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.
Establishment of media bargaining council mooted
- Details
Mail & Guardian reports that in the wake of the deregistration of the Media Workers’ Association of SA (Mwasa), one trade union is floating the idea of forming a media bargaining council.
Suspected killer of off-duty KZN cop arrested, alleged accomplice shot dead
- Details
News24 reports that a man suspected of the May murder of an off-duty KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police officer has been arrested and his alleged accomplice has been shot dead.
Honours but no pension yet for families of firemen who died at Bank of Lisbon fire
- Details
Sunday Times reports that a name on a truck is cold comfort for a Newcastle father whose firefighter son died in the Bank of Lisbon fire in Johannesburg on 5 September last year.
Legal Aid SA employees go on strike on Monday over reduced benefits
- Details
Staff members at Legal Aid SA went on strike on Monday over a variety of employment grievances, including benefits and budget cuts.
KZN truckers tell Nxesi that trucking companies must stop hiring undocumented immigrants
- Details
Sunday Tribune reports that South African truck drivers have lambasted state departments for failing to ban illegal foreigners allegedly employed by Durban logistics companies.
Steinhoff’s former CEO Markus Jooste rebuffs demand for return of R850m in pay
- Details
Bloomberg reports that Steinhoff International’s former chief executive officer Markus Jooste regards the company’s claim for more than R850 million against him as “vague and embarrassing.”
No more executive bonuses for failures at SOEs
- Details
Sunday Times Business Times reports that executives of nonperforming state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that rely on government bailouts for survival are set to lose out on bonuses and the hefty pay increases they have received in the past.
Retailer Choppies plans to exit SA market by divesting in its 88 local stores
- Details
Reuters reports that Botswanan budget retailer Choppies Enterprises says it plans to sell its stores in SA as growth stutters and unemployment soars in the country.
Roundup on Monday, 19 August 2019 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 16 August 2019.
Marikana commission can't be blamed for lack of prosecutions and ‘deafening silence’, says Judge Ian Farlam
- Details
News24 reports that Marikana Commission of Inquiry chairperson Judge Ian Farlam is of the view that the commission cannot be blamed for the lack of prosecutions following the shootings that saw 34 people killed by police on 16 August 2012.
Free State health MEC condemns attacks on emergency services workers after incident on Sunday
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that Free State Health MEC Montseng Tsiu has condemned violent attacks targeting emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and health infrastructure in the province.
Two Tsogo Sun employees facing R4m fraud charges for allegedly creating ghost employee accounts
- Details
News24 reports that two Tsogo Sun employees have allegedly stolen more than R4m from their employer by creating ghost employee accounts.
Seven years since Marikana massacre and still no justice, says Socio-Economic Rights Institute
- Details
News24 reports that Friday marked seven years since 34 mineworkers were shot dead in a burst of police gunfire during a protest at the then Lonmin Platinum's Marikana operations, but families have yet to see justice.
Former Oudtshoorn ABET teacher arrested for R1m fraud relating to 'ghost learners'
- Details
Fin24 reports that a former Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) teacher from Oudtshoorn has appeared in court for allegedly inflating the number of registered students she taught in order to gain financial benefits from the Western Cape department of education.
Eskom pension fund confirms that Brian Molefe must pay back over R10m
- Details
Fin24 reports that the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) has confirmed that its lawyers have instructed former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe to return more than R10m he received from the fund.
Old Mutual and reinstated CEO Peter Moyo to hear outcome of their legal battle in two weeks
- Details
News24 reports that Old Mutual and the insurer’s reinstated CEO Peter Moyo will hear the outcome of their increasingly acrimonious legal battle in approximately two weeks.
City of Joburg to put 1,879 cleaners on its books, says mayor
- Details
News24 reports that the City of Johannesburg will be insourcing (directly hiring) 1,879 cleaners, starting with 450 who will go on the metropolitan municipality's books.
Uniform policies around health and safety management lacking within construction industry
- Details
Patrick Nwabueze Okonkwo, Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University, notes that the construction industry in SA accounts for around 8% of total formal employment and around 17% of total informal employment, but it is also the third most dangerous sector for workers after the transportation and fishing industries.
Long wait to reopen Vantage Goldfields’ Barbrook and Lily and mines nearly over
- Details
Moneyweb writes that it’s been three years of agony for the 1,000 staff who were sidelined when Vantage Goldfields SA (VGSA) was placed in business rescue after a key support pillar at Lily mine collapsed and claimed the lives of three workers.
Brian Molefe must pay Solidarity R700,000 within seven days and Eskom R10m by next week
- Details
BusinessLive reports that Solidarity has given former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe seven days to pay the R700,000 owed to it, while the power utility has given him until next week to cough up about R10m in pension payments that were unlawfully paid to him.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 15 August 2019
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 15 August 2019.
Banks to face strike action from Sasbo next month if job cuts go ahead
- Details
The Star reports that the SA Society of Bank Officials (Sasbo) has vowed to bring the financial sector to a standstill by downing tools next month if banks go ahead with their planned job cuts.
Brian Molefe writes 'lovely' letter to Solidarity asking for 30 days to repay R708,000
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has written a letter to trade union Solidarity requesting 30 days to repay a legal cost order made against him to the tune of R708,102.
Staggering number of public service jobs unfilled
- Details
The Star reports that a staggering number of vacancies in public service remained unfilled despite unemployment soaring to a scary 29%.
Academic staff shortage a worry for government
- Details
BusinessLive reports that the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology wants to ensure that universities receive all the necessary support to recruit, develop and retain academic staff.
Marikana compensation
- Details
Financial Mail writes that the Marikana commission’s terms of reference were not broad enough for it to make a recommendation on compensation of the victims of the 16 August 2012 massacre.
Unions urge Competition Tribunal to block Clover sale over concerns about job losses
- Details
BusinessLive reports that trade unions opposed to the proposed sale of foods and beverages company Clover Industries to consortium Milco urged the Competition Tribunal on Wednesday to block the R4.8bn transaction, over concerns about job losses.
‘I won’t be silenced’, axed eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede insists
- Details
The Mercury reports that axed eThekwini municipal mayor, Zandile Gumede, says she will not be silenced.
Seventh Marikana massacre commemoration sees policemen, mineworkers in court
- Details
ANA reports that the seventh anniversary of the Marikana massacre commemoration will see high court appearances of both policemen and mineworkers.
Automobile manufacturing sector employers optimistic about wage talks with Numsa
- Details
BL Premium reports that automotive sector employers have broken their silence on the protracted wage talks with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) by indicating that they are looking “promising”.