancer, malaria, traffic accidents andwar combined. Furthermore, as a resultof this violence most of them develophealth issues like strokes, heart disease,depression, anxiety, stress-related syn-dromes, substance abuse and suicide.

The day also served to highlight thepay gap that still exists between menand women doing the same jobs. Insome countries that gap is still morethan 70%.

Obesity an occupationalhazard

Due to the sedentary nature of theirwork many employees in the transportindustry are considered to be high-riskcandidates for obesity.

Overweight and obesity are the fifthleading risk for global deaths.At least2.8 million adults die each year as aresult of being overweight or obese. Inaddition, 44% of the diabetes burden,23% of the ischaemic heart diseaseburden and between 7% and 41% ofcertain cancer burdens are attributableto overweight and obesity.

The fundamental cause of obesityand overweight is an energy imbalancebetween calories consumed and calo-ries expended.Globally, there has been:

An increased intake of energy-densefoods that are high in fat; and an increasein physical inactivity due to the increas-ingly sedentary nature of many forms ofwork,changing modes of transportationand increasing urbanisation.

Changes in dietary and physicalactivity patterns are often the result ofenvironmental and societal changesassociated with development and lackof supportive policies in sectors such ashealth, agriculture, transport, urbanplanning, environment, food process-ing, distribution, marketing and educa-tion.

T he lone resolve of UTATUSARWHU has achieved someprogress towards adding a

human face to working conditionsgoverned by the Variation Agreementwith Transnet Freight Rail. Moreprogress might have been made hadSatawu not failed to gain a mandatefrom its members – an inaction thatstrengthened management’s hand atthe talks.

The negotiations centred aroundtrying to achieve extensions to theVariation Agreement that can give afairer balance to:

Shift exceedingsRest Periods at Book Off PlacesWeekly Rest PeriodsDaily Rest Periods

“As things stand, many workers arebeing given their rest periods attimes when their wives are at workand their children are at school,”explains UTATU SARWHU deputygeneral secretary, Louis Brocket, whorepresented the union at the negotia-tions.“Central to this union’s aims isthat we need a deal that will give ourmembers at least one weekend inthree to spend with their families.

“We understand management’s dif-ficulties in achieving a full fair roster.But we remain firmly convinced thatif management were to give humanfactors equal status to money and itsown convenience, it could fashion farfairer rosters.

“We have been working hard toachieve progress in this regard.Asearly as last September, we urgedmanagement to start engagement onthe current agreement, but to noavail.With that agreement due toexpire on 31 March, 2014, manage-ment asked for a six-month exten-sion to the agreement.

“UTATU SARWHU did notagree to the extension as our unionwas given no grounds for believing

Transnet Freight Rail:U/S’s lone battle wins someprogress towards an improvedvariation agreement

1. Subject to the following conditions being met and a firm undertaking begiven and adhered to, two (2) months extension of the current VariationAgreement (V/A) will be agreed to, to allow for the process to be put intomotion.

2. Appoint Mr John Brandt to facilitate the process of jointly devising a newVariation Agreement (V/A) – he has a sound knowledge of our businessand has successfully assisted in many negotiations to the settlement. In plan-ning the process, the following need to take precedence and meticulouslyadhered to:2.1 Three (3) consecutive meeting days per fortnight to which all give

total commitment and active participation.2.2 Agenda jointly be crafted and adhered to.2.3 Agenda points must be ranked in order of priority, e.g.

2.3.1 Twelve (12) hour exceeding – “on shift”.2.3.2 Weekly rest periods – be devised in such a manner that staff

have more “off” time over weekends or portions thereof tohave time with their families, whilst operational requirementsare taken into consideration.

2.3.3 Unnecessary long lay-offs at book-off places be managed toendeavour to assist staff to return to home depot sooner to2.3.3.1 reduce wagon and loco turnaround time2.3.3.2 increase rest periods of rest at home depot to stay in

shift cycle – while being readily available to resume duty2.3.3.3 make staff available sooner at home depot as rest period

now starts earlier.

Should the above proposal fromUTATU SARWHU not be accept-able, it must categorically be statedthat UTATU SARWHU are not pre-pared to agree to sign an ‘extension’of the current Variation Agreementand that management than have todo that which is necessary.”

“It was at this stage that Satawu’srefusal to back our proposal left usisolated.The voting process wasinvoked. UTATU SARWHU wasoutvoted and the current VariationAgreement was extended from 1April 2014 to 30 September 2014.

“But it was not all defeat for ourunion. Our telling arguments on theneed for a fairer deal have been

heeded by management and theother side of the labour coin. It hasbeen agreed that a new agreementbe drafted by the end of June. It hasalso been agreed that there be inten-sive consultations during the run-in.

“UTATU SARWHU is convincedthat its approach is both essential andfair.We also believe that TransnetFreight Rail appreciates the need fora more equitable variation agreementand that, when consulted, Satawu’smembers will decide to support thisunion’s approach rather than contin-ue to strengthen management’s hand.

“We will keep our members post-ed on our progress towards a betterVariation Agreement.” �

that management was either seriousor sincere about negotiatingimprovements to the VariationAgreement.After serious discussionswith our president (George Strauss)

and general secretary (Steve Harris),our union put forward the followingproposal on the extension of theagreement:

WILL be issued and you may thenbe arrested on the strength of thatWarrant.

Can my licence disc bewithheld if I have outstandinge-tolls?Regulation 59 of the National RoadTraffic Act does not make provisionfor withholding licence discs, exceptunder the following conditions:

If there are outstanding licensingfees or penalties against the person inwhose name the vehicle is registered;or

If a warrant of arrest has beenissued in the name of the person inwhose name the vehicle is registered.

The AARTO Act does, however,make provision for disallowinglicensing transactions if anEnforcement Order has been issuedagainst the person in whose namethe vehicle is registered.

Any and ALL other attempts towithhold licence disks would be

UNLAWFUL.We have scoured all of the legisla-

tion surrounding e-tolls and, despiteprevious claims made by SANRALthat licence discs may be withheldon the basis of outstanding e-tolls,we have found NO SUCH PROVI-SION anywhere in the legislation.

Any licensing authority MUSTprovide a registered vehicle ownerwith a R114 Statement of accounton request and this will detail anyand all eNaTIS transactions againstyour name. If it happens, do notjump to the conclusion that yourlicence disc is being withheld on thegrounds of outstanding traffic fines ore-tolls.

Should I get an eTag and/orpay my e-tolls?Many people ask us these questionsand we cannot tell you how youshould act with respect to e-tolls. It isalso unreasonable for anyone to asksuch a question of us.All we can do

is to make you aware of the facts sur-rounding e-tolls and it is entirely upto you whether you make a decisionto get an eTag and/or register withSANRAL or not.

You must, however, be aware ofthe fact that the second that you doregister with SANRAL, you agree totheir terms and conditions - amongwhich are your agreement to pay.Once you have done this, youMUST adhere to the terms and con-ditions, since you have agreed tothem in writing. Similarly, if yourefuse and fail to pay, this is indeedregarded as an offence.

Where do I complain aboutbilling errors, etc.?If you have received an erroneousbill from SANRAL, please contacttheir call centre first, and if youreceive no joy from them, you cancontact JPSA.

We urge people NOT to spreadmalicious rumours and untruths! �

10 Labour Report Autumn 2014

UTATU SARWHU DIRECTORYArea 1 – Kwazulu-NatalPOSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman John Short 031 361 6164 071 481 6975 031 361 4870 john@utatu.comVice-Chairman Rodney Blom 031 361 8189 082 893 1224 086 543 7660 Rodney@utatusarwhu.comSecretary Jabulile Madonsela 035 905 3807 083 365 4621 035 905 3181 Jabulile.Madonsela@transnet.netChairman F.E Mabaso – 078 738 7296 036 271 2332 sarwhuncs@transnet.netDeputy Chairman SM Mazibuko 036 271 2111 076 467 9121 –Secretary TA Jwara 031 361 5300 083 426 0684 031 361 5184 tammi.jwara@transnet.netTreasurer S Nsibande – – – –Gender Coordinator NL Thwala 034 328 7235 072 536 5798 – thembeka.thwala@transnet.net

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLDurban Chairman W.T Bophela – – – 083 457 0972

Secretary NC Ngcobo – – – 073 176 0763Durban Infra Chairman Linda Biljoen 031 361 4318 031 361 4107 Linda.Biljoen@transnet.net 071 322 7439

Secretary Raymond Johns 031 361 5730 031 361 4731 Pieter.Johns@transnet.net 083 468 6010Empangeni Chairman MC Sibiya 035 905 3779 – nkosinathi.sibiya@transnet.net 083 772 0013

Secretary BH Mtshali – – – 083 358 1766Ermelo Chairman Egbert Olivier 017 801 2266 – egbertolivier@vodamail.co.za 082 612 8519

Secretary Rinus Jansen van Rensburg 017 801 2217 017 801 2000 Danie.terblanche2@transnet.net 082 373 2521Ladysmith Chairman Bob Corringham 036 271 2036 036 271 2298 Bob.Corringham@transnet.net 083 387 8914

Secretary John Bain 036 271 2467 031 361 2298 John.bain@transnet.net 083 787 4207Ladysmith Chairman SD Zwane 036 271 2093 036 271 2332 – 082 723 4106

Secretary BB Mtshali – – – –PRASA Durban Chairman Rodney Blom 031 361 8189 086 543 7660 Rodney@utatusarwhu.com 082 893 1224

Secretary D Brand 031 361 7587 031 361 7798 mbrand@metrorail.co.za 083 501 2006Newcastle Chairman NW Kubheka – – thembeka.thwala@transnet.net 079 418 3260

Secretary MS Nxumalo – – thwala.thembeka@gmail.com –Newcastle Chairman Nic van Straaten 034 328 7202 034 328 7254 UtatuNcs@transnet.net 072 667 3948

Secretary Thembeka Thwala 034 312 1537 086 218 9144 Thembeka.Thwala@transnet.net 072 536 5798Pietermaritzburg Chairman VACANT

Secretary CL Holtzhausen 033 897 2460 033 897 2460 Charlesh@vodamail.co.za 082 336 2708Pietermaritzburg Chairman S Ndlovu 033 897 2723 033 897 2743 sibusiso.ndlovu@transnet.net 071 730 0558

Secretary M.P Zulu – 033 897 2003 – 083 795 7446Maritime Durban Chairman Steven Marais 031 361 3029 031 361 3028 Steven.marais@transnet.net 083 382 2083

Secretary Ram Naicker 031 361 3722 031 361 3864 – 083 378 6814Maritime Richards Bay Chairman Frans Potgieter 035 905 3398 035 905 3180 Frans.Potgieter@transnet.net 083 284 1649

Secretary Jabulile Madonsela 035 905 3807 035 905 3181 Jabulile.Madonsela@transnet.net 083 365 4621Richardsbay Chairman C Shongwe 035 905 3685 035 905 3509 clement.shongwe@transnet.net 078 672 5266

Secretary A Nzungana – – – 073 132 8952Richards Bay Chairman VACANT

Secretary Walter Hattingh – –– Walter.Hattingh@transnet.net 083 547 3059TRE Durban Chairman VACANT

Secretary VACANTTRE Traction Durban Chairman VACANT

Secretary VACANTTRE Richards Bay Chairman Zonke Cele 035 906 7372 035 906 7015 zonke@utatusarwhu.com 082 567 6637

Secretary TR Myeni 035 905 2062 – – 073 423 2733TRE Richards Bay Chairman BM Mdlaka – – – –

Secretary MT Simelane – – – –Umbilo Chairman Chris Kotze 031 361 7894 086 513 2098 Chris.kotze@telkomsa.net –

Secretary Andre Smit 031 361 4033 031 361 4033 – 083 439 7078Vryheid Chairman T.F Malumane – – thulanef@gmail.com 083 308 8416

Secretary O Nkopane – – nkopanej@yahoo.com 083 623 4405Vryheid Chairman VACANT

Secretary AM Ndwandwe 034 989 9376 034 989 9349 Alexander.Ndwandwe@transnet.net 083 710 4031Wentworth Chairman Reagan Govender 031 361 5346 031 361 4330 reagangovender13@gmail.com 072 690 0706

Secretary Shaun Balmogin 031 136 5346 031 361 4330 sbalmogin@gmail.com 081 462 8344Area 2 – East London – Port ElizabethPOSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman VACANTDeputy Chairman TA Visani – 073 396 7473 – albert.visani@transnet.netSecretary T Xotyeni 041 507 5167 071 180 8333 051 407 5006 thoba.xotyeni@transnet.netTreasurer Luyanda Jacobs – – – –Gender Coordinator JN Njokweni 041 507 2034 076 335 3689 041 507 2014 noncedo.njokweni@transnet.netChairman Chris Greyvenstein 043 700 4317 083 558 4430 043 700 4216 Christian.greyvenstein@transnet.netVice-Chairman VACANTSecretary Rob Lottering 043 700 4233 083 409 8688 043 700 4575 bugle@mweb.co.za

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLBurgersdorp Chairman VACANT

Secretary PH Wheeler 051 653 9219 051 653 9205 – 083 409 8689Cradock Chairman JR Erasmus 049 802 8224 049 842 1426 Basie.Pain@transnet.net 082 591 9826

Secretary ND du Preez – 048 801 8227 – 083 295 0307East London Chairman Chris Greyvenstein 043 700 4371 043 700 4344 Christian.greyvenstein@transnet.net 083 558 4430

Secretary Rob Lottering 043 700 4233 043 700 4575 bugle@mweb.co.za 083 409 8688East London Chairman VACANT

Secretary T Slatsha 043 700 4573 043 700 4329 – 083 500 5317Mid Karoo Chairman B Faltein – – – 073 374 5041

Mossel Bay Chairman Marius Prinsloo 044 604 6236 044 604 6209 BepVoor@transnet.net 084 582 5932Secretary VACANT

Port Elizabeth Chairman F.J Mdyogolo 041 505 5204 – – 078 605 3617Secretary D Vingqi 041 507 2643 041 507 2645 – 082 950 6821

Port Elizabeth Chairman Wynand van Tonder 041 507 5204 041 368 2793 Wynand.vantonder@transnet.net 071 671 3523Secretary Edwin Godfrey 041 507 5167 041 507 5006 Edwin.godfrey@transnet.net 084 807 9351

Maritime East London Chairman Bill Hart 043 700 2237 086 630 7920 Bill.Hart@transnet.net 083 287 4234Secretary Douglas Emery 043 700 2410 – Douglas.emery@transnet.net 082 315 9826

Maritime Nqgura Chairman C Damons –- – Careston.damons@transnet.net 084 289 2698Secretary P Louw – – Pedro.Louw@transnet.net 073 230 8024

Maritime Port Elizabeth Chairman Albert Visani – – – 073 396 7473Secretary Thandiswa Nibe 041 507 1559 041 507 1561 Thandiswa.Nibe@transnet.net 083 574 5861

PRASA East London Chairman M Losi – – mangoliso.losi@prasa.om 083 315 7601Secretary Kholelwa Nkumanda 043 700 2353 – kholelwak@yahoo.com 083 670 0013

TRE Swartkops Chairman J.L. Cyster 041 507 5191 041 507 5189 Julius.Cyster@transnet.net 083 565 2957Secretary Adriaan Grobler 041 507 5194 041 507 5224 Grobler9@yahoo.com 084 236 1902

TRE Uitenhage Chairman Clayten du Plessis 041 994 2288 041 994 2412 Clayten.duplessis@transnet.net 078 212 6211Secretary Malcolm Bubb 041 994 2341 041 994 2412 Malcolm.Bubb@transnet.net 083 952 4967

Queenstown Chairman Brian Hayes 045 808 2074 045 808 2003 – 084 406 9544Secretary Leon van Heerden 045 808 2022 045 808 2150 – 083 944 9385

Area 3 – Western CapePOSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman C Vermaak 021 507 2509 084 600 3304 – Vermaak007@telkomsa.netVice-Chairman H Smith 023 348 4262 071 363 3938 023 348 4260 Henk@breede.co.zaSecretary L Saul 022 703 2229 079 225 9168 – Lutwena.Saul@transnet.netChairman M Lamani 021 940 2036 083 897 4756 021 940 2899 sectionmanagersbellville@transnet.netDeputy Chairman L Bamba – 082 708 6264 – –Secretary L Gantsho 021 940 2036 078 368 5595 021 940 2899 –Treasurer L Gova 021 449 4288 078 556 1432 – –Gender Coordinator K Mpote – 079 061 1627 – –

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLBeaufort West Chairman Sakkie Janse van Vuuren – 023 449 2177 Jacques.JansevanVuuren@transnet.net 082 355 1166

Secretary Lillian van Niekerk – 023 449 2402 Lillianvanniekerk@gmail.com 082 870 3067Cape Town Chairman Danie Groenewald 021 940 2114 021 919 4211 djgroenewald@gmail.com 083 458 3726

Secretary George Warrington 021 940 2160 – George.warrington@transnet.net 083 411 4962Lions Head Chairman William Cook 021 449 3781 021 449 5524 wcook@metrorail.co.za 072 910 3913

Secretary Fabian Jooste 021 449 534 021 449 2104 fjooste@metrorail.co.za 074 835 4271PRASA Disa Chairman Jan Jordaan 021 449 2309 086 608 5184 jjordaan2@metrorail.co.za 083 709 1634

Secretary Simphiwe Rhelegushe 021 940 3316 – sira1@mtn.blackberry.com 071 006 6135PRASA Liesbeeck Chairman VACANT

Secretary B Fourie 021 507 2269 021 507 2224 bFourie@metrorail.co.za -PRASA Tafelberg Chairman Owen Hudson 021 449 5532 021 449 2236 Utatu_to@metrorail.co.za 083 490 4049

Secretary John Scheepers 021 449 5879 – jscheepers@metrorail.co.za 072 923 1883Maritime Cape Town Chairman Trevor Wasserfall 021 449 2148 086 631 0348 Trevor.wasserfall@transnet.net 071 362 6219

Secretary Gwyn du Plessis 021 449 3657 021 449 6172 Gwyn.duplessis@transnet.net 071 861 9822Maritime Saldanha Chairman David van der Merwe 022 703 4312 022 703 4360 David.vandermerwe@transnet.net 072 841 1522

Secretary Ricardo van der Merwe 022 703 4714 – Ricardo.vandermerwe@transnet.net 078 497 8145Saldanha Orex Chairman Walter Smith 022 703 3467 – Walter.smith@transnet.net 074 143 4301

Secretary Lutwena Saul 022 703 2229 – Lutwena.Saul@transnet.net 079 225 9168TRE Cape Town Chairman Heinrich Laubscher – 021 507 2966 – utatusrx@transnet.net 071 565 0303

Secretary TJ Capes – – utatusrx@transnet.net 072 064 1046Worcester Chairman Henk Smith 023 348 4262 023 348 4260 Henk@breede.co.za 071 363 3938

Secretary Leon Steyn 023 348 4218 023 348 4304 steyn@cwnet.co.za 083 293 7523Area 4– Free State

POSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman D Motshoeneng 051 408 2910 078 119 2650 051 408 2106 –Secretary T Mkhalipi 051 408 3173 073 553 9081 051 408 2121 –Deputy Chairman K Ramonnye 051 408 2823 083 240 2678 051 408 2823 kgosi.ramonnye@transnet.netTreasurer D Setlhare 056 268 2239 076 556 8796 056 268 2227 david.setlhare@gmail.comGender Coordinator D Morake 056 268 2239 084 624 3271 056 268 2227 dugsonm@yahoo.comChairman VACANTVice-Chairman Russell Veitch 051 408 2653 079 495 7203 – Russell.Veitch@transnet.netSecretary Marius Viljoen 051 408 3543 073 199 6363 – Marius.Viljoen@transnet.net

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLBethlehem Chairman Ally Nhlapo 058 302 2033 058 302 2085 ally.nhlapo@transnet.net 072 763 1459

Secretary Thabo Taaso 058 302 2160 058 302 2081 – 083 409 6572Bloemfontein Chairman Russell Veitch 051 408 2653 – Russell.Veitch@transnet.net 079 495 7203

Secretary Dennis Hiten 051 408 3615 – Dennis.Hiten@transnet.net –Free State Chairman Errol van Aardt 051 408 2269 086 647 5395 Errol.vanaardt@transnet.net 078 658 7199

Secretary Diamond Letlojane 016 970 5237 016 970 5288 Molefe.Letlojane@transnet.net 074 793 0569Kroonstad Chairman Douw Dreyer 011 978 2737 – douw@utatu.com 082 378 3130

Secretary Andries Kruger 056 268 2342 056 268 2145 – 083 451 7351Kroonstad Chairman Vusi Jwili 056 268 229 056 268 2227 vusijwili@yahoo.com 083 998 5023

TRE Bloemfontein Chairman E van Aardt 051 408 2269 – errol.vanaardt@transnet.net 079 072 2564Secretary LM Mokone 051 408 2058 051 408 2576 lefu.mokone@transnet.net 084 404 2401

TRE Bloemfontein Chairman Sakkie Reynecke – – Sakkie.reynecke@transnet.net –Secretary David Motshoeneng 051 408 2910 051 408 2106 David.motshoeneng@transnet.net 078 119 2650

Labour Report Autumn 2014 11

UTATU SARWHU DIRECTORYArea 5 – Gauteng Central (Johannesburg)POSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman Hennie Stoltz 011 773 4900 083 709 1480 011 773 4744 hstoltz@prasa.comVice-Chairman Vacant – – – –Secretary PA Swart 011 773 4790 082 898 2440 011 902 8375 paswart@telkomsa.netChairman Francis C.L – 073 062 5288 – connors.francis@transnet.netDeputy Chairperson R Ndlovu – 083 463 7680 – sibongiseni.ndlovu2@transnet.netSecretary Vacant – – – –Treasurer CJ Mashamaite 016 420 6278 083 583 7527 – valozone303@mail.comGender Coordinator M Digopoleng – 071 383 6917 016 420 6986 macdonald.digopoleng@transnet.net

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLAutopax Chairman TN Dyantyi – – malandelwa@gmail.com 072 261 0859

Secretary Ene Thibela – – – 072 554 8354Bombela Chairman Kenneth Muthige – – Kenneth.Muthige@bombelaop.co.za 079 564 5252

Secretary Muntu Khumalo – – Muntu.Khumalo@bombelaop.co.za 073 164 3109Braamfontein Chairman Hennie Stoltz 011 773 4900 011 773 4744 hstoltz@prasa.com 083 709 1480

Secretary RS Ratshibaya 011 773 3370 – suzan.radzilani@gmail.com 082 927 5657Esselenpark Chairman Andre van Rooyen 011 929 2317 011 929 1225 andre.vanrooyen2@transnet.net 082 469 2390

Secretary Annalien Venter 011 929 1349 – Annalien.Venter@transnet.net 083 550 0084Secretary NP Mntambo 011 929 1274 011 929 1322 pretty.mntambo@transnet.net 071 853 8497

Gauteng Chairman Francis Connors – – Leslie connors.francis@transnet.net 073 062 5288Secretary Pamela Ncuru 011 960 2379 011 960 2068 Pamela.Ncuru@transnet.net 083 968 8635

Germiston Chairman M Mabaso – – – 079 681 2601Secretary ES Tshofela – – – 073 093 1116

Germiston Chairman Ruphus Machoga 011 820 2400 – Utatu.WheelsGermiston@transnet.net 072 818 5217Secretary TV Nxumalo 011 820 2045 – zenzin@iburst.co.za 083 282 0623

Heidelberg Chairman PC Njowa 016 340 7227 011 820 2289 Peter.Njowa@transnet.net 083 399 9626Secretary Willem Swarts 016 340 7212 016 340 7213 willem.swarts2@transnet.net 083 708 1051

Isando Chairman VACANTSecretary Desmond Nkhame 011 570 7170 – UtatuIsando/Elandsfontein@transnet.net 073 366 3382

Kaserne Chairman MN Mathekga 011 330 6061 011 30 6920 – 072 799 7297Secretary FJ de Koker 011 330 6061 011 330 6771 scott.dekoker@transnet.net 082 324 9169

Kaserne Chairman MGC Molipa – – – 079 139 8616

Krugersdop Chairman RH Tjale – – cedric.modingoane@transnet.net 071 777 4497Secretary NI Mntambo – – mntamboni@gmail.com 083 736 9761

Krugersdorp Chairman VACANTSecretary Steven Coetzee 011 950 1271 011 950 1261 – 083 324 0556

Leeuhof Chairman Morne Rossouw 016 420 6246 016 420 6352 Morne.Rossouw@yahoo.com 084 504 0407Secretary CJ Mashamalte 016 420 6278 016 789 3535 nalozone@gmail.com 083 583 7527

Leeuhof Chairman MP Marageni 016 420 6246 – – 078 465 5880

PRASA Central Chairman PA Swart 011 773 4790 011 902 8375 paswart@prasa.com 082 898 2440Secretary CL Botha 011 773 4790 086 562 9828 cbotha@prasa.com 083 276 8662

PRASA East Chairman Freddie Grobler 011 570 7011 011 570 8715 fgrobler@prasa.com 083 276 8715Secretary Freek Oberholster 011 365 7479 011 365 7434 freek.ober@gmail.com 083 276 8653

PRASA West Chairman OJ Hagemann 011 278 2346 – utaturfr@metrorail.co.za 082 560 2130Secretary VACANT

Mega Express Chairman P Mbombi – – - 083 743 0982Secretary D Mokasi – – denzomokazi@gmail.com 073 340 5191

Parktown Chairman Gladson Mkhabela 011 584 0965 gladson.mkhabela@transnet.net 079 081 7767Secretary Kamo Kumalo 011 584 1120 – Dikamohelo.Kumalo@transnet.net 076 977 7178

Sasolburg Chairman MD Letlojane 016 970 5237 016 970 5288 molifi.letlojane@transnet.net 074 793 0569Secretary DP Mkhize – – molifi.letlojane@transnet.net –

Sentrarand Chairman ZC Khoza 011 960 2197 011 960 2068 zelda.khoza@transnet.net 076 265 1869Secretary VACANT

Springs Chairman Patience Begwa 011 365 7558 011 365 7544 p.begwa@yahoo.com 083 517 3097Secretary Frans van Wyk 011 365 7361 011 365 7544 utatu/sarwhuwelgedag@transnet.net 071 158 9524

Standerton Chairman Geert Buter 017 712 2831 017 712 1512 – 072 299 6682Secretary VACANT

TRE Germiston Chairman Bossie Boshoff 011 820 2716 – Bossie.Boshoff3@transnet.net 084 785 2827Secretary Wickus de Venter 011 820 2614 011 820 2142 wickus.vandeventer@transnet.net 082 489 9396

TRE Sentrarand Chairman Willem de Kock 011 960 2475 011 960 2475 Willem.dekock2@transnet.net 084 621 3947Secretary Morne Boshoff – – Morne.boshoff@transnet.net 076 167 8986

Welgedacht Chairman R Dhlamini – – – 083 744 2124Secretary BJ Nala – – bongani.aka.nala@gmail.com 073 635 8269

Wits Chairman B Mgidi 011 330 8498 – – 072 797 5030Secretary C Leshaba 011 330 8149 – cain.leshaba@transnet.net 083 766 5894

Area 6 – Northern CapePOSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman Thomas L 053 7239234 076 6099110 022 7033424 lebogang.thomas@transnet.netDeputy Chairman P Sekao 053 8382324 078 7603479 053 838244 pulesekao@transnet.netSecretary S .Xesi 053 838 3277/3013 082 7850782 053 8383251 yardmaster@beaconsfieldTreasurer T Maranda 053 838 3170 073 613 6946 053 838 3160 theresia.maranda@transnet.netGender Coordinator Leeuw M 053 838 3277 – 053 838 3251 –Chairman Kobus Zara 053 838 3381 082 655 9058 053 838 3363 Jacobus.Zara@transnet.netSecretary JF van der Merwe 053 494 3226 083 378 8206 053 494 3223 –Vice-Secretary M Gouws 053 838 3140 – 053 838 3245 –

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLDe Aar Chairman P van der Westhuizen 053 632 8308 053 632 8216 – 073 317 6659

Secretary KD Eiman 053 632 8239 053 632 8237 – 073 626 1072Coligny Chairman VACANT

Secretary VACANTKimberley Chairman Kobus Zara 053 838 3381 053 838 3363 Jacobus.Zara@transnet.net 082 655 9058

Secretary JP Maree 053 838 3288 053 838 3237 – 083 284 5804Kimberley Chairman AB Content 053 838 3170 053-838 3169 abraham.content@transnet.net 073 4830034

Secretary VACANTKlerksdorp Chairman N Gcabashe 018 293 7652 018 293 7669 nhlanhla.gcabashe@transnet.net 083 389 3638

Secretary T Machewane – – – 073 3660251Mafikeng Chairman M Mokoena – 018 381 9295 – –

Secretary M Leburu – 018 381 9295 – 079 984 6081Mafikeng Chairman Collin Manca – – – 073 513 5905

Secretary Tumelo Motsepe 018 381 9250 018 381 9258 Mtp2my@ymail.com 072 754 7547Northern Cape Chairman Lebogang Thomas 022 703 3424 022 703 3422 – 076 609 9110

Secretary Songezo Joseph Xesi 053 838 3013 053 838 3251 Yardmasterkimberley@transnet.net 082 785 0782North West (Klerksdorp) Chairman AT Greeff 018 406 2047 018 462 1171 – 082 854 9606

Secretary HA Schoeman 018 406 2047 – – 082 790 6477Postmasburg Chairman JA Mostert 053 313 7241 053 313 7214 Johannes.Mostert@transnet.net 083 388 1569

Secretary DCR Swart 053 313 7262 053 313 7206 – 083 383 8379Sishen Chairman K Gaetsewe 053 313 7210 053 3137206 – 082 040 9903

Secretary D Seetelo 022 703 3425 022 703 2350 – 076 312 3850Sishen Chairman PFJ Mostert 053 723 9201 – Sonmos@absamail.co.za 073 149 2224

Secretary AT de Jager 053 723 9218 – - 073 619 5021Upington Chairman VACANT

Secretary M. Phillips 054 338 3437 054 338 3340 Margorie.phillips068@gmail.co.za 082 821 7535Warrenton Chairman FP van der Merwe 053 494 3236 053 494 3223 fvdmerwe@vodamail.co.za 083 791 2563

Secretary JF van der Merwe 053 494 3236 053 494 3223 – 083 378 8206Warrenton Chairman M Kwenampe 053 4943236 053 4943223 molehabangwe.kwenampe@transnet.net 083 9478470

Secretary K Lithebe 053 838 2225 053 838 2248 – 073 268 6393Area 7 – Gauteng North (Pretoria)POSITION NAME TEL CELL/HOME FAX E-MAILChairman Pote Fourie 012 842 5090 083 283 7482 012 800 3678 Hendrik.fourie2@transnet.netVice-Chairman Owen Jones 012 842 5006 072 216 1490 012 842 5841 –Secretary VACANTLimpopo Regional Office BearersChairman S Matlala – 072 532 6699 – –Deputy Chairman TP Morotola 015 299 6371 073 953 9329 – –Secretary MS Mosebedi 015 299 6487 084 845 8919 011 774 9462 sonnyboy.mosebedi@transnet.netTreasurer MJ Mabitsela 014 718 8214 081 032 2930 014 718 8219 judith.mabitsela@transnet.netGender Coordinator D Ledwaba 014 718 8222 072 461 1240 – –Mpumalanga Regional Office Bearers Chairman S Leshabana 013 655 7823 083 559 9419 013 655 7849 steven.leshabana@transnet.netDeputy Chairman Musa Msibi 013 752 9307 072 672 5933 – –Secretary Khoza Vukosi 013 752 9236 072 376 8574 013 752 9416 vukosi.khoza@transnet.net Treasurer P.C Semata – 076 275 1464 – pc.semata@yahoo.comGender Coordinator Shabangu MS – 072 025 5148 – mxolisi.shabangu@webmail.co.zaRegional Office Bearers Chairman M.W Mogamisi 012 521 9452 082 569 8315 012 521 9497 mogamisim@webmail.co.zaDeputy Chairman L Morebudi 012 842 5490 072 717 9359 012 842 5553 leatile.morebudi@transnet.netSecretary J S Seathlolo 012 315 8237 078 442 4581 012 315 8279 s.seatlholo@yahoo.comTreasurer F Mmege – 073 142 3687 – fhulummege@webmail.co.zaGender Coordinator KNP Cwaba – 073 969 8285 – kaydeecwaba@rocketmail.com

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLKoedoespoort Chairman L Morebudi 012 842 5490 012 842 5553 leatile.morebudi@transnet.net 072 717 9359

Secretary C Moremi 012 842 5441 – constance.moremi@transnet.net 083 241 2713Komatipoort Chairman VACANT

Secretary JM Swartz 013 793 9979 013 793 8364 – 076 632 8955Limpopo Chairman Stephen Matlala – – – 072 532 6699

Secretary Sonnyboy Mosebedi 015 299 6487 011 774 9462 Sonnyboy.Mosebedi@transnet.net 084 845 8919Limpopo Central Chairman MM Moshomane 015 299 6360 015 299 6363 mmaserole.moshomane@transnet.net 083 269 7326

Secretary MM Mamabolo 015 299 6274 – – 073 113 4262

Limpopo East Secretary D Mushuana 015 308 8544 015 308 8271 – 072 762 8338Limpopo North Chairman NS Matlala – 015 519 4248 – 072 532 6699

Secretary SD Makhubele 015 299 6329 – – 073 276 1341Limpopo South Chairman NJ Kekana – – – 072 199 9446

Secretary SR Molekane – – – 083 2580859Lydenburg Chairman LGJ Potgieter 013 235 8201 086 630 5175 Leon.Potgieter2@transnet.net 076 661 6280

Secretary VACANTPRASA Pretoria Chairman Eddie Flavell 012 521 6232 012 521 6206 Utatu@prasa.com 083 554 8015

Secretary Colin Davidson 084 405 0584 – utatuscheiding@prasa.com 083 554 7887Mpumalanga Chairman Steven Leshabane 013 655 7823 013 655 7849 Steven.Leshabana@transnet.net 083 559 9419

Secretary Vukosi Khosa 013 752 9236 013 752 9416 vukosi.khoza@transnet.net 072 376 8574Musina Chairman Wikus du Toit 015 534 7214 015 534 7245 Jan.DuToit@transnet.net 083 380 9809

Secretary HP Janse van Vuuren 015 534 7209 – – 078 796 4660Nelspruit Chairman Andries Lubbe 013 752 9259 - andries.lubbe@transnet.net 083 379 2035

Secretary Kallie Steenkamp 013 752 9481 013 752 9283 Kalie.Steenkamp@transnet.net 083 461 2969

UTATU SARWHU INFO GUIDE12 Labour Report Autumn 2014

HiddennamecompetitionIn every issue of LabourReport, UTATU SARWHUpublishes the latest SAP/-employee numbers of tenmembers from the member-ship lists – drawn at random.

Each latest SAP/employeenumber appears somewherein the newspaper. If yours isone of the lucky latest SAP/-employee numbers publishedand you can find it, claimyour prize by writing to:

UTATU SARWHU HiddenName CompetitionPO Box 31100,Braamfontein, 2017

Give your name, latest SAP/-employee number and addressand you will be sent R100.

Voetplaatpark – Tel 039 681 3325

Transmed Call Centre: 0800 450 010

Housing: FNB Home Loans –0860 33 44 55

FNB Smart Bond – 0860 644 644

Transnet Pension/RetirementFund (Metropolitan Life) 011 774 5444

CCaallll CCeennttrreess ffoorr:: Transnet Second Defined Benefit

Fund - 011 587 8000 (selectoption 1)

Transnet Retirement Fund – 011587 8000 (select option 2)

Transnet Pension Fund – 011587 8000 (select option 3)

Aon Consulting – Tel: Jhb 011944 7000 website:www.aon.co.za

Phone numbersto know

Area 7 – Gauteng North (Pretoria) Continued

POSITION NAME TEL FAX E-MAIL CELLPhalaborwa Chairman VACANT

Secretary CAA Jansen 015 781 9042 – – 072 822 7628Pietersburg Chairman Hennie van der Hyde 015 308 8237 015 308 8201 hendrik.vanderhyde@transnet.net 083 599 9901

Secretary AW Badenhorst 015 299 6232 015 299 6246 Albert.Badenhorst@transnet.net 082 384 1050Pretoria Chairman VACANT

Secretary Niekie Luus 012 842 6050 012 842 6016 Niekie.Luus@@transnet.net 083 282 0776Pyramid Chairman Ore van den Bergh 012 521 6255 – – 076 792 0492

Secretary JC Rossouw 012 521 9452 012 521 6297 2771210710@vodamail.co.za 082 779 0475Pyramid Chairman J.J Mabasa 012 521 9583 086 729 3039 jblnmabasa@yahoo.com 082 056 8393

Secretary T.J.D Tajane – – gaba.tajane@ovi.com 073 405 2108Rustenburg Chairman S. T Mamabolo 014 590 2214 014 590 2216 utatusarwhurustenburg@transnet.net 082 450 5108

Secretary BA Chabalala 014 590 2215 014 590 2064 – 082 920 8288Thabazimbi Chairman Riaan Bisschoff – – riaanbiss@gmail.com 082873 8307

Secretary VACANTThabazimbi Chairman C.M Mogatwe – – – 072 427 7862

Secretary T.T Ntuku – – thabo.ntuku@yahoo.com 072 635 0986TRE Pretoria Chairman Pote Fourie 012 842 5090 012 842 5841 Hendrik.fourie2@transnet.net 083 283 7482

Secretary Owen Jones 012 842 5006 012 842 5841 Owen.Jones@transnet.net 072 216 1490TRE Koedoespoort Chairman Adam Slabbert 012 842 5273 012 842 5589 Adam.Slabbert @transnet.net 083 651 0017

Secretary Wielligh Meyer – – Arend.Meyer@transnet.net 071 233 9060Tshwane Chairman William Mogamisi 012 521 9452 012 521 9497 mogamisim@webmail.co.za 082 569 8315

Treasurer Suping Seathlolo 012 315 8237 012 315 8279 s.seatlholo@yahoo.com 078 442 4581Waterval-Boven Chairman VACANT

Secretary Paul Stemmet 013 257 0507 – paul.stemmet@transnet.net 082 622 9641Witbank Chairman VACANT

Secretary VACANT

24538

Labour Report Autumn 2014 13

14 Labour Report Autumn 2014

MEMBERS

T he ATKV and the Karoo ParkBowling Club Beaufort Westpresented the Transnet pen-

sioners with a special meal inDecember last year. On the menuwas potjiekos and the food anddrinks were on the house.

The potjiekos was prepared byWD de Bruyn and KJ Snyers, track

union representatives of UTATUSARWHU from Beaufort West.

The total of 58 pensioners had asuperb time chatting about the oldsteam days and their adventures onthe track.

The plan is to have the same eventagain this year. �

Time spent laughing is time spentwith the gods.

May you always live in interestingtime.

A good time to keep your mouthshut is when you’re in deep water.

Time is more valuable thanmoney.You can get more money, butyou cannot get more time

Time eases all things.Regret for waste time is more

waste time.All that really belongs to us is

time; even he who has nothing elsehas that.

Ordinary people think merely ofspending time. Great people think ofusing it.

You’re writing the story of yourlife one moment at a time.

Whether it’s the best of times orthe worst of times, it’s the only timewe’ve got.

Tough times never last, but toughpeople do.

Time discovers truth.The time you think you are miss-

ing, misses you too.Time is free, but it is priceless, you

cannot own it, but you can use it.It takes less time to do things right

the first time than to explain whyyou did it wrong.

Don’t count every hour in the day,make every hour count. �

V oetplaat Park, UTATUSARWHU’s outstanding holi-day resort near Port

Shepstone on the Natal South Coast,was established decades ago to offerunion members and their familiesaffordable holidays. Now – in 2014,when coastal holidays have becomeall-but unaffordable to working peo-ple – it is continuing to do just that.

You have to book very early andpay more if you want accommoda-tion during peak seasons. But fillingthe venue during the interveningperiods is not so easy.Therefore, tobridge its occupation gap, and passon greater benefits to members, theresort is offering mouth-watering40% discounts to those memberswho can take a holiday off season.

Here’s an example: two-person

units that cost non-members R370per day out of season used to be soldto union members for only R259 (a30% discount).That price has nowbeen slashed to only R222. Themember price for a four-bed unitdrops from R413 to R354. For afamily with small kids the R59 perday saving could cover daily spendingcosts - or come close.

The savings on larger units risescommensurately up to a R105 per daysaving on an eight-bed unit, i.e. R630as opposed to the previous R735.

The discounted price for super-luxury caravan sites is equally attrac-tive: just R180 per day as opposed tothe previous R210. Luxury sites areavailable for R144 per day (R168).

For those not fully familiar withVoetplaat Park’s position and ameni-

ties, here is a reminder.The resort iscentrally situated and is within easyreach of our South Coast venues ofrecreation. Its living units can accom-modate up to eight persons, as can itswell-served caravan sites. Childrenunder two years of age are accom-modated free of charge.The resortboasts excellent security in the formof concrete walls and electric gates atall entrances. It overlooks a longstretch of beach and its on-siterestaurants, shop, swimming pool andkiddies’ play areas make it the perfectplace for those who prefer a self-contained holiday.

For further information and book-ings phone or write to: ManagerVoetplaatpark:Tel/fax – 039 6813325 PO Box 39,Anerley 4230.Email: voetplaat@telkomsa.net �

MEMBERS

Treat for pensioners

Voetplaat Park offers mouth-watering off-season discounts

There’s a time foreverything

The stork was busy!Manne de Vos, UTATUSARWHU’s financial controller,and lovely wife Nadine arethe proud parents of Roxy.(below)

Thivhakoni Netshitakani works in UTATUSARWHU’s membership office. She is the proudmom of Cyril jnr. Big brother (left) Ntakadzeni anddaddy (right) Cyril complete the happy family.

Meet Blaine, the babydaughter of Brian Davids(member of UTATU SARWHU’sExecutive Committee) andClaudy Emersleden. (left)

34659

41315

Labour Report Autumn 2014 15

PRESIDENTGH Strauss

Tel: (011) 728 0120Fax: (011) 728 8257/58

Cell: 083 303 7346george@utatusarwhu.com

UTATU SARWHU EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

VICE-PRESIDENTJ de Jager

Tel: (w) (031) 361 4033Tel/Fax: (031) 903 2127

Cell: 082 920 5306tiekie@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Central Zone MN MosolloaneCell: 073 461 8189Cell: 082 383 5300

martha@utatusarwhu.com

General Secretary andEditor

S HarrisCell: 082 566 5516

steve@utatusarwhu.com

Engineering Central Zone – TRE

JW ShortTel: (031) 361 6164Cell: 071 481 6975

John@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryL Brockett

Cell: 082 920 5301louis@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryJ Pereira

Cell: 079 501 6883johnp@utatusarwhu.com

MaritimeEastern ZoneWL Evans

Cell: 082 566 5518wyndham@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryE Dano

Cell: 071 589 5382eric@utatusarwhu.com

National OrganiserP Chonco

Cell: 082 920 5305maria@utatusarwhu.com

National OrganiserIshmael Louw

Tel: (053) 832 1500Cell: 083 929 7828

ishmael@utatusarwhu.com

Maritime Western ZoneTA Wasserfall

Tel: (w) (021) 449 2148Fax: 086 631 0348Cell: 071 362 6219

trevor@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryE de Klerk

Cell: 082 567 6638eddie@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryM Moseki

Cell: 084 919 0244Cell: 079 903 3684

moseki@utatusarwhu.com

Prasa Western ZoneBJ Davids

Tel: (w) (021) 449 5879Fax: (021) 449 2236Cell: 082 043 0515

brian@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryP Greyling

Cell: 076 084 7131pieter@utatusarwhu.com

Prasa Eastern ZoneRC Blom

Tel: (w) (031) 361 7741Fax: 086 543 7660Cell: 082 893 1224

rodney@utatusarwhu.com

Deputy General SecretaryN Haasbroek

Cell: 082 904 2215neels@utatusarwhu.com

Prasa Central ZonePA Swart

Tel: (w) (011) 773 4790Fax: 086 563 0655Cell: 071 462 2307

peet@utatusarwhu.compaswart@prasa.com

Deputy General SecretaryC Doncabe

Cell: 082 922 3960cosmas@utatusarwhu.com

1ST DEPUTY PRESIDENTTD Khumalo

Cell: 072 558 1460Cell: 082 685 2799

dan@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Western Zone FJ Crause

Tel: (w) (041) 507 2705Fax: (041) 507 2968Cell: 082 920 5303

frans@utatusarwhu.com

2ND DEPUTY PRESIDENTE Diteho

Tel: (053) 838 2083Cell: 073 734 6569/Cell: 072 868 5160

enock@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Western Zone HWJ Smith

Tel: (w) (023) 348 4262, Fax: (023) 348 4260Cell: 071 363 3938Cell: 078 478 3501

henk@utatusarwhu.com

Support ServicesDG Dreyer

Tel/Fax: (w) (011) 978 2737(h) (056) 213 1479Cell: 082 920 9450

douw@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Central Zone L Mdyogolo

Tel: (w) (011) 584 0574Fax: (011) 774 9909Cell: 071 363 6988

luvuyo@utatusarwhu.com

Engineering Western Zone – TREB Jonker

Tel:/Fax (w) (041) 994 2390Cell: 083 303 7347

ben@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Central Zone FJ de Koker

Tel: (w) (011) 330 6061Fax: (011) 330 6920Cell: 082 046 6815

scott@utatusarwhu.com

Engineering Eastern Zone – TREEZ Cele

Tel: (w) (035) 906 7372Fax (035) 906 7015Cell: 082 567 6637

zonke@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Central Zone L Biljoen

Tel: (w) (031) 361 4318Fax: (086) 726 0711Cell: 082 852 9478

linda@utatusarwhu.com

Rail Freight (TFR) Eastern Zone JD Breytenbach

Tel: (w) (017) 801 2034Fax: (017) 801 2180Cell: 082 920 5302

jannie@utatusarwhu.com

PRESIDENTGMP Pholo

Tel: (053) 832 1500Fax: (053) 832 1501Cell: 082 738 2161

pholo@utatusarwhu.com

SECRETARIAT