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EXPRESS EASTERN FREE STATE, WEDNESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS
Employers should comply with labour laws THE Department of Labour warns employers to comply with labour laws or face the possibility of prosecution. The department’s Free State chief director, Marsha Bronkhorst, says the department does not derive any pleasure in taking employers to court because of the time and resources which could be used efficiently elsewhere. This comes after six employers
were taken to different courts in the province for failing to comply to several legislations. These legislations include the Unemployment Insurance Act (UIA), Compensation for Occupational Diseases Act (COIDA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and Sectoral determinations protecting vulnerable workers. “If employers continuously ignore our plea to work
together, we have no any other option but to use our legislative powers to force them to comply. “It is the duty of Labour inspectors to guide employers on how to comply to the law, however it is the employer’s responsibility to comply. If the employer disregards inspector’s orders, we will unfortunately use the stick approach,” said Bronkhorst.
Four employers in the Eastern Free State were taken to the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on charges ranging from failing to comply to Labour inspectors’ instructions after they had been served with compliance orders. Their non-compliance range from non-payment of prescribed minimum wages, salaries and overtime to employees. Meanwhile, in Ficksburg, two
wholesale and retail employers also appeared before the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court for not complying with the Wholesale and Retail Sectoral Determination, UIA and COID Act. In terms of the BCEA section 92 (e), if convicted of such an offence, the employer may be sentenced to a fine or an imprisonment of not longer than one year.
Girl (10) raped by intruder TWO elderly women and a minor were attacked in their homes during a robbery on two separate incidents which took place in Bluegumbosch and Mabolela Village in QwaQwa. According to a police report, one of the pensioners was allegedly stabbed with a knife while her granddaughter was kidnapped and raped. The other elderly woman was also allegedly raped at her house. The police requests the community to work with the them in giving information that may lead to the locating, arrest and conviction of the two unknown suspects. Sgt Mmako Mophiring, police spokesperson, says it is alleged that on Friday at approximately 02:00 at Bluegumbosch near Mbeki Park section, a pensioner (70) was sleeping with her granddaughter in their house when they were attacked. “They were both awakened by someone who had gained entrance through a window. The suspect allegedly confronted the pensioner looking for money. The woman was then allegedly stabbed by the suspect. She sustained a head wound. Her granddaughter heard her
screams for help but the attacker turned to her. It is further alleged he forcefully took the 10-year-old to an open veld where he raped her. He left her stranded while she went to nearby houses for assistance. Two cases of housebreaking, assault with intend to cause bodily harm, kidnapping and rape are being investigated,” he says. Mophiring says on the same day at approximately 03:00 a 65-year-old pensioner from Mabolela Village was also attacked in her house by an unknown man who allegedly raped her outside her home. “It is alleged that the pensioner was sleeping. She woke up and saw the man standing in her house. He demanded money. They got into a fight but she ended giving him money. The suspect took the pensioner out of the house where he allegedly raped her. A case of house robbery and rape is being investigated,” he says. Any person with information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspects can contact Crime Stop 08600 10111 or send information via the SMS Crime Line 32211.
Murder suspects on the loose } Tladi Moloi THE Tsheseng police are looking for three suspects including a woman who allegedly shot two people in the tuck shop at the Turffontein section in the Makeneng Village of Qwaqwa. A mother, Lebohang Mpela (48), and her son, Lentswe Mpela (28), died in the Mofumahadi Manapo Regional Hospital two days after they had been shot. The police spokesperson, Sgt. Mmako Mophiring, says the incident took place last Monday at approximately 18:00. Lebohang and Lentswe were at their family’s tuck shop when they
were allegedly attacked by two men and a woman. Lebohang was shot in the stomach and her son in his leg and stomach. “The suspects left the scene on foot,” he says. Mophiring says the motive behind the murder is unknown as nothing was stolen. The police are still looking for the suspects and the investigation continues. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspects can contact Det. Lt Zimkaze Radebe on 082-419-7084, Crime Stop 08600 10111 or send information via the SMS Crime Line 32211.