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South Africa: Sibanye-Stillwater bows to workers’ pressure, increases wage offer for mineworkers

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Following industrial action that has lasted a month and a half by gold miners in South Africa, a mining company, Sibanye-Stillwater on Friday gave South African gold mine workers higher wage offers.

A BBC report says some 80,000 gold miners in South Africa went on a strike to call for higher pay, but their union has significantly scaled down its demands. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is calling for a 10% wage rise, down from earlier demands for increases of up to 60% for some workers. Workers last week rejected an offer of a 6% rise – the same as the current annual rate of inflation.

The latest arrangement by Sibanye-Stillwater offers entry-level employees an annual increase of 850 Rand in a month each year between 2022 and 2024, including a 50 rand increase in living out allowance.

Sibanye previously offered entry-level workers an annual increase of 800 Rand a month, including a 100 rand a month increase in living out allowance. The company’s offer to miners, artisans and officials remains a 5% pay increase each year.

Executive vice president of Sibanye’s South Africa gold operations, Richard Cox “urged employees to carefully consider the offer we have made and to ensure that their voices are heard,”

Trade unions are recognized within the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, which provides for the right to join trade unions, and for unions to collectively bargain and strike. This has translated into the Labour Relations Act which established the working framework for both unions and employers.

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President Hichilema warns Zambian procurement officials against corruption in handling govt contracts

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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has warned procurement officers handling government contracts against engaging in corrupt practices while carrying out their duties.

Hichilema, who gave the stern warning in Lusaka on Saturday during the commemoration of the 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day, declared that he had given security operatives the go ahead to bring any corrupt official to book and ensure that adequate punitive action was taken against them.

Hichilema, who was represented at the event by the Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, Jack Mwiimbu, added that his government’s fight against corruption had been “methodical and professional, making corruption an unattractive endeavour for those who may wish to engage in it.”

“We are resolute in eradicating corruption from the civil service, public procurement system, government contract awards, and all sectors of our economy to ensure Zambia’s prosperity,” he said.

The president also urged citizens not to be afraid to report suspected misconduct in the management and distribution of resources to law enforcement agencies.

He further noted that his administration had taken a proactive stance on reviewing the National Anti-Corruption Policy that would offer national guidance on strategies and programmes to combat corruption effectively.

“We are working diligently to involve various sectors of society, ensuring that the fight against corruption is inclusive, with all citizens informed of their role and empowered to contribute to the struggle,” Hichilema said.

He added that the government had granted the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) the authority to expand its operational presence in Zambia, and that the commission had spread its operations to 12 additional districts in Zambia.

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Nigeria’s VP Shettima admits hardship, poverty, pleads for patience

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Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria has become the first official in the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to admit that majority of Nigerians are angry with government officials as a result of the rising cost of living and its attendant hardship and poverty.

Shettima, who made the admission in Abuja on Saturday at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 16, however, pleaded with Nigerians to be patient and support Tinubu so that he could work to solve the problems.

In his keynote address at the occasion, Shettima said the Tinubu-led administration was aware that Nigerians were going through harrowing times, and was doing everything possible to ameliorate the pains as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant inflation.

“All of us here belong to a tiny segment of the Nigerian population. And you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that the poor are angry with us,” the VP said.

“The poor are the most neglected segment of our society. You can hardly differentiate between them and their animals. Even the animals they rear belong to those in the city. So, there have to be kinetic and non-kinetic solutions to all the problems.

“We have to improve the quality of governance. And what we have is a tiny window of not more than 10 to 20 years. Let’s improve the quality of governance.

“I want to ask you to give the President the benefit of the doubt. Let us be patient. Let us support him.

“Let us rally round him and be reassured that he is determined to redefine the meaning and concept of modern leadership, and is ever ready to reposition the Nigerian nation. But without the support of you and I, he can’t do much”, he just added.

Shettima also suggested that creating jobs and giving hope to the populace would go a long way in curbing insecurity in the country.

“Let’s create jobs; let’s give hope to the populace. And once we create jobs, all this madness of insecurity will disappear.

“There won’t be Boko Haram and banditry if this is done, especially for us from the North. We can blame the bandits, but we in leadership positions owe it to posterity to address this”, he said.

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