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.
In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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US-SA trade deal still in limbo as tariff deadline looms Daily Maverick reports that SA and the US have still not reached a trade deal, days before US President Donald Trump’s 30% tariff on SA goods is due to take effect. In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) said it remained committed to the conclusion of a trade agreement with the US, as it waited for feedback from the Trump administration on its trade proposal. The statement reads: “The intersection of geopolitical, domestic and trade issues best defines the current impasse between South Africa and the United States, and a reset is unavoidable. Our view is that negotiations remain the best tool to deal with the issues that are on the table… We remain committed to the cause as we await substantive feedback from our US counterparts on the final status [of] our framework deal.” Earlier this month, Trump announced that he would impose a 30% tariff on SA exports to the US from 1 August. Multiple other countries are also facing varying tariff rates. Department of International Relations and Cooperation director-general Zane Dangor said on Tuesday that there were no guarantees of a trade deal with the US by 1 August, with issues such as black economic empowerment (BEE) obscuring matters. If implemented, Trump’s punishing tariffs will kneecap SA industries, including the automotive sector and the citrus industry. But the DTIC suggested it was preparing for other eventualities should a deal not be signed. “We are working with other government departments on a response plan, which includes a support desk within the DTIC. Our response package also focuses on demand side interventions in the impacted industries,” it said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Victoria O’Regan at Daily Maverick. Read too, SA scrambles to beat US tariffs deadline, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) With Eastern Cape on its knees, Numsa warns government of jobs ‘catastrophe’ Daily Maverick reports that with 1 August set as the date on which sky-high tariffs will be imposed on SA exports to the US, anxiety levels are high in the Eastern Cape – especially in the automotive industry, one of the largest employers in the province. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber have urged the government to introduce urgent reforms to salvage what is left. In a letter addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Cabinet ministers heading the government’s economic cluster, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim warned of a national jobs catastrophe and said that as a first step, the government should urgently ramp up anti-dumping measures. He said manufacturing sectors were facing a job loss bloodbath from the dumping of products that are competing directly with the automotive sector, components supplier value chain, the tyre sector, and the steel and engineering sector, which has been worsened by tariffs imposed against SA by the United States of America.” He said putting up tariffs to prevent dumping had been raised by Numsa at a recent meeting with Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, but the extent of the crisis had forced the organisation to write the letter to Ramaphosa. “We are facing the closure of Goodyear South Africa, which is going to lead to job losses of more than 3,000, if one looks at backward and forward linkages. This will make the communities of Kariega and Gqeberha confront worse forms of poverty, unemployment and inequalities,” Jim warned. He said Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana should urgently address legislative steps to drive localisation through procurement regulations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Estelle Ellis at Daily Maverick Other internet posting(s) in this news category
FlySafair pilots' strike has entered its second week, with no resolution in sight IOL Business reports that the FlySafair pilots' strike has entered its second week, with no resolution in sight as the airline and Solidarity, the union representing its pilots, remain deadlocked over working conditions. The union stated, after this past weekend’s negotiations, that FlySafair’s offer of a 5.7% pay increase was largely acceptable, but the airline’s new roster system remained a sticking point. On Tuesday, the FlySafair pilots represented by Solidarity issued an “open letter” to the public, to explain their position amid accusations on some fronts that the pilots were being greedy. The biggest point of consternation, Solidarity said, was the forced implementation of a new algorithm-driven rostering system. Solidarity also sought to clarify the widespread claims that the pilots earned R1.8 million to R2.4 million, stating that those figures only applied to a small number of senior captains. Most earned significantly less, the union said, and at FlySafair salaries have not returned to pre-Covid levels, despite promises made during the crisis. Regarding the rostering system, FlySafair maintained that the fixed scheduling rules that pilots were demanding would substantially limit the airline’s ability to roster pilots efficiently. The carrier said that as an alternative, it had proposed the formation of an independently chaired joint roster committee, featuring both pilot and company representatives. However, in Solidarity’s view, such a committee, as proposed by the airline, would not give the pilots sufficient power in the process. Details of the next negotiation meeting, involving the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), have yet to be released. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Woosey at IOL Business In open letter, Solidarity points out difficult conditions FlySafair pilots subjected to Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity has clarified in an open letter addressed to the public that the dispute between airline FlySafair and its pilots has been long coming and that the recent strike by the pilots followed the exhaustion of every other avenue of negotiation. The strike marks the longest pilot strike in SA’s history, which Solidarity says follows years of the pilots having remained silent and trusting promises of stability and fairness. Initially, FlySafair’s pilots intended to strike only for one day to signal their dissatisfaction and demonstrate the seriousness of their concerns. However, this was not met with a willingness to engage, according to Solidarity. “What was meant to be a measured act of protest became a long and painful standoff, not by their design, but by the company’s decision to escalate (with a lockout),” the union stated. Solidarity assured the public that the strike was not about greed, but about safety and recognition. It said the pilots’ core concern related to the forced implementation of a new, algorithm-driven rostering system. When the pilots asked for one weekend off a month, the algorithm responded negatively to this request. The union argued that aviation was not a factory and pilots were not products of a shift system. “Predictability, rest and mental wellbeing are not luxuries, but necessities,” it pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read Solidarity’s open letter at The Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eastern Cape teacher gunned down in presence of pupil and student teacher News24 reports that an Eastern Cape teacher was gunned down in the presence of a pupil and a student teacher in Mqanduli on Monday morning. According to police, the 55-year-old teacher was driving to school on Monday morning, while the pair in the vehicle with her were heading to another school, when a gunman fired shots at her. The teacher died on the scene. The gunman fled on foot while the pupil and the student teacher escaped unharmed. The Eastern Cape Department of Education (DOE) condemned the incident. “This experience has left the community of Gengqe traumatised, shocked and shaken,” department spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela said on Tuesday. The DOE’s social support services team is providing psychosocial support to the affected family, learners and educators. Education MEC Fundile Gade said the incident was a “direct onslaught [on] the department and all [women] in the country”. A police spokesperson said Mqanduli police were still searching for the perpetrator. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Senior municipal official among three suspects arrested for chief whip’s murder DailyDispatch reports that a senior manager at an Eastern Cape municipality is one of three suspects arrested on Tuesday for the murder of Emalahleni Local Municipality chief whip Xoliseka Lali, who was gunned down at his Komani house just more than a week ago. The arrested municipal official works at the same municipality as Lali. She was apparently the first person to be arrested on Tuesday. She later pointed out her alleged accomplices, who are believed to have been hired hitmen. A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of two men and the female official. The suspects are due to appear in the Komani Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Lali was killed at his rented apartment in South east Village, Westbourne, in Komani last week Monday. The investigation is ongoing, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Asanda Nini at DailyDispatch. Read too, Three held after murder of Eastern Cape municipality chief whip, at TimesLIVE Three suspects arrested in the murder of Wynberg police sergeant Weekend Argus reports that in a significant breakthrough, a multidisciplinary team from the Hawks has arrested three suspects, aged between 19 and 25, in connection with the murder of Sergeant Lulama Njobeni, a member of the SA Police Service (SAPS) stationed at Wynberg. The tragic incident occurred on 30 May 2025, when Sergeant Njobeni, 48, was shot and killed outside his home on Thys Witbooi Street in Vrygrond, Muizenberg. At the time of the attack, he was in uniform and en route to begin his shift. According to reports, the sergeant sustained fatal gunshot wounds, which sent shockwaves through the local community and drew outrage from fellow officers. The investigation into his murder was swiftly launched, with the Hawks following various leads that ultimately led to the apprehension of the suspects in Muizenberg. The trio is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Wednesday at the Muizenberg District Court, facing murder charges Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Weekend Argus. Lees ook, Drie vas wat polisiebeampte glo op pad werk toe doodskiet, by Maroela Media
Solidarity welcomes US report on farm attacks Maroela Media reports that according to Solidarity, the recent visit by senior members of the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) to SA to gain first-hand knowledge of several key issues concerning democracy, human rights and labour matters in the country was a step in the right direction. The trade union said that it was “a clear indication that the Trump administration in the US, and in particular the State Department, and its leadership are willing to break through the limitations of the deep state, old diplomatic walls and outdated perceptions by gaining first-hand knowledge about events in South Africa.” In a statement on Tuesday, Solidarity welcomed the fact that the Trump administration acknowledged and reaffirmed SA’s vast potential in its report. Equally welcomed was that the USA acknowledged “the brutality and uniqueness of farm attacks” and expressed its deep concern about the matter “despite the widespread denial or indifference from most countries and international mainstream media.” Solidarity said that as an organisation, it was firmly committed to building a better South Africa, a safer South Africa, and a more prosperous South Africa, but problems were not solved by denying their existence. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media. Lees ook, Plaasaanvalle: VSA-afvaardiging maak bevindings bekend ná besoek aan SA, by Maroela Media
Sex workers plead for moratorium on arrests and fines GroundUp reports that sex workers are calling for a moratorium on arrests and fines until politicians finalise the redraft of a bill to decriminalise sex work. This comes nearly two years after the bill was withdrawn and sent back to be revised. In 2022, former Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffery held consultations on decriminalisation. It followed many years of advocacy by sex workers and activist organisations. The former Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola acknowledged that, “criminalising sex work has not stopped the selling or buying of sex, nor has it been effective. If anything, it has led to higher levels of violence against sex workers.” But the state’s legal advisors flagged serious shortfalls with the bill, raising concerns that it “may not pass constitutional muster if it does not also provide for the regulation of sex work”. The bill was sent back to the justice department in mid-2023. In October 2024 the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) launched court action against the justice department, challenging the criminalisation of sex work. Now sex workers and activists are demanding the department urgently prioritise the “long-delayed” bill. Despite the commitments from the Department of Justice, and consultations for the redraft bill underway, arrests and fines of sex workers are on the rise, according to SWEAT. Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for Cape Town Law Enforcement, said 780 sex workers have been arrested or fined so far in 2025. Compared to last year’s total of 575, and 544 in 2023. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liezl Human at GroundUp
Tensions rise over planned Uber and Bolt e-hailing drivers’ strike IOL News reports that e-hailing platforms Uber and Bolt SA have responded to growing tensions within the sector, following news reports of a planned nationwide strike by drivers affiliated with the National E-Hailing Federation of SA (NEFSA). Both companies acknowledged awareness of the proposed industrial action and stressed their continued commitment to engaging with drivers over long-standing concerns regarding earnings, safety, and working conditions. An Uber spokesperson said: "We are aware of the (news) article that was published and acknowledge the concerns that have been raised. Drivers remain at the heart of everything we do." The spokesperson added: "We are committed to engaging more with drivers as we are constantly working to improve the driver experience – whether it's through fare reviews, introducing new safety features, or investing in product improvements." Bolt SA also reaffirmed its support for constructive engagement. Both companies said they were monitoring the situation and would implement measures to minimise disruptions while prioritising the safety of all users. An e-hailing driver from Durban commented that he would join the shutdown, but said he had doubts that it would occur. "We are strapped for cash as it is due to high commissions and extortion from taxi associations, a shutdown would affect us very badly financially, but I understand the need, and I would join in,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Xolile Mtembu at IOL News
Probe recommends action against Independent Development Trust CEO BL Premium reports that a forensic investigation into a controversial oxygen plant tender awarded by the Independent Development Trust (IDT) has confirmed media reports of extensive procedural irregularities It recommended that disciplinary action be taken against its CEO and senior officials, Department of Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced on Tuesday. He commissioned the investigation from PwC in January, following reports that an obscure company without the requisite accreditation had been awarded the lion’s share of the work. The health department was awarded a grant by the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria to install 60 oxygen plants at public hospitals, and turned to the IDT for implementation. The total value of the project was R836m, of which R528m was allocated to the IDT. On Tuesday, Macpherson briefed the media on the PwC investigation’s findings, but did not release its final report. The probe found procedural failings, regulatory breaches and inadequate oversight from IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka. The findings represented “a monumental failure in governance” that undermined the integrity of public procurement and threatened donor funds,” Macpherson indicated. He said he had briefed the new IDT board and health minister Aaron Motsoaledi on the PwC report and had sent a copy to the Hawks. No Global Fund resources were disbursed to the companies that won tenders awarded by the IDT since Motsoaledi had withdrawn the project from IDT and moved it to the Development Bank of SA after news of the scandal broke last year. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka faces music over R800m oxygen plant tender, at Sunday World. En ook, Dissiplinêre stappe aanbeveel oor R800 miljoen-suurstofaanleg-tender, by Maroela Media
Opposition parties call for suspension of Bitou municipal manager after laying corruption charges The Herald reports that opposition parties in the Bitou municipality have opened a case of corruption and contempt of court against municipal manager Mbulelo Memani. The ANC, Plett Democratic Congress (PDC) and the PA laid the criminal complaint against him at the Plettenberg Bay police station on Wednesday. They accused Memani of “defiance of a high court order and alleged misuse of public funds for personal and political gain”. In a joint statement, the parties claimed to have evidence that a municipal official had paid R800,000 to the municipality on Memani’s behalf. ANC councillor Sandiso Gcabayi accused Memani of creating a high-profile post for Allen Paulse without following recruitment procedures. “In December 2024, Memani submitted a new organogram to the Bitou municipality for council approval. “This new organogram included the new position for performance management, monitoring and evaluation. This position was [allegedly] specifically created for Allen Paulse,” Gcabayi said. On the contempt of court allegations, the ANC, PDC and PA stated that in October 2024 the Western Cape High Court had ordered Memani and his legal team to repay without delay the R4.2m he had received for a “mutual severance agreement”. Instead, the statement said, he had been reinstated as municipal manager on that day, despite the court ruling. By March 2025, the debt had been reduced to R1.9m, without explanation. “Instead of paying, he enjoyed generous financial benefits with a bonus, back pay and the purchase of a luxury BMW. This is a blatant violation of a court order and a slap in the face to justice and the public,” the parties claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphokazi Mnyobe at The Herald
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