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.
Psychologists dispatched to a Tsolo school after principal’s arrest for kidnapping, attempted rape
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SABC News reports that the Eastern Cape Department of Education has confirmed that a team of psychologists has been dispatched to a school in Tsolo.
Ekurhuleni council considering suspension of senior officials implicated in corruption at Madlanga Commission
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EWN reports that councillors in the Ekurhuleni City council deliberated on Tuesday on a proposal to suspend senior municipal officials implicated in evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The city convened an extraordinary council meeting to address the revelations of corruption within the city’s metro police department.
Workers secure jobs amid transition to insourcing at Optimum Colliery
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Sunday World reports that over 500 workers at Optimum Colliery are set to retain their jobs as Liberty Coal transitions its mining operations to Liberty Mine Services (LMS), a subsidiary within the Liberty group.
Former NW Development Corp CFO imprisoned for using fake permanent residence permit
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The Star reports that the sentencing of former North West Development Corporation (NWDC) chief financial officer Kudakwashe Mpofu, whose rise to one of the province’s most powerful financial posts was built on fraud, has been welcomed.
Principal and staff member shot dead at Inxiweni Primary School in Tembisa
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The Citizen reports that teachers and learners at the Inxiweni Primary School in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, were left in shock after the principal and an administrative staff member, both women, were shot dead at the school.
Numsa to join national shutdown with protest in Bloemfontein over deepening GBVF crisis
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IOL News reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) will be joining Friday’s National Shutdown as anger mounts over escalating levels of gender-based violence, femicide and attacks on children.
Solidarity withdraws lawsuit over ‘race-regulated’ banner after settlement with Joburg metro
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BusinessDay reports that Solidarity has withdrawn its legal challenge in which it accused the City of Johannesburg of gross abuse of state power after the trade union’s banner erected alongside the M1 near the Joburg city centre was removed.
Samwu rejects ‘misleading narrative’ about G20 ‘hostage’ strike, claiming timing mere coincidence
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News24 reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has expressed disappointment at what it labelled a media “smear campaign” after it was reported that it had held the City of Johannesburg hostage by threatening a wage strike during the G20 Summit.
Glencore-Merafe to start with retrenchments at ferrochrome smelters in ‘next couple of weeks’
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Miningmx reports that retrenchments will be commenced with at the idled Wonderkop and Boeshoek smelters operated by the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Joint Venture (JV). Some employees at Glencore’s Alloys division would also be affected, the mining and commodities marketing group announced on Tuesday.
GEMS slammed by unions for 9.8% increase in 2026 member contributions
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News24 reports that the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), which has more than 2 million beneficiaries, has announced that member contributions for 2026 will increase by a weighted average of 9.8%.
Former cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba in the dock for alleged bribes from Guptas in Transnet corruption case
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BusinessDay reports that former Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Malusi Gigaba has been formally charged with corruption linked to controversial multi-billion-rand Transnet tenders for locomotives.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 19 November 2025
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Former SARS employee sentenced to an effective six years for tax fraud
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Cape Times reports that former SA Revenue Service (SARS) employee and registered tax practitioner, Michael Benson, has been sentenced to an effective six years behind bars for fraud, forgery, uttering and failing to keep proper records.
Gauteng government asks e-hailing operators to comply by registering
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ITWeb reports that e-hailing app drivers working with e-hailing operators in Gauteng have been urged to register their applications in line with the National Land Transport Amendment Act (NLTA) of 2009.
AI expected to result in a jobs boom in hospitality industry
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Sunday World reports that as global industries brace for job losses linked to artificial intelligence (AI), the hospitality sector faces a different headache – not too few jobs, but a critical human shortage.
Joburg denies R4 billion diversion from capex budget in respect of G20 ‘blackmail’ by union
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Newsday reports that the City of Johannesburg has denied diverting R4 billion from its capital expenditure budget to prevent disruptions to the G20 summit.
KZN teacher investigated for allegedly impregnating two pupils
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The Witness reports that the teacher who is at the center of a confrontation that led to a Grade 12 pupil in a high school in Jozini pouring boiling water on a fellow pupil has been suspended for a separate matter.
Magistrates protest in Durban for equality and better conditions
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Daily News reports that in an expression of unity to express their frustration, magistrates gathered outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court building on Monday to raise awareness about their dire working conditions and the systemic disparities forced upon them.
SIU’s Fort Hare qualifications investigation to proceed despite Mabuyane court ruling
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The Citizen reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that its investigation into alleged academic irregularities at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) will continue, despite a recent High Court ruling that declared an earlier probe into Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane unconstitutional.
Labour Minister to seek Treasury funding for more Inspectors amid persistent workplace violations
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IOL Business reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Nkosazana Meth’s department will be approaching the National Treasury for increased funding to employ more labour inspectors across all nine provinces.
Gauteng Health welcomes ruling upholding suspension of departmental head
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The Citizen reports that Lesiba Malotana, the suspended head of the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH), has been dealt a blow after the Labour Court dismissed his attempt to overturn his precautionary suspension.
‘Shocked’ Labour Court replaces light sanction of suspension with dismissal for cops accused of kidnapping and assault
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SowetanLive reports that the Labour Court (LC) has ruled that the police service was wrong not to dismiss officers who kidnapped, assaulted and shot a man in the leg who was suspected of stealing a car battery from a police station.
Newly-registered union will strive to enforce domestic workers’ rights
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BusinessDay writes that domestic workers could be a step closer to securing equal rights after the recent formation of the SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu).
Shoprite recruitment platform hires workers closer to their homes
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TechCentral reports that the Shoprite Group has developed and deployed a centralised digital recruitment platform that is already changing how SA’s largest private employer sources employees.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 18 November 2025
- Details
In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Concern that new regulations overregulating the beauty and somatology industry will lead to large-scale job losses
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Maroela Media reports that over-regulation by the Department of Health threatens to tear apart and cause great damage to the somatology industry in SA.
Nedbank brags with the highest staff retention rate in SA
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Daily Investor reports that a recent study revealed that Nedbank has the highest staff retention rate in SA, with most employees staying at the company for over a decade.
Battle over removal of Solidarity’s controversial banner to be heard in court this week
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Maroela Media reports that the legal battle over Solidarity’s controversial advertising banner will be heard in court this week, but without Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Old Mutual dangles R300m incentive for new CEO, achievable if share price rallies 80% by May 2030
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Moneyweb reports that Jurie Strydom, the new CEO of Old Mutual, could earn as much as R300 million under a new outperformance plan designed to “unlock significant and sustained shareholder value”.
Brigadier Mkhwanazi’s pledge to Ekurhuleni city manager: 'I will take a bullet for you'
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IOL News reports that suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, publicly pledged to ‘die’ and ‘take a bullet’ for city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi.