The South African Industrial Relations Environment presentation by Nkosinathi Nhleko, Director-Genera, Department of Labour at the 2013 Mining Lekgotla. 28 August 2013

1. The South African Industrial
Relations Environment
Chairperson:
Nkosinathi Nhleko
Director-General
Department of Labour
South Africa

2. The Context
• Former President, Nelson Mandela, in his
statement from the dock, in the famous
Treason Trial that closed in June of 1964; stated
that;-

3. “Africans want to be paid a living wage. Africans want to
perform work which they are capable of doing, and not
work which the government declares them to be capable
of. Africans want to be allowed to live where they obtain
work, and not be endorsed out of an area because they
were not born there.
Africans want to be allowed to own land in places where
they work, and not be obliged to live in rented houses
which they can never call their own.

4. Africans want to be part of the general
population, and not confined to living in their
own ghettos. African men want to have their
wives and children to live with them where they
work, and not be forced into an unnatural
existence in men’s hostels. African women want
to be with their menfolk and not left
permanently widowed in the reserves…..”

5. Economic Transformation
Reflecting on the economic transformation
issue, he went on to say;
“Africans want a just share in the whole of South
Africa; they want security and a stake in
society”.

6. Social Transformation
A fellow accused, Baba Andrew Mlangeni, in his
evidence, in the same trial; made the point that;
“…the previous governments have exploited not
the earth but the people of various racial groups
whose colour is not white”.

7. Socio-Economic Transformation of the
Labour Relations Environment
In the light of this conference taking place this
week; it becomes prudent to confront and ask
ourselves a frank question:
How far are we from attaining objectives as
enunciated in these statements? Are we confident
that we have significantly moved in addressing
ourselves to these challenges?

8. Today’s Theme
• I believe that these two statements are at the
heart of the deliberations by this conference.
• The panel assembled here today, will assist in
unpacking most of these issues which in
essence have tended to redefine industrial
relations landscape in South Africa.

9. Theme Cont…
• In recent times, matters of leadership,
management of industrial relations, attacks on
collective bargaining culture and social
dialogue, have taken a sharp focus.
• The Panelists are going to take us through
their views as they attempt to ignite
Discussions on the Transformation of the
Labour Relations Environment in South Africa.

10. Our Panelists for Today
• Mr Andrew Levy – Andrew Levy Employment
• Mr Cliff Tantsi – National Union of Mine
Workers
• Dr Elize Strydom – Chamber of Mines South
Africa
• Mr Gideon du Plessis – Solidarity Union

11. Questions and Comments

12. Concluding Remarks
• South African labour relations environment
is under pressure and industrial action is
increasingly marred by violence.
• This is not caused by changes in the legal
environment, but primarily because of
significant changes in the way in which unions
and striking workers are conducting
themselves during industrial action.

13. Concluding Remarks…
• The country has also witnessed inter-union
disputes and unprotected strike actions which are
at the heart of inter-union rivalry, particularly in
the mining sector.
• The South African Leadership/Management and
Labour relationship is still caught up in a
seemingly endless mode of adversarialism.
• The culture of negotiation over the last couple of
years has returned to similar levels of
adversarialism experienced during the pre-
democracy period of the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

14. Concluding Remarks
• The Parties are taking positional approaches
to the negotiations, which allow little scope to
deal with the real issues facing them.
• The Government has taken the challenges
posed by industrial relations seriously and
have received eminence at the highest level.
– The Peace Accord
– The Framework Agreement
– Labour Relations Indaba

15. Concluding Remarks
• We would like generate greater interests and
concerns of social partners in respect of
labour relations conflict, and identify
measures to strengthen labour relations and
social dialogue to achieve labour market
stability and peace.

16. Thank You