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.
Row over Wesgro CEO Tim Harris’ salary increase continues to simmer
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Cape Argus reports that the fallout over the steep salary increase afforded to Wesgro chief executive, Tim Harris, continues to simmer, with the board vice-chairman now saying that the increase was R300,000 less than initially reported.
ANC’s tripartite allies not happy with move to reinstate party officials allegedly part of VBS looting
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The Citizen reports that the tripartite alliance of the ANC, the SA Communist Party (SACP) and trade union federation Cosatu in Limpopo is divided over the ANC’s decision to reinstate two provincial bigwigs who allegedly looted VBS Mutual Bank.
Warders’ deaths at Modderbee Prison in Benoni spark fear amongst employees
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SowetanLive reports that employees at the Modderbee Prison in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, say they fear going to work after three of their colleagues died in just under two weeks. At least one of them has been confirmed of having succumbed to Covid-19.
ICTU’s objections delay CCMA consultation process over Cell C retrenchments
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Business Report writes that the Section 189 (retrenchment) consultation process at the CCMA relating to possible job cuts at Cell C was delayed on Friday due to objections raised by organised labour.
Ship repair work at Port of Mossel Bay generating jobs
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Engineering News reports that a steady flow of work at the Port of Mossel Bay’s ship repair facility is helping to create much-needed jobs in the region.
Numsa and Sacca to take legal action to prevent liquidation of SAA, call for Mboweni to be fired
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ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) intend to take legal action to prevent the liquidation of South African Airways (SAA).
Nxesi welcomes arrest of five people alleged to have defrauded UIF of R5.7m in Covid-19 relief funds
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ANA reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has welcomed the arrest this past weekend of suspects accused of being part of "the enterprise that scammed R5.7 million" meant to provide relief for workers during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Gauteng's public emergency services now all fall under provincial management
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News24 reports that all of Gauteng's public emergency services now fall entirely under provincial management in a move to ensure efficiency and improve emergency response times.
Only a small percentage of teachers and pupils have contracted Covid-19, says Motshekga
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News24 reports that more than 2,500 teachers and over 1,200 pupils have contracted Covid-19 since schools reopened, but this represents a small percentage of people in the schooling system according to Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga.
JMPD officer killed on Sunday in car crash with bakkie, driver arrested
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TimesLIVE reports that a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer has died after his vehicle collided with a Toyota Hilux bakkie on the N12 near Protea Glen before 3am on Sunday.
Roundup on Monday, 6 July 2020 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, 3 July 2020.
Inmates accuse officials of bringing Covid-19 into Westville prison and infecting them
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Sunday Tribune reports that seven new cases of Covid-19 were recorded at Durban’s Westville Prison on Friday, three of which were inmates. Westville is one of the largest prisons in SA.
ANC warns SABC not to cut jobs as it will embarrass the party and cost it votes during local government elections
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City Press reports that the ANC last week allegedly warned the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) that its decision to lay off employees would embarrass the governing party and could cost it votes during local elections next year.
Employment & Labour Minister paints four bleak scenarios for the UIF if layoffs go above 41%
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Mail & Guardian reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has painted a bleak picture of the financial threat posed by growing joblessness to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
Labour Minister Nxesi wants every UIF COVID-19 relief transaction audited
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EWN reports that Department of Labour and Employment (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi wants every Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Covid-19 relief transaction audited.
Gauteng’s biggest labour centre in Pretoria and another in Alberton shut down last week after Covid-19 cases
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BusinessLive reports that the payment of benefits from the UIF Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters), which has already suffered from a spate of technical glitches, could have added delays due to the closure of two labour centres in Gauteng.
Covid-19 infection threat throws a new spanner in the works for silicosis claimants
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BL Premium reports that mineworkers suffering from silicosis and awaiting their share of R5bn in compensation from gold companies may now have to wait longer as the dispersal of funds faces delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Military medics deployed to combat ‘really bad’ Covid-19 situation in the Eastern Cape
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AFP reports that dozens of military medics were deployed on Sunday to help combat the coronavirus pandemic in the Eastern Cape where there has been a surge in infections.
Plan for further reopening of schools revised, with grades 6 and 11 but not grade R expected back on Monday
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BusinessLive reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revised its plans for the return of some learners to school, as government battles to restart the education sector amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 2 July 2020
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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, 2 July 2020.
Unions warn against phase two of reopening of schools
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SowetanLive reports that teachers' unions say the next phase of the reopening of schools for more than six million pupils is a ticking time bomb because the Department of Basic Education (DBE) failed to meet safety requirements for what had been fewer pupils when the grade 7s and grade 12s restarted school on 8 June.
Arnot OpCo concludes retrenchment process affecting 1 100 employees
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Mining Weekly reports that coal mining company Arnot OpCo has completed a Section 189 (retrenchment) process, affecting 1,100 of its employees.
Maimane’s bid to overturn easing of lockdown to level 3 and to stop schools from reopening fails
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The Star reports that it’s all systems go for the rest of the school grades to reopen next week after a full Bench of the North Gauteng High Court turned down an application by Mmusi Maimane and his One SA movement for schools to remain closed.
Fraud case of R191m against ex-top cop Khomotso Phahlane and others set to go on trial in November
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The Star reports that the R191-million fraud case against former top cop Khomotso Phahlane and a string of other senior officers has seen the State reveal its hand as the matter finally heads to trial.
Trade union Solidarity shoots down SAA business rescue plan
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BusinessLive reports that another trade union represented at SA Airways (SAA) has come out against the recent business rescue plan, arguing that, if implemented, the airline would once again be destined for liquidation or business rescue.
Lockdown Level 5 in contention again for some areas, but not nationally
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The Citizen reports that as rumours swirl about SA reverting to alert Level 5 of the coronavirus lockdown, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize stated on Wednesday that no decision had been taken.
Limpopo MEC tests positive for Covid-19, two others cleared
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The Citizen reports that Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha confirmed on Wednesday that one of his executive committee members (MECs) has tested positive for Covid-19.
First day back on the tracks, old troubles for trains
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Sowetan reports that vandalism and inadequate security remained a threat to commuter train services provided by Metrorail, which resumed operations in three provinces on Wednesday.
Nurses down tools at Albert Luthuli hospital in KZN as more test positive for Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that nurses at KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN’s) biggest hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, downed tools on Thursday morning demanding to be tested after scores of hospital workers allegedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Barloworld to cut more than 2,500 jobs because of the impact of Covid-19
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Moneyweb reports that more than 2,500 people in the automotive and logistics divisions of distribution group Barloworld are to be retrenched because of the impact of Covid-19.