2021 Newsletter November Archives

STRIKES CAN BE RENDERED UNNECESSARY

STRIKES CAN BE RENDERED UNNECESSARY
Strikes in South Africa are as ‘natural’ as warm weather, says Ivan Israelstam, Labour Law Management Consulting CEO. On the other hand, strikes have become rarer in recent years, as unions shy away from weakening the employer and the associated dismissals.

For decades we have been trapped in a fatal vicious circle. In other words, workers do not earn enough to feed their families, and they go on strike to demand a wage increase and better working conditions. If the strike lasts long enough, the company gives in and a wage increase well above what was budgeted. This reduces profits and, in rare cases, leads to financial losses. The company then compensates by making job cuts to reduce wage expenses. As a result of the job losses, the purchasing power of the public falls, and companies suffer losses. Companies then cut costs by reducing wage increases or spending on working conditions. Workers retaliate with strikes, and the vicious circle continues.

This increasingly deadly cycle is deadlier than Covid, more toxic than state capture and more devastating than power cuts. We have now been living under the new political order for 27 years, and there is no sign of anyone in positions of power making any real effort to stop the vicious cycle, the toxic industrial relations and the cancerous damage to our economy.

For their own sake and the development of the South African people, the so-called government leaders in business and the unions must take the blinkers of their eyes and stop this deadly spiral. If these so-called leaders refuse to take up their responsibilities, civil society must intervene.

The new labour-economic system must eliminate the opposing ideologies of socialism and capitalism. The doctrines of socialism that seek the nationalisation of enterprises and strangle the economy must be abandoned in favour of the unmistakably positive socialist principle of fairness for all. Similarly, the exploitative principles of capitalism must be replaced with truly inclusive free-market ideals.

This approach mixes the benefits of the free market (the ability to make money) with the benefits of socialism (i.e. fairness for all). By combining the positive aspects of socialism and capitalism, the struggle between the two ideologies is settled, and a new, everyday philosophy, shareism, emerges. Entrepreneurs and workers will no longer compete for money because they will work together to create and share it. For more debates on labour rights issues, see www.labourlawadvice.co.za.

There is no Just in Just Transition.

There is no Just in Just Transition.
On Tuesday, 30 November 2021, TIPS held a public debate on the key priorities and challenges for a Just Transition in the Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete areas. A statement was made and supported by many that there is no “Just” in the government’s Just Transition programme (JET) for citizens affected.

The JET Programme has been discussed for many years, first at the national level, then at the district level and more recently at the local level. Many consultants have been active in the area, collecting data, and some have even implemented programmes. Although it is still early, it seems that communities, from municipal officials to labour union representatives, are unhappy about what JET might mean for their future.

What projects have been approved, who is funding these projects, and the key outcomes that each project aims to achieve. The community has participated in many projects, skills training, entrepreneurship training and so on, but if there is no prospect of earning, the skills become obsolete. We do not want to be seen as charity recipients who have to be given a dummy to keep us quiet.

MCCI urges all stakeholders to create sustainable projects that provide secure jobs for participants. What market do they want to create with the new technology, or is the project only viable with continued financial support? There should be an open database of available information to prevent collusion, and the plans need to be available on the ground. How many of the recently launched projects have been successful?

The consultants and academics and the companies outside the Highveld region of Mpumalanga see us as needing help, even though they make their millions from local business opportunities. MCCI believes that the skills and talent are there, and we have a vested interest in making JET sustainable and successful. May the ghosts in the ghost town that “they” predict remain in their imagination. MCCI is continually committed to sustainable programmes to support and grow our economy. If you are interested in more information, please contact Mmabatho at info@middelburginfo.com

The Highveld Mine Map – Insight and Analysis

The Highveld Mine Map – Insight and Analysis

The Middelburg/Emalahleni area is well known for being an industrious mining complex. Not only is the bulk of the country’s coal resource deposited in the western Mpumalanga, but the area is also known for hosting many of Eskom’s Power Stations. This network has resulted in an abundance of local business opportunities positioned to support the mines and power stations with the services and products they require.

The question naturally arises: how can one gain access to this network? Forward-thinking organisations of the region have always been committed to facilitating and fostering productive, synergistic and profitable business relationships amongst themselves. This spirit of cooperative goodwill has resulted in a rich repository of information geared to stimulate business development and grow the local business landscape through any means possible.

The Mine Map, a product of such collaborations, is aimed at developing networks in the local mining industry. The Decisionsmiths recently contributed critical insights to the map through a revolutionary business intelligence (BI) transformation. No longer will the critical contact information only be available as a printed copy, but we now offer an online version, fully searchable and interactive.

Mining operations can be filtered by commodity, mode of operation, ownership structure or geographic location.

Additional insights become available through superimposing the mine locations onto reference layers, showing mine locations on geological maps, satellite imaging or analysing the state of the roads servicing the operation.

Data analytics has never been more important to your business. The Decisionsmiths specialises in coupling your in-house dataset with the wealth of data available in the world today and adding value to your strategic business decision-making in a cost-effective way.

Thank you to the sponsors of the Highveld Mine Map (alphabetical order):

ACDC Express Middelburg
Blackwattle Colliery
Dobe Brand Engineers
Doulos Mining
Eco-D Mobile Carwash and cleaning services
Highveld Industrial Park
Hilti
Isambane Mining
Liebherr-Africa
MEMSA – mining equipment manufacturers of South Africa
Mlaki Business Enterprise Transport
Nathi Sonke Holdings
Phillips Global
Powerstar
SATS Safety and Training solutions
Stallion Towing Services
Steinmuller Africa
Syndicate Signs
The Decisionsmits
Umsizi Mining
Vista Wa Seroka

2022 Printed mine maps for sale at the Middelburg Info Centre 013 243 2253.

If you want access on the digital platform or marketing exposure, please contact Valerie 082 417 8088