Today's Labour News
This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 11 November 2019
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 11 November 2019.
Revised ministerial handbook to cut politicians’ perks as austerity bites
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The Star reports that Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has revealed that the revised ministerial handbook will slash some of the perks and benefits enjoyed by members of the Cabinet, premiers and MECs.
Senior cop charged for using state petrol card for personal trip
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The Star reports that charges of fraud, for alleged abuses of State resources for personal gain, against a senior police officer, have highlighted Police Minister Bheki Cele’s recent criticism of supposed corruption within the SA Police Service (SAPS).
ArcelorMittal SA to close its Saldanha operation
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Reuters reports that ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) said on Monday it would be closing its steel operations at its Saldanha Works because it could no longer compete in export markets.
Bheki Cele urged by Nehawu to act harshly against cop killers
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Independent News reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has urged South Africans to help law enforcement agencies arrest and prosecute criminals who were responsible for the heinous killings of police officers.
South Coast clinic staff raise concerns after rape of nurse at clinic
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Sunday Tribune reports that staff at Nkonjeni Hospital in Mahlabathini, Kwazulu-Natal, gathered at the front gate on Friday to voice their concerns over safety and security, maintenance, and management’s silence after the rape of a nurse there last week.
eThekwini unveils project team to deal with over 300 outstanding corruption disciplinary cases
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Sunday Tribune reports that to clear a backlog of more than 300 outstanding disciplinary cases involving fraud and corruption, the eThekwini Municipality has set up a project plan in the hopes of speeding up the processes.
Doctor, nurses flee as stabbed patient is ‘finished off’ by assailant in Ngcobo hospital
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TimesLIVE reports that hospital staff and patients came under attack in two separate incidents in the Eastern Cape at the weekend.
Cogta proposes docking pay of politicians and public servants for their municipal debts
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BL Premium reports that in a bid to tackle the culture of nonpayment to municipalities, a government department has proposed extending to all political office bearers and public servants a law that provides for docking of pay of councillors and staff indebted for rates and services.
Ruling that precautionary suspension on full pay requires no prior consultation or hearing
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In a letter to the editor, Michael Bagraim, well-known labour lawyer and MP, notes that before disciplinary inquiries employers often ask whether they can suspend an employee on full pay pending the outcome.
Hawks probe mars Popcru’s elective congress last week
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City Press reports that financial misappropriation and other allegations emerged in the run-up to last week’s national elective congress of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru).
Major overhaul of rail operations in the offing
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Business Times reports that government is proposing a major overhaul of rail operations as it pushes to migrate passengers and freight from road to rail over the next 30 years.
Treasury says agreement with public-sector trade unions on reduction of wage bill not an immediate urgency
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BusinessLive reports that a senior Treasury official said on Friday that there was no urgency for the government to conclude an agreement with public sector trade unions on a reduction in the wage bill before the February budget.
New pilot scheme aims to inject life into TVET colleges
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BL Premium writes that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to provide R6.2m from its middle-income countries’ grant to fund an enterprise development pilot project in four technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in Ekurhuleni, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Roundup on Monday, 11 November 2019 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 8 November 2019.
SA investment summit hailed a success
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City Press reports that the SA Investment Conference (Saic), which took place over three days last week, has been described by several business delegates as a “resounding success”.
Manner in which Mkhwebane handled CR17, 'rogue unit' complaints 'extremely unusual', claims axed Public Protector COO
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News24 reports that axed Public Protector SA COO, Basani Baloyi, claims that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, as well as CEO Vussy Mahlangu, acted unconstitutionally during investigations of certain complaints.
Suspended Prasa security manager must be reinstated
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GroundUp reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has been ordered to reinstate Western Cape regional security manager Ernest Hendricks by no later than 20 November.
Protector probes labour minister Thulas Nxesi over jobs-for-pals and other allegations relating to his tenure at public works
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Sunday Independent reports that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has launched an investigation into Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi over allegations of maladministration, abuse of power, irregular appointments, nepotism and irregular procurement procedures during his tenure at the public works department.
Nomgcobo Jiba abandons bid to get her NPA job back
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News24 reports that Nomgcobo Jiba has given up on her attempts to get her job as Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions back.
Grade 4 pupil suspended for allegedly injuring teacher by throwing pencil case at her
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News24 reports that a Heidelberg teacher was rushed to a local hospital after a Grade 4 pupil allegedly threw his pencil case at her. The teacher was struck in the face but was discharged from hospital on the same day after receiving medical attention.
Ruling awaited over whether Labour Court or Equality Court should hear farmworkers’ single sex hostel case
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GroundUp reports that Judge Owen Rogers will rule this week on whether a case between Oak Valley and its workers will be heard in the Labour Court or the Equality Court.
Investigation into Bishops 'sex scandal' involving former female teacher almost wrapped up
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News24 reports that the report into the investigation into allegations that a female Bishops Diocesan College teacher had a relationship with a number of male pupils should be available within the next few days.
No threat to Gauteng, Western Cape trains from alleged non-payment of Eskom bills, Prasa insists
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Fin24 reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has denied reports that Eskom came close to cutting power to some of its rail routes due to unpaid bills.
Former Eskom finance executive granted R20,000 bail in multimillion-rand fraud case
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Fin24 reports that a former finance executive at Eskom, Bernard Moraka, and his alleged accomplice Victor Tshabalala appeared last week before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Johannesburg, for allegedly defrauding the power utility of R34-million.
Private hospital care for public servants is hypocritical, says Solidarity
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BusinessLive reports that trade union Solidarity has criticised the recent decision by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) to guarantee private hospital care to all its members, saying it was an admission of the state’s failure to run an effective public healthcare system.
Exxaro Resources launches safety campaign in quest for zero harm
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Mining Weekly reports that diversified miner Exxaro Resources on Friday launched its Khetha Ukuphepha safety campaign across all its business units and operations, as part of its journey towards zero harm.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 7 November 2019
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 7 November 2019.
City of Tshwane ambulance crew robbed at gunpoint in Soshanguve in early hours of Wednesday
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News24 reports that a City of Tshwane emergency service crew was robbed when they responded to an apparent medical emergency in Block GG, Soshanguve, just after 02:00 on Wednesday.
Sanef won’t appeal Equality Court judgment in hate speech case against EFF aimed to protect journalists
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News24 reports that the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) will not appeal the Equality Court judgment in its case against the EFF and its leader Julius Malema, but will use interdicts and criminal recourse to protect journalists.